Keeping Thanksgiving Local: Our 2013 Shopping Guide

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Credit: Foragers City Grocer

Have you seen our new “What’s in Season” sidebar? Needless to say, we’re obsessed with fall foods. With less than two weeks until the big day, we’ve got turkey and its accouterments on our minds.

The stores have been forcing Thanksgiving upon us since they took down their jack-o’-lanterns. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by this holiday, so we’ve made it easy for you this year. Here it is—our guide to Thanksgiving, with one recommendation for each category: the turkey, the pie, the wine and the rest.

The Turkey

The Meat Hook: If you’re trying to keep Thanksgiving local, there’s nowhere better to do so than with the Meat Hook. Their turkeys are raised on pasture in Interlaken, New York, a town previously named “farmer village.” Like all Meat Hook products, they’re slaughtered, shipped and sold locally, so your dollar stays right here in New York. BONUS: The Meat Hook is located in The Brooklyn Kitchen, where you can get your hands on a whole host of Turkey Day necessities.

The Pie

Cutie Pies: They’re known for their award-winning coconut cream pie and Canadian maple butter tart, but we’re going to hit up their seasonal selections. They have everything from bourbon pecan to creamy sweet potato, but if you’re as indecisive as we are, you can build your own sampler of nine mini pies. BONUS: Cutie Pies has choices for your gluten/dairy/sugar-free guests.

The Wine

Brooklyn Oenology: Our wine writer Amy Zavatto recommends Brooklyn Oneology as your one-stop shop for wine plus some spirits. The shop is focused on celebrating local creativity—agricultural, culinary and visual—and they have an awesome selection of New York wines. BONUS: They have a tasting bar, so you can probably check out what you want before you buy it, hang out with your friends and legitimately categorize this as “slaving over Thanksgiving dinner.”

The Rest

Foragers: We love that Foragers has their own farm in Canaan, New York. And we love that their Thanksgiving menu has a sausage sage stuffing made with Brooklyn cured sausage, New York onions and Bonfiglio Bread. Their DUMBO location will provide everything you need to impress your holiday guests. BONUS: if you’re feeling really lazy, you can order their dinner for 12 and everything will be done for you.

Doing Thanksgiving out of the house this year? Check out the dinners at Bell Book & Candle and Prime Meats and Frankies.

Kate Findlay-Shirras

Kate is a non-fiction producer with a soft spot for the sea. She created BestFishForward.com to promote sustainable seafood practices in her community.

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