If defrosting the turkey, baking the stuffing and ladling out the gravy in your own kitchen just isn’t how you want to spend this Thanksgiving, you’re in the right place.
Whether you want to help others or just have a hassle-free holiday, there are plenty of options. Consider these ideas to get your party started:
1. Dine out. Longtime Washington-area resident Elizabeth Blackney, who now lives in Bend, Ore., recommends Martin’s Tavern, 1264 Wisconsin Ave. NW, as the best place for a traditional or nontraditional Thanksgiving dinner. Call 202-333-7370 or visit martins-tavern.com.
2. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Staff and volunteers at Christ House in Alexandria serve traditional Thanksgiving dinners to the homeless. This year they expect to serve about 120 meals, said spokesperson Joelle Santolla. For more information about volunteering, call 703-549-8644.
3. Let the store cook. Buying a precooked meal at Trader Joe’s, which has numerous locations throughout the metro area, is a great way to get delicious food without buying too much, said Sam Arora, of Silver Spring. For details go to traderjoes.com.
4. Go ethnic. Buca di Beppo in Dupont Circle has great Italian food. More good news — it also has takeout and catering, so fill your holiday table with mozzarella garlic bread, penne Basilica and other yummy Italian treats. Call 202-232-8466 or visit bucadibeppo.com for details.
5. Throw a shindig for a senior. If you know a senior in assisted living, now’s the time to visit or throw a party. “We are always open to volunteers,” said Sister Jean Louise Forkin, the director of Malta House in Hyattsville, Md.
6. Whip it up quick and healthy. OK, you want out of the kitchen but you may just get stuck. Don’t despair — you can whip up something quick and healthy while not feeling deprived. For more details, visit RawFoodNewsMagazine.com.
7. Cater it. House full of guests? Consider catering. It’s a great way to get all you need without spending hours racing around the supermarket or trying to learn your way around the stove. Classic Catering offers a dinner for 10 for $145. Visit classiccatering.com for details.
8. Go green. The founders of the organic eatery chain Sweetgreen have developed a quick and easy holiday meal that features home-cooked baby spinach and mache with honey-roasted turkey salad topped with dried cranberries, and more. They also have takeout. Visit sweetgreen.com for details.
9. Smoke it out. Burgers’ Smokehouse has all types of smoked, roasted and oven-ready turkey, hams and pheasants they’ll ship to you. All you have to do is reheat. Call by Monday or noon on Tuesday at the latest to make sure your food arrives in time. Visit smokehouse.com for details.
10. Serve food and make friends. Food and Friends provides meals to those with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses. The group also needs many volunteers for everything from meal preparation to food service. Visit foodandfriends.org and then go to Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities for details.
