Why Spend Hours Cooking? This Thanksgiving, Say ‘Take-out!’

STORY BY JAN NORRIS

Three weeks of planning, shopping, cleaning, cooking — for 30 minutes of eating. Worth it?
Those dedicated to the Thanksgiving dinner tradition and of course, family, will say yes.
Others will say: Take-out! — especially with the quality of meals available to go.
Clever cooks can get the turkey elsewhere, then make the sides their families can’t live without.
Even smarter cooks throw a pot-luck, and limit the work and cost to just the bird. Two tips for this one: a) Set the menu first, and assign certain dishes, and b) invite good cooks! Either way, a few pointers. Two words: Order early! Take-out is extremely popular with small to medium households. Many places sell out in advance.

A dinner that serves four-to-six usually hits the low end, or just makes it with no leftovers. Prepare a few extra sides, or pony up and order enough for the high number (plus surprises) on your guest list. Stretcher foods include green salad, extra mashed potatoes, stuffing or kid-favorite, mac n’ cheese. It’s not cheating to have a rotisserie chicken or two on standby, either.

Don’t forget sides that may not come with the meal: Cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls and dessert.

Here are area places selling Thanksgiving dinner to-go, whole or parts. Note that most major grocery stores — Publix, Fresh Market, Sprouts — will offer cooked turkeys as well as sides.

Restaurants

Jupiter Beach Resort, 5 N. Hwy. A1A, Jupiter 33477. (561) 746-2511; opalcollection.com/ Jupiter-beach/. Family and individual dinners. Restaurant serving by reservation.
River House, 2373 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens 33410. (561) 530-4313; theriverhousepbg.com. Family and individual dinners, and housemade pies. Restaurant serving by reservation.
TooJays, 4050 U.S. 1, Jupiter 33477, (5 61) 625-5555; toojays.com. Family and individual dinners, housemade pies. Restaurant serving by reservation.
Jersey Diner, 716 U.S. Hwy. 1, Tequesta 33469. (561) 747-4263; jerseydiner.com. Individual dinners, housemade pies. Restaurant serving till 3 p.m. by reservation.

Markets and specialty shops

Honeybaked Ham Co., 1201 U.S. 1 #2, North Palm Beach 33408. (561) 624-0008; honeybaked.com. Whole turkeys and sides.
Antonio’s Italian Market, 12214 U.S. Hwy. 1, Jupiter 33408. (561) 6256544; antoniositalianmarket.net. Traditional and Italian-themed dinners and desserts. Pick up the day before; closed Thanksgiving Day.
Carmine’s Gourmet Market, 2401 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens 33410. (561) 775-0105; carmines.com. Full and individual dinners. Whole turkeys and pies.
Doris Italian Market and Bakery, 11239 U.S. Hwy. 1, North Palm Beach, 33408. (561) 517-8488; dorismarket. com. Full and individual dinners. Whole turkeys and pies.
Bread by Johnny, 1695 Indiantown Road, Jupiter 33458. (561) 768-9423; breadbyjohnny.com. Artisan breads. Order in advance.
Pinder’s Seafood, 1665 Old Dixie Hwy., Jupiter 33469. (561) 746-3670; pindersseafood.com. Stone crabs, lobster, shrimp. Order in advance.
Rosetta’s Produce, 9270 W. Indiantown Road, Jupiter 33478. (561) 2779897; rosettasmarket.com. Conventional and organic produce, specialty items.