Thank Outside the Box

3 Other Ways to Celebrate Our Favorite Food Holiday

By Pamela Jacobs.

For most people, Thanksgiving brings a reason to get together with family and an excuse to cook and eat copious amounts of food—all good things, of course. But there isn't only one right way to celebrate the holiday. If you're looking for something a bit different—easier, unconventional, or far away from it all—here are some alternatives to the holiday norm.

Thanksgiving To-Go

Cooking isn't for everyone. What is for everyone (or should be), is a barbecue feast prepared by people who are really, really good at it. That's where Hill Country Barbecue Market comes in. Offering two takeout packages for Thanksgiving, as well as plenty of á la carte choices, this beloved Texas barbecue joint is the answer to many New Yorkers' culinary prayers. Whether it's for an unconventional family meal, a foodie-centric Friendsgiving, or for Texas transplants longing for a taste of home, Hill Country Market's Thanksgiving takeout menu might be the best thing to happen to the holiday since ready-made pie crust. Here's what to expect:

The Rancher's Feast (Feeds 5-8)

Whole Pit-Smoked Turkey
Skillet Cornbread
5 House Sides (Choices include Sweet Potato Bourbon Mash, Texas Toast Stuffing, and White Shoepeg Corn Pudding)
1 Nine-Inch Pie (Choices include Bourbon Pecan and Classic Pumpkin)
The Governor's Banquet (Feeds 9-12)

Whole Pit-Smoked Turkey
Skillet Cornbread
8 House Sides
2 Nine-Inch Pies

Thanksgiving takeout is available at Hill Country Market's Manhattan and Brooklyn locations: hillcountryny.com and hillcountrybk.com

Thanksgiving Delivered

We all want to wow our guests on Thanksgiving, with mile-high pies and poultry masterpieces. Some things, however, are best left to the professionals. That's where FoodyDirect comes to the rescue. The e-commerce site answers your culinary prayers, delivering iconic foods directly to your doorstep. Now you can sit back, watch the Macy's parade, and pretend you spent hours slaving away in the kitchen. Here's what we'll be ordering from them this Turkey Day:

The All-Madden Turducken
John Madden made this indulgent dish a modern classic—turkey stuffed with duck stuffed with chicken—and now FoodyDirect makes it possible to enjoy it without having to lift a finger. The 17-pound triple-bird has two layers of sausage stuffing, one layer of cornbread dressing, and infinite layers of flavor.
foodydirect.com/restaurants/gourmet-butcher-block/dishes/the-all-madden-turducken

Levee High Caramel Pecan Apple Pie
Much like those whose journeys led to the first Thanksgiving, today's foodies make pilgrimages from around the world to Blue Owl Bakery in Kimmswick, MO for this foot-high apple pie. Thanks to FoodyDirect, the towering treat can be delivered to your door. Just pop it in the oven and watch your guests devour the 10-pound, apple-filled gooey goodness.
foodydirect.com/restaurants/the-blue-owl/dishes/caramel-pecan-levee-high-apple-pie

Fall Flavors Handmade Ice Cream
We're not sure there's ever been a better combination than apple pie and ice cream. And the only way to improve upon a classic is when it's small-batch, handmade, and tastes like autumn-on-a-spoon. FoodyDirect delivers Anderson's Custard—perfect to serve on top of that massive pie—with flavors that include pumpkin, pumpkin cheesecake, apple caramel crisp, and classic vanilla.

Thanksgiving Out of Town

You love New York City—of course you do. But sometimes you need to love it from a distance. And of course the city has its charm, but you really can't compare the charm of the concrete jungle to that of a hotel in Maine. Located in Ogunquit, Maine (doesn't that just sound quaint?), the Meadowmere Resort, set on the southern coast of the state that just oozes New England allure, offers a Thanksgiving package that just might be the excuse you were looking for to get out of the city.

Here are just some of the activities you and your family can partake in at Meadowmere: Bundle up in your coziest cable-knit sweater and stroll along Ogunquit Beach; spend a day at the spa, complete with Roman bath; grab a pint or a hot beverage and cozy up to the roaring stone fireplace in their West Meadow Pub; and of course, enjoy a complete traditional Thanksgiving dinner onsite at Jonathan's Ogunquit, where they utilize many local ingredients and epitomize autumn in Maine.

Meadowmere's Ogunquit Thanksgiving Weekend Package includes accommodations for 2-4 nights, daily breakfast, Thanksgiving dinner at Jonathan's, Thanksgiving crafts for the kids, late-check-out, and more.
meadowmere.com