There are a lot of things to get excited about when the holidays roll around each year: crackling fireplaces, spending time with family, making snowmen, and of course, holiday parties. Many companies share the joy of the season by hosting a fantastic corporate holiday party to treat their staff and clients, and raise a glass to cheers the year past and welcome the year to come.
With the fall season officially upon us, it’s only a matter of time until the temperature drops and snow starts to fall. So don’t wait until the last minute to think about catering ideas for your holiday event. Get a head start this season with these 4 catering ideas for your upcoming corporate holiday party.
1. Make It Healthy
The holidays are typically all about indulgence, which can leave some people feeling that post-Christmas guilt come January. Healthy catering ideas can be a refreshing change of pace for your staff or clients, especially when so many other events will be full of rich dishes and sweets.
Think of hosting a holiday luncheon or brunch instead of the traditional sit down dinner, and if you’re hosting a holiday luncheon or breakfast, consider some fresh takes like an on-site juice bar squeezing the freshest juices you can offer. Or consider a make-your-own-salad bar, which can prove that salads are anything but boring. Even the popular brunch omelet bar can get a healthy upgrade in the form of egg whites and healthytoppings.
2. Make It Miniature
One of the trendiest catering ideas of the moment is to serve delicious bite-sized versions of some of people’s favourite foods. These small bites are usually a big hit at corporate events because they give guests a little taste that keeps them wanting more. The menu can be more diverse when not stuck in the traditional three courses.
If you’re looking for a corporate holiday party menu that’s full of fun, easy to eat, and delicious foods, then consider making the move to minis. Talk to your caterer to find out what miniature versions they do best, but think along the lines of things like mini crab cakes, roast beef bites with horseradish crema, or mushroom and blue cheese tartlets. The beauty of bite-sized is that everything comes in it’s own little vessel to make it easier for guests to mingle without being weighed down with cutlery and a large plate.
3. Make It Memorable
You want the food at your event to be memorable, so while it’s mandatory that it tastes good, it should also look the part.
Creating food that’s a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds is a sure fire way to get your guests talking—and snapping food pics—at your holiday party (consider adding a hashtag to your party for guests to do just that). It’s also a great way to turn food into the centrepiece of the room, and we’re not just talking about elegant desserts, either. Just about any course can get an artful spin from some creative plating and presentation. If you really want to make a lasting impression, consider showstoppers like a champagne tower, chocolate fountain, or a beautiful croquembouche—perfect for the holiday theme.
4. Make It Entertaining
A corporate holiday party should be an entertaining event for all your guests, and one popular way to ensure this is to get the chefs in on all the action. Chef stations where the food is prepared right before the diners’ eyes are wildly popular in the catering world right now, and for good reason. They take what could be a pretty ordinary meal and turn it into an exciting event that everyone can feel a part of. There’s just something about watching your food be preparedand having an interactive approach to the menu that makes it taste that much better.
