by TM Petaccia

The holidays are coming up fast, but you don’t need to worry about cooking. These Charlotte-area restaurants and caterers are offering a host of party and meal options to keep your season merry and bright.

Unless otherwise noted, all are pickup only.

Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, LoSo

Challah bread is on the menu at Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen during the holiday season. Photo courtesy

Chef Alyssa Wilen is offering complete Hanukkah Shabbat and Christmas dinner menus. Order deadline December 19. Pickup on December 23. Includes gluten free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. Items include: seared flounder, potato cakes, flank steak, braided challah, spice-rubbed lamb shank, smoked cauliflower, gingerbread whoopie pies, and more. Full menus and prices on their order site.

The Culture Shop, Belmont-Plaza Midwood

This niche shop on Hawthorne Lane is offering a special holiday hors d’oeuvre menu which includes cheese and charcuterie platters, truffle deviled eggs, crab-stuffed mushrooms, and more. See full menu, prices, and order info on their Instagram page.

Mano Bella Artisan Foods, Uptown

Order Christmas, Italian style with dishes like smoked trout ricotta dip, lentil and cotechino sausage soup, truffle lasagna, venison cannelloni, a selection of gelatos, and more. Pick up at their shop at The Market at 7th Street or select area farmers markets. Order from the website.

Midwood Smokehouse, multiple locations

Holiday menu items include a whole smoked turkey, turkey breast, spiral boneless ham, beef brisket, cornbread, BBQ beans, collards, pecan cobbler, and more. Order for pickup on December 23 or 24. Order from the website (select pickup location first).

Nourish, Sardis Woods

Chef Julia Simon has developed a fully plant-based holiday menu featuring Asheville’s Dare vegan cheese. The menu includes ​​tamales; vegan shepherd’s pie with puy lentils; mac and cheese platter with holiday-glazed tofu, green beans and candied yams; Brussels sprouts and broccoli in bechamel; stuffed mushrooms; Dare vegan cheese’s roasted garlic brie; spinach artichoke dip; black forest baked oats; and vegan cheesecake (from Cakey Organics). $101.00/serves 2 or $191/serves 4. Order by December 17. Pickup/delivery on December 22. Order from the website. 

Patrick’s Gourmet Catering, Eastland-Hickory Grove

Chef Patrick Garrivier is offering a four-course Christmas Eve feast for $80/person. Amuse: foie gras torchon; appetizer: jumbo shrimp cocktail; main: filet mignon in a red wine sauce with potato gratin and haricots vert; dessert: flourless chocolate cake with crème anglaise. Order for pickup between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., December 24. Order from the website.

Sweet Lew’s BBQ, Belmont

Pitmaster Lewis Donald is offering a full slate of holiday a la carte items as well as fully packaged dinners. Everything from sausage balls and smoked shrimp cocktail to 6-pound beef tenderloins and turkey breasts to sweet potato casserole and collards to key lime pie and pecan pie are on the menu. Order via order site.

Table & Twine, delivery

Choose from several “Christmas Meal Kit” options: Holiday Brunch, $52.99/person; Holiday Appetizers, $99.99/serves 6; Cocktail Party, $275.99/serves 10; Christmas Dinner – Ham, $229.00/serves 6; Christmas Dinner – Beef Tenderloin, $389.99/serves 6; plus a number of holiday a la carte items. Order from the website.

Yafo Kitchen, Dilworth, Plaza Midwood, South Park

Holiday menu items include shawarma-spiced rotisserie turkey breast, Chef Shai’s holiday brisket, festive street corn, Greek yogurt mac & cheese, and other items. Order for pickup on December 23 or 24. Order from the website (select pickup location first).

Your Farms Your Table, Wesley Heights

Chef Sam Diminich is offering lasagna trays (serves 12) for $100 as well as full blown “Prime Rib Celebration:” roasted, dry-aged prime rib with horseradish crème fraiche, rosemary au jus, and smoked onion rings along with a holiday cheese and charcuterie board, arugula and poached shrimp salad, grilled focaccia; potatoes au gratin; roasted broccoli and cauliflower; stuffed butternut squash, brown rice-pomegranate pilaf; parsnip fondue; parker house rolls (by Honeybear Bake Shop); hot chocolate cheesecake tart, and buttermilk panna cotta. $160/serves 2 or $480/serves 8. Pickup between 5:30-7:00 p.m., December 23. Order via order site.

This list will be updated.