If you're not getting a good ol' fashioned home-cooked meal this year, don't worry, the 312 Dining Diva's got you covered:
aja chef Josh Linton's hooking up a sumptuous, multi-course menu of all-Asian fare that's meant to share. Instead of traditional turkey, get ready for Chinese roast duck and "red cooked" smoked duroc pork with ginger and garlic. Wild mushroom fried rice with black truffle replaces the usual stuffing, and they've swapped the pumpkin pie for a chocolate hot pot of autumn cakes and cookies. Reservations recommended; 11am-9pm. $55 per person.
Philip Foss of Lockwood should make you smile for the unlimited champagne alone. An all-American buffet includes a carving station of maple honey molasses roasted turkey breast and mustard-glazed and clove-studded country ham; butternut squash ravioli; housemade biscuits; pan-roasted Alaskan halibut; and sweet potato marshmallow gratin. The regular menu will also be offered. 11am-5pm buffet; regular menu 5pm-close. Adults, $55; seniors (older than 65), $45; children (under 12), $25. Reservations required.
Expect a Southern-inspired menu over at Andersonville eatery Big Jones, whose kitchen is overseen by owner/chef Paul Fehribach. He's cooking up a five-course meal with Turducken (turkey stuffed with a boneless chicken that's stuffed with a boneless duck), wild striped bass, New Orleans-style crab cakes, fried green tomatoes and Red Velvet cake. Reservations highly recommended. 11am-8pm. $45.
Mercat a la Planxa's on a serious high this week fresh from its Next Iron Chef win for Jose Garces. Seats are filling up fast for the Spanish-focused, four-course feast created by chef de cuisine Michael Fiorello. Highlights include Serrano ham and fig salad; smoke-roasted turkey with sherry pan gravy and cranberry-orange compote; and chocolate croquettes with banana marshmallows, rosemary caramel and Arbequina olive oil. 11am-7pm. $65 per person. Reservations required.
Caterer/chef Jorgina Pereira spices up traditional Thanksgiving fare with Brazilian flair at Sinhà's. It's buffet style, and you can work all that stuffing and pie off on the dance floor to Latin, Samba and salsa before and after you eat. Three seats: 2, 3:30 and 5:30pm. Reservations required. $30 and BYOB!
Audarshia Townsend is the creator of the local food blog 312DiningDiva.com. She also provides content for Dining Chicago, Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, Playboy.com and Concierge Preferred.
