It’s that time of year when visions of giblets and gravy boats dance in our heads.
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, or if you’re acting as MVP by bringing the turkey to a potluck bash, you may be hot on the hunt for the perfect bird. For gourmands wanting organic, heritage-bred, and more flavorful turkey, these local Bay Area butchers and markets have you covered.
Not sure how big a bird you should get? Estimate one to one-and-a-half pounds of turkey for everyone at the table.
Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!
Bi-Rite Market Thanksgiving Dinner
(Courtesy of @biritesf)
Your favorite neighborhood grocer offers a full menu of turkeys, sides, and meal kits all with local, gourmet vibes.
The Birds: Get them raw or roasted, organic, whole heritage, or as breasts, thighs, or legs from long-time partners Good Shepherd Ranch and Pitman Family Farms. Bi-Rite also offers Turkey Two Ways (slow-roasted white breast and braised dark thigh) and Turkey TV dinners, both made in house.
The Prices: Whole birds range from $59-$129. Turkey portions start at $29.
Extras: Make Thanksgiving dinner a breeze with a plethora of meal kits, sides, soups, desserts, and wines. Choose everything from traditional staples like cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes to more fanciful items like bourbon sweet potato mash and butternut squash and sage soup.
Get It: Pre-order online for store pickup and local delivery Nov. 24-27. // 3639 18th St. (Mission); 550 Divisadero St. (NoPa), biritemarket.com
Luke’s Local Thanksgiving Dinner
(Courtesy of @lukeslocalstore)
Whether you’re looking to grab a bird, a pie, or a whole Thanksgiving feast, you’re likely to find what you’re after at this neighborhood-grown market.
The Birds: Luke’s has raw whole birds from Willie Bird, Branigan’s, and Good Shepherd Ranch, as well as all-natural whole smoked turkeys from Diestel Family Ranch, and half or whole herb-roasted Willie Bird turkeys. Heritage-smoked turkey legs available a la carte.
The Prices: Whole raw turkeys range from $59-$199. Whole cooked birds are $148. A Diestel whole smoked turkey is $165.
Special Options: Looking for alternative proteins? Luke’s offers a direct line to their butcher department, giving you access to whole ducks, Cornish hens, frozen crab, oysters, and more. (Use the stores’ order form, not the preorder site).
Extras: Order housemade sides like artisanal stuffing, brussels sprouts and butternut squash with maple-rosemary vinaigrette, and spiced cranberry sauce. Don’t forget one of Shampa’s pies!
Get It: Pre-order online for store pick-up and Bay Area delivery Nov. 25-26. Call 415-742-4207 for more information. // 960 Cole St. (Cole Valley) and 2190 Union St. (Cow Hollow), catering.lukeslocal.com
Olivier’s Butchery Thanksgiving Dinner
(Courtesy of @oliviersbutchery)
San Francisco cool meets French craftsmanship at this Dogpatch butcher shop where you can get everything from turkey gizzards and necks to whole birds.
The Birds: Olivier’s turkeys are all-natural and raw from Branigan’s. Pay a bit extra to have your bird broken down, or get a half or whole brick* bird that’s been spatchcocked (butterflied with the breast bone removed). Turkey roti with homemade stuffing, breasts, offal, wings, and legs are also available.
*A “brick turkey” is a butterflied (spatchcocked) turkey cooked on a grill under the weight of bricks, which press the turkey’s skin directly onto grill grates for maximum browning and even cooking.
The Prices: Whole raw turkeys range from $80 for an 8-10 pound bird to $190 for a 24-26 pound bird. A half brick turkey runs $85; a whole goes for $160. The turkey roti with gluten-free house stuffing is $100.
Special Options: If bird ain’t your game, you can order up several cuts of grass-fed or grain-finished prime beef, bone-in leg of lamb roast, pork racks, Cornish hens, and more.
Get It: Place your order before Saturday, Nov. 22nd by phone or online. Pickup during regular hours between Nov. 22-26. // 1074 Illinois St. (Dogpatch), oliviersbutchery.com
Williams-Sonoma Willie Bird Turkeys for Thanksgiving
(Courtesy of @williamssonoma)
An elegant shortcut to Thanksgiving glory, this one-stop shop offers magazine-worthy golden turkeys and gourmet sides that are just a click away. You can even buy the serving dish.
The Birds: Williams Sonoma has fresh, free-range Willie Bird turkeys. Get ‘em pre-brined, whole, as bone-in breasts, spatchcocked, raw, roasted, smoked, or stuffed.
The Prices: Pre-brined turkeys start at $159 for a 10-12 pound bird and come in four sizes. Organic pre-brined birds start at $179. Fresh free-range turkeys start at $129. Whole roasted birds start at $149 for 7-10 pounds; smoked turkeys start at $169.
Special Options: Meat-lovers can choose from game of all sorts—rack of lamb, leg of lamb, quail, whole rabbit—in addition to beef, pork, and a variety of poultry.
Extras: Choose individual sides, like beef Wellington bites, cranberry sauce, and maple squash au gratin. Grab starter kits and mixes to get you going, or go for the gold with an all-inclusive meal for 12 ($499). You’ll also find recipes galore.
Get it: Deadline varies by item. Order whole turkeys by 9pm on Nov. 20th for delivery by Nov. 25th. // Order online at williams-sonoma.com.