Thanksgiving Eats & Treats Around Los Angeles

MALIBU, CA – The holiday season is officially here, and restaurants across Los Angeles are here to make Turkey Day a little easier, and a little sweeter. With food ready for pick-up like plant-based Thanksgiving eats from Café Gratitude for your vegan dinner guests, and Winston Pies for dessert, there's no reason to stress out over dinner plans.

Want to avoid cleaning dozens of dishes? Ivory at Sunset will keep it simple with their Thanksgiving menus. For those with a sweet tooth, Salt & Straw has unique Thanksgiving-themed ice cream flavors to try, and bring a pint home. If you'd like to give back during this time of thanks, Gracias Madre is hosting a fundraiser to benefit earthquake relief in Oaxaca – show up to eat or volunteer!

Here's a round up of the best Thanksgiving eats and treats around the Los Angeles area:

• Café Gratitude's Thanksgiving Sides & Pie
  • Have one or a few vegan relatives? Café Gratitude is whipping up vegan sides and pies to easily feed your plant-based family and friends. All sides and pies serve 4-6 people, and must be ordered by Monday, Nov. 20 and picking up between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Customers can order via phone, in person, or online at www.cafegratitude.com.
    • French Lentil & Butternut Squash Loaf - $35
    • Shaved Kale, Raddichio & Persimmon Salad - $45
    • Roasted Maple Miso Brussels Sprouts - $35
    • Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Shitake Gravy - $35
    • Pecan Pie - $35
    • Pumpkin Pie - $35
    • Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie - $35

• GRACIAS MADRE'S Thanksgiving Fundraiser to benefit earthquake relief in Oaxaca
  • West Hollywood’s plant based Mexican restaurant is spreading its gratitude to the community with a Thanksgiving fundraiser – Gracias Por Oaxaca – a benefit for earthquake relief in Oaxaca. On Thursday, Nov. 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Gracias Madre, in partnership with Guelaguetza, will be commemorating the spirit of the holiday while contributing to a great cause by offering diners a complete vegan Mexican-inspired Thanksgiving meal. Guests will be served on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are encouraged to arrive early for prompt seating. All proceeds will be donated to Por Oaxaca ($25 suggested donation).
    • Deadline for Volunteer Sign up is Nov. 20th. Volunteers can sign up online here.
    • Address: 8905 Melrose Avenue West Hollywood, CA 90069
    • Menu: Butternut Squash Tamale, Cranberry Habanero Sauce, Wild Rice & Black Bean Pilaf, Fall Salad, Pumpkin Cheesecake with the choice of a Cranberry Margarita (also available as a mocktail)

• Salt & Straw's November "Thanksgiving Dinner of Ice Cream"
  • Five new Turkey Day flavors are available at all Salt & Straw Los Angeles locations until Nov. 22.
  • Flavors: Sweet Potato Casserole with Maple Pecans, Buttered Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Persimmon Walnut Stuffing, Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey and Spiced Goat Cheese & Pumpkin Pie
  • Locations:
    • 240 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA - (323) 466-0485
    • 1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA - (310) 310-8429
    • 12180 ½ Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles, CA - (818) 358-2890
    • 829 E. 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA - (213) 988-7070
    • 8949 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA - (424) 288-4818
  • For more information, visit here.

• Thanksgiving at Ivory on Sunset
  • For $65/person, you can take the headache out of planning Thanksgiving dinner and visit Ivory on Sunset for a three-course dinner.
    • Starter Options:
      
      • Lollipop Kale Salad: plums, red endive, breakfast radish, ricotta salata, house vinaigrette
      • Green Salad: cranberries, parmesan cheese, granny smith apple, radicchio, spiced apple cider vinaigrette
      • Octopus: Shishito peppers, lemon jell, celery leaves, breakfast radish
    • Main Course Options:
      • Turkey Plate: white and Dark meat, mash potatoes and Gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce
      • Salmon: pumpernickel crusted Salmon, braise cabbage with bacon, salmon roes, mustard crème fraiche
      • Prime Rib: mash potatoes, blue lake green beans, horseradish cream, au jus
      • Pomodoro: house made pasta, Pomodoro Sauce, parmesan cheese, arugula
    • Dessert Options:
      • Pumpkin Cheesecake
      • Apple Tart
      • Pumpkin Pie
    • Sides (additional $7 each):
      • Blue Lake Green Beans
      • Sweet Potato Mash
      • Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
      • Mashed Potatos
      • Stuffing

• Winston Pies Thanksgiving Pies
  • Winston Pies just opened in Brentwood earlier this year, and is the perfect place to grab classic pies. They'll be serving up Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Orange Chess Pie, along with any of their classic flavors available all year long
  • Each full-sized pie is $42 ($45 for gluten free) and serves up seven slices. You can also order a full-sized pie backed inside a hand-thrown ceramic pie dish for $100. Insider tip: the ceramic dishes are slightly larger than the traditional pie dish, so not only do you get a pie dish that you can keep and bake in again, but you also get more pie to begin with.
  • Orders for Thanksgiving pies can be placed by Nov. 17 online or in store, for pick up by close of business on Wednesday, Nov. 22nd.
  • The shop will also be offering a special Pie Valet! Pre-pay for your pie and call ahead when you are picking it up, and a baker will run it out to your car.

Main photo courtesy of Winston Pies