on the go

THANKSGIVING TO-GO

BY JULIA SAYERS GOKHALE

Thanksgiving is all about spending time with your family and remembering what you have to be thankful for. However, the stress of cooking for the holiday often overshadows what’s most important. This year, why not let one of Birmingham’s many local restaurants do the cooking for you? Here are six places where you can get Thanksgiving and all the trimmings to go (Menus subject to change).

ASHLEY MAC’S

Ashley Mac’s is one of Birmingham’s favorite places for grab-and-go dinners, so it only makes sense they’d offer a Thanksgiving menu. Although they don’t do turkeys, they have pans and pans of sides to choose from, including dressing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, and more. Don’t forget dessert —Ashley Mac’s strawberry and carrot cakes are famous, and they also offer seasonal desserts like pecan pie and red velvet cake.

REAL & ROSEMARY

Real & Rosemary—now with two locations— is known for its homestyle meals with an upscale twist. You know that you’ll be getting allnatural ingredients and a healthy meal at R&R. Thanksgiving is no different. Real & Rosemary offers turkey by the pound as well as a host of trimmings, most of which are larger servings of their already popular sides: charred carrots, macaroni and cheese, and Brussels sprouts slaw, as well as seasonal items like sweet potato casserole and cornbread dressing. You can also order gravy and cranberry relish.

IZ CAFE

Iz Cafe is another Birmingham staple for take-home items. The original Iz Cafe is still located in Vestavia Hills and offers a menu of sandwiches in addition to a monthly rotating schedule of to-go dinners. At Thanksgiving they’ll offer turkey and sides, but the good news is you can get a taste of Thanksgiving even earlier. The cafe regularly offers a meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, and green beans as one of their take-home dinner options.

SMILEY BROTHERS

Smiley Brothers in Alabaster is a butcher shop and specialty foods store that makes a killer burger and offers family meals to go. Regular family meal offerings include items such as chicken and rice casserole and bacon mac and cheese. For Thanksgiving, the store will offer turkeys and seasonal sides in addition to sides from their main menu, including Criss potatoes, gravy, and casseroles.

HOMEWOOD GOURMET

Homewood Gourmet’s Thanksgiving menu is broken down into starters; gravy, sauces, and soups; casseroles; and pies and desserts. That means you just handle the turkey and they’ll take care of the rest. You’ll find New Orleans influences in Homewood Gourmet’s menu, including praline sweet potatoes and homemade boudin that’s suggested to stuff into your turkey.

JIM ’N NICKS

Of course a barbecue restaurant is always a great option to get a to-go Thanksgiving meal. Jim ‘N Nicks offers smoked turkey breast and ham, as well as a number of seasonal sides— think green beans, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes. You can also get larger orders of their standard sides, as well. Plus, a basket of Jim ‘N Nicks’ famous cheese biscuits is always welcome on the Thanksgiving table.