The year is coming to an end, and there will be holiday events celebrated everywhere. No matter the occasion, good food is a necessity, and we’ve put together a list of popular catering trends that are festive. The food at your event can be a dealbreaker. Therefