Christmas catering
Christmas party season is upon us and that means many office, home or family parties to attend!
If you are hosting a party this festive season, whether it be small or large, one of the most important aspects is the food, even if it is just finger food.
You want to make sure that your guests are well-fed and happy, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on party catering or spend hours in the kitchen to create the perfect event.
Simple Christmas party catering
Here are a few tips for simple party catering, whether a Christmas party, Christmas lunch or an office party:
- If you are having a small event, a potluck is a great option. Have each guest bring a dish to share. This is a great way to get a variety of dishes and it’s easy on the host.
- If you are not having a potluck, choose a couple of signature dishes. Everyone loves pasta and it’s fairly inexpensive and easy to make in large batches. Just take care of any guest with specific dietary requirements. This approach is great if you are having a party at your house and will be providing the oven space for guests to warm their dishes.
- You can have a variety of cold dishes as well including various cheeses, meats, cranberry sauce and dips. These can be fairly inexpensive and allow guests to graze on finger food throughout the night.
- Don’t forget about drinks! Beverages are one of the most important details for a party, so make sure you have plenty of drinks available, including soft options. Make it easy by having a signature cocktail as well as wine and beer options.
- If you are using a caterer, make sure to discuss your needs with them in advance. Many Christmas party caterers offer holiday packages that include everything from appetisers to desserts. This can be a great way to ensure that your party is well-fed without having to worry about it yourself.
No matter what route you take, make sure to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to prepare.
The last thing you want is to be scrambling in the kitchen at your Christmas party while your guests are waiting for food!
By following these tips, you can have a simple and stress-free Christmas catering experience.
10 tips for Christmas catering at home
1. Plan your menu items in advance
This will help you stay organised and ensure that you have everything you need on hand. If you are ordering from a caterer, settle on your catering menu early and make sure you know what you need to supply. Make sure you have your caterer’s phone number handy if you’ve ordered a catering package!
2. Shop for catering requirements early
This will give you plenty of time to get everything home and prepare your dishes. If you are doing it all yourself, choose the food you like to cook and eat – in the end, it doesn’t matter if you serve baked leg ham, roast turkey, roasted vegetables and Christmas pudding or you prefer seafood, salad and sticky date puddings. You could just stick to finger food. Cook what you are good at.
3. Use a checklist to help you plan for your festive season event
Make a checklist of what you need to do each day leading up to the big day. You can refer back to this checklist each time you need to do something.
4. Accept help – work closely with friends and family
Get help in the kitchen when you can, especially if you are cooking for a large number of people. It’s great to have an extra set of hands when there is lots to do!
5. Ask for help – don’t wait for offers
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are unsure about how to do something or are worried about making a mistake, just ask!
6. Stay food safe
Keep your food safe by chilling or freezing everything until you need it. You don’t want your delicious dishes sitting out for hours at room temperature if they can be safely stored in the fridge or freezer. Make sure your hot food is heated thoroughly.
Make sure any food for dietary requirements is kept seperate. For example, keep gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan platters away from other food types.
7. The perfect menu caters to everyone
Ideally, make it possible for everyone to eat at roughly the same time. Sometimes it helps to serve finger food at intervals. Make arrangements for people with allergies or special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian or gluten-free, to help avoid any mishaps.
8. Keep it calm
Don’t stress under pressure! If you encounter a problem or find that your family isn’t enjoying the food as much as you hoped, try not to worry. Chances are they will be just happy to be spending time with you.
9. Give yourself a break
Take a break every now and then. It’s important to enjoy Christmas parties too, and what better way than by sitting down to a delicious meal that you prepared yourself?
10. Have fun
And finally, have fun! Christmas is all about being festive and enjoying good food with the people you care about most. It’s not worth stressing over so just enjoy yourself and remember to take a step back from time to time so everyone else can too.
Our Christmas catering recap
The article provides 10 tips for people to take into consideration for Christmas catering and trying to keep things simple and stress-free.
This can be important when you want to keep the focus on good times with friends and family instead of stressing over the details.
The main ideas presented in this article include: making a checklist, planning the menu in advance, getting help in the kitchen, and staying food safe. Overall, these tips can help make your Christmas party a success without all of the added stress.
Merry Christmas!
