Be it hickory smoked, seasoned and fried, or marinated and roasted, the turkey is Thanksgivingâs star of the show. But all the time and preparation involved in cooking the turkey is, well, for the birds. This year, avoid the hassle and let someone else do the work. A number of local butchers and grocery stores sell whole cooked turkeys, and some even provide the sides to go with it. So if youâre not one to baste your own bird, donât fret. Just follow Soiréeâs holiday cooking policy:
If your guests donât ask, you donât have to tell.
Check out our six favorite table-ready turkeys below:
Copelandâs, 2602 S. Shackleford Road, 312-1616
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Sunday
⢠Cajun fried turkey – Marinated in Copelandâs special Cajun seasonings and then deep-fried, this is a different â” and spicy â” take on traditional Thanksgiving turkey. Buy just the bird or order the complete holiday dinner, which includes a 10-12 pound turkey, and one quart each of Louisiana cornbread stuffing, red hot potatoes, green beans with ham, Creole corn, turkey gravy and 10 biscuits.
Hestandâs in the Heights, 5915 R St., 663-1417
7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday
⢠Rotisserie turkey – Hestandâs has been churning out good eats since 1923, and itâs been a Little Rock icon for the past 15 years. Debbie and Damon will set you up with a fresh whole turkey cooked rotisserie style, as well as house-made dressing, giblet gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, cranberry relish and dessert.
Hoggâs Catering & Meat Market, 4520 Camp Robinson Road North Little Rock, 758-7700
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday
⢠Preservative-free smoked turkeys – Mike at Hoggâs says that their turkeys are unique in that they donât pump them with salt and sodium nitrate before cooking; theyâre smoked and put straight into the freezer where they stay fresh until purchase. All you have to do is thaw it in the refrigerator and warm it in the oven.
Kentâs Downtown, 400 President Clinton Ave., 375-1900
7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday
⢠Hickory smoked and sliced turkeys, topped with a house-made glaze – why Kentâs in the River Market couldnât be more convenient for those of us who work downtown. In addition to the turkey, they can whip up dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans and more. Ronnie says theyâre open to requests as well, so if you want something you donât see, go ahead and ask.
Whole Foods, 10700 N. Rodney Parham Road, 312-2326
8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
⢠Diestel pre-roasted organic turkey with spinach and hazelnut tofu loaf – Whole Foods offers roasted organic turkeys for meat eaters, as well as meatless holiday options for vegetarians or vegans. Pairing options include classic mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, cranberry-mandarin orange relish, wheat dinner rolls, roasted Brussels sprouts and more.
More From Our Dining Directory
Copeland’s – Little Rock
Kent’s Downtown