When you’re planning a holiday party, one of the things that guests will look forward to is the menu‚ after all, the holiday season brings us the best food, doesn’t it? Starting to plan for the menu now is important, so that you don’t run out of time and can find the perfect caterer before they’re booked up. When you really want to wow your guests, be sure to incorporate some of these holiday catering trends.
Appetizer-Themed Menus
12 Days of Christmas inspired menus are all the rage this holiday season. This 12 Days of Appetizers menu cuts out the main course and focuses on 12 appetizer-style courses that are served one after another, often using inspiration from the 12 Days of Christmas when developing recipes. For instance, the partridge in a pear tree appetizer might involve pears, while five golden rings might include a circle of puff pastry, baked ‘til golden, and topped with a seasonal ingredient.
Diverse Ingredients and Cuisines
Street-food dishes and culturally diverse ingredients are inspiring new iterations of classic dishes. For instance, using Italian bread and making a panzanella (Italian bread salad) instead of traditional stuffing, or incorporating Korean kimchi into a recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts. The sky’s the limit with this one, so talk to different caterers about what their ideas are. Adventurous crowds are really embracing this trend.
Offering a Signature Drink or Cocktail Bars
Signature drinks are remaining a popular mainstay at fall and holiday events. A themed cocktail is always a big hit, and some planners are incorporating things like a hot chocolate bar to their events, which allows guests to add different flavors to their drink (raspberry, caramel, or peppermint, for instance).
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What are some of the catering trends you’ll be using for your holiday party’s menu?