Hosting Friendsgiving this year? This Thanksgiving-style meal filled with good food and great company has become a tradition in the Region. Typically celebrated the weekend before Thanksgiving, it’s a laid-back potluck-style gathering. Whether it’s an alternative to the traditional family holiday or an extra reason to celebrate, offerings from the Strack & Van Til Deli and Bakery Departments will make your Friendsgiving festive.

In the Deli Department, you’ll find ready-to-serve favorites such as rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, collard greens, whipped sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, Our Own Stuffing, cranberry relish and gravy. Deli salads — including potato, pasta, bean and beet varieties — and desserts make the best complementary side dishes.

“Our deli items let you serve a tasty meal that’s stress free, so you can focus on feasting with friends instead of spending time in the kitchen,” says Deli Department Director Kristin Snow.

Don’t forget the appetizers. Choose from deli party trays, dips, specialty cheeses, charcuterie meats, specialty crackers and Our Own Tortilla Chips. Items including chicken wings, tenders, pretzel bites, deviled eggs, sandwiches, Hye rollers, subs, sliders and King’s Hawaiian sandwiches and rolls make sharing easy.

Round out your meal with fresh-baked French or Italian bread, dinner rolls, scratch-made brown-and-serve rolls, stuffing bread, garlic bread, sourdough or fresh-baked croissants from the Strack & Van Til Bakery.

No Friendsgiving is complete without dessert. Bakery pies include pumpkin, pecan, sweet potato, 10-inch Gourmet Apple, French Silk, Lemon Supreme and banana cream. Enjoy red velvet, carrot and German chocolate cakes and a variety of cheesecakes. Platters of homestyle cookies, signature butter cookies and brownies or pumpkin bars are simply delicious.

“The Strack & Van Til Bakery has something for every sweet tooth,” notes Bakery Director Stephanie Flynn.
See all deli and bakery party platter options online at strackandvantil.com/catering.

Want to supercharge your shopping experience? Introducing Ernie, your personalized Strack & Van Til shopper. Ernie can help you check rewards points, find coupons and track your clubs. Upload a photo of a favorite dish or shopping list to build your cart online, ask about weekly sales in any department or get meal-planning help for a group of four, six or any size. Find Ernie at strackandvantil.com.

Spend less time preparing and more time on friendship. It’s easy when you let your local Strack & Van Til do the cooking!

By Karyn G. Zafran