The holiday season is here, and Tabletop Media Group’s clients have plenty to help everyone celebrate. From Thanksgiving dinners and seasonal treats to festive events, gift ideas and holiday drinks, this roundup offers inspiration for the gatherings and traditions ahead. Whether planning a party, shopping for someone special or making time for a little holiday fun, there’s something here for everyone. 🦃🎄
Holiday Inspired Desserts
Bring something sweet to the Thanksgiving table with Asali Desserts & Café. Pastry chef and owner, Hanadi’s preorder menu includes Spiced Caramel Apple Cheesecake, Buttermilk Pie, Baklava Cheesecake and Chocolate Tahini Tart, along with other favorites worth saving room for. Whether hosting the whole family or bringing dessert to a friend’s gathering, these handcrafted pies, tarts and cheesecakes give diners one less thing to bake and plenty to share.
Place preorders by calling or emailing the café by Monday, November 23, with final pickups on Wednesday, November 25. With dessert taken care of, diners can spend a little more time enjoying the company around the table. There’s more sweetness to come after Thanksgiving, too. Keep an eye on Asali’s Instagram for holiday offerings, seasonal treats and more reasons to stop by as the celebrations continue.
Elevated Private Dining to Celebrate the Season
East of Texas at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus is taking some of the cooking off diners’ Thanksgiving to-do list with heat-and-serve dinners available for preorder. Choose between the Traditional Tex-Mex Thanksgiving Dinner and the Texas Thanksgiving Dinner, each prepared with easy reheating instructions so everyone can spend more time around the table and less time in the kitchen.
Pickup and delivery are available Tuesday, November 24, and Wednesday, November 25. Deliveries run from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., with pickup typically available from noon–3 p.m. at 318 Blackwell Street, Suite 100, in Durham. View the full menus and place a preorder to get the holiday meal planned.
Kanki Japanese Steakhouse - Raleigh and Durham
Holiday Cocktails & Celebrations
Gather around the grill this holiday season at Kanki, where chef-driven teppanyaki, specialty sushi and festive cocktails bring a little extra celebration to the table. The seasonal Snowball cocktail blends Malibu rum, cream of coconut, Pearl Nigori sake and pineapple juice for a creamy, indulgent holiday sip. Whether celebrating a milestone with family or bringing coworkers together for an end-of-year outing, Kanki’s lively atmosphere makes group dining feel like an occasion. Private dining options offer space for holiday celebrations, and Kanki will be open on Christmas Eve for those gathering before the big day.
For gifting, restaurant gift cards offer an easy option for sushi lovers and hibachi fans. For celebrations elsewhere, premium sushi and hibachi catering brings Kanki’s signature flavors to holiday gatherings and corporate events.
Holiday Date Nights and Hosting Gifts
Sassool Cafe brings vibrant Mediterranean flair to holiday gatherings with catering menus built for celebrating, ranging from abundant mezze platters and fresh-baked pita to charcuterie-style appetizer boards, seasonal spreads and crowd-pleasing entrées. Each Sassool location also features an in-restaurant market stocked with house-made dips, grab-and-go appetizers, spice blends and imported goods perfect for host gifts, making holiday entertaining and gift-giving both convenient and flavorful.
December also marks Sassool’s 15th birthday, celebrating the opening of its Raleigh location in December 2011. To mark the occasion, Sassool is introducing anniversary T-shirts in two designs, each available in two colors, along with tote bags—a thoughtful gift for the Sassool fan. Email simone@sassool.com to be notified when they go on sale.
Jeff’s Bagel Run - Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Rolesville
Holiday Menu
Jeff’s Bagel Run is bringing a little extra cheer to the morning routine with six seasonal flavors available through December 31. Cookie Butter Cream Cheese blends Biscoff cookies with brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla, with a vegan option also available, while Hot Cocoa Cream Cheese combines dark chocolate and marshmallow creme. The drink lineup includes a Cookie Butter Cold Foam Latte, a Gingerbread Latte and two fizzy favorites: the Frosted Shirley, made with grenadine, Sprite and vanilla cold foam, and the Merry Cherry, featuring grenadine, vanilla and Coke or Diet Coke topped with vanilla cold foam.
