|
|
|
| Tue, Dec. 01 - - Mobile - RSS | |
|
|
>> CAN'T QUITE HANDLE THE KITCHEN INSANITY THIS THANKSGIVING? HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS
Can't quite handle the kitchen insanity this Thanksgiving? Here are some options
Date published: 11/5/2009
BY NANCY DEARING ROSSBACHER FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR She: You can't get a filet at La Petite Auberge. You can't get a burger at Capital Ale. You can't even get an egg-salad sandwich at Goolrick's. I'm not talking about the end of the world, although it sounds like it. No, I'm talking about Thanksgiving Day. Given the number of restaurants that will be shuttered for the occasion, now's the time to plan if you want to avoid getting stuck in your own kitchen. McDonald's will be open, of course--but there are glossier options. He: In the immediate Fredericksburg area--and tailor-made for the event if you're stowing relatives in nearby hotels--is Shannon's, at the Fredericksburg Hospitality House Hotel. Chef Angela Rivera has already crafted the vast menu, which includes turkey, ham and roast beef carving stations, along with lighter fare such as tilapia. The family-oriented fête even includes Ledo's pizza for the small fry. She: A leaf-peeping drive to downtown Orange will take the Thanksgiving diner to Elmwood at Sparks , where imaginative chef Randy Cooper is offering a three-course romp that can include celery root bisque with potato and shrimp hash, Rag Mountain trout crested with lump crabmeat, and chocolate chess pie with raspberry coulis. For a twist on the traditional, there will also be roasted dark-meat turkey scaloppini. He: At the historic Inn at Kelly's Ford in Remington, chef Jean Paul Pessaint is in the midst of planning his all-day à la carte menu. To accommodate diners, seating will be available in both the formal dining room, which features a sweeping view of the battlefield, and the expansive Ripley Hall banquet facility. She: If turkey makes you yawn, Umi--Fredericksburg's newest sushi spot--will be open for those seeking something less conventional. Substitute sake for cider (a good trade), and for an Asian twist on a Thanksgiving staple, try the intriguing and satisfying tempura sweet potato roll. He: For main-course pickup orders, the holiday cheat sheet is at HoneyBaked Ham, where the smoky-sweet glaze doesn't disappoint and the spiral slicing makes a carving rube look like a knife-wielding wizard. It's not too early to place an order at the home of--I'm not making this up--"Have a hamtastic day!" She: Also accepting orders to be picked up the morning before Thanksgiving is Eileen's Bakery & Cafe, whose creative holiday selections include pumpkin cake with molasses cream-cheese frosting, almond frangipane cake with chocolate ganache, and apricot chiffon pie with gingersnap crust. He: With planning, everyone can avoid the holiday dining hassle. She: Everyone except the chefs, bakers and servers. I recommend heavy, grateful tipping. Even if you're dining at home. Nancy Dearing Rossbacher and Stephen W. Sylvia publish a Civil War magazine together. She likes to cook. He likes to eat. To reach Rossbacher and Sylvia, e-mail them at
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 11/5/2009
|
 |
|||
|
|||
