Thanksgiving in the Twin Cities

For the perfect ?homemade? pumpkin, apple pie or pecan pie, head over to this South Minneapolis bakery, where every pie is made fresh by some of the best pasty chefs in town. The pecan pie will turn pecan-pie loathers into lifelong lovers and the pumpkin pie is a perfectly spiced dessert to end the perfect evening.

Looking for some unique toppers to go with that perfect pie? After picking up your pie at Turtle Bread Co., stop into Pumphouse Creamery for its homemade ice cream using locally produced ingredients. Flavors include locally roasted pumpkin, butter pecan, hot cinnamon and local apples and, of course, the best vanilla you'll ever have.

You can get a pretty good Riesling and Bordeaux anywhere. But at Surdyk's, you can get a fantastic Riesling and Bordeaux, as well as an award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot, Vouvray and more that won't cost you an arm an a leg. Pop in to the cheese shop to pick up some crowd-pleasing cheese and meats to serve as appetizers.

Seward Coop serves up some of the best and freshest locally grown fruits, veggies, turkey and more. All of the meats and poultry come directly from the source--organic farms within about 150 miles of the Cities.

Don't have the time to plan an elaborate meal? Lund's and Byerly's will do the whole thing for you. These grocery stores are known for their stellar selection, and that carries over to their prepared Thanksgiving meal, which you can pick up or have delivered directly to your home.

Everett's is perfectly old-school in all the best ways. The butchers are skilled and friendly. The cashiers love their job. And the meats are fresh and prepared with love. For a turkey (even organic and locally grown) that's fresh and inexpensive, this little neighborhood shop is an award-winner.