Where to get Thanksgiving desserts, dinners around Tacoma — and what’s open on Thursday
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and with it comes the occasional call for how to avoid cooking dinner or dessert.
The best part of looking outside the home for at least a portion of your holiday meal? Stick local and you’ll support a small local business.
We’ve collected some ideas for everything from barbecue to full take-and-bake meals to a trove of side dishes — just make the bird at home — as well as essential desserts.
For beverages, consult with the pros at local winery tasting rooms and bottle shops, including Dahlman Cellars, Tacoma Wine Merchants, The Buried Bottle, Wildside Wine and Field Bar and Bottle Shop. Looking for beer or cider? Stock up at Pierce County’s breweries, cideries and taprooms.
On Saturday, visit Proctor Farmers Market in Tacoma for local produce including wild mushrooms, cheese, meat and fish, plus flowers for the table.
THANKSGIVING DESSERTS
GIRL LOVES CAKE DESSERTS
▪ The goods: Macarons in myriad flavors and canele, a decadent little pastry with a custard-cake interior in both original and seasonal pumpkin from chef Erin Powell
▪ Pre-order: girllovescakedesserts.com by Saturday, Nov. 18, for pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 22
▪ Pickup: Her Lakewood kitchen, 10-11 a.m., 11122 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, (leave note in online order to choose this location) or Paper Luxe, 2053 Mildred St. W, Fircrest
MEDZO GELATO
▪ The goods: from-scratch gelato (among Tacoma’s best desserts) at new-this-year shop; pints in myriad flavors plus gelato pies and cakes in pumpkin, Amarena cherry, German chocolate and tiramisu
▪ Pre-order: email medzogelatobar@gmail.com, call 253-600-9491 or order in-person (2-pint minimum)
▪ Pickup: by Wednesday, Nov. 22, 612 Tacoma Ave. S.
THE GELATO SOCIETY SHOP
▪ The goods: local gelato makers, best known at Tacoma Farmers Market; choose classic flavors or seasonals like pumpkin cheesecake in pints ($11 each)
▪ Pre-order: gelatosociety.com for Sunday-Wednesday for local delivery to Tacoma and Puyallup by Friday, or pickup Sunday
If picking up: Safeway, 707 56th St., Tacoma, 1-3 p.m.
THE COLLECTION BAKERY
▪ The goods: Latin-inspired bakery known at local farmers markets; 6-9 inch pies ($10-$32) in butterscotch pumpkin; turtle cream with pecans, caramel and chocolate; double-crust apple with piloncillo; Grandma Ann’s pecan; hot butter rum cake with ginger crisp cookie crumble and salted caramel ($45 for multi-layered 6-inch); focaccia squares and milk-bread dinner rolls ($12 for 10)
▪ Pre-order: instagram.com/thecollectionbakery for pickup or delivery in Tacoma and Puyallup, Wednesday, Nov. 22
▪ If picking up: My Commercial Kitchen, 3812 S. Wright Ave., Tacoma, 3-6 p.m.
DELISH BAKERY
▪ The goods: petite bakery in Steilacoom; pies ($28), spice cake, cupcakes in six flavors, cookies, pumpkin bars and brownies ($4.50-$36/dozen)
▪ Pre-order: delish-bakery.com/thanksgiving-pre-order, call 253-325-9822 by Nov. 16 for pickup Nov. 22.
▪ Pickup: 1603 Lafayett St., Steilacoom, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
THANKSGIVING TAKEOUT
ASADO
▪ The goods: take-and-bake dinner kit from Sixth Ave’s Argentinian steakhouse (feeds 4-6, $230); half-roasted turkey over herbs with gravy, fresh cranberry sauce with fernet, Peruvian purple potatoes, cornbread stuffing, chorizo Brussels sprouts, candied yams with marshmallows and dinner rolls
▪ Pre-order: resy.com/cities/sea/asado for pickup Wednesday, Nov. 22
▪ Pickup: 2810 6th Ave., Tacoma, 12-4 p.m.
