Few things cause as much of a stir as the return of Starbucks’ pumpkin-spice latte every fall. You can almost hear the squeal of delight from women everywhere as they form a line at the caffeine chain’s outposts around the world. And while we appreciate the cinnamon-y goodness of the rich concoction, we’re here to tell you the pumpkin madness does not end there. Through extensive research of seasonal restaurant offerings around the country, we’ve harvested a cornucopia of unique pumpkin-centric dishes. And just in case your day starts with that beloved latte, we’ve also hunted down the perfect way for you to end your day—a pumpkin-spiked martini (we even give you the recipe so you can enjoy it all year long). You’re welcome.
Dreamy Dishes, Fresh Off The Vine
Pumpkin Toast, Hinoki & The Bird, LA
For Hinoki & The Bird’s executive chef Kuniko Yagi, there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing at her LA eatery: Kabocha squash, miso jam, goat cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds are just a few of the scrumptious ingredients she piles on top of perfectly crispy crostini to achieve the culinary masterpiece that is her pumpkin toast.
Pumpkin Pancakes, Ngam, NYC
Pumpkins and pancakes may not sound like an obvious pairing at first, but if we've learned anything from the last few seasons of mixing and matching prints, certain things are just better together than on their own. No one understands that more than Chef Hong Thaimee of Ngam Thai restaurant in NYC. Her basil syrup-topped flapjacks have hungry New Yorkers coming out in droves.
Pumpkin Sage Ravioli, Fig & Olive, LA
What’s the one thing that can make a serving of Fig & Olive’s melt-in-your-mouth chicken ravioli even better than it already is? A generous drizzle of pumpkin olive oil emulsion, obviously!
Roasted Pumpkin And Chickpea Salad, Maman, NYC
Michelin star-chef (and co-proprietor of newly opened NYC café and bakery Maman) Armand Arnal has his grandmother to thank for conceiving this hearty salad. His only tweak: swapping the original main ingredient, zucchini, for pumpkin.
Pumpkin Mousse Verrinee, Crossroads, LA
Satiate your sweet tooth by gobbling up the pumpkin mousse Verrinee at LA's Crossroads restaurant. Decadent layers of spice cake, almond crunch and whipped cream are a dessert fiend’s dream.
Pumpkin Pie Martini, Restaurant Kelly Liken, Vail
Leave it to Vail, Colorado’s reigning queen of fine dining, Kelly Liken, to brilliantly morph a tried-and-true fall dessert into a classic cocktail. Click through for the recipe and start sipping.
