Holiday by Sarah Jenema
Best Thanksgiving Takeout Chicago
Thanksgiving has become my absolute favorite holiday over the years. As the wife of a restaurant owner—shameless plug for The Vig and Welcome Back Lounge—we spent many years hosting those who had to work the day before or after Thanksgiving and couldn’t make it home for the holiday. It’s become one of my most cherished traditions.
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Want to host without putting your cooking skills to the test? Here are my top tried-and-true spots for ordering Thanksgiving dinner in Chicago:
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Duck Duck Goat – 857 W Fulton Market
We ordered their Peking duck kit one year and it was a smashing success. Unexpected, delicious, and fun to plate.
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Honey Butter Fried Chicken – 3361 N Elston
Their take-and-bake meal is comfort food perfection—and let’s be honest, everything tastes better with their honey butter.
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Frontier – 1072 N Milwaukee Ave
They’ll handle the turkey and the sides. We’ve done it before and their food is always spot-on. Stress-free, flavorful, and a total crowd-pleaser.
Breaking Tradition: Lamb Chops ALWAYS delight
If you're like me, breaking from tradition can be fun. We love making lamb chops on Thanksgiving, either alongside or instead of the usual turkey. We marinate them for 24 hours in olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper, then sear for 2 minutes per side in an oven-proof pan. Finish in the oven at 400°F for 3–5 minutes. It’s a simple, flavorful twist that pairs perfectly with all the Thanksgiving fixins.
Activities to Get in the Holiday Spirit
-Thankful Tree for Kids
Each day in November, our son shares something he’s thankful for, and we write it on a paper leaf. We add the leaves to a tree we made from construction paper on our kitchen wall—it’s a simple tradition that fills our home with gratitude.
-Curate the perfect playlist
We love organizing our vinyl and playing a mix of genres, and don’t be afraid to let your guests bring a record or browse your collection.
-Thanksgiving Decor
PRO TIP:Don’t toss those Halloween pumpkins—reuse them as part of your gourd collection for Thanksgiving decor. Add in pine cones, warm-toned throw blankets and pillows, and light a few fall-scented candles. My go-to favorites: Pumpkin Dulce Glitz and Apple Cider Social Glimmer, both by Capri Blue.
Favorite Holiday Cocktail: Spicy Apple Cider Margarita
If you know me, you know I love a spicy margarita—so why not add a little autumnal twist for my favorite holiday?
Ingredients:
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4 oz spiced apple cider
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3 oz mezcal or tequila
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1 oz Cointreau (optional)
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Juice of 1 lime
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Ice
Rim:
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2 tsp white sugar
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1 tsp brown sugar
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1 tsp cinnamon
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¼ tsp flaky salt
Garnish (optional):
Lime wedge, apple slices, cinnamon stick, or star anise
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Directions:
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Mix the sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Rim your glass with lime, then dip into the mixture.
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Shake ice, cider, mezcal, Cointreau, and lime juice until well chilled.
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Pour over ice in your rimmed glass and garnish as desired.