While it might not be top of mind right now, Thanksgiving is three weeks away (Thu., Nov. 28). Whatever gathering you’re planning, you can add extra warmth with food from local spots. Pittsburgh City Paper compiled a list of Thanksgiving meal and dessert options for delicious, comforting, and easy takeout.
Thanksgiving Meals and Main Dishes
City of Pittsburgh Parks & Recreation
Multiple locations. pittsburghpa.gov/Recreation-Events/Parks
Pittsburghers can pre-order beef, pork, poultry, lamb, fish, and seitan from local farmers and vendors at CitiParks Farmers Markets. Participants include Community Kitchen Pittsburgh, Blackberry Meadows, Fallen Aspen Farm, Mill Creek Trout Farm, and more. View the city’s farmers market schedule online.
Self-Reliant Seitan
Multiple locations. selfreliantseitan.bigcartel.com
Order a cornucopia of vegan options from Self-Reliant Seitan while supplies last. The small-batch “meat” maker has a one-pound “succulent herbaceous” Seitan Turkey Roast for four ($20). Take it up a notch and stuff the loaf with apple sausage filling — made from Self-Reliant’s breakfast patties — or add roasted garlic gravy. Pickup and local delivery options are available.
Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
1000 Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Downtown. ulpgh.org
The Urban League continues a 16-year tradition with the return of its annual Thanksgiving turkey distribution at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. On Sat., Nov. 23 from 12-4 p.m., stop in to pick up food or pre-register on the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s website. The event doubles as a health and human services fair that will offer COVID and flu shots, glasses, and other medical assistance attendees can request with registration.
Bidwell Training Center
1815 Metropolitan St., Chateau. manchesterbidwell.org
Culinary students at the no-cost Bidwell Training Center offer turkey feast meal deals for a “hassle-free” Thanksgiving. Each meal deal box contains a ready-to-cook Thanksgiving menu with a full-sized turkey, gravy, traditional stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. Order the full-size meal kit (starting at $200) serving eight to 10 or a half-size option for four to six. Turkey dinners can be picked up on Wed., Nov. 27 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and each purchase raises funds for the Bidwell Training Center in the North Side.
Pane è Pronto
2627 Penn Ave., Strip District. paneepronto.com Pane è Pronto has your Italian Thanksgiving covered. The eatery, a spinoff of DiAnoia’s, rolls out a special Thanksgiving meal kit serving two or four people ($74 or $140). Enjoy an entrée of thick-sliced porchetta (pork roast) with cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) mashed potatoes, stuffing with sausage, spinach, apple, and pine nuts, cauliflower casserole, cranberry fennel sauce, and Italian cookies for dessert. Pre-order a Thanksgiving meal kit online for pickup on Wed., Nov. 27 from 12-6 p.m.
Mi Empanada
4034 Butler St., Lawrenceville. miempanada.com
For potlucks, Friendsgiving, or those looking for a less traditional option, Mi Empanada offers a fun alternative. For $24, grab a six-pack of holiday empanadas stuffed with turkey, apple and walnut, or peaches and cream. The Thanksgiving-themed empanadas are available as take-and-bake or frozen. Order them through Mi Empanada’s website.
Khalil’s
4757 Baum Blvd., Bloomfield. khalilsrestaurant.com
Khalil’s does the cooking with a Thanksgiving package of their authentic Syrian cuisine. Order packages for two or four people ($85 or $170) that feature a hearty main dish of lamb shanks in mushroom gravy. Sides include veggies and pasta with Brussels sprouts, Syrian-style stuffing with rice, Khali’s signature salad, orzo with ground beef, raisins, toasted almonds and pine nuts, and pumpkin baklava for dessert. Order by Wed., Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. for pickup through Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving Breads and Desserts
Third Space Bakery
5349 Penn Ave., Garfield. thirdspacebakery.com
It’s our first Thanksgiving with Third Space Bakery, and the co-op and teaching kitchen has put out a full menu of from-scratch pies and holiday breads. Try deep-dish apple, maple pumpkin, pear-cranberry, or bourbon pecan pies or round out your dinner table with pumpkin and house loaves and soft dinner rolls made with fluffy sourdough. Pre-order by Wed., Nov. 20 at noon for pickup at the bakery on Wed., Nov. 27.
Brown Bear Bread Co.
400 Ninth St. Ste. C, New Brighton. brownbearbread.co
Brown Bear Bread Co., which recently opened a brick-and-mortar space in New Brighton, released its Thanksgiving menu of rolls and sweet treats. Head to the bakery’s website to shop for savory Thanksgiving focaccia, country sourdough, and dinner rolls, or add granola pumpkin pie or apple coffee cake for dessert. Pre-order by Sun., Nov. 24 at 2p.m. for pickup on Wed., Nov. 27 from 2-6 p.m.
Bitter Ends Food
4619 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. bitterendsfood.com
Bitter Ends Food, formerly a luncheonette, is returning in fits and starts this season with a dinner series and a lineup of Thanksgiving pies. Dessert lovers can opt for a classic apple crumb pie or walnut amaretto — Bitter Ends’ spin on pecan — or get adventurous with a less-sweet pumpkin spice latte pie made with maple syrup, a half-shot of espresso, and “fall spices.” Pies can also be ordered with a side of homemade whipped cream. Pre-order on Bitter Ends’ website for pickup on Wed., Nov. 27 from 5-8 p.m.
Wild Rise Bakery
6901 Lynn Way, Point Breeze. wildrisebakery.com
Wild Rise Bakery returns with a Thanksgiving menu of gluten-free and (mostly) vegan pies, rolls, and fudgy delights. Warm your Thanksgiving table with a sweet potato pie, generously sized rolls, or an “unctuous” chicken pot pie “blanketed” with the bakery’s signature flaky pastry. This year’s pie line-up includes a turnover-esque pear and cardamom with elderberries, midnight chocolate tahini, and a traditional crumble-top apple, in addition to the bakery’s cookies, cakes, and sweet breads. Order online for pickup at Wild Rise’s home base in Point Breeze.
La Gourmandine
Multiple locations. lagourmandinebakery.com
La Gourmadine lets you have French pastries on Thanksgiving with a selection of apple and pumpkin tarts. The bakery’s tarte aux pommes wraps spiced, roasted apples in a flaky shell, while the tarte à la citrouille tops a classic pumpkin pie slice with a “ribbon” of vanilla whipped cream. The tarts are limited-time offerings available through Wed., Nov 27. Order online and pick them up at any of La Gourmandine’s four locations.
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2024.
