Thanksgiving in the Ham

Thanksgiving; a time to reflect of the gifts we have all been given over the past year, and of course, to spend time with the people we most enjoy. For many of us, that person has come to be Rita, the five-star waitress at Cracker Barrel.

If your family tradition for Thanksgiving isn’t sitting around a cornucopia-covered table where little cousins wipe their boogers on the table, your grandmother constantly berates you about your weight and your Uncle Steve still brings his ex-wife Linda, even though everyone knows they have been divorced for six years, then there is no need to panic. The restaurants of Birmingham are here for you. Hallelujah! Let’s start the thanking!

Veranda on Highland is offering a 3-course, prefixed menu for $55. The first course options are: Country Gumbo - Andouille, Smoked Chicken, Ham Hock,
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup - Spiced Brown Butter, Homemade Marshmallow
Fall Farm Salad - Faro. Red Quinoa, Compressed Pears, Baby Beets, Radish, Pumpkinseeds, Cider Vinaigrette
Roasted Brussels & VOH Ham - Spiced Pecans, Aged Sherry Vinegar, Poached Farm Egg, Venison & Duck Terrine - Port Plum Jam, Brioche
Poached Florida Rock Shrimp ($3 sup.) - Frisee, Baby Radish, Celery Hearts, Citrus Aioli

The second course options are:
Southern Thanksgiving Feast - Roasted Turducken, Fall Vegetables Fried Yams, Stuffing, Cranberry, Giblet Gravy
Stuffed Suckling Pig - Cornbread Stuffing, Roasted Apples, Brussels, Braised Farm Greens, Mustard
Florida Red Grouper - Fennel Confit, Leeks, Fingerling Potatoes, Smoked Bacon, Frisee, Herb Vinaigrette
"Southern Pot Roast" - 16oz Braised Bone In Short Rib, Roasted Root Vegetables. Potato Puree, Cipolini Onions, Veal Jus
Double Cut Colorado Lamb Chop - Caramelized Turnips, Baby Beets, Young Carrots, Kale, Sherry Mint Gastrique,

The last course options are:
Alabama Apple Crisp - Housemade Ice Cream, Carmel
Pecan Tart - Whiskey Whipped Cream
"Pumpkin Pie" - Bourbon Custard, Gingersnap Crust
Bitter Sweet Chocolate Mousse - Port Poached Plums, Spiced Tuile

Shula’s will be serving a special plated brunch from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and a reservation only dinner from 5:30 to 9:30.

The Bright Star will also be serving a 3-course Thanksgiving meal for $18.25. This includes a drink, appetizer, meat with two sides and a dessert.

Bistro V is offering Thanksgiving catering. Make sure to call to pre-order and everything is available next Wednesday as well as Thanksgiving Day.

The menu consists of:

14 lb Fried Turkey (Serves 6-8) $60
22 lb Fried Turkey (Serves 10-12) $85
Cornbread Dressing (Serves 6-8) $25
Oyster Dressing (Serves 6-8) $45
Fresh Cranberry Sauce (Serves 6-8) $12
Squash Casserole (Serves 6-8) $32
Sweet Potato Casserole (Serves 6-8) $32
Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese (Serves 6-8) $32
Creamed Corn (Serves 6-8) $32
Sautéed French Green Beans (Serves 6-8) $32
Giblet Gravy (Serves 6-8) $12
Pumpkin, Chocolate Chess or Pecan Pie (Serves 6-8) $35
Coconut or Red Velvet Cake (Serves 12) $55

Ruth's Chris Steak House three-course, fixed-price Thanksgiving menu will include your choice of Caesar salad, house salad or Louisiana seafood gumbo; roasted turkey breast with cornbread-herb stuffing and cranberry relish and choice of garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with roasted garlic, creamed spinach or sweet potato casserole; pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream.

Irondale Café has the same option available for pick up Tuesday Nov 20th or Wednesday Nov 21st.

Cajun Steamer is selling pre-ordered Cajun Turkeys.
Their menu includes:

Slow Roasted Hen Turkeys, 10-14 lb: $32.99
Hickory Smoked Boneless Ham, 6-8 lb: $4.99/lb
All sides by the quart including cornbread dressing and gravy: $8.99/quart
Homemade Pies: $12.00

Homewood Gourmet is offering a pick-up menu for Wednesday, November 21. The side dishes include: Spicy Pecans, Creamy Parmesan and Artichoke Dip, Cornbread Dressing, Macaroni and Cheese, Sweet Potatoe Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chess Pie, Oatmeal Pecan Pie and Pumpkin-Pecan Bread Pudding with Caramel Bourbon Sauce.

Here are more options to avoid the dog food can-shaped cranberry sauce:
Denny’s, IHOP, Waffle House, Golden Corral, Cracker Barrel, Moe’s BBQ in Hoover will have their tailgate special for pick-up and Rogue Tavern.