Friday, Nov. 21, 2003 | 8:25 a.m.
Thanksgiving is a favorite American holiday. It doesn't matter where you celebrate, at home or in a restaurant; or whether you opt for traditional fare or hip new dishes that Grandmother never heard of. It's OK.
What's important about Thanksgiving is being with family and friends. Many restaurants will do the cooking. All you have to is set the table and send someone to pick up the food (caterers usually deliver). It's that easy.
Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace is not only supplying his menu, he offers a number of helpful hints for the home cook. Thanksgiving dinner at Bradley Ogden is $75 per person; youngsters under 12 are half-price.
Included are an amuse bouche (a small treat from the chef) of roasted sugar pumpkin soup garnished with green apple foam, a choice of appetizer (including a special lobster salad or a Maytag blue cheese souffle with persimmon), a choice of free-range turkey or roasted pork loin or two other entrees with all the traditional fixings, and four desserts. Service is from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Call 731-7410.
If you're cooking at home, Ogden suggests you cook the turkey breast-side down on an oiled roasting rack for 30 minutes in a 500-degree oven. Cover the exposed area of the turkey with buttered cheesecloth. Add a little water to the bottom of the roasting pan.
Remove the pan from the oven. After 30 minutes carefully remove the cheesecloth, turn the turkey so it is breast-side up and cover with the buttered cheesecloth. Reduce the temperature to 250 degrees; return turkey to oven. Approximately 30 minutes before turkey is done, remove cheesecloth; raise oven to 375 degrees and brown turkey to desired golden hue. Be sure to let turkey rest for 25 minutes before carving.
Wolfgang Puck's Spago, Postrio and Trattoria del Lupo will all feature holiday entrees.
Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars (369-6300) will offer three a la carte entrees in addition to the regular menu: turkey breast with sourdough stuffing and gravy ($25), rotisserie pork chop with sweet potato puree ($27) or New Zealand venison with mustard spatzle ($33). Pumpkin ravioli filled with cornbread-stuffed quail and sauced with sage brown butter is another good choice.
Postrio at The Venetian (896-1110) will offer holiday fare along with their usual menu from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli and roasted turkey are among the choices.
Lupo at Mandalay Bay (740-5522) will offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings for $19.50. Regular menu items will also be available. Reservations are recommended.
Dine in or take out Thanksgiving dinner at Memphis Championship Barbecue.
In-house, family-style dinners ($15.99 per person) include country smoked ham and turkey, a green salad and a choice of five traditional side dishes, rolls and sweet potato pie.
Take-out dinners ($13.99 per person) include four side items. Orders must be received by Monday. Complete dinner-to-go for four with a whole turkey ($59.99) includes mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn, sage dressing, rolls and a whole sweet potato pie. Individual take-out items and side dishes are available. Orders for whole turkeys and hams must be received by Tuesday.
Call any of the three Memphis Championship Barbecue locations for reservations and additional information.
Whole Foods Market at 8855 W. Charleston Blvd. is offering a variety of take-out holiday meals, including turkey and other meats. Order as soon as possible. Everything from appetizers to side dishes to turkeys and desserts are available. The last day to pick up holiday meals is Wednesday. Two free guides -- "Guide to the Holiday Season" and "Entertaining With Appetizers" -- are available at the store. A vegetarian holiday meal is available. For more information call 254-8655.
Bellagio's chefs are offering an All-American Thanksgiving Take-Away Feast that includes butternut squash soup, roasted turkey with sage and wild mushroom stuffing, giblet jus, whipped Yukon Gold potatoes and candied sweet potatoes, creamed Cippolini onions, Brussels sprouts with crisp pancetta, cranberry and kumquat chutney, assorted holiday breads and butter and home-style pumpkin pie with vanilla sauce.
A dinner that serves four to six is $90; for 10 to 12 diners, $175. To place an order, complete the form available at Cafe Bellagio or the Bellagio chef's office or have one faxed to you. Specify the date and time you want to pick up your meal. Provide a minimum of 24 hours notice for pickup between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday or Thursday. Call chef Edmond Wong for additional info at 693-7372.
