Take home Thanksgiving feasts?

[mommaU4]

Hello all! I have a question about those Thanksgiving take home meals. I have always cooked on Thanksgiving and have no problem doing that, but this year I've been looking into possibly ordering some food and taking a break from cooking.

I've looked online to check prices and such, and have a couple places I'm considering, all are within 10 minutes or less from my house, that have Thanksgiving meals for order.

There's Mimi's Cafe, Claim Jumper, Marie Calenders, and Vons. The first three are more or less the same in price. Between $79 and $99 for 4-6 people. (We are a family of 6, and this year it will be just us.) Vons is the cheapest at $39.
I'm just not sure if this is worth trying. Has anyone ordered these meals before? If so, from where and what did you think of the quality and taste of the food? Did you feel it was a better deal than buying groceries and making everything yourself?

Just wondering if anyone has any opinions for or against ordering these meals. Thanks in advance!

~Oh, and I did a search to see if this topic has come up recently, but couldn't find anything. If it has, and there are other threads regarding this, can someone post a link for me. Thanks again.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

We like Mimi's Cafe but I've never done their takeout for a holiday.

 

[DisnyMama]

Three years ago my DS and I got the Thanksgiving dinner from Vons and it was delicious. It was just the two of us but there was plenty of food for 4 to 6 people and you can't beat the price.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

We did it one year. We got it from a local grocery store, and it was actually very good. One of the sides was just a frozen dish, which I wasn't expecting (the ad made it appear that everything was made in the store). If I'd known that, I could have made it myself and it would have tasted better. But other than that, it was easy and tasty. We haven't done it again, but I wouldn't cross it off entirely for the future.

 

[JCMHutch]

My grandmother used our local grocery store the last few years she hosted a holiday (it was to much for her to cook, but she wanted to host). It was pretty good - we did have a couple of homemade additions like stuffing but overall it made it a lot easier.

 

[soonerfan2008]

We did a take away meal from the grocery store when DD was a newborn. It was not very good--mostly just packaged and/or frozen sides.

We also did Cracker Barrel one year when we were on vacation for Thanksgiving. It was delicious!

 

[krcit]

My friend is a caterer out of a local deli. I am hoping to use him for Thanksgiving. It's $200 for 10-12 people and his food is delicious! My brother is arguing with me b/c he wants to cook but honestly, it's just so much easier to get it catered.

 

[mommaU4]

We like Mimi's Cafe but I've never done their takeout for a holiday.

We like Mimi's too, but usually seem to end up there for breakfast.

Three years ago my DS and I got the Thanksgiving dinner from Vons and it was delicious. It was just the two of us but there was plenty of food for 4 to 6 people and you can't beat the price.

Yes, Vons was certainly the cheapest. I know I couldn't purchase all the ingredients for that price! Good to know you enjoyed it.

We did it one year. We got it from a local grocery store, and it was actually very good. One of the sides was just a frozen dish, which I wasn't expecting (the ad made it appear that everything was made in the store). If I'd known that, I could have made it myself and it would have tasted better. But other than that, it was easy and tasty. We haven't done it again, but I wouldn't cross it off entirely for the future.

Hmm, I wondered if they were going to be frozen. It did say to allow 2-3 hours for reheating.

My grandmother used our local grocery store the last few years she hosted a holiday (it was to much for her to cook, but she wanted to host). It was pretty good - we did have a couple of homemade additions like stuffing but overall it made it a lot easier.

I was thinking if I did order out, that I'd make a few sides to add to it. Which of course then made me think I might as well just make the whole thing if I'm cooking anyway. lol

We also did Cracker Barrel one year when we were on vacation for Thanksgiving. It was delicious!

OMG, I love Cracker Barrel! There isn't one in Las Vegas where I live, but we lived in Michigan for 3 years and we had one there. I miss it!!

My friend is a caterer out of a local deli. I am hoping to use him for Thanksgiving. It's $200 for 10-12 people and his food is delicious! My brother is arguing with me b/c he wants to cook but honestly, it's just so much easier to get it catered.

Sometimes it's just nice to not worry about it, kwim? I hope it works out for you to use your friend. Sounds good!






~ Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I am still torn, but will mull it over some more. I have time to plan. I asked my husband but in typical male form, the reply I got was "It's up to you. Whatever you want".

