Thanksgiving - pre-brined turkeys or other take-out options for 10-12 people

[cubbee]

I am looking for a few really good choices for a Thanksgiving meal. I will be traveling until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so won't have time to do a ton of cooking. Ideally looking for a brined but uncooked natural/organic turkey and some good sides. I know Whole Foods does a brined and herb butter turkey uncooked - which sounds good but wondering if any one has a better recommendation. Also heard about the Diestel brined turkey they offer at Costco from Nov. 18 to thanksgiving but I am worried they won't have any left when I get there the Wed before Thanksgiving.

I've seen a few caterers offer full turkey meals too...if anyone has a good recommendation there, I'd love to hear it. And lastly, Bi-Rite offers a full Turkey DInner Service, but I think it's a pre-cooked turkey. I was hoping to cook at home.

[oaktowngirl]

If you can get to Oakland, Ver Brugge Butcher on College @ Alcatraz is offering pre-brined, raw turkeys, Diestel or Willie Bird. The meat shop in Market Hall (Marin Sun Farms?) has a sign saying they are offering pre-brined birds but I don't have any more details. They may have heritage birds as well.

-----
Willie Bird's Restaurant
1150 Santa Rosa Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

[wally]

Magnani in Berkeley had prebrined turkies last year.

[gabfest]

I've only done whole foods in the past. This is a few years old, but might be of interest
http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-11-14/food/17270115_1_pumpkin-pie-apple-pie-free-range-turkey

I haven't tried this
http://www.cooksf.com/t-simplemealpla...

[cubbee]

did you like the whole foods turkey?

[sfgal2]

The Village Pub used to do this, not sure if they still do.

-----
Village Pub
2967 Woodside Rd., Woodside, CA 94062

[Joel]

Trader Joe's has uncooked brined turkeys -- available Nov 12 as I recall.
I saw the announcement at the College Avenue (Oakland) store -- I presume it's available at other locations.

[Morton the Mousse]

Cafe Rouge usually has pre-brined turkeys. They're doing heritage birds from Bill Niman farm (not Niman Ranch) this year. Scott the butcher says he likes them better than the Willie birds and the heritage birds from Frank Reese out in Kansas.

-----
Cafe Rouge
1782 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

[sugartoof]

I'm pretty sure Bi Rite also offered brined and uncooked last year.

[cubbee]

Spoke to Bi-rite. They do pre-cooked and raw but not brined and raw.

[sugartoof]

My mistake, sorry about that.

Sounds like you have two good options already, but another suggestion would be Avedanos.

-----
Avedano's
235 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110

[skwid]

Looks like Williams and Sonoma has Williebird pre brined turkeys

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produc...

[cubbee]

Thanks. This looks promising as well. Right now it's btw Williams-sonoma and Whole Foods. If anyone out there has tried either, please let me know. Thanks

[Foodie.wannabe]

I am looking for this information too! I didn't even know of the Costco option.