Thanksgiving is undoubtedly the greatest food holiday of the year, so it’s a shame it only lasts one night.  Sure, there are always turkey leftovers, and frankly, there’s only so much pumpkin pie you can eat, but we’ve found three places in the Valley where Thanksgiving lives on—long after turkey day. 

THE CARVING BOARD

This popular Encino sandwich spot understands that we should be thankful for turkey every day, which is why they have not one, but two Thanksgiving-bent sandwiches on their menu.  The “Turkey Dinner” layers roasted turkey, herbaceous stuffing, dried cranberries, grilled onions, and even gravy, between slices of sourdough, and is served warm.  Meanwhile, the “Sweet November”— a colorful marriage of turkey breast, dried cranberries, goat cheese, sliced cucumber, tomato, and red onions—is served on nine grain bread at a cooler room temperature.  But wait, there’s more.  Both sandwiches are on The Carving Board’s year-round menu, meaning you can have a sammie version of turkey dinner in, say, July. 

The Carving Board, 18607 Ventura Blvd #100, Tarzana. (818) 342-3200.

MENDOCINO FARMS

We don’t know how you’ve been spending your month, but we’ve been using ours wisely by getting our share of Mendocino Farms’ “November to Remember” sandwich.  Served on rustic white bread, this Thanksgiving-themed creation starts with a bed of cranberry chutney, then mounts on kale stuffing with pork and fennel sausage, shavings of seared turkey, and finishes it off with tomatoes, shredded romaine lettuce, and a smear of aioli.  Only available until the end of the month, we recommend getting your hands on it before T-day.  Think of it as appetite-training before the big day.   

Mendocino Farms, 14141 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks. (818) 205-9744.

 

REPUBLIC OF PIE

Sometimes Thanksgiving dinner can arrive in an oversized latte mug, and at this pie-centric North Hollywood coffee house, that’s just the case.  A new addition to the menu, the “Thanksgiving Pot Pie” combines mashed potatoes with turkey, gravy, and a celery and onion stuffing, and then tops it with cranberry sauce.  And unlike a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, you don’t have to worry about leftovers—the pot pie is fit for one.  Republic of Pie plans on keeping it on their permanent menu, and we’re just fine with that. 

Republic of Pie, 11118 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood.  (818) 308-7990.