 

[SandrA9810]

My aunt is planning on buying one of the 9lb spiral hams from Cracker Barrel for 40$. She's going to a pot luck kind of dinner for Thanksgiving this year.

 

[lyncecelia]

Jumping on the bandwagon!

DBF doesn't get back from a business trip til 8pm Thanksgiving and it's just the two of us this year (kids are going to be at their mom's)....so I don't really feel like making a whole big Thanksgiving for 2 people that late...

Any suggestions in New Hampshire?

 

[Longsx3]

We too are ordering Thanksgiving out, my first choice was Maggianos but decided on Mimi's instead. My cousin will also bring a ham and I am going to add a few additional sides(from Whole Foods) and pies. We figure when we are finished it will be under $300 for 12 people and I usually spend at least that plus the headache of preparation and clean up.

 

[princess barbara]

In Manchester, NH, I would order something yummy for the 2 of you from Boston Market.

 

[Nicolepa]

I've never used those listed but I've done Whole Foods the last 3 years and it was awesome. It is $119 for 8. We love it, and the food is all really good. I could probably do it a bit cheaper, but once I add in time and stress it's a deal.

 

[MrsToad]

We, too, ordered a "complete" Thanksgiving dinner from our local Stop and Shop store during two different years when extended family members needed our assistance with day to day things due to illnesses and DH and I were also working many extra hours.

Many of the grocery stores in our area offer these meals, both with a turkey theme or with a ham theme. The Thanksgiving meal from Stop and Shop this year, for instance, is $59.99, serves 6 to 8, and includes:

"Butterball Fully Cooked Turkey (aprx 10-12 lbs),
2-24 oz Stop & Shop Homestyle Mashed Potatoes,
1-24 oz Stop & Shop Homestyle Stuffing,
2-24 oz Stop & Shop Butternut Squash,
1-24 oz Stop & Shop Turkey Gravy,
1-14 oz Stop & Shop Fresh Cranberry Relish,
12 Dinner Rolls,
8" Apple or Pumpkin Pie.

Allow 2 hours for reheating turkey."

The meal above is very like the ones we ordered. They were both fine. I added some sweet potatoes since DH doesn't like squash, and a can of cranberry sauce as he doesn't like the "fresh" kind (it has to have the canned shape ).

I felt guilty not cooking, but DH kept saying that he would rather have me enjoy myself and relax than go crazy trying to make everything myself (I love that man ). In a pinch, I would do it again.

 

[powellrj]

I have a friend who doesn't cook and they ordered Bob Evans last year and really enjoyed it. I haven't asked her yet, but I assume they are doing it again this year.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We've had the take-out meal from Mimi's twice. The first time, we got the whole pre-cooked turkey with all the trimmings. Last year, we ordered the sliced turkey meal instead since we didn't want to deal with a whole turkey. It still took quite a while to heat everything, especially the whole turkey. We still had to drag out the roasting pan and put it in the oven for 2 hours. All of the side dishes had to be reheated in pans on the stove or in dishes in the microwave. I still ended up with a sink full of dirty pots and pans and then we had to deal with storing all the leftovers. It was almost like making a meal from scratch!

 

[dd50]

I did that about 8 years ago from my local grocery store (Publix). The turkey had to be reheated about as long as it takes to cook one. The turkey was really good but the potatoes and the other things were horrible. It was like the stuff they feed to the people in nursing homes. Sad to say that most of it wasn't eaten. Processed every thing and not the best quality. Like a previous posted stated it was almost like cooking it yourself.

 

[Kathi OD]

We've ordered a couple of times from a local grocery store the years I was not well enough to do all the work that's entailed for Thanksgiving dinner. Never had a bad meal. In fact, each and every time it was delicious.

 

[Califgirl]

I used to do this all the time when I had to work on Thanksgiving. I've ordered from Vons and Alberstons and I think I liked Vons marginally better because their cranberry relish had oranges and nuts in it. But honestly, they were both good. I wouldn't think twice about ordering a pre-made Thanksgiving dinner again, but now that I have a beautiful remodeled kitchen, I like cooking.

 

[RachelsMommie]

We host Christmas every year at our house and every year I order a complete meal from Market Street for around $80. It comes with everything but the desserts. I ask both sets of parents to bring a dessert, and then I make appetizers, a couple of fresh sides, and a dessert. We run around to family's houses on Christmas Eve, and this is the only way that I don't feel completely overwhelmed.

Go for it! You'll never make your own turkey again!