Thanksgiving 2012 dining guide

If Thanksgiving creeps up on you by surprise and you suddenly find yourself unprepared to whip up an all-out turkey dinner, no problem. Many Los Angeles restaurants are offering either take-out Thanksgiving dinners, to be picked up the day before Thanksgiving, or are open on Thanksgiving Day. 

Melisse's annual Thanksgiving dinner includes options such as Josiah Citrin's dry-aged prime rib and crispy bass with Champagne-truffle reduction, as well as roast turkey. Pick up Suzanne Goin's stuffing with chestnuts, prunes and cavolo nero at the Larder at Tavern in Brentwood. Or have it with a full sit-down Thanksgiving dinner at Tavern.

Looking to pick up some extras? Cooks County's Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat have add-ons such as persimmon, pomegranate and arugula salad and desserts such as cranberry chess pie. Manhattan Beach Post has side dishes such as cheddar buttermilk biscuits.

At Huckleberry Cafe, free sweet treats and Verve coffee come with your pick-up order. 

Farmshop will roast a 15-pound Diestel Family Farms turkey for you (or you can roast it at home). And Thomas Keller's Bouchon marinates and stuffs the turkey for you so you can just slip it into the oven, and take all the credit.

Here's a list of Thanksgiving Day dinner (and even brunch) options:

Hungry Cat Santa Monica

Thanksgiving dinner: persimmon and watercress salad, deep fried turkey with green bean casserole, chorizo and oyster stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, potato puree, gravy and cranberry sauce. Pumpkin pie for dessert. The full raw bar menu will be available a la carte. Thanksgiving dinner is 1 to 8 p.m. $64 per person, $32.50 for children 10 and younger, and free for children 2 and under. Reservations required. 100 W. Channel road, Santa Monica, (310) 459-3337, www.thehungrycat.com.

The Churchill

A three-course Thanksgiving Day dinner starts with carrot-apple-ginger soup with spiced apple chutney, or winter greens, cranberries and Drake farms goat feta cheese. The second course includes roasted turkey, with cranberry-kale-and-cornbread stuffing, oak-roasted di ciccio broccoli, candied sweet potatoes, Yukon Gold smashed potatoes, giblet gravy and drop biscuits. Dessert is seckel pear crostata with brown butter gelato, or pumpkin creme brûlée. $35 per person. 5 to 10 p.m. 8384 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, www.the-churchill.com.

BLT Steak LA

Dinner choices for Thanksgiving include roasted turkey, dry-aged roasted prime rib and pan-seared halibut. Start with chestnut and celery root soup, porcini risotto or Boston salad with figs and Gorgonzola. Sides: chestnut-sausage stuffing (vegetarian option available), cranberry-grenadine sauce, rosemary gravy, Brussels sprouts with cippolini and bacon, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes and sweet potato gratin. And for dessert? Cranberry spiced bread pudding or pumpkin tart. $68 per person. 8720 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 360-1950, www.e2hospitality.com/blt-steak-los-angeles.

Ammo

Order Thanksgiving dishes to go. Serving six people: roasted almonds and olives with sea salt and thyme ($20); baby vegetable crudite ($30); house-cured salmon with crème fraiche, chives and crostini ($24); bresaola with arugula, persimmons and pomegranates on crostini ($24); platter of prosciutto San Daniele, bresaola, soppressata and Parmigiano Reggiano ($36); artisan cheeses ($48). Turkey options for eight to 10 people: roasted Diestel turkey breast and braised legs ($85) or brined oven-ready turkey ($75). Sides, serving four to six: kabocha squash soup with creme fraiche and roasted pepitas ($16); Coleman lettuces with Bartlett pear, Humboldt Fog, pomegranates, hazelnuts and sherry vinaigrette ($26);  roasted baby root vegetables ($24); roasted sweet potatoes with spicy maple butter ($20); roasted Brussels sprouts with pancetta ($22); blue lake beans with lemon zest and pinenuts ($18); charred rapini with crushed garlic and chile ($20); horseradish mashed potatoes ($18); wild mushroom turkey gravy ($20 for 1 quart); whole grain chestnut sage stuffing ($18); cranberry chutney with ginger-tangerine ($12 for 1 pint). Desserts for eight: pumpkin pie with brandied whipped cream ($28); pumpkin cheesecake ($30); pecan pie with crème fraiche ($28); apple bread pudding with caramel sauce ($26); assorted cookie plate ($8). Call by Sunday at 3 p.m.; credit card required. Orders can be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 21, after 11:30 a.m. Local delivery for an additional fee. 1155 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 871-2666, www.ammocafe.com.
       
