The nation's first Thanksgiving meal was prepared entirely from the rewards of local hunting and agriculture. Today, Long Islanders can acquire the vast majority of their Thanksgiving ingredients from a cornucopia of local sources. Fresh turkey can be purchased at Miloski's Poultry Farm in Calverton. Pumpkin, potatoes and seasonal vegetables can be tracked down at a host of farm stands across our east end. Apples and ciders can be found at Woodside Orchards. From cheeses, cranberries and mushrooms to jarred condiments, seafood and baked goods, locally sourced edibles are bountiful. Why not expand the local theme to include locally produced drinkables?
If your Thanksgiving Day festivities begin with cocktails before the big meal beckons everyone to the table, a visit to the tasting room at Long Island Spirits, Long Island's own distillery, is in order. Located in Baiting Hollow, Long Island Spirits will supply what you need for your social sipping needs, including LiV vodka, Deepwells gin, Rough Rider whisky and Pine Barrens whisky. For the tasting room's hours of operation and some enticing cocktail recipes, visit http://lispirits.com
With nearly 50 vineyards nestled on Long Island, begin exploring the local wineries now on your quest to select a few bottles of vino to accompany the turkey. Be sure to offer guests a choice of red or white wines to accommodate their palates' preferences. Long Island's wine region has evolved dramatically in recent years to produce a stellar portfolio of spectacular red blends, merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon, and some impressive white blends and sauvignon blanc have emerged as well. Numerous examples of Long Island wines have earned high ratings in Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator magazines, thanks to the artistries of Roman Roth, Anthony Nappa, Gil Martin, Kelly Urbanik, Richard Olsen-Harbich and other noteworthy winemakers. While Long Island's wine region dominates the North Fork, be sure to visit a couple of South Fork vineyards as well, particularly Wolffer Estate Vineyard. Browse the complete listing of Long Island's wineries to plan your sampling routes.
In many households, Thanksgiving Day concludes with family members clustered around the living room, awakened from a turkey-induced coma to the enthusiastic viewing of the Thanksgiving Day football games. The Giants and Jets are off this Thanksgiving, but pick another team to route for and consider providing some locally crafted beers to toast each touchdown. Nearly every Long Island brewery produces their rendition of the fall favorite, pumpkin ale. Riverhead alone is home to three breweries: Long Ireland Brewing, Crooked Ladder Brewing Company and Moustache Brewing Company. The North Fork harbors two locations of Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, and the South Fork welcomes beer aficionados to Southampton Publick House. Other brewery tasting rooms to visit include Port Jeff Brewing Company in Port Jefferson and Great South Bay Brewery in Bayshore.
As you raise your glass to give thanks for your cherished bonds with family and friends, your health and any other good fortunes, be sure to include thanks for the local bounty that Long Island’s growers and artisans have brought to your table, including the wine and the beer that started as grapes and hops from the vines.