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Turkey Day Takeout

An elaborate feast at home is only a phone call away.

Thursday Nov 23, 2006.     By Jessica Herman

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Nothing depletes the appetites of the time-crunched or the cooking-wary like the thought of preparing an elaborate Thanksgiving meal. But it's hard to give up the comfort and tradition of dining at home. Give your china its once-a-year cameo with the help of these restaurants and gourmet grocers. Peruse their carryout menus, put in a call (in advance) and get ready to give thanks for the easiest Turkey Day dinner you've ever hosted. Just think of all the pots you won't be scrubbing.

Chicago Diner As most locals of the vegetarian/vegan persuasion know, Chicago Diner is a godsend when it comes to creative, meat-free cooking. Select a soup, salad, five sides, bread a beverage dessert for $26 per person ($30 for the raw meal), or order a la carte. Options include some of the diner's year-round favorites like the Thunder salad, lentil loaf and cowboy chili, plus chestnut stuffing, pumpkin ravioli and the requisite roasted veggie turkey. Whatever you decide, the vegan pumpkin cheesecake is an absolute must.

Cooking Fools Clearly these cooks have plenty of catering experience under their belts. Diners may start with the evening with a spicy—a ginger lime martini mix—or simply savory—roasted butternut squash and pear soup—start. The main entree sizes up to a "deconstructed" pre-sliced turkey and the vegetarian-friendly Napoleon layered with Boursin cheese. Maple bacon brussels sprouts and a cheese tray round out the sides, and options like the chocolate panna cotta and homemade cinnamon ice cream perfectly tie up the meal. The entrees cost about $8 or $11 per person, and sides (offered in 4-6 person portions) average around $13-$35.

Fairmont Chicago If you've ever tasted Chef Noah Bekofsky's creations at the Fairmont's high-class eatery, aria, you know you're in for a treat. Bekofsky puts aside his flair for fusion foods to whip up a perfectly patriotic meal: roasted turkey, herb stuffing, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, candied yams, fresh garden vegetables, cranberry sauce, baked rolls and your choice of pumpkin, apple or chocolate pecan pie. Best of all, Aria tops off your order with a chef's hat so you can play the part. Serving 8 to 10 people at $165, it's a steal of gourmet meal.

Fox & Obel The menu (complete dinners for two, six or 12 at $100-$400) sticks to the classics but, in Fox & Obel form, steps everything up a notch to fancy up the fall flavor. Start with decorative breads, lobster bisque and a dried fig, cherry and pumpkin seed-studded salad before enjoying choice meats like turkey and lamb and ginger-glaze Parisian carrots and handmade butternut squash ravioli sides. Sweets go beyond the ordinary with a chocolate turtle tart and a cranberry orange upside-down pound cake topped with caramelized cranberries. Cap it off with a fall centerpiece from the market's florist ($50 or $75).

Goddess and Grocer (Bucktown) In addition to roasting free-range full turkey or turkey breast, the Goddess offers autumn-spiced Amish chicken, whole roasted boneless salmon stuffed with plums and spinach and served with Granny Smith apple jus, and a maple- and brown sugar-glazed bone-in ham. Vegetarians may opt for an acorn squash stuffed with brown rice, vegetables and mushroom gravy. Sides start with succotash soup and honeyed chestnut cornbread and end with pumpkin cheesecake and a cheese board. Dishes are generally priced by the pound and range from $6.50-$12.50.

Horizon Cafe The Lakeview cafe keeps it simple and cost-effective with a four-course, turkey-centric meal for about $15 per person. Indecisive diners need not fret over too many decisions; after starting the meal with your choice of pumpkin or chicken noodle soup, you'll coast through salad, hand-carved turkey breast served with gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and green been almondine. Finish it off with apple or pumpkin pie and you're good to.

Prairie Grass Cafe This North Shore eatery takes the traditional route by offering just the basics: a whole or half roasted turkey (serving between five and 14) costs $50 or $95. The expected accoutrements, ranging in price from $5 for a small serving to $15 for a large, include apple sage stuffing, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, green beans with toasted almonds, cranberry sauce and, of course, pumpkin and pecan pies (which you can order by the slice if the whole plate is simply too tempting).

Trotter's To Go If you're looking to impress your in-laws, inviting Charlie Trotter into your kitchen is about as good as it gets. Trotter's To Go offers take-out like you've never seen: crispy pumpkin risotto cake with wild mushrooms, sunchokes with prosciutto and mushrooms, and gruyere bread pudding provide the sides, while spit-roasted Peking duck and Australian beef tenderloin snag turkey's spotlight. In addition to desserts like heirloom apple pie, the eatery offers wine pairings with your meal selection. If $15-$45 per large side serving is any indication, you can expect to pay a pretty penny for this perfect meal.