AnQi by Crustacean

Thanksgiving to go, featuring citrus and herb-brined organic turkey with roasted garlic gravy ($118, serves eight), a 5-pound whole roasted garden herb Jidori chicken ($50, serves four to six) or a 6-pound ham glazed with honey, orange and fresh pineapple ($89, six to eight people). Three choices of stuffing ($19 for four to six, or $33 for eight to 10): turkey-apple sausage and leek; sticky rice with shiitake mushroom, Chinese sausage and chestnuts; gluten-free stuffing with caramelized onions and immunity-boosting herb tiato. Side options include haricot verts with water chestnuts, shallots and ginger in butter sauce; roasted Brussels sprout with almonds, dates and garlic-lime wasabi; and smashed yams with rosemary and garlic ($19 for four to six, $33 for eight to 10). Call (310) 866-5228 or go to www.tiato.com before Monday for pick-up on Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, adjacent to Bloomingdale’s.

Joe’s

Thanksgiving Day dinner at the restaurant includes butternut squash bisque with Windrose Farms apples and roasted chestnuts; kale and cabbage salad, or duck liver mousse with charred bacon, or seared scallops with sunchokes and Brussels sprouts, or farro salad with mushrooms, wild herbs and mushroom dashi. Four options for the main course: Mary’s natural turkey breast, confit turkey leg, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts guanciale; delicata squash; walnut bread stuffing, black kale and gravy; or roasted rack of heritage pork with bourbon sweet potatoes, braised kale and persimmon jam; or roasted monkfish with pumpkin gnocchi, sprouting broccoli and pinenu pomegranate relish; or strudel of wild mushrooms and autumn vegetables with raclette cheese and green beans. Apple bread pudding, pumpkin bars, cranberry parfait or flourless chocolate cake for dessert. $54 per person, $20 for kids. 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 399-5811, www.joesrestaurant.com.

Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood

Choose a three-course Thanksgiving dinner from a menu that includes (but is not limited to, the restaurant says): pumpkin soup, autumn mushroom risotto, roasted organic turkey with sage stuffing, butter poached halibut, bread pudding and baked apple tarte tatin. Served on Thanksgiving Day from 11:30 am. to 10 p.m. $95 per person. 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 358-7788, www.thelondonwesthollywood.com.

Bouchon's to-go Thanksgiving meals include seasoned Diestel Farms turkey (free-range, grain-fed and hormone-free), oven-ready after marinating in lemon-herb brine and stuffed with diced carrots, celery and onion ($80, serves 6; $115, serves 12; and $150, serves 18). Bouchon's stuffing kit ($12) includes fresh-baked croutons, a seasoning packet with dried herbs and spices, toasted pecans and sweet dried cranberries.  Classic sides (6 servings) are on the to-go menu:  mac 'n' cheese ($16), green bean casserole ($16), roasted sweet potatoes ($16).  For dessert: pumpkin pie, pecan pie and apple pie ($28). Order before Nov. 15 for pickup Nov. 19-21. Seasonal cupcakes and cookies are available from Bouchon Bakery from Nov. 12-22. On Thanksgiving Day, Bouchon Bakery will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bistro and bar are both closed.  235 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 271-9910, www.bouchonbistro.com.