SOUTHERN KITCHEN
▪ The goods: half-pans of Southern Kitchen’s beloved sides, including collards, mac, candied yams and cornbread dressing; packages range from four sides and muffins to six pans, muffins and a sweet potato pie ($225-$325)
▪ Pre-order: southernkitchen-tacoma.com/holidaycatering2, complete form and pickup by Nov. 22.
▪ Where: 1716 6th Ave., Tacoma, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
JACK’S BBQ
▪ The goods: no turkeys left from one of the best barbecue restaurants in the region, but plenty of sides (feeds 8-10, $15-$25), including beef-bacon Brussels sprouts, apple-sage stuffing, turkey gravy and garlicky mashed potatoes, plus pecan or chocolate buttermilk pie ($30)
▪ Pre-order: jacksbbq.com/thanksgiving for take-and-bake pickup Nov. 22 or hot Nov. 23.
▪ Pickup: Algona, 35731 West Valley Highway S.; Lakewood, 12115 Pacific Highway SW.
BRIMSTONE PNW
▪ The goods: smoked meat meal (feeds at least two, $145) from Gig Harbor’s modern barbecue restaurant; pound of turkey and brisket, bacon-cider gravy, mashed potatoes, baked beans, creamed kale, cornbread dressing, cranberry, buns, toffee pudding and pint of caramel-apple ice cream.
▪ Pre-order: bbqbrimstone.com for pickup on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23.
▪ Pickup: 7707 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (extra ice cream pints available).
JUST TURKEY
OWEN’S MEATS
▪ The goods: dry-aged turkeys still available from this local butcher, plus full meat case.
▪ Pre-order: owensmeats.com, call to secure your bird ASAP for pickup by Nov. 22.
▪ Where: Waterfront Market at Ruston, Yacht Club Road, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
THANKSGIVING WINE & CIDER
DAHLMAN CELLARS
▪ The goods: save $26, or about a bottle’s worth, on Dahlman’s Thanksgiving wine bundle includes sparkling rosé, Columbia Valley Roussanne, The Nurse (award-winning red blend, 2021) and a cab for $100
▪ Order: online dahlmancellars.com or at Tacoma tasting room for pickup during regular business hours
▪ Pickup: 113 N Tacoma Ave., Tacoma
CIDER & CEDAR
▪ The goods: bottled heirloom ciders from Washington and Oregon makers available at this one-of-a-kind cider bar and bottle shop
▪ Order: in-person during regular business hours, Wednesday-Saturday
▪ Pickup: 744 Market St., Tacoma
RESTAURANTS OPEN ON THANKSGIVING
CITRON EUROPEAN BISTRO
▪ 10716 A St. S., Tacoma, 253-212-1153, facebook.com/CitronEuropeanBistro
▪ What to know: French-leaning bistro with sweet, mellow ambiance that always serves a special Thanksgiving plate; full menu also available.
▪ Reservations: recommended.
OXBOW URBAN KITCHEN
▪ 1105 Pacific Ave., Sumner, 253-881-5111, oxbowurbankitchen.com
▪ What to know: new-this-year contemporary American restaurant from team behind Toscano’s in Puyallup; full menu available, including steaks, seafood, salads and dessert.
▪ Reservations: recommended, 1-6 p.m.
MCMENAMIN’S ELKS TEMPLE
▪ 565 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-300-8777, mcmenamins.com/elks-temple
▪ What to know: The Pub inside this downtown hotel is always open; Thanksgiving specials plus full menu available.
▪ Reservations: recommended.
DOYLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE
▪ 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-7468, doylespublichouse.com
▪ What to know: Tacoma’s 365 pub always welcomes you on holidays; full menu and bar available, plus a special Thanksgiving plate ($34) with all the heavy-hitters, including pumpkin pie (order ahead for pickup at 11 a.m. Nov. 24, along with beer and wine to-go)
COOPER’S FOOD + DRINK
▪ 5928 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253-503-0329, cooperstacoma.com
▪ What to know: prix-fixe Thanksgiving dinner ($33 adults, $18 kids) with charcuterie board to share, choice of turkey or vegetarian meatball entree, plus six sides and choice of two desserts; holiday cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks, too.
▪ Reservations: recommended.
This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 10:00 AM.