For the bagel lover, Jeff’s first Corkcicle collaboration features a blush-pink tumbler covered in an everything-bagel seed design and finished with a stainless steel straw. For holiday brunches, office gatherings or family celebrations, catering options make group hosting easy, and orders can be placed seamlessly through the Jeff’s Bagel Run app for added convenience.
Carolina Brewery - Chapel Hill and Pittsboro
Santa’s Favorite Beer and Local Gift Ideas
Carolina Brewery welcomes the holiday season with the return of Santa’s Secret, a festive favorite available for a limited time exclusively on tap at the Chapel Hill and Pittsboro brewpubs. The festive brew brings its own seasonal character to the glass. Follow along on social media for the release date.
For holiday cooking and gifting, the brewery’s signature sauces and rubs bring big flavor to the kitchen and make thoughtful stocking stuffers for craft-beer enthusiasts and home cooks alike. Carolina Brewery is also offering a 20% bonus card with every $50 gift card purchase, giving holiday shoppers a little extra to share or keep for a future visit.
Holiday fun for the whole family
The Plant in Pittsboro brings local food, shopping and seasonal celebrations together this holiday season. On Sunday, November 22, the Harvest Festival runs from noon–6 p.m., featuring a local craft market, live music, seasonal food and drinks, and a Thanksgiving Dressing Competition for home cooks ready to share their holiday favorite.
The festivities continue on Small Business Saturday, November 28, with The Great Evergreen Gathering, also from noon–6 p.m. Shop local makers, warm up around bonfires, enjoy music and caroling, and catch the cookie competition. The event also kicks off Give the Landfills a Holiday, a holiday tree project featuring 10 local environmental and community nonprofits. On Sunday, December 6, Whiskey Season Opening Day offers another reason to gather, with festivities from noon–6 p.m.
Holiday Open House
Holiday cheer is taking over Village District this season, kicking off with the annual Holiday Open House on Thursday, November 19th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM! The district will transform into a festive Christmas Village filled with holiday magic for the whole family. Snap a photo with Santa, write a wish list for the North Pole, sip on hot cocoa topped with festive treats, and enjoy the sounds of carolers and live entertainment while strolling through the Village.
A Little Extra Holiday Cheer! As a special holiday treat, shoppers who spend $150 or more at Village District stores during the Holiday Open House can present their receipt(s) at the Village District table to receive a $20 Village District gift card, while supplies last! Save it for a little something special or tuck it into someone's stocking for an extra dose of holiday cheer.
The newly opened Oberlin Hotel adds another reason to make a visit of it, offering a convenient home base for holiday guests or a seasonal staycation with Village District’s shops and restaurants close by.
Holiday Dinner made easy
Bring something a little different to the holiday table with Barsa New Indian, offering 15% off all catering orders throughout December. Whether planning Friendsgiving, an office celebration or a night with family, Barsa’s modern Indian flavors give guests something to look forward to while taking a little cooking off the host’s plate.
The Durham restaurant also has something to celebrate: its Garam Pumpkin Almond Soup was voted Best Soup at Urban Ministries of Wake County’s Stone Soup Supper. The event supported the organization’s Helen Wright Center for Women, Hunger & Nutrition Food Pantry and Open Door Clinic.
Lazo Hospitality - Southern Pines, Sanford, and Fayetteville
Thanksgiving and Holiday Catering
Make room for more time with guests this holiday season with catering from Órale Taco Bar in Southern Pines, part of Lazo Hospitality Group. Whether hosting Friendsgiving or planning the office party, Órale brings Mexican favorites to the table. The group also includes San Felipe, Aye Toro, Mini Jalapeño and La Perla. Beyond the holidays, possible new restaurant openings give diners even more to look forward to.
Southern Tradition for the Holiday Table
Erik Martella Wines brings North Carolina–grown muscadine craftsmanship to the holiday season with bottles made for gifting, celebrating and gathering around the table. Sparkling selections take center stage this year, including the bright and elegant CVB Sparkling and the lively Rosé Pet Nat, each offering a fresh, effervescent complement to festive meals and toasts. For seasonal sipping, the beloved Stockinette returns as a holiday favorite, delivering nostalgic notes that pair beautifully with winter dishes and cozy occasions. Whether for host gifts, holiday parties or family celebrations, Erik Martella Wines adds a touch of Southern heritage and handcrafted charm to every seasonal moment. Visit the shop section of their website to order bottles this season.
