Thanksgiving is around the corner. (Seriously, it is.) Do you have your menu set? Your turkey pre-ordered? Your table setting ready? If not, don't sweat it. Toronto's very own Summerhill Market is here to help -- and we can assure you that not only will all your Thanksgiving needs be met -- but it'll likely be one of the best damn Thanksgiving's you've had yet.
If you have yet to hear of – or visit – one of Summerhill Market's two Toronto locations, you've been missing out. Summerhill's owners and staff want you to think of them as a neighbourhood extension of your own kitchen. Their two locations are welcoming, fresh and bursting with fine foods, seasonal produce and a vast selection of homemade meals (everything from fresh salads to sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, risottos and more). They also boast a very impressive selection of partially-made meals (think pre-marinated steaks, flattened chickens, marinated fish fillets, bbq ribs and more), so all you have to do at home is toss it into the oven or grill and whip up a couple easy sides. Their meals are all conveniently vacuum-packed so they not only last longer, but freeze well too. Essentially, Summerhill's goal is to help you to be able to entertain easily, and with pride, and to become the premier "pick-up" caterer in Toronto. We think they have done just that.
So, if you've left your Thanksgiving preparations a little late this year, or you're just looking to lighten your load with a few store-bought essentials (that taste just like mom makes), then head to Summerhill Market to grab one (or all) of these awesome Thanksgiving specials.
1. Turkey Pot Pie
Rated as one of the best pot pies in town and reviewed by the Toronto Star, the turkey pot pie at Summerhill Market is as close to heaven as you can get (think golden and buttery pastry filled with plump pieces of cooked turkey and seasonal veggies like carrots, potatoes and peas). So, if you're thinking of foregoing the whole turkey experience (along with all those trimmings), but you still want the taste of a classic Thanksgiving dinner, stop by Summerhill and pick up a couple of these babies. Not a fan of turkey? No problem. They've also got chicken, steak and mushroom, steak and kidney, chicken, cheddar and broccoli and even a Quebec-style tourtiere.
2. Summerhill's Own Freshly Prepared Soups
From butternut squash to turkey noodle and a classic French onion soup, Summerhill's range of freshly prepared soups and stocks is simply amazing, and it can cover you for anything you've got planned for the Thanksgiving weekend. Heading to the cottage or the farm? Grab a couple of jars of beef or vegetable chili for a warm and hearty lunch. Serving a fancy Thanksgiving dinner? Grab a jar of butternut squash or cream of parsnip soup to serve as a light and flavourful appetizer. Looking for a bit of Turkey but not planning to prepare a whole bird? Summerhill's turkey noodle soup will make you feel as though you just ate Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. No matter what you've got planned, a jar of Summerhill's homemade soup should not be far from your reach this weekend.
3. Artisan Cheese & Charcuterie Platter
If you're cooking turkey dinner for a crowd, the last thing on your mind may be the appetizer. But it's still a good idea to have something available for your guests to nibble on, pre-turkey dinner. So why not make things super simple by ordering one of Summerhill's artisan cheese or charcuterie platters. Filled with artisan and farm house cheeses, meats, fresh fruits, nuts and bread and a cracker basket, they are a perfect start to your Thanksgiving meal.
4. The Floral Studio
You need flowers. Thankfully, Summerhill also has a floral boutique and design studio in each of its locations. Fresh cuts of flowers and stunning arrangements are always available using seasonal and exotic blooms. Our favourite part? Orders can be called in for pick-up and delivery, or, book a consultation with a designer to create the perfect arrangement for your Thanksgiving dinner.
5. Sensational Sides
You've got the turkey covered but forgot about the sides. Don't sweat. From buttermilk mashed potatoes and maple-roasted butternut squash to French green beans and orange cranberry sauce, Summerhill has got you covered with any side dish you fancy. They even make a seriously delicious apple, onion and sage stuffing and the perfect turkey gravy.
6. The Turkey Dinner
You're holding a last-minute dinner for 12 and you have a sudden work deadline that is cramming up all of your available time. Don't panic. Just click here and order Summerhill's Turkey Dinner for 12. Sliced Free-range Turkey (white and dark meat), Apple, Onions & Sage Dressing, Turkey Gravy, Orange Cranberry Sauce, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Maple-Roasted Butternut Squash, and French Green Beans. Enough said.
7. The Beef Tenderloin Dinner
Same scenario as above but you and your family prefer beef. Simply click here and order the beef tenderloin dinner: Beef tenderloin, port shallot pepper reduction, french green beans, rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes and sautéed wild mushrooms.
8. Pies & Desserts
Of course we cannot forget dessert at Thanksgiving (and you shouldn’t either). Which is why, instead of slaving away in the kitchen for hours making your own homemade pie, you should put the flour and butter back in the cupboard and head to Summerhill to pick up one of their rustic, homemade and seriously delicious pies. Choose from apple, pumpkin, pecan, peach, mixed berry and strawberry rhubarb. Not looking to serve pie for dessert? Summerhill has an enormous selection of freshly baked sweets including cookies, cakes, tarts and loafs.