Stuffed apples from Lily’s Bistro
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Lily's Bistro. One of my favorite summer dishes was the grilled peaches stuffed with goat cheese, so when they announced this baked apple dish on their fall menu, I knew I had to try it. This sausage and cornbread stuffed baked apple is a symphony of autumn for your mouth that completely surpassed my expectations. It's topped with a little bit of sage oil for the perfect harmony of flavors. I find myself craving it on the regular, and think it would be the perfect accompaniment for any Thanksgiving meal.
Freshly-baked bread and cinnamon honey butter from Hawthorn Grill
It's one thing to receive bread at your table before a meal. It's quite another to receive fresh baked bread that's still warm with a side of delectable cinnamon honey butter. I've been to Hawthorn Grill my fair share of times by now, and I've never had the same selection of bread twice. They're always mixing it up, and it's always delicious!
Duck a la Nelson from Rue Dumaine
Thanksgiving is usually all about the turkey, but there's no reason we can't show another bird some love. Duck is a staple in French cuisine, and naturally Rue Dumaine does it justice. The Duck a la Nelson is cooked to a perfect medium-rare and served over local pumpkin and turnip greens, sultanas, fennel roasted pepitas finished with a local honey hot sauce.
Eggplant fries from Wheat Penny Oven & Bar
Fries at Thanksgiving? It's usually unheard of, but this is a dream Thanksgiving, so I figured I'd have some fun with it. Wheat Penny's fries are actually vegetables, so we can pretend they're healthy, right? Coated in a crunchy rice flour batter, they're fried crisp to perfection and served with a tangy yogurt sauce. They're so good, in fact, that they made the OnlyInYourState list of the 15 best French fries destinations in all of Ohio.
Warm apple dumpling from Carillon Brewing Co.
A dumpling is arguably the best way to consume apples. Carillon Brewing Co. serves its apple dumpling warm with a generous drizzle of caramel sauce, luscious vanilla ice cream on the side and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Can we skip to dessert now?
Roasted beets from Meadowlark
Now I know this might not be a crowd pleaser, but I'm Polish so beets are my jam. I admit: I was not always so fond of the root vegetable, especially after years of being subjected to my grandmother's canned beets with horseradish (think canned cranberry sauce, but worse). After years of disgust, I finally found it in my heart to give beets another try and I am so glad that I did. Meadowlark does beets like no other and they are simply glorious.
Fried brussels sprouts from Harvest Mobile Food truck
Brussel sprouts have historically been pretty "meh," but Harvest Mobile Food truck breathes new life into these underrated vegetables. Gone are the mushy brussel sprouts of your childhood nightmares -- these sprouts are fried to perfection. Applewood smoked bacon is added to the mix, along with carmelized onion and a touch of apple cider vinegar for some tang. Unfortunately Harvest Mobile Food has wrapped up its season -- so of course now is when I crave this delicious side the most.
Mac & cheese from Corner Kitchen
There are few things as amazing as homemade mac and cheese. Corner Kitchen might be the new kid on Fifth Street, but it has already displayed a level of mastery when it comes to the mac. Four different kinds of cheese (fontina, parmesan, gruyere and ludlow) coat fusilli pasta, but Natalie Skilliter, Corner Kitchen’s General Manager, said it’s the béchamel cheese that gives the dish its extra creaminess and sets it apart.
Turkey and stuffing croquettes from Hunger Paynes food truck
"In usual Hunger Payne's fashion, it was crispy stuffing on the outside, and warm, soft stuffing on the inside," said Rachel Lanka, Dayton.com site manager. "Literally Thanksgiving in a croquette."
Bacon tots from Bad Dog Nice Taco
As if tater tots weren't already marvelous, Bad Dog Nice Taco tosses its tots in bacon drippings. If your mouth isn't watering yet, just know that these deliciously crispy pillows of potatoes are loaded with even more bacon and Chef Lee Anne House's famous sauces. This dish features Belle of Dayton red pepper mayo, Toxic Brew Company creamy mustard, and a finishing touch of scallions on top. If you're feeling really spirited, try customizing your tots with a little BBQ Pumpkin Aioli. It's pretty much what dreams are made of and best of all, they deliver.
Pumpkin creme brulee from Figlio
When it comes to pumpkin flavoring, we've heard almost all the different variations -- until now. Figlio's Pumpkin Creme Brulee might just be the best idea yet. (You'd better watch yourself, Starbucks.) Figlio introduced this dish as a new seasonal dessert, but we wouldn't mind if it stayed around forever. Crackly crust, bourbon whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon...need I say more?
About the Author