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Drink your dinner
Celebrate fall's bounty with a meal by the glass

By Rachel Gillman

Thanksgiving is all about guilt-free gluttony. Oh, yeah--and giving thanks. But if the thing you're most thankful for after your massive meal is the fact that you still fit into your jeans, maybe it's time for a new approach. Why not drink your dinner? That's right: Trade the stuffing for spirits, and swap the mashed potatoes for a martini.

Turkey Tini, $10
Forget carving knives and lumpy gravy. Instead, raise a glass and give thanks for strong whiskey. The Turkey Tini at Lincoln Park lounge Lucille's Tavern & Tapas is made with Amaretto, Jack Daniel's and pineapple juice, served in a martini glass, and garnished with a sugar rim and cherry.

Cornucopia, $10
Thanksgiving is about bounty, but you don't have to celebrate abundance by filling your plate with a heaping helping of everything on the table. South Water Kitchen has an alternative: The Cornucopia, made with Skyy vodka infused with the fall flavors of cranberry, pear, apple and quince. The vodka is mixed with Plymouth gin, topped with pomegranate juice and garnished with a fig.

Maker's Mark Cranhatten, $9
Cranberry sauce is like your socially awkward second cousin. Come Thanksgiving, you include it out of habit, but no one really would miss it if it wasn't there. Yet, when you add alcohol, they both become much more appealing. If you don't believe us, just try the Maker's Mark Cranhatten at Parlor, made with juice from the restaurant's special citrus cranberry sauce, Maker's Mark bourbon, a splash of sweet vermouth and bitters. It's served straight up or on the rocks and garnished with fresh cranberries.

Pumpkin Spice Martini, $7.95
The best part of Thanksgiving comes with a graham-cracker crust and a dollop of cream, and it's always saved for last. Here's one you don't need a fork to enjoy: The Pumpkin Spice Martini at Vong's Thai Kitchen, which blends vanilla vodka, Auburn vanilla liqueur, condensed milk and a splash of cream with spiced pumpkin mix and a pinch of ground clove. It's served in a martini glass with a chocolate wafer cookie and a graham-cracker rim. Seconds allowed.