Where to Get Specialty Meats This Thanksgiving

Where to Get Specialty Meats This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is approaching, and for the natural-born chefs among us, it’s time to rejoice. For those of us who love to cook and entertain, we can look forward in eager anticipation to days spent in the kitchen and a dining room full of friends and family enjoying the food we’ve prepared.

For those of us to whom cooking isn’t such a natural and pure joy, or even those of us who love to cook but find Thanksgiving a bit overwhelming — you might meet the approaching holidays with slightly more mixed feelings. Maybe you love Thanksgiving favorites, and maybe you love entertaining guests. Maybe you even love cooking some of the minor dishes, but a turkey? A turkey can be tricky, and if you feel you don’t have the time to do it justice, then you’re not alone.

If you live in Baton Rouge and you’d rather enjoy your Thanksgiving without the hassle of preparing a full-size turkey on top of everything else on your plate this year, then we want to help you achieve that. We prepared a list of all the best places to get specialty meats in Baton Rouge this holiday season. Order your turkey, ham or other meat of choice ready-made, so you can get busy relaxing and enjoying your worry-free Thanksgiving Day.

Where to Get Specialty Meats for Thanksgiving in Baton Rouge

Did you plan to order a pre-prepared turkey from the beginning or need a slightly last-minute solution as your original plan has gone up in smoke? Discover new suppliers and restaurants for unique Thanksgiving meat options to help you celebrate the holiday. Everyone on this list offers their take on the best Thanksgiving specialty meats in Baton Rouge.

Order specialty meats in Baton Rouge to help you prepare a delicious meal during the holidays. 

1. Frank’s Restaurant

Frank’s Restaurant is a family-owned establishment that’s served up delicious homestyle and Cajun-style dishes to the people of Baton Rouge since 1964. Now in its third generation of family owners, they now have three separate locations and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner so even if you’re not looking for a little assistance in the kitchen this Thanksgiving, there’s plenty to enjoy right in their dining room.

For this holiday season, however, it’s their catering menu that’s of particular interest. While they cater a wide variety of items, from side dishes and beverages to entrees, desserts and breakfast options, we’d like to point you toward their holiday catering menu. Their specialty meat options include:

• Baked Turkey: This freshly baked turkey is decked out in Cajun seasoning and weighs between 14 and 16 pounds. It’s perfect for feeding a party of 10-12 guests at your holiday gathering.
• Fried Turkey: If deep-fried turkey is more your style, this Cajun-injected turkey might be just the thing. Enjoy a size of 14-16 pounds that feeds 10-12 guests.
• Pecan-Smoked Turkey: Mix things up this year with our pecan-smoked turkey. Specially seasoned and smoked with pecan-cured wood, this 14-16-pound turkey is perfect for 10-12 guests.
• Spiral Honey-Glazed Ham: Skipping the turkey altogether and going for a ham? Choose a half- or whole-size of our pre-sliced and maple brown-sugar glazed spiral ham.
• Turkey Dinner: Wondering where to get a full turkey dinner in Baton Rouge this year? This package serves 10-12 guests and provides not just the turkey, but also cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, rolls and your choice of broccoli rice casserole, green bean casserole or sweet potato crunch, as well as your choice of lemon, apple, chocolate pecan or sweet potato pie.

As important as the main meat course is for your Thanksgiving meal, no holiday would be complete without plenty of side dishes and desserts to top things off, either. That’s why Frank’s Restaurant also offers plenty of great ways to supplement your turkey or ham, like apple pie, pumpkin pie, cornbread dressing and country green beans.

2. Iverstine Family Farms

Iverstine Family Farms is a relatively new institution in Baton Rouge, only recently opening their gates in 2016, but they already made an impact in the city’s food scene. From their full-service butcher shop and smokehouse to their catering options, they’re completely sourced by their own farm, and they offer something for everyone to enjoy.

If you’re looking to supplement your family’s Thanksgiving meal this year, Iverstine Family Farms is a great destination to check out. They offer a variety of different meats and cuts so that no matter what you’re looking to serve to your guests this year, we think you’ll find something that works for you.

