Planning a successful holiday party requires some key components and creative thinking. You want to excite guests with a killer venue and fitting ambiance. You want to present to them a delectable menu that’ll please everyone’s diverse taste buds.
Leave your guests excited and get everyone in the spirit with these five catering trends.
1. A Hot Chocolate Bar
Keep your guests warm with a premium hot chocolate bar. Offer a variety of flavours, from traditional and dark chocolate to peppermint and French vanilla. Stock the bar with all the toppings: candy cane straws, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings.
For an adult twist, invite guests to enjoy liqueur flavoured versions, mixing with Bailey’s, Kahlua, and other varieties into their drinks. Gourmet hot chocolate isn’t only delicious, it’s a warm alternative and welcome expansion to the variety of foods and drinks guests can sample.
2. Unique Serving Trays and Glassware
We often see the same silverware, dishes, and serving trays at events. After a while, it’s rather boring. Guests will be ready to eat when dishes are presented on unusual platters. Use plates decorated with festive scenes and glasses that appear frosted over. Charcuterie, mini pizzas, and roasts fit perfectly on wood-styled trays for a rustic feel, which can be adorned with festive greenery to complete the scene.
Rectangular porcelain platters are perfect for showing off desserts, such as Christmas bark, rice crispies, and rum balls. Glacier-inspired acrylic risers not only add a unique view to the table but create the element of depth, as guests peer up and down to see what’s offered. Presentation is just as important when brainstorming holiday party ideas. Wow guests with a variety of techniques that show off the edible goods served.
3. A Holiday Brunch
Brunch is becoming a popular meal option just about everywhere, making it one of the many great holiday party ideas to choose from.
It’s a little less daunting than the traditional dinner party, and given the amount of eating at this time of year, it’s a welcome alternative.
Serve hot coffee and tea, freshly squeezed juices, and even mimosas and Caesars. Freshly baked croissants and muffins, bagels with cream cheese, light salads, endless fruits, and yogurt are just a few of the many potential catering options. You can even include a custom omelette bar with bacon and sausage for the traditionalists.
Brunch is a pleasant change from the dinner routine.
4. DIY: Holiday Edition
Instead of doing everything yourself, incorporate a little DIY action for the guests, letting them pick and choose what they want. It provides a unique angle of fun, bringing out guests’ playful side to really put everyone in the holiday spirit.
For dessert, let guests adorn their own gingerbread men. Set the cookies on a table with icing, gumdrops, and other candies, and watch them parade down the table decorating cookies.
Instead of serving hot chocolate, let guests be their own baristas and help themselves, garnishing their drinks with as much whipped cream, marshmallows, and sprinkles as they like.
5. Innovative Holiday Food
Instead of serving the usual fare, spice up the menu with trendy appetizers and mains.
These catering trends are foodie favourites, and they’ll leave everyone’s mouths watering. Try reuben flatinis, downsizing the traditional reuben sandwich into a bite-sized portion. Serve meatball parmesan the same way, offering a miniature version that can be easily grabbed by toothpick.
Macaroni and cheese spring rolls are a cheesy, gooey, tasty alternative to the traditional roll. You could also serve bite-sized fried tortellini or fried ravioli with marinara. Instead of serving breadsticks at individual tables, give them an entire station to themselves, accompanied with flavoured dips, such as curried cream and spiced butternut squash.
These holiday party ideas will leave guests raving about the menu long after the party has ended.
