Clay Crain; Food Styling: Gail Streepy
Holiday takeout is no longer limited to ordering spiral sliced ham with a decorative clove pattern. From local groceries and restaurants to caterers and personal chefs, a smorgasbord of food services awaits those opting out of the kitchen.
Extremely lavish or stylishly simple, these menus combine house specialties with seasonal favorites and include everything from full-service catering to drop-offs. But don't wait for Santa or his trusty Rudolph to make a move. Order dinner now. Otherwise, you may be settling for holiday leftovers.
Westwood Catering
Beef rules at Westwood Catering. More than 400 tenderloins are grilled for pickup each December. Available as complete dinners or à la carte, the tenderloins are prepared and sauced with your choice of merlot, béarnaise, horseradish or mushroom brandy. While full-service catering is available, Westwood will happily custom-design a carryout holiday menu to reflect your family's food traditions. They'll even plate it on your mother's silver serving tray.
Westwood Catering, 190 N. Sappington, 314-965-7428, westwoodcatering.com
Dinner via pickup, delivery or in-home catering
Westwood Catering Menu:
Beef Tenderloin Medallions with Merlot Sauce & Horseradish
Dijon Crumbs
Garlic Twice-Baked Potatoes with Asiago Cheese
Sculptured Carrots with Sugar Snap Peas
French Market Salad
Soft Challah Rolls
Gooey Butter Brownies
Raspberry Cheesecake Squares
Service for 12
Cost: $350
Annie Gunn's
In business for the past eight decades, The Smokehouse Market continues to provide countless holiday tables with its signature smoked hams, turkeys and specialty meats, while its sister operation, Annie Gunn's, offers award-winning cuisine catered in your home. If your Santa is looking for luxury, chef Lou Rook and his culinary team will travel to your home to preside over kitchen operations and dinner service. To ensure the perfect cup (or glass) of holiday cheer, wine director Glenn Bardgett will pair and select wines to match your menu.
Annie Gunn's, 16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, 636-532-7684, anniegunns.com
Dinner catered in your home, picked up or delivered
Annie Gunn's Menu:
Hors d'Oeuvres:
Grilled Vermont Maple–Glazed Smoked Jumbo Shrimp with Pennsylvania Dutch Barbecue Dipping Sauce
Steamed Blue Hill Bay Mussels with a Toasted Garlic Heirloom Tomato Extra-Virgin Oil Sauce
Hawaiian Yellowfin Tuna with a Wasabi-Soy Caramel Glaze
Roasted Smokehouse Market Marinated Rack of Lamb Lollipops
Dinner:
Sweet Gem Lettuce with Pecan-Crusted Goat Cheese, Golden Raisins, Sweet Onions and Roasted Tomato Balsamic Dressing
Marcho Farms Roasted Rack of Veal with Fresh Périgord Truffle Pinot Noir Sauce
Fired Spaghetti and Farmer Vegetables
Banana Bread Pudding with Maker's Mark Caramel Sauce
Cost: $185 per person
Optional wines paired with each course, $50 per person
The Ritz-Carlton
Thanks to Ritz-Carlton executive chef Michael Mandato, putting on the ritz is a snap. Splurge for the ultimate indulgence: Hire the renowned Ritz-Carlton chefs to prepare dinner in your home. Sound too fussy? Then ask for takeout. With its signature "pleasure to serve" mentality, the same gourmet repast prepared in your home is made available for pickup or delivery.
The Ritz-Carlton, 100 Carondelet Plaza, 314-863-6300, ritzcarlton.com
Dinner via pickup, delivered or catered in your home
The Ritz-Carlton Menu:
Slow-Roasted Pumpkin Chowder with Maple-Glazed Pecans
Woodland Mushroom Chestnut and Prosciutto, Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette
Pomegranate-Glazed Cornish Hen, Sage and Walnut Jus
Curried Acorn Squash and Toasted Coconut
Green Apple Charlotte with Raspberry Coulis
Chef catered in-home cost: $185 per person; pickup price: $90 per person. Wine optional
Trattoria Marcella
Add an Italian flair to your holiday meal by getting the goods from Trattoria Marcella. Here a five-course dinner can easily be assembled by selecting delicacies off the restaurant's 26-item pickup–catering menu. The choices range from traditional antipasti, toasted ravioli and beef tenderloin to the restaurant's signature lobster risotto and tiramisu.
Manager Christine Komorek confirms in-home catering, complete with service staff, is available for those wanting something beyond dinner pickup or drop-off. They will happily create a holiday dinner for two — or the whole clan. Just order off Trattoria Marcella's evening menu.
Trattoria Marcella, 3600 Watson, 314-352-7706, trattoriamarcella.com
Dinner via pickup, delivery or catered in your home
Trattoria Marcella Menu:
Homemade Toasted Ravioli
Balsamic Roasted Apple Salad
Lasagna al Forno
Chicken Spiedini
Stuffed Veal Meatballs
Ciabatta Rolls with Hummus
Tiramisu
Cost: Service for 8–10, $387
Additional Purveyors of Holiday Dinners
Steven Becker Fine Dining
3701 Lindell
314-367-4848
The Art of Entertaining
8796 Big Bend
314-963-9899
Bryan Young Catering Plus
7118 Oakland
314-781-0453
Butler's Pantry
5289 Arsenal
314-664-7680
Gourmet to Go
(multiple locations)
314-205-1151
Hollyberry Catering
284 East
314-968-9239
Kenrick's Meat & Catering
4324 Weber
314-631-2440
Kirk's Traveling Kitchen
636-448-8721
Pam Smith,
Your Home Bistro
636-938-9933
Straub's
(multiple locations)
314-725-2121
*Editor's note: Most prices do not include tax, gratuity or delivery charges.
