There are a lot of components that go into planning the perfect Turkey Day. Besides testing recipes and organizing oven schedules at home, you have to consider what to bring to Friendsgiving potlucks, where to make reservations if you’re dining out, and the best ways to give back to the community in honor of the festive feast. Whether it’s placing a pie order or volunteering your time, here are a few suggestions.
Potluck Picks
Alma Cocina Latina: This Canton dining destination is offering unique takeaway items including chocolate fruit cake, house-bottled egg nog, and Venezuelan holiday ham bread rolled with olives, bacon, and raisins. 2400 Boston St., 667-212-4273
Atwater’s: From soup and sides to desserts and house-baked breads, this local cafe has all of the essentials. Standouts include maple-glazed sweet potatoes, sausage and cornbread stuffing, housemade apple butter, and pumpkin cheesecake. Multiple locations including 3601 Boston St., 667-309-7146
Center Cut Doughnuts: Owner Josh Kowitz has dreamed up some creative flavors at his Hampden shop in honor of the holiday. This weekend through Thanksgiving Eve, Center Cut will be offering packs of four or six doughnuts in festive flavors including brown butter pecan, cranberry-orange, glazed-honey carrot, and the “Yam I Am” stuffed with marshmallow fluff and topped with a yam glaze. 3528 Chestnut Ave., 667-303-3604
Chap’s Pit Beef: You can’t go wrong with the smoked turkey from this local barbecue institution. Customize your family’s platter with sides like baked beans or warm rolls. Multiple locations including 5801 Pulaski Highway, 410-483-2379
The Corner Pantry: Chef Neill Howell’s holiday catering menu features roasted butternut squash soup, turkey gravy, scallion and nutmeg mashed potatoes, cheddar biscuits, and brown butter pecan pie. 6080 Falls Road, 667-308-2331.
Eddie’s: This neighborhood bodega boasts something for every palate. Pre-order eats like roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed root vegetables, stuffed mushrooms, honey-glazed Cornish hens, and a pumpkin-spice bundt cake. Multiple locations including 6213 N. Charles St., 410-877-8040
Parts & Labor: If you’re planning a farm-to-fork feast, order an Albright Farms turkey from this Remington hotspot. The catering menu also includes smoked ham, bone-in leg of lamb, and buttermilk cornbread. 2600 N. Howard St., 443-873-8887
Sobo Cafe: Allow this Federal Hill dining den to lend a hand this year with gourmet takeaway items like crispy Brussels sprouts, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach. The house-baked apple, pecan, and pumpkin pies are also definite crowd pleasers. 6 W. Cross St., 410-752-1518
Stone Mill Bakery: Swing by this Greenspring Station staple to order artisan rolls, soups, sides, and pies. In addition to the classics (think sauerkraut, cranberry sauce, and roasted turkey) Stone Mill also offers goat cheese quiche, fingerling potatoes, and chocolate-dipped marshmallows. 10751 Falls Road, 410-821-1358
Dining-Out Destinations
Charleston: Chef Cindy Wolf has whipped up a special two-course prix-fixe menu with family-style sides. Dishes to look out for include She Crab soup with Manzanilla sherry, fried green tomatoes, braised beef short ribs, pan-roasted monkfish, and, of course, roasted turkey with pecan stuffing. 1000 Lancaster St., 410-332-7373, 3-7 p.m., $85.
The Elephant: Recently appointed chef Orlando Amaro has a special feast planned for his first holiday at this Mt. Vernon gem. The three-course menu with optional wine pairings will spotlight dishes including acorn squash bisque, pumpkin ravioli, and traditional turkey roulade with stuffing and haricot verts. Save room for desserts like pecan pumpkin pie and apple strudel. 924 N. Charles St., 443-447-7878, $55-70
Mt. Washington Tavern: Diners can opt for either a traditional sit-down dinner, or a full Thanksgiving buffet at this neighborhood haunt. Serve-yourself options will include turkey, honey-glazed ham, and all of the fixins’. 5700 Newbury St., 410-367-6903, $12-26
The Rowhouse Grille: Head to this Federal Hill neighborhood spot to indulge in a holiday special featuring herbed turkey breast, cranberry sauce, and your choice of two sides. End the meal on a sweet note with house-made pumpkin pie or bread pudding. 1400 Light St., 443-438-7289, $18
Rye Street Tavern: Take in the waterfront views at this new Port Covington spot on the Sagamore Spirit distillery campus. The family-style prix-fixe menu features wood-roasted turkey, confit turkey leg stuffing, sweet yams, crispy Brussels sprouts, and Sagamore Rye-spiked gravy. 225 E. Cromwell St., 443-662-8000, $35-60
Wit & Wisdom: Chef Zack Mills’ special Turkey Day menu consists of dishes like split pea soup, red wine-braised short ribs, pumpkin cornbread, and, herb-roasted turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce. 200 International Drive, 410-576-5800, $40-85
Thanks-Giving Back
11/18: Stone Soup with Families Living United
Bring the entire family and join United Way of Central Maryland to assemble meals for people in need. Inspired by the old folk story Stone Soup—which tells the tale of villagers who each share their favorite ingredients to make one communal meal—organizers are asking each family to donate one grocery list item to contribute to the overall recipes. Our Daily Bread, 725 Fallsway, 3-5 p.m., 443-986-9000
11/18: Feeding the Homeless: Free Community Thanksgiving Feast
Now in its fourth year, this community gathering feeds more than 1,000 veterans, senior citizens, and families experiencing homelessness throughout the city. Organizers will be collecting food and drink donations, as well as supplies such as coats, blankets, winter clothing, and personal hygiene items. 420 Fallsway, 2 p.m.
11/22: 62nd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner and Resource Fair
Head to the Baltimore Convention Center to join local volunteer organization Cityfam at this annual event, which serves a Thanksgiving feast to more than 3,000 people with disabilities and special needs. Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St., 10:45 a.m.- 3 p.m.
11/23: The Annual Y Turkey Trot Charity 5K
Even if you don’t plan to participate in the actual race this year, there are still plenty of ways to get involved with this annual 5K fundraiser for The Y in Central Maryland. Rise early this Thanksgiving morning to help with things like set-up, race registration, packet pick-up, and water distribution. Multiple locations including 810 Wyman Park Drive., 8:30 a.m.