When you visit Ivestine’s butcher shop, you can choose your favorite cut of beef, pork or chicken, prepared in exactly the style you prefer for your holiday table. Just a few examples of the cuts you can get include:

• T-bone steak
• Petite sirloin steak
• Pork tenderloin
• St. Louis-style spareribs
• Chicken breast

3. Chris’ Specialty Foods

Proudly standing out above the competition as one of the nation’s top suppliers of smoked and cured products, deboned chickens, sausages, high-quality steaks, turducken and stuffed pork chops, this next option has every possible type of meat you might consider for your holiday meal. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, a different holiday or an ordinary day on which you want to treat yourself to some high-quality meat cuts, Chris’ Specialty Foods is the perfect choice.

A quick look through Chris’ menus will reveal extensive selections of turkey options, if you’re looking to keep things traditional, as well as wide varieties of chicken, beef, pork, seafood, sausage, turducken and even wild game, if you want to mix things up and live on the wild side this year. And since no party is complete without the extras, Chris’ also provides a terrific selection of sides like candied yams, shrimp and crabmeat fettuccine, broccoli casserole and smothered corn. And if you have a particularly large party this year, why not go ahead and order the full-size party tray?

4. Bergeron’s City Market

More than just your average restaurant, Bergeron’s City Market is one of the premier full-service gourmet caterers in Baton Rouge. Every recipe and every dish from Bergeron’s stands out from the crowd thanks to their innovative ingredients and design, impeccable presentation and the unmistakable flavor of Louisiana. With take-out and dine-in options as well as catering operations, there are plenty of ways to experience all that Bergeron’s has to offer.

Just a few of the specialty meats you can order when you choose the catering option include:

• Beef tenderloin sliced with horseradish cream sauce
• Cane syrup-glazed sliced pork tenderloin
• Gourmet sausages, sliced

5. City Pork Brasserie & Bar

City Pork Brasserie & Bar is all about providing you with the options you need for your holiday meals. Would you rather not cook or entertain at all? Feel free to stop in at the dining room for a delicious full-service sit-down meal. Would you rather eat in the comfort of your own home while letting someone else handle the difficult parts of cooking? City Pork’s catering option might be the perfect choice for you.

While their catering menus are full of delicious sides, appetizers and entrees, their meat options may be the most in-demand as you look forward to your holiday meal. A sampling of the meat options you’ll find on their catering menu includes:

• Baby back ribs: Choose four racks or two racks in your order.
• Pulled pork: Choose between a full order or half an order.
• Brisket: Opt for the full order or the half-size option.
• Turkey breast: Choose a full breast or half a breast.
• Smoked chicken: Order the full size or the half size.
• Cajun sausage: The sausage is available in either half or whole size.

6. Bellue’s Fine Cajun Cuisine

For the true tastes of Cajun-style Louisiana cooking, there’s no better place to turn to than Bellue’s Fine Cajun Cuisine. With Bellue’s, you won’t find an in-house dining room. Instead, all their products are available in an online catalog. The process is simple — select the items you want, place your order and wait for them to deliver right to your front doorstep.

As you look forward to the holidays and consider ordering from Bellue’s, however, it’s important to place your order far enough in advance that it’ll arrive by the intended date. If you’re ordering with the intent to enjoy your Cajun-style favorites on Thanksgiving Day, allow about two weeks of processing time to ensure your food gets to you in time for the big day.

While Bellue’s menu is full of delicious treats, they also offer some of the best Thanksgiving specialty meats in Baton Rouge. Here are just a few of the meats you can order to grace your Thanksgiving table this year.

• Turducken, stuffed with either cornbread or seafood dressing
• Pecan-smoked turkey
• Fried Cajun-spiced turkey
• Pecan-smoked turkey breast
• Smoked ham, whole or sliced
• Smoked beef brisket
• Deboned chicken stuffed with rice, crawfish or cornbread dressing
• Pork chop stuffed with either rice or seafood dressing

7. Tramonte’s Meat & Seafood Market

For a local Baton Rouge favorite that offers you the most dining options, Tramonte’s Meat & Seafood Market is possibly the best place to check out. Here, you can enjoy the dining room experience at their location just off Airline along Jefferson Highway, catch their food truck out on the go or order their catering to make your gathering the very best one in town.

