Some Thanksgiving traditions involve starting the morning with a run (like the Turkey Trot 8k & 5k) or going around the table so each person can list the things they are thankful for (like my mom walking my dog for me so I don’t have to wake up early when I visit.)
The best part of this holiday is that it’s customizable – you don’t have to eat the traditional turkey + stuffing every year. You don’t even have to eat Thanksgiving dinner on actual Thanksgiving Day (enter: Friendsgiving).
Here’s how to hack Friendsgiving this year.
If you are in charge of bringing sides, don’t settle for store-bought mashed potatoes in a cardboard box – we all know potatoes aren’t really made of powder and milk. Stop by The Bakery at Project Host to grab some sweet potato purée, creamed spinach, green bean casserole, + corn soufflé.
🍴 Serves: 6 people for $18 or 12 people for $36
📲 Contact: orders@projecthost.org or 864-372-6493 ASAP because supplies are limited.
If you are supposed to handle the main dish, The Pompous Pig in Anderson has got you covered. Order a smoked whole turkey or smoked spiral sliced glazed ham by Nov. 16 and pick it up before 2 p.m. on Nov. 22.
🍴 Serves: 9-13 people for $54.95 (turkey) or market price (ham)
📲 Contact: 864-231-7447
If your friends trust you to bring dessert, this is your time to shine. Strossner’s is literally a sweet lover’s dream – choose from cookies + cakes, pastries + pies, and strudels + Stollen German Fruit Bread.
🍴 Serves: 1-30 people. It depends on how much you buy + how much everyone else has already eaten...
📲 Contact: 864-233-3996
Tired of all the Thanksgiving-ness (or trying to avoid cleaning up the after dinner mess)? Head to Barley’s upstairs bar or Up on the Roof to grab some cocktails.
Why even bother braving the grocery store to make your own meal when these places have already perfected the dishes?
Caviar & Bananas has everything from racks of lamb to roasted pear cornbread stuffing and hot chocolate marshmallow cakes – all to be enjoyed in the comfort of home (you can even wear your onesie if you want).
Boston Market will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and serving a Thanksgiving dine-in menu or you can pre-order from the Thanksgiving heat & serve to-go menu.
Cracker Barrel offers heat-n-serve family meals that serves 10 people for $99 or they have a selection of pies if that’s not your specialty.
Soby’s on the Side lets you order a whole meal or pick what you need (to cover up what you burned or forgot this year – or is that just me?) We’re ready for allllll the Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese.
Seasons Cafe & Catering has whole meals for 15 or 30 people or a selection of 10 different desserts + 10 sides (like Seasons’ Specialty Cranberry Chutney). Choose what you want online then pick up the meal by Nov. 22.
