Steamy gravy stirred with black truffle. Pumpkin pie crowned with warm ricotta. Apple-cranberry crostata with frangipane crust. Stuffing with hunks of roasted chestnuts.
These small embellishments show the creativity of Italian restaurants preparing for Thanksgiving Day. From San Francisco to New York, their menus promise comfort food in a variety of formats - ready to eat, reheated or cooked at home- and always with indulgent surprises.
In two weeks, some of us will be lucky enough to taste the multi-course menus. And for the rest of us, Thanksgiving cooking will continue to be a celebration of regional and seasonal ingredients. From squash to cranberry to turkey, all are native to the America's.
But for those wishing to try an Italian spin on classic dishes, here a few delectable highlights to dream about from Italian restaurants in San Francisco and New York City.
(If you plan on skipping restaurants, Eataly is celebrating the Giorno di Ringraziamento by selling local organic turkeys raised just for customers.)
San Francisco:
Acquerello at Home - Delivery for Two
This four-course menu starts with a colorful chicory salad. And then it takes off, pulling in the best seasonal and local ingredients from California. The sides include mashed potatoes with smoked butter, citron-candied sweet potatoes, toasted breadcrumbs with speck, and of course, turkey. From this two-starred Michelin restaurant, they prepare the bird in two different ways, but don’t waste too much time on that. Get ready for the Madeira, truffle, foie-gras gravy, if that suits your fancy.
Che Fico Alimentari - Pick-up for Four
This meal comes fully cooked as a vegetarian feast or a turkey-laiden dinner. From roasted Kabocha squash with lemon, almond and parsley to casseroles of turkey or wild mushroom, this place channels the simplicity of a homey hearth. Desserts arrive decorated with local ricotta and house-made walnut liqueur, and the apple cranberry crostatas’ unique crust is mixed with citrus, vanilla and frangipane.
New York City:
L’Amico at the Eventi Hotel - Prix Fixe menu
Executive Chef Laurent Tourondel’s wood-fire roasted turkey, comes ready for dipping in cranberry-orange mostarda or oreganata gravy, and eating with a chestnut and pork-sausage stuffing. It will be hard to hold off on the pies: pumpkin with amaretto whipped cream, pecan with bourbon-date gelato, and apple with cinnamon gelato.
Scarpetta at Home - Meal Kit for Four
Perfect for entertaining at home, this fancy meal kit works for those craving a main of turkey or pasta. The box includes a bottle of olive oil and an apron for cooking. After the appetizers, the vegetable sides hit the spot - brussel sprouts cooked with pancetta, mashed sweet potatoes with mascarpone and pine nuts, and a sage stuffing with celery root, parsnip, and butter squash.
Caravaggio - A La Carte Menu
At this Upper East Side restaurant, you can start with something light and luscious, like soup of pumpkin or chestnut, then lean into the hearty courses. Choose a roasted heritage turkey with stuffing, the pork cotoletta with chestnut and green apple purée or the venison in butternut squash purée. All can be tasty alternatives. End it with a velvety hazelnut-chocolate Gianduja mousse or a classic Torta di Zucca, a pumpkin pie with a cranberry compote, walnuts and vanilla gelato.
Torta di Zucca at Caravaggio