Tramonte’s year-round catering menu offers plenty of delicious favorites, from homemade baked beans and pulled pork sliders to fried gulf shrimp and spaghetti and meatballs. But when it comes to ordering the specialty meats, and making your Thanksgiving dinner a success, you want to pay special attention to their seasonal menu.

Look at their seasonal items, and you’ll find meat-based entrees such as:

• Fried turkey: Seasoned, injected and fried
• Smoked turkey: Pecan-smoked and injected
• Stuffed turkey: Stuffed with cornbread dressing
• Rotisserie chicken: Rotisserie cooked, injected and seasoned
• Baked ham: Easy-cut John Morrel signature ham
• Turducken: Filled with cornbread dressing

8. Tony’s Seafood

Love seafood? We do, too. At Tony’s Seafood, you can get the best of both worlds, where you enjoy delicious seafood options all year round as well as indulging in some more classic Thanksgiving treats as the holidays approach. As Louisiana’s largest seafood market, Tony’s Seafood proudly traces its roots back to 1959, making this one of the oldest and most well-respected entries on our list.

In addition to the incredibly varied seafood options you’ll find on the menu — including everything from shrimp and crab to catfish and octopus — you’ll also find some tried-and-true Thanksgiving and holiday classics. Just a few of the options you can decide between when you shop for Thanksgiving menu items at Tony’s seafood include:

• Fried turkey
• Stuffed chicken and chops
• Turducken
• Duck
• Sausage

9. Herbert’s Market

Home of the original deboned stuffed poultry, Herbert’s Market is the perfect place to get your specialty meats and seasonings. The Cajun market specializes in developing unique seasonings to supplement your cooking and supplying Louisiana residents with Cajun favorites, such as gourmet turducken, andouille, etouffee and more. 

Herbert’s Market has been providing true Cajun flavors and high-quality products since the business started in 1984. You can find your Thanksgiving meats, marinades, seasonings and more when you visit the original store in Maurice, Louisiana.

Here are a few specialty meat options available at Herbert’s Market you can choose between when you shop for Thanksgiving:

• Turducken
• Deboned stuffed chicken
• Deboned stuffed turkey
• Sausage
• Ribeye
• Stuffed rabbit

Try the crawfish or shrimp pies for a delicious side dish during your Thanksgiving meal. In addition to supplying meat and ingredients, Herbert’s Market also offers holiday catering in Baton Rouge. You can have party trays created with dips, sausage, cocktail meatballs and more. When you shop at Herbert’s Market, you’ll find all the ingredients and specialty meats you need to make a Cajun-style holiday feast.

10. Kased’s International Meat Maket

Do you need halal meat or want access to international groceries? Kased’s International Meat Market is the perfect place to shop. They carry fresh produce, halal meat and plenty of spices and pantry staples to help you prepare for Thanksgiving. With a butcher always available, you can get local and fresh-cut meats daily for any occasion. The market is an excellent option when you’re searching for specialty meats in Baton Rouge.

Some of the halal meats, poultry and fish you can get from Kased’s International Meat Market include:

• Chicken.
• Lamb.
• Beef.
• Bangladeshi fish.

The market also stocks produce, like fresh olives, sour plums and more. If you’re in the mood for sweets, try the fresh-baked international pastries and bread. You’ll find all your favorite global ingredients here, from Middle Eastern and Indian spices to Spanish hot sauces. The market is your go-to source for high-quality international groceries and premium, local halal meats.

Prepare for Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season by shopping at Kased’s International Meat Market in Baton Rouge for all your halal groceries.

11. Milford’s on Third

The best deli in downtown Baton Rouge is so much more than just a deli. Here at Milford’s on Third, we offer options for dining in, grab-and-go shopping and even online ordering and delivery. And while we are modeled after the classic NYC-style delicatessen, albeit with all the flavors and traditions you know and love from the South, we also offer so much more than classical deli food. When it comes to Thanksgiving, for instance, we have some options we think will make the perfect addition to any holiday table.

