food
Traditional Christmas, New Year holiday celebration party. Flat-lay of friends or family eating at festive table with turkey or chicken, vegetables, mushroom sauce, fruit, top view
by Cynthia Marone
The realities of holiday hosting are quite different from what is seen on TV or in the movies. Yet how interesting would it be if the main character spent the weeks leading up to The Big Day combing the internet for ideas, picking a menu, writing list after list, running to get last-minute ingredients and cooking and baking until the last minute guests arrive? It would be far from festive to watch. The holidays should be filled with football games in the crunch of fall leaves, fires blazing as snow drifts past frosted windowpanes and fireworks coloring the night sky. For many hosts, those images are never the reality, but catering, whether for one dish or an entire menu, is one way to change the channel.
Before visions of stiffly dressed staff with trays of fluted wine glasses dance in your head — to the tune of terror in terms of your budget — there are options for every type of function, whether it is an intimate gathering for two, a family function for 20 or an office party for 200. Much like Santa Claus, it all starts with a list.
A caterer will free up precious time and offer dishes that may be beyond a person’s culinary skills, whether the wish is for an apple tarte Tatin or a moist stuffing, but there is no way around gathering information beforehand. First, list the number of guests and if anyone has any dietary issues or allergies, then decide on the party’s style. Passed trays of sparkling wine and delicate finger foods may be perfect for a black-tie Saturday evening office party for 100 but overwhelming for a family brunch or low-key Friendsgiving.
If it is not the same unless a family favorite made from scratch is on the table or the party is on the small side, plan around the beloved dish and the intimate guest list. Zeroing in on time-consuming parts of the meal, such as a turkey, brisket or ham, or getting complementary sides to an already-made main dish or a complete appetizer course can fall under a caterer’s care. Another approach is to order an entire feast with all the trimmings for a larger party. Tailoring the catered portion to specific needs gives a host more time to do whatever else is equally important for a good time, such as planning a playlist, ornately folding the napkins or arranging the centerpieces.
The needs of a workplace conference room holiday bash can differ. It will have the same festive feel, but the table can have quick bites that are easy to grab, like sandwiches, cookies and salads. A caterer can make it special with giant cookies, bagel or croissant sandwiches and gourmet salads that, if not serving as the entire meal, could complement homemade favorites brought in by staff.
Whether at home or work, guests can have special dietary needs or preferences that require extra attention. Dishes that are gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian or vegan, to name a few, have unique ingredients that can be costly or difficult to work with or find at the store for someone new to them. A caterer can pinch hit for these dietary MVPs, which not only keeps costs down for a host but will also save some sanity at the supermarket.
Being armed with a guest list and dietary needs are just two pieces of the planning puzzle. Before deciding on how a caterer can help, think about the space where the event will be and the seating. If the room is too tight for everyone or the boss prefers an offsite spot, a caterer will steer you in the right direction. At home, a buffet, cocktail party or open house gives guests the freedom to roam, and the table where the food is set up needs to reflect that. Dishes should be accessible from all sides with multiple serving utensils to keep things moving; having both will keep people from piling up at a favorite item.
The types of food served will go hand in hand with the party’s style, whether at home or the office. No one wants to deal with cutting a strip steak and baked potato from the buffet in a cocktail party setting that has few tables and no place to sit. Self-serve buffets, open houses and similar setups are great for finger foods, like cheese plates, charcuterie, bruschetta and chicken tenders, salads and less-demanding bites, like baked ziti and sliders.
A sit-down meal has ample opportunity for heartier fare like turkey, brisket or ham. The sides can also be on the rich side, such as a green bean casserole or glazed sweet potatoes. A caterer will give tips on how to balance the hot and cold dishes no matter the setup and directions for reheating the food after an early pickup.
A caterer is a guiding star to a muss-free event with fuss-free food. The key is to be honest. If the budget is limited and the guest list long or culinary skills are lacking, now is the time to be real about it. Bringing a caterer into the mix, whether for the entire meal, a few courses or just one dish, is to think about what the host needs most so there is time to spend with guests, relax and actually enjoy the party. The rest, with a caterer’s help, will fall into place for a picture-perfect holiday.
Cynthia Marone is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Northeast Philadelphia.