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Gino Spano

It’s almost time for the annual holiday party once again. This year, you’ve been tasked with more of the planning for this corporate event, and you want to make sure you get it right.

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Maybe last year’s party was a little lackluster, or maybe you’re just an ambitious soul who wants to up the ante. Either way, you’re planning something above and beyond for this year’s holiday party.

Have you taken the time to consider your corporate holiday party menu yet? Food is one of the most important and often one of the most anticipated aspects of any corporate event.

Try one of these five ideas to take your party menu from ho-hum to amazing.


1. Incorporate a Theme for Your Corporate Holiday Party Menu

One of the easiest ways to inspire your corporate holiday party menu is to incorporate a theme. Appetizers, entrées, and even desserts can be structured around one central idea.

If you already have a theme picked out for the office holiday party, then this is a relatively easy task. If you have a black and white theme, pick foods that are black and/or white, such as a Black Forest cake. If your theme is a cozy Alpine retreat, think about hearty Swiss fare and winter classics.


2. Think about Presentation

The most important thing about food is that it tastes good. That said, presentation can also affect people’s perception of food. Some research has even suggested presentation can affect how food is perceived to taste.

As you probably know, it doesn’t matter how great something tastes if it’s unappetizing. Your guests will be more likely to shy away from it than to taste-test.

That’s why you need to be sure the foods on your corporate holiday party menu are also visually stunning. An impressive array of appetizers and a properly displayed cupcake stand will be far more appealing than food that’s hastily plated up.


3. Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

Think about flavour profiles. Offer your guests a variety of different tastes and flavours. Go for surprising combinations or pick a “theme” food, spice, or flavour, and thread it through the menu.

This is similar to tying your menu to the overall party theme, but it focuses on the food alone. Can you incorporate citrusy flavours into drinks, dessert, and main courses?


4. Follow a Trend (or Become a Trendsetter)

Every year, there are trends in catering for corporate events. The holiday season even tends to have its own trends as well, with certain appetizers or dessert presentation ideas become the flavour of the week.

Scope out some of the hottest trends for 2018 and work them into your holiday party menu. Better yet, talk to your caterer about upcoming trends or new ideas. You might very well become a trendsetter by incorporating a daring new dish or allowing your caterer to test out the next hot trend.


5. Work with Your Caterer

Perhaps the best thing you can do for your corporate holiday party menu is work closely with your caterer. You may not like every idea they have, or you may feel some of their selections won’t work for your corporate crowd. Similarly, they might push back against some of the ideas you have.

By having a dialogue and working together to craft the menu, you can create holiday party food your guests will be raving about long after the party is over.


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Gino Spano

Starting with roots in a kitchen at 14 years old, he worked his way up the ranks and by the young age of 17 was responsible for daily events of 50 to 600 people. Gino continued to use his talents to work in catering, banquet and restaurant kitchens across the GTA. His love for Italian, French and Asian cuisine paired with his wide variety of knowledge brought him success in his new venture at Seventh Heaven in 2001. Over the past 12 years, he has cooked many meals for social events, corporate events and government officials. His love for new challenges brought him into corporate sales where he and the Seventh Heaven team won Best Catered Event for Canadian Linen’s “The Great White North” – Facility Grand Opening in 2009.
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