Thanksgiving is next Thursday, and if you want to enjoy a great meal without having to cook, you're in luck.
A number of New Orleans restaurants will be open on Turkey Day, and caterers and grocery stores are helping to provide food for at-home gatherings. If you plan on eating out or catering, you'll want to make your reservations now. Wendy Waren, senior vice president of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, urges anyone considering going the restaurant or catering route not to wait until the last minute to make reservations.
"Time is of the essence," Waren said. "Your options are going to be much less the longer you wait."
According to Waren, restaurants, caterers, and grocery stores are filling a void "to help people that are celebrating Thanksgiving that may not want to cook (or) may not trust some of their family members' cooking," helping spruce up at-home feasts by providing traditional holiday fare, charcuterie boards, desserts, and more.
"There are definitely options in the market," Waren said.
Waren says eating out or catering your Thanksgiving meal also takes away the worry that you'll get sick eating someone else's food.
"One of the important things to know is that when you're putting your meal in the hands of a restaurant or a grocery store, you're in a position to serve your meal safely to your family members," Waren said.
To see a list of New Orleans restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving, click here.
