Vegan Thanksgiving in NYC: How to Order a Plant-Based Feast

Thanksgiving dinner has one rule: nobody leaves hungry. That gets harder when the table includes a vegan, a cousin with celiac disease, and an uncle who regards lentils as a personal attack.

The simple answer is to order a plant-based spread, choose dishes that stand on their own, and book early. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26 this year. We don't have a set Thanksgiving menu this year, so you get to choose exactly what goes on your table. Here is how to plan it, what to order from our catering menu, and what to ask any caterer before you pay.

Build your Thanksgiving from our catering menu

Our family-style trays each serve six, and our platters serve ten. All of our trays are available Thanksgiving week. Here is a spread for a table of 12:

• To start: 1 Mezze Platter (serves 10). Contains soy, cashew and tahini.
• Soup: 2 Soup of the Day trays (serve 12). Ask which soup is running that week.
• Hearty main: 2 Moroccan Stew trays (serve 12). Contains soy; not labeled gluten-free.
• Fresh main: 2 Harvest Salad trays (serve 12). Brown rice, sweet potato and turmeric apples. Contains nuts and mustard; not labeled gluten-free.
• Dessert: 1 Baked Goods Assortment (serves 12). Ask about nuts if anyone has an allergy.

Hosting six? Order one tray each of soup, stew and salad, plus the Baked Goods Assortment. You'll have dessert left for Friday.

If you want more protein on the table, swap one stew tray for the Chili Bowl tray, built on three beans and our mushroom-based protein.

How to feed a table that isn't fully vegan

You don't need to announce a theme. Serve the food on platters, and let it be dinner.

• Start with the biggest restriction. One allergy or celiac diagnosis should shape the menu before anyone's preferences do.
• Label everything. A small card with the dish name and main allergens saves your guests from asking you about the stew at every turn.
• Keep one showpiece. Guests remember a table with a clear centerpiece, and a big tray of stew does that job as well as a bird.
• Tell us early about allergies. Our menu lists common allergens, and our team can tell you what fits. Our kitchens do use nuts, soy and sesame.

Hosting friends rather than family? Our Friendsgiving guide covers potlucks, labels and hosting guests with allergies.

What to ask before you order a vegan Thanksgiving

These questions apply to any caterer, including us:

1. What is the last day to order, and can I change the headcount afterward?
2. Does it arrive hot or ready to reheat? If it needs reheating, how long does that take?
3. Which allergens are present, and what is the cross-contact risk?
4. Is the gravy or dessert vegan too? Those are the usual places for butter and eggs to sneak in.
5. Where do I pick up, and in what time window?

Your Thanksgiving countdown

1. This week: Get a rough headcount and ask guests about allergies.
2. Monday, November 23: Confirm final numbers and clear space in the fridge.
3. Tuesday, November 24, by 6 p.m.: Place your order for Wednesday at the latest. Orders placed after 6 p.m. for the next day carry a 20% rush fee.
4. Wednesday, November 25: Last day for pickup and delivery. Your order arrives hot, so refrigerate it within two hours if you're saving it for Thursday.
5. Thursday, November 26: We're closed, and you're off duty. Reheat, plate and take the credit.

Vegan Thanksgiving FAQ

Do you have a set Thanksgiving menu? Not this year. You can build your own from our catering menu, and our team can help you decide how much to order.

Will the food need reheating? Your order arrives hot, so you can serve it straight away. If you're picking it up before the day, refrigerate it within two hours, then reheat it until it's hot all the way through.

Is everything at Le Botaniste vegan? Yes. Our menu is 100% plant-based.

Can you handle gluten-free guests? Many of our dishes are labeled gluten-free on our menu, including the Chili Bowl and Coconut Curry Bowl. Not all are, so check each dish and tell us if a guest has celiac disease.

How much notice do you need? Thanksgiving orders follow our regular catering rules. At least 24 hours' notice is best, and we'll try to accommodate last-minute requests up to two hours ahead. Orders placed after 6 p.m. for the next day carry a 20% rush fee.

Are you open on Thanksgiving Day? No. We're closed on Thursday, November 26, so pickup and delivery need to happen before then. Each location's holiday hours are on its Google Business Profile.

Order your plant-based Thanksgiving

Start with our catering menu, email catering@lebotaniste.us, or call (929) 928-6258 and we'll help you size it. Still planning December? Our holiday party catering guide has you covered.