Seasoned with love

Culinary director Trevor Luke showcases Zippy’s Thanksgiving package.

Anyone who has cooked a full, traditional thanksgiving meal knows firsthand that it’s a labor of love. Depending on what time food is served, some people have to start the cooking process before the sun comes up. This is where Zippy’s Thanksgiving package comes in to save the (holi)day.

“You can prep and cook all day long, or you can reheat the package from Zippy’s while enjoying the football games and other Thanksgiving traditions,” says Jeanine Mamiya-Kalahiki, marketing manager at FCH Enterprises, Inc.

“With Thanksgiving likely to be a different event this year, with limitations on social gatherings, why not save the effort and buy a premade turkey package, and another package for loved ones in your life? You can still enjoy a Thanksgiving meal together — virtually.”

A Maki Roll ($5.95) can be ordered as an extra side with the holiday bundle.

Pickup is designated at select Zippy’s locations Nov. 25-26, and customers can choose between three options: Whole Turkey Package ($127.95), Half Turkey Package ($72.95) and Whole Turkey Only ($78.95). And, even better, those who order online before 5 p.m. Nov. 19 can save up to $15.

“We sell out of packages every year, so please order for yourself and your loved ones early,” adds Mamiya-Kalahiki.

What’s to be discovered in the Whole Turkey Package is everything one would imagine in a standard holiday feast. The bundle serves eight to 10 people, and includes a whole roasted turkey (10-12 pounds cooked weight), 3 pounds of stuffing, 4 pounds of mashed potatoes, 4 pounds of poultry gravy, 1-pound of cranberry/pineapple relish and a dozen King’s Hawaiian Sweet Rolls.

Pumpkin or custard pie ($10.75, each)

“People have said that our poultry gravy is to die for,” shares Mamiya-Kalahiki. “Our housemade gravy is made from the actual turkey drippings and comes ready to reheat. No powdered stuff here! We offer real mashed potatoes, no flakes or fillers — just luscious, creamy goodness that matches perfectly with our gravy.

“Lastly, we have a special recipe for our famous cranberry/pineapple relish. The tartness of a traditional cranberry sauce is cut by just enough sweetness from the pineapples for a unique side dish sure to please even those that dislike cranberry.”

The Half Turkey Package, meanwhile, is perfect for a smaller household. It’s comprised of all the same mouth-watering dishes, but at half the size.

Extra servings of mashed potatoes ($9.75) and poultry gravy ($4.75) are up for grabs, too, as is a Maki Sushi Roll ($5.95). But, of course, no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without pumpkin or custard pie ($10.75) — fresh from Napoleon’s Bakery.

“These are local favorites you would see on the table at Thanksgiving,” says Mamiya-Kalahiki.

“We’ve provided customers with Thanks-giving packages for about 22 years,” she adds. “We started with a half turkey package, and as demand increased, we added a whole turkey package three years later.

“Customers like the convenience and ease, and now, with no-contact pickup, it’s safe and easy to pop your trunk and we’ll load the package in your car.”

Beginning Nov. 12, orders can be placed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling 973-0880; or, in person at the following branches where the packages will be available for pickup: McCully, Nimitz, Vineyard, Koko Marina, Kahala, Waipahu, Waiau, Wahiawa, Kapolei, Mililani, Kaneohe, Kailua — and even outer island locations, such as Kahului and Hilo (though pricing will vary).

To that end, the holiday season is a time that embodies ideals like gratitude and cherishing those we care about — something Zippy’s knows all too well.

“Our core purpose is ‘to share Hawaii’ by sharing local favorites, local culture and the aloha spirit within the community,” Mamiya-Kalahiki says. “Our mission statement is ‘Ka Hana Pono’ — or doing the right thing. We hire people who live by our core values: committed, humble, integrity, passionate and supportive.”

For more information on the Thanksgiving package, visit zippys.com.