Nothing says tradition quite like a Thanksgiving Day recipe passed down from generation to generation being executed to perfection by the family’s executive chef each year. Yet, for some, spending hours preparing a cornucopia of dishes for a larger-than-life gathering could be passé
or not reflective of their current situation. Fortunately, several Black-owned restaurants have delicious offerings available for persons looking to change-up their traditional Thanksgiving Day festivities.
Vegan
Demera Restaurant
Location: 4801 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
Demera, an Ethiopian restaurant located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, is offering a 12-course vegan bonanza available for pre-order by Tuesday, November 22. The cost for this feast is $45. Pre-orders must be picked up on Wednesday, November 23. To pre-order visit here.
The appetizer include:
- Beets
- Golden beets
- Roasted carrots with honey awaze sauce
- Yogurt
- Roasted pistachios
The 12 dishes include:
- Misir wot: spicy red lentils
- Dinich wot: Stewed potatoes in rich berbere sauce
- Kik Alicha: split yellow peas
- Shito: Mixed legumes (spicy)
- Gomen: collard greens slow cooked
- Quosta: Spinach slow cooked
- Tikle gomen: Chopped cabbage and carrots
- Yaklit wot: Carrots, green beans, potatoes and zucchini
- Kayseer tibs: sauteed garden beets and carrots
- Ingudai tibs: sauteed mushrooms
- Duba Wot: Stewed pumpkin
- Foselia: roasted carrots and green beans
Dessert:
- Coconut chocolate cheesecake
Fine Dining
Virtue Restaurant
Location: 1462 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615
Have you ever wanted fine dining for Thanksgiving Day supper? You’re in luck. Virtue Restaurant, where chef Erick Williams, a James Beard Award winning chef, is offering a half gallon of gumbo made complete with chicken, andouille sausage, and Carolina gold rice available for pick-up on Wednesday, November 23 at select times. The cost is $56. Virtue Restaurant will be closed on Wednesday, November 23 and Thanksgiving Day. To pre-order visit here.
Traditional
Soul & Smoke
Location: 916 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60618 / 1601 Payne Street, Evanston, IL 60201 / 3057 N Rockwell Street, Chicago, IL 60618
Is the entire family coming to your place for Thanksgiving Day dinner this year? Fear not! Soul & Smoke executive chef D’Andre Carter has offerings for parties for as few as two and as many as 12. Prices vary. Pre-order is available for pick-up on Wednesday, November 23 at various times between 1 – 7 p.m. and Thursday, November 24 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. with a minimum order ($500 minimum order). To pre-order visit here. Below are various options available:
Meat:
- Herb roasted or Cajun smoked turkey (sliced – gluten free)
- Roasted holiday ham (pineapple ginger chutney)
- Smoked prime brisket (choice of BBQ sauce or beef jus – gluten free)
- Smoked pulled pork (original BBQ sauce – gluten free)
- Smoked spare ribs (original BBQ sauce – gluten free)
- Braised duck quarters (herb duck jus – gluten free)
Sides & Vegetables:
- Traditional herb stuffing (celery, carrots, onions – contains chicken stock)
- Garlic mashed potatoes (roasted garlic, chives, vegetarian, gluten free)
- Mac & cheese (extra creamy three-cheese blend – vegetarian)
- Cornbread muffins (vegetarian)
- Herb gravy
- Braised brussels sprouts (balsamic glaze)
- Candied yams (ginger, cinnamon – vegetarian, gluten)
- Sauteed French green beans (olive oil, sea salt – vegetarian, gluten free)
- Green bean casserole (mushrooms, crispy onions – contains chicken stock)
- Braised collard greens (smoked turkey, vinegar jus – gluten free)
- Creamy apple slaw (cranberries, carrots and cabbage – gluten free)
- Housemade Pickles (bread and butter – vegan, gluten free)
Salad
- Harvest Cobb Salad (arugula and kale, roasted sweet potatoes, charred brussels sprouts, hardboiled egg, pickled red onion, blue cheese, dried cranberries, pepitas, maple dijon vinaigrette – vegetarian, gluten free)
- Southwest Kale Salad (arugula and kale, quinoa, avocado, corn, grilled red pepper, red onions, goat cheese, scallions, tortilla strips, BBQ buttermilk ranch dressing – vegetarian, gluten free)