Ah, Thanksgiving, that time of family togetherness and feasts that leave leftovers for days and days. Sometimes – perhaps especially coming out of pandemic-induced hibernation – families would rather focus on the food and fellowship and not so much on the cooking and cleanup. For those times, not to worry: The Alexandria restaurant corps has you covered. From takeout to dine-in, here are some of your best bets for staying out of the kitchen this year.
From Politics to Pastry
In need of a dessert (or three)? You’d better hurry. The deadline is this Friday to place your order for Pennsylvania Dutch shoo-fly molasses pie, chocolate chunk scones, Parker House rolls or multigrain rolls. Prefer the hands-on approach but have no idea where to start? The company is also hosting a virtual scone-making class this Sunday. Email frompoliticstopastry@icloud.com to reserve your spot (or your dessert!).
Spice Kraft Indian Bistro
Put a spicy flair on your festivities with a trip to Spice Kraft. Whether you elect to dine in or carry out, the restaurant’s six-course menu will surely leave you in a dazed and happy state by dessert time. The tone is set early on with an appetizer of “turkey cutlet with Chettinad spice crust,” and continues through a tandoor-roasted butternut squash soup, tandoori-roasted turkey and turkey tikka masala and a half-dozen sides. And that dessert? It’s pumpkin halwa, a sweet pudding. Toast with champagne, beer or mango lassi and leave the table satisfied. 2607 Mount Vernon Ave.
Trademark Drink and Eat
It may be well into autumn now, but Trademark is gazing back wistfully to warmer days with its homage to last summer’s “Rums of the Caribbean” event. Thanksgiving will feature a turkey brined in the restaurant’s “Bright and Stormy Grog Cocktail.” Dine in or order to-go; the restaurant will help you out either way with all the fixings. If you do choose to celebrate at Trademark, belly up for a three-course dinner beginning with soup, salad or bruschetta, then choose between the aforementioned turkey and a pumpkin ravioli, and put the cherry on top (as it were) with a choice of rum pecan pie, carrot cake, dark chocolate torte or a cranberry-apple tart. 2080 Jamieson Ave.
Ada’s on the River
How about dinner with a river view? Ada’s has you covered. The restaurant’s three-course dinner is available from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and features the likes of preserved root vegetable tartare or seared scallops to start; smoky turkey breast roulade, filet mignon or seared halibut as main course; and ginger-blood orange parfait, pecan cheesecake or pumpkin tart to add a sweet treat. 3 Pioneer Mill Way