Holiday parties are a festive way to celebrate the year and show your employees that you care. But planning a successful event requires a thoughtful menu and a reliable caterer.

Start by confirming the head count with your guests and sending out save the dates and invitations. Ask for detailed quotes that include food costs, rental fees, and staffing charges. For professional help, contact Holiday Party Catering Seattle.

Whether you’re planning a festive holiday party or New Year’s Eve event, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with all of the details. However, with a little help from Catering by Design, you can be sure your event will be merry and bright and leave everyone with a smile on their face.

To start, decide on a theme or vibe for your event. This will help guide every aspect of the party, including the food and drink selections. Use Pinterest, Instagram and party planning websites to gather inspiration and creative themes that resonate with your vision.

Next, determine a time and date for your event. Keep in mind that popular dates book up quickly, so it’s important to secure your venue and caterer as early as possible. Once you have the basics settled, it’s time to send out the invites! Include a request for an RSVP, as this will give you an accurate headcount and help your caterer prepare the right amount of food.

Consider offering an array of appetizers or hors d’oeuvres to tide your guests over before dinner begins. Your caterer can provide a variety of small bites that are perfect for cocktail parties, such as turkey meatballs, mac and cheese skewers, or Hannukah latkes. If you’re hosting a themed event, try serving these bite-sized treats in creative ways, like in the shape of witches brew or holiday cocktails.

For drinks, offer a limited selection of signature cocktails, beer and wine. Your caterer can provide a full bar setup, complete with ice, cocktail mixers and beverages of your choice. To avoid an empty bar and a long wait, be sure to hire enough servers or bartenders.

Consider adding a bit of entertainment to your cocktail hour, such as a string quartet, a strolling violinist or an acoustic act. However, be careful not to overpower the conversation and socializing by having too much noise.

Soup Buffet

Nothing warms a cold and rainy day like a bowl of comforting soup. For a make-ahead soup buffet, put out multiple pots of various savory and hearty recipes, along with a variety of toppings that add a chewy or crunchy element to each spoonful. You can also offer some spinach salad dressed with apple cider vinaigrette (sugar, vinegar, finely chopped apples, and minced onion mixed together) as a fresh, green addition to your menu. For your guests, provide large mugs with handles for easy handling while sitting around the living room and sturdy soup spoons and napkins.

To keep the soups hot throughout your party, use crockpots and place them on the stove top at a low temperature. Check them every half hour or so to make sure the temperature doesn’t drop too much and the soups aren’t burning. Label each one with a simple name and the recipe on a piece of paper placed inside the lid.

Serve your soups with plenty of toppings and garnishes, such as cheese popcorn, croutons, goldfish crackers, grated or crumbled fresh basil or mint, or diced green or red peppers, along with some sour cream and pesto. Then, invite guests to add their own flavors and enjoy!

Crowd-Pleasers

A crowd pleaser is a person, spectacle or work of art that appeals to popular taste and can be depended upon to draw a large and enthusiastic audience. In the same vein, choosing crowd-pleasing holiday catering options can help ensure that your event is a success.

For a corporate party, a themed menu can boost team morale and create a fun atmosphere. For example, you could design a food station with dishes that look like movie props or foods inspired by popular holiday movies, such as Peking duck from A Christmas Story and macaroni and cheese from Home Alone. You might also choose to serve foods that can inspire creativity in your guests, such as a s’mores bar or a taco buffet.

It’s important to select a caterer that understands your vision for the event and will work with you to ensure that your guests are satisfied. Ask potential caterers to provide a detailed proposal that includes the cost of all food and beverage items, staffing fees, equipment rental charges and other costs. Also, it’s a good idea to ask about cancellation policies and any other details that may affect the planning process.

Once you have chosen a catering company, be sure to contact them as early as possible to book the date of your event. Many caterers are in high demand during the holiday season and popular dates can fill up quickly.

Hiring a professional catering service for your holiday party takes the guesswork out of planning the food and allows you to focus on other aspects of the party. You can work with your caterer to determine the number of guests, a general menu and any other special requests.

It’s not uncommon for even experienced home chefs to fall short when cooking for a large crowd. There are many variables that can throw off your plans, from forgetting an ingredient to running out of time to prepare the food before your guests arrive. Hiring a professional caterer can save you time, adds a level of sophistication and makes the experience overall more enjoyable for your guests.

Desserts

When it comes to holiday catering, desserts leave the lasting impression that truly sets the tone of the evening. From classic recipes with a fresh twist to simple, budget-friendly additions, there’s no shortage of sweet options that are sure to satisfy everyone.

For the health-conscious, a variety of vegetable sides are a great way to add balance to your holiday menu. Pairing sandwiches, sliders and wraps with a hearty kale salad or crispy Brussels sprouts provides guests the chance to indulge in lighter fare while still feeling full and satisfied. Similarly, serving classic sides like coleslaw, baked beans and french fries offers vegetarians and vegans a comforting option.

While many of these items may seem obvious, a skilled professional caterer will also take the time to account for seasonal flavors and textures in every dish they prepare. This attention to detail ensures that your guests enjoy the full spectrum of the season, and it reveals how much thought and care goes into each and every bite.

Ultimately, the best catering companies know that great food is key to making any event a success. In fact, ezCater’s 2024 Holiday Party Report found that 92% of employees say delicious food is the main reason they look forward to workplace holiday parties.

So, whether you’re planning an intimate family gathering or a corporate cocktail hour, let the professionals handle your holiday catering. They’ll help you strike the perfect balance of flavorful appetizers, crowd-pleasing entrees and desserts to keep everyone merry and bright.

Incorporate a festive, hands-on element to your holiday dinner party catering with a cookie decorating station. This interactive experience allows guests of all ages to create and share their own personal creations, connecting them through shared experiences instead of simply sharing a common dish.

The best holiday catering menus leave you with plenty of time to mingle with colleagues and celebrate the joys of the season. When you trust your catering company to manage the menu details, you’ll have more time to focus on what matters most: the reason you’re hosting a holiday party in the first place.