Commander's Palace at Desert Passage at the Aladdin is offering a variety of entrees, including roasted, free-range turkey ($48 to $65) that includes an appetizer and dessert. Among the appetizer choices are shrimp remoulade, a traditional Louisiana "P&J" oyster stew finished with brioche croutons and more. The fresh cranberry and candied orange cobbler dessert requires 20 minutes prep time. Order it when you order dinner. A children's turkey dinner, $18, includes a fruit cup and ice cream sundae. For reservations call 892-8272.
SEABLUE at MGM Grand will feature a four-course tasting menu for $68.99 per person, not inclusive. Choose roasted free-range turkey or mesquite-grilled New York strip steak for the entree. Each is served with traditional garnish. Dinner hours are 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For reservations call 891-3486.
Fiamma Trattoria at MGM Grand will feature a Thanksgiving tasting menu ($55 per person) along with its regular menu. Five courses, including soup, salad, pasta, wood-oven-roasted, free-range turkey and pumpkin mascarpone cheesecake for dessert. Service from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call 891-7600.
Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas will offer a three-course traditional turkey or savory roast or seafood dinner that includes a champagne cocktail and live piano music. Prices are adults $42; children $21; an a la carte RitzKids children's menu is also available.
Bally's will feature a traditional price-fixed turkey dinner in The Steakhouse ($42.95 per person) from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Al Dente's price is $38.95 per person. Hours are the same as The Steakhouse. Thanksgiving dinner at Sidewalk Cafe is $14.95 per person; service is from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Big Kitchen Buffet's meal is $19.95 person, with service from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Flamingo Las Vegas will offer dinners at Conrad's Steakhouse, The Flamingo Room, Paradise Garden Buffet, Pink Ginger and Ventuno Ristorante, Cafe & Bar. Price points vary as well as restaurant hours. For more information call 733-3111.
Lutece at The Venetian is featuring what it has titled a "Thanksgiving Feast" for $105 per person. Included are chestnut soup with caviar cream, butternut squash and white truffle ravioli and the entree and sides. And dessert, of course. Service is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. For reservations call 414-2220.
The Cannery in North Las Vegas will feature special holiday menus at Waverly's Steakhouse, Cannery Row Buffet and Victory's Cafe in addition to the usual menus. Service begins at 3 p.m. at Waverly's. Three dinners are featured. All include a choice of soup or salad and dessert. A traditional turkey dinner is $19.95 per person; filet mignon and crab cakes is $22.95; a classic New England boiled dinner with a half-lobster, clams, green lip mussels, brisket and veggies is $35.95. Buffet service ($12.95) is from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Le Provencal at Paris will feature a $25 turkey or roast leg of lamb dinner complete with soup, salad and sides. Service from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Les Artistes turkey plate is $24.95. Includes turkey and sides; appetizer and dessert not included. Service from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Lawry's The Prime Rib will add turkey to its silver cart service Thanksgiving Day only, and for the first time will offer a choice of a prime rib or turkey dinner from the to-go menu. Service in the restaurant is from noon. The turkey dinner is $24.99. For more information call 893-2223.
Gallagher's Steakhouse at New York-New York will feature a la carte, oven-roasted turkey with dressing, giblet gravy and cranberry compote for $26 and other holiday specialties. Have the pumpkin creme brulee for dessert. Service is from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Call 740-6450 to reserve.
Billy Bob's SteakHouse at Sam's Town may be a steakhouse, but it talks turkey on Thanksgiving. A traditional turkey dinner is $14.99. Regular menu also available. Brunch, too, on Thanksgiving day. For hours and reservations for dinner call 456-7777.
Turkey-to-go at JW Marriott. A 16-pound turkey and enough fixings for eight is $125. Order ahead, drive up, open your trunk and drive away. Or dine in. Many choices. Call 869-8777 for details.
archive
