We’re blessed in Loudoun to be surrounded by superb wineries and breweries, a bounty of fresh farm produce and a subculture of creative artisans designing everything from ceramic wine cups to floral centerpieces. There’s no better time to take advantage of this epicurean abundance and crafting talent than when planning your upcoming holiday dinner feasts.
Table Décor
Pre-order a gorgeous holiday floral arrangement of roses, berries, mums, foraged materials and other blooms from Holly Chapple’s wonderful Hope Flower Farm in Waterford. She also offers garlands and wreaths for mantles and doors. Over in Purcellville, Designing Flowers will custom tailor a floral arrangement to your specifications using anything from dahlias and lilies to tulips and rare orchids and deliver same day in Purcellville and surrounding areas.
Dinnerware
Loudoun produce always tastes good, but it’s more complete when prepared with – or served on – locally made kitchen or dinnerware. Inspired by western European countries, Italy & France, Crème de la Crème has everything for your table décor needs with an artisan-style collection that includes cutlery, glassware and table linens.
Fresh Produce
No Thanksgiving dinner is complete without fresh local produce to accompany that turkey. Leesburg, Middleburg, Purcellville and Ashburn all host weekend farmers markets but Farmer John’s Market on Route 15 north of Leesburg is open all week and is a go-to destination for potatoes, greens, cranberries, purslane and Chris Petro’s Misty Meadow Mushrooms.
Cheese
Whether as an appetizer or post dinner with wine, cheese is an essential accompaniment to Thanksgiving dinner. At Georges Mill Farm in Lovettsville pick up a range of goat cheeses – chevre, feta, blue and more – produced with milk from their own goats. At the tasting room of Chrysalis Vineyards at the Ag District in Middleburg you can find no less than eight cheeses produced by the farm’s Locksley Farmstead Cheese Co. We swear by the cheddar, gouda, fromage blanc, camembert and washed rind.
Wine
Loudoun is wine country of course and there’s no shortage of superb vintages with which to impress your guests. Why not pick up a winner from the recent Loudoun Wine Awards, which took place at Lansdowne Resort in October? Walsh Family Wine scooped a gold and two Best of Class, including for their sensational 2021 Tannat; Scott Spelbring, Director of Winemaking at Bluemont Vineyard won Winemaker of the Year and Best of Class for his 2021 Cabernet Franc, and Endhardt Vineyards picked up an extraordinary two golds, three Best of Class and the prestigious Chairman’s Grand Award for their sublime Sauvignon Blanc ‘Upper Block’ 2023.
Beer
Leesburg’s Black Hoof Brewing Company specializes in authentic European ales and lagers that pair perfectly with turkey. Try the Full Quiver Märzen. Lost Rhino Brewing Company’s Dark Czech-Style Tmavy Lager is the perfect pre-dinner winter warmer with its notes of rich toffee mixed with a pleasant roasty aroma - you can smell the warmth before diving in. Lost Barrel Brewing’s Pumpkin Ale with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg is a great accompaniment to apple or pumpkin pie.
Dessert
Mom’s Apple Pie with outposts in Leesburg and at Hill High Marketplace in Round Hill is the go-to stop for fresh apple, pecan, pumpkin pies and more. Order well in advance though because they get busy. Dana’s Cake Shoppe in the Village at Leesburg custom makes special occasion cakes and gourmet desserts. The tiramisu is out of this world. Over in Middleburg, Upper Crust bakery on Pendleton Street has been baking superb fresh bread, pastries, cookies and pies for a generation. Harvest Symphony, a locally owned online retail and delivery business, produces gluten free baked goods straight from the roots of local farms, the apple oat crumble pie is sure to rouse your sweet tooth.
Hostess Gifts
If you’re being treated to Thanksgiving dinner this year, why not bring the host a gift? Take a trip to western Loudoun to find something great for the hostess with the mostess at Twigs in Purcellville. Every room of this repurposed 20th century home is filled with an eclectic style range of goods for any occasion displaying gifts from room décor, women's clothing and accessories, jewelry, children’s items and much more. You can also save your time and wrapping paper with the complimentary gift wrapping all year round – gift giving can be easy!
Music
And finally, the cherry on top: music. For the perfect Thanksgiving ambience before and after dinner, tune in to the Songs of Loudoun Playlist on Spotify: songs by 25 Loudoun artists curated by local music impresario Todd Wright.
