Staying Thankful in 2020

Quarantine cooking is more than just sustenance. During the pandemic, cooking has become a way to learn new skills, socialize, and entertain. It is an outlet that can inspire creativity and challenge even novices to learn new techniques. Alongside new knife skills and hands-on sous chef impersonations, we’ve also become experts at calling up our favorite restaurants for pickup or delivery in a pinch. Grabbing the phone and diving into endless menus available on GrubHub, Postmates, UberEATS and DoorDash, or simply dialing up the local deli is the new way to feast on favorite foods. Now that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, all of the at-home cooking tutorials and local food spots will have their time to shine. While we may not be able to host a giant get together with friends and family, we can still enjoy a meal put together with love and careful preparation. Here are some of the best places to find the ingredients you need for a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner as well as a list of local restaurants that are serving up Thanksgiving feasts. Whether you choose to try your hand at showing off your quarantine cooking skills or lean on the talent of local chefs, you can’t go wrong by filling your belly with a good meal.

Vigilucci’s

We’ve mentioned them in years past, but a holiday meal wouldn’t be complete without considering food from one of Vigilucci’s two Carlsbad locations. The restaurant group has been around for decades and their experience is one of the many factors that makes their food one of a kind. At Vigilucci’s Cucina Italiana, you can revel in Italian delicacies year round. They have been awarded one of the Top 10 Best Italian Cuisines by Diner’s Choice in 2019 and during the pandemic they have worked hard to continue providing food for diners via delivery apps like DoorDash. Now, they are open for delivery, pickup and outdoor dining. Due to capacity, reservations are suggested for Thanksgiving. The menu includes Italian favorites from antipasto to dolce, burrata to pumpkin cheesecake.

At Vigilucci’s Seafood and Steakhouse, you can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in person from 12-8 p.m. With outdoor views of the Pacific Ocean, the menu serves up certified prime steaks and some of the freshest seafood in north county.

Chandlers Carlsbad

If you’re visiting Carlsbad from out of town, stopping in for area festivities, or enjoying a holiday getaway, Chandler’s is a fantastic spot for a safe, happy, and filling holiday meal. Their 2020 Thanksgiving Feast will be offered at 12:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. All dining will take place on their outdoor patio, and reservations are required via email before November 26th. The menu has a mixture of holiday favorites and coastal treats. Butternut squash soup, lobster and shrimp nachos, herb crusted Diestel Farm turkey, cauliflower steak, and pumpkin pie are just some of the things to choose from when you celebrate Thanksgiving at Chandlers.

7 Mile Kitchen

Everyone has different tastes, and it can be hard to please all of them during Thanksgiving dinner. Luckily, 7 Mile Kitchen has a solution for everyone. This year, Chef Julian Quiñones is serving up a menu with all of the Thanksgiving favorites. From maple glazed yams to butternut squash soup and buttermilk mashed potatoes, Chef Quiñones has all of the bases covered. There is even a special kids menu for picky eaters. The premier restaurant that overlooks seven miles of Carlsbad coast will be open for Thanksgiving dinner from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. on November 26^th. If you’d like to ditch the kitchen but still eat at home, you can pre-order a Hot & Ready Thanksgiving Dinner To-Go and pick it up anytime between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Argyle Steakhouse at the Park Hyatt Aviara

The Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club & Spa is known as one of Carlsbad’s most premier resort locations in Southern California. The Argyle Steakhouse is the resort’s distinguished location for fine dining. The resort has taken guest’s wellbeing to heart during the pandemic, and all of the restaurants on the property have implemented measures to ensure the safety of all guests. For Thanksgiving, the restaurant is preparing a pre-fixe dinner for $75 per person. Dinner will be served from 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. with ample space between reservations. Argyle’s reputation for the finest cuts of natural prime and Wagyu beef will translate into what is arguably the biggest meal of the year. The Thanksgiving menu includes butternut bisque with smoked duck breast, local greens, apple spiced brined turkey breast, seasonal roasted vegetables, Yukon gold whipped potatoes, candied yam pecan crumble, bread pudding stuffing, pumpkin pie, and eggnog gelato. Book your reservation now for a meal you won’t forget.

Gather Your Own Ingredients

If you’re willing to put your quarantine cooking skills to the test this Thanksgiving, you’ll need to find all of your ingredients before the big day. While the big-name grocery stores (Vons, Albertsons etc.) will definitely have the staples you’re looking for, there are a few smaller grocers in Carlsbad that you might want to consider as well. If you’re on the figurative hunt for a fresh turkey, Tip Top Meats is a great option. The butchers are well versed in specialty cuts and you can preorder a bird well in advance of Thanksgiving dinner.

For a great selection of produce, Carlsbad Ranch Market is another great place to look. They have a variety of quality local products. If you’re looking for fresh natural carrots for your honey glazed carrot dish or green beans for green bean casserole, Carlsbad Ranch Market offers all of the staples you’re looking for from trusted local sources.

While this year has been one for the books, Thanksgiving is a great time to sit back, relax, and remember everything we can be thankful for. Grab your closest family members and greatest food critics and plan for a Thanksgiving meal that will keep you full and happy into the New Year.