We’re coming up to our favourite holiday here at TasteTO - Thanksgiving! It’s the very best holiday - no gift buying, no decorating, no church service, and in Canada, usually no travelling. It’s just all about the eating! Well, and the cooking.

Thanksgiving is traditionally poultry-related, and not having eaten turkey in a good many years, I’ll leave readers to their own devices in terms of procuring and cooking their bird, or other animal of choice, although we do highly recommend organic, free-range birds, because they at least got to live a passably happy life before they became dinner.

Vegetarians and vegans not wanting to be left out of the festivities can hit just about any health food store and find a Tofurky to replace the gobbler. Made from wheat gluten and soy, some folks find that the Tofurky roast does not actually look at all like a turkey. This is true, the Tofurky in fact resembles a large grapefruit wrapped in a sweat sock, but unlike a regular turkey, it has the astounding ability to withstand oven temperatures without drying out. And lots of people even think it tastes good. Tofurkys are available as either the roast or as the whole Tofurky feast which includes gravy, cranberry-apple potato dumplings, and the Tofurky Wishstix, a tofurky jerky treat that allows the vegetarians to wish that everyone else would stop eating animals. Fans of King’s Cafe (192 Augusta Avenue) might also want to try their version of of a tofu-wheat gluten chicken, which comes looking very much like your typical joke shop rubber chicken, but tastes much better.

And because we know that not everyone enjoys spending the holiday slaving over a hot stove armed with a baster and a meat thermometer, here’s a list of a few places serving up Thanksgiving dinner. It’s by no means a complete list, and a phone call to just about any hotel should score a reservation for turkey with all the trimmings, but be forewarned, they fill up fast.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Black Creek
Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway
Sunday October 7th & Monday, October 8th
seatings at 1:00pm, 3:30pm and 6:00pm
$30 for adults - $15 for children - call 416-661-6600 ext. 5256 to reserve
Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner in an authentic 19th-century setting.

Thanksgiving Royal Brunch
Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace
Sunday, October 7th
seatings at 10:30am, 11:00am, 12:30pm & 1:00pm
$41.50 for adults - $20.75 for children 4-12 - $11.00 for children 1-3 - call 416-923-1171 to reserve
Royal Brunch served in the stately elegance of Toronto’s famous castle is an event to remember. The Conservatory and Library are spectacular settings for your meal. After brunch, enjoy a self-guided tour of the castle and a stroll through the estate gardens.

The Fairmont Royal York - EPIC Thanksgiving
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100 Front Street West
Thanksgiving Dinner
October 3rd - October 9th
5:30pm - 9:30pm
$65 per person, call EPIC at 416-860-6949 to reserve
A four-course dinner featuring roast turkey, pumpkin pie, butternut squash soup and more.
Thanksgiving Brunch
Sunday, October 7th
10:30am - 2pm
$49 per person, call EPIC at 416-860-6949 to reserve

And finally, for the folks who don’t want to cook, but want everyone else to think they did, consider a feast prepared by someone else, but eaten in the comfort of your own home - and no, I’m not talking Swiss Chalet.

The Fairmont Royal York is offering Turkey to Go, a three-course dinner priced per person. Orders can be made by calling 416-860-5050 or emailing festive@fairmont.com. Orders must be placed before October 5 at 5pm. Pick-up is available between 9am and 5pm on October 7th and 8th at York’s Deli, located on the Avenues level of The Fairmont Royal York.

Whole Foods (87 Avenue Road) is also offering prepared items for Thanksgiving, ranging from individual dishes to entire dinner packages, including a vegan dinner (note: link is a pdf).