Today’s catering trends are unlike anything you’ve seen before. For a menu—and a party—that’ll really wow the crowd, consider adding in any of these five trends to this year’s holiday party.
1. Add Levels
The way food is presented is a visual signal for hungry guests. If you’re serving anything buffet style, up the ante by drawing guests’ eyes all over the tables. Consider placing various dishes, such as appetizers or salads, on repeating high and low platters that require a good look to take everything in.
DIY desserts can feature the main portion on one level, whether it’s gingerbread cookies or cups for hot chocolate, while toppings are raised on an elevated surface. Place fresh fruit, syrups, candies, and chocolate on various risers.
Elevation on the table creates a new perception as guests decide what delicious food they want to eat.
2. Live Food Stations
Consider a unique food setup idea. We’ve seen this trend in previous seasons, and its presence in the holiday season shows it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Serving fresh food that’s cooked right in front of an audience is a perfectly warm idea in colder weather. It also adds an unexpected source of entertainment.
From carving stations serving fresh roast and taco stations handing out fresh carnita and chicken tacos to tossing pizzaiolo dough in front of guest, there’s no shortage of food setups to choose from.
Watch guests marvel at the chef in action while creating a tasty and memorable experience. For catering trends that wow the crowd, live stations are a hot-ticket item.
3. Sustainable and Local Cuisine
More and more people want to know where their food comes from, how it got to the table, and what’s happening to it after the meal. Combatting food waste is a concern. At the end of the meal, reduce waste and offer doggy bags for guests to bring leftovers home. Donate remaining dishes to local kitchens and shelters, and ensure as much leftover food as possible goes to the correct bin, whether it’s recyclable or compostable.
Ask your caterer certain questions about the food, and in this case, focus those questions toward fair-trade options and whether ingredients are locally sourced. Recommend seeing local butchers and grocers when menu planning. Not only is this a great way to present the freshest food, shopping local is a great way to contribute to the community.
4. Tapas and Drink Pairings
One of many popular catering trends is the shift towards smaller portions. It really allows guests to try a bit of everything, and it can be less daunting than serving a big meal. The freedom to explore and taste a wider variety of flavours is appealing to many, while simultaneously allowing more creativity for dishes. Tapas are easy to eat and provide more time to mingle—a holiday necessity.
For a gourmet ambience, pair dishes with specific wines and beers—even considering local options—to really bring out the meal’s flavour. This extra touch leaves guests feeling special and it makes an excellent conversation starter.
5. Seasonal Appetizers
Certain flavours just fit with the season. Take advantage of this and incorporate winter ingredients in the menu. Try maple-glazed bacon-wrapped scallops or polenta squares with tomato fondue. Pumpkin, butternut squash, figs, and eggplants provide hearty flavours and texture profiles perfect for the chillier months.
Whether these ingredients are served in soup or risotto, these warm, rich flavours are relaxing and comforting. At a time of the year when it’s hard to leave the house, enticing guests with seasonal flavours is a great way to make the season more enjoyable while incorporating all it has to offer.