If you’d rather skip the turkey or ham altogether, and instead try something a little different this year, why not try a few of these options for your family get-together this year?

• Turkey or ham wrap
• Turkey sandwich
• Smoked salmon sandwich
• Hot ham and cheese sandwich
• The Milford sandwich

And of course, no Thanksgiving meal is complete without a few delicious sides to pull the whole thing together. Just a few of our options that we think might be perfect for serving to your family this year include:

• Salmon salad
• Chopped Thai salad
• Coleslaw
• Potato salad

As you think about which of these yummy treats might be right for your Thanksgiving table this year, remember that we offer grab-and-go purchasing options as well as delivery. This way, you can choose whether you’ll swing by and pick up a few things yourself or if you’d rather stay in to get ready for your party and let us bring the food right to you. Either way, we know you’ll enjoy your Thanksgiving food from Milford’s on Third.

Visit Milford’s on Third This Holiday Season

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a little stress and a flurry of craziness as you try to coordinate family travel schedules, dinner plans and family activities. But Thanksgiving should also be fun, and if you find the stress of cooking your specialty meats is too much on top of everything else, then why not ease your load by buying the largest menu item pre-prepared from an outside source?

Whether you’re looking to add a few extra side dishes to your holiday menu or mix things up with some alternative deli options,Milford’s on Third has all the goods you’ll need to make this Thanksgiving the best one yet. Located in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge on the first floor of the historic Watermark hotel, it’s the perfect place to stop by on your way home from work or out running errands. And as a bonus, its location within the Watermark hotel makes it especially convenient if you have guests coming in from town. Why not set them up in the hotel and combine two of your destinations into one this holiday season?

What to Do for New Year’s Eve in Baton Rouge

We’re just a few short weeks away from one of the biggest party nights of the year — New Year’s Eve. We’re ringing in the start of a new year as well as a new decade, so the celebration has to be epic. It’s time for us to rejoice in the successes of 2019 and the 2010s as a whole and to leave behind our struggles to start anew. Whether Baton Rouge is your home or you’re just in town for this momentous occasion, grab your friends and get ready to party. Pick one New Year’s event to attend or try to hit them all if you’re feeling ambitious — 10 years to celebrate, and 10 places to do it.

When deciding where to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Baton Rouge, consider these festivities:

1. Grab a Night Cap at The Gregory

Start your night off right at one of Baton Rouge’s top restaurants for New Year’s Eve, The Gregory, for happy hour from 4:00PM to 7:00PM. The Gregory is located in the Watermark hotel near the Mississippi River and capitol building in downtown Baton Rouge. Along with our full bar menu, we offer some signature cocktails such as the Thunder & Spice with Bayou Spiced Rum and Ancho Reyes Chile or the Cucumber Cloud with Hendrick’s Gin and Fleur Elderflower. Want to grab a bite while you’re here too? We offer a burger and fries special during our happy hour that can’t be beat. Looking for a place to eat earlier in the day? Head next door to Milford’s on Third for a genuine delicatessen menu featuring bagels and schmears, deli sandwiches and pastries and baked goods.

Why stop at New Year’s Eve? Join us at The Gregory on New Year’s Day to watch the LSU Tigers play in the Fiesta Bowl. We’re hosting the Pregame Radio Show starting at 10:00AM. In addition to our full menu, enjoy a special dish of smothered rabbit with cabbage and black-eyed peas as well as special pricing on bloody marys and mimosas.

2. Fourth Annual Rockin’ In the New Year at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center

For the fourth year in a row, celebrate the new year at this annual New Year’s Eve party in Baton Rouge with Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center. Doors open at 8:00PM and the band starts playing at 9:00PM. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Purchase eight tickets or more to reserve a table. This event is BYOB and soft drinks and Jambalaya will be sold with proceeds benefitting the nonprofit, Anything Outdoors.

3. Glow All Out at Topgolf

For an unforgettable 2019 New Year’s Eve in Baton Rouge, attend the midnight celebration at Topgolf from 9:00PM to 1:00AM. Enjoy unlimited Topgolf gameplay and music all night from a live DJ. Ring in the New Year with a fireworks show at midnight and remember the evening with glow in the dark favors. Go for the VIP Bay Reservation package for exclusive access to their Premium Feast from 9:30PM to 11:00PM and a bottle of sparkling wine for your group to share.

4. Celebrate a Night of Music at Crowne Plaza Executive Center

Experience a variety of music styles with a three-group musical performance at Crowne Plaza Executive Center featuring The Eddie Smith Band, Chase Tyler Band and Carbon Copy Band. These local Louisiana bands play a range of music from all generations and across a range of genres. Dance the night away or relax and enjoy the music while taking part in the dinner buffet and open bar.

5. The Roaring 2020 Party at George’s Place

Break out your flapper dresses and feather boas to celebrate The Roaring 2020 at George’s Place — located between downtown Baton Rouge and Louisiana State University. Ring in the new ‘20s decade with this 1920s themed party featuring performances from The Krewe of Divas. Finish off the countdown to the New Year with a champagne toast at midnight to welcome the year 2020.

6. Rooftop Sparkle Party at Tsunami Sushi

Attend Tsunami Sushi’s annual rooftop dining experience and terrace party to celebrate the new year under the stars from 7:30PM to 12:30AM. A ticket for general admission to the terrace party includes a buffet and sushi stations with a champagne toast at midnight. Dance under the stars as a DJ plays or capture the memory of the night with friends in the photo booth. The VIP ticket will get you a five-course meal in the main dining room in addition to access to the terrace party.

7. 2020 New Year Celebration at Splash Nightclub

Stop by Baton Rouge’s largest dance club, Splash Nightclub, for music, dancing and complimentary champagne at midnight. Splash offers two dance floors with a variety of music to dance to on each and a stage with a 24-foot screen playing dance videos. Celebrate 2020 at Splash with a balloon drop for prizes and free party favors upon entry. You could win a year VIP pass to Splash, Splash gift cards and more.

8. Light Up the Night at L’auberge Casino & Hotel

Enjoy a lineup of live music at L’auberge Casino & Hotel with two performances open to the public and one exclusive for ticket holders only. At 9:00PM, head to the Promenade to see Press 1 For English perform covers of classic rock favorites and current hits. At 10:00PM, listen to The Anteeks perform at Edge, L’aberge’s music bar that features outdoor seating overlooking the Mississippi River. If you’ve purchased a ticket, finish the evening with the New Year’s Eve Bash in the Event Center with an open bar and live musical performance from Pants Party.

9. Paint Your Champagne Bottle at Painting With A Twist

If you’re looking for low-key things to do on New Year’s Eve in Baton Rouge, reserve a spot at Painting With A Twist from 7:00PM to 9:00PM to create an acrylic painting of a champagne bottle on a canvas or a wood plank board to celebrate the incoming New Year. Painting With A Twist is a BYOB studio, so snacks and drinks are welcome. Grab a group of friends and finish the year in a relaxing and creative way.

10. Red Stick Revelry Celebration in Downtown Baton Rouge

After its start on New Year’s Eve 2013, Red Stick Revelry has become the pièce de résistance of New Year’s Eve celebrations and is where everyone in Baton Rouge will end up by midnight. An LED-lighted Red Stick sits atop the Town Square Beacon as Baton Rouge’s own version of the Times Square Ball in New York City. Before the countdown, enjoy music by Phat Hat at the Crest Stage in Galvez Plaza starting at 9:00PM. When the clock strikes twelve, be sure to watch the Red Stick descend and mark the beginning of the New Year while admiring a fireworks show over the Mississippi River. If you’re looking for New Year’s Eve fireworks in Baton Rouge, this is the place to be.

Celebrate With The Gregory

Whether you’re stopping by on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day or any other day of the year, The Gregory feels like a celebration. Enjoy a carefully crafted selection of food and beverages at any time from breakfast to dinner and beyond. It doesn’t matter where you celebrate New Year’s Eve in Baton Rouge — at the Gregory, we can make any day feel like a special occasion.