November 2017

Home cooks already are ramping up for the busy holiday entertaining season. It’s our World Series. But those who want to host a Thanksgiving meal at home without spending hours upon hours in the kitchen – or those whose culinary work space is unavailable because of Hurricane Harvey damage – should consider their options right about now.

Grocery stores such as H-E-B, Whole Foods and Central Market have extensive catalogs of pre-order-for-pickup turkey, sides, appetizers and desserts. So do a growing number of top Houston restaurants.

“There are lots of things to take care of these days,” says chef Chris Shepherd, whose Underbelly is offering heat-and-eat takeaway appetizers, sides and pies for the fourth year because “it just makes things easier on people.” Himself included. “I cook these things and take them home to my own family.”

Here, we round up a handful of restaurants dishing out Thanksgiving goods to go, packaged with reheating and serving instructions. Not all offer traditional turkey (or turkey at all), but it’s nice to have options if you’re, say, going to a potluck and need to bring a stellar side. This is by no means a comprehensive list – check with your favorite local restaurant if you don’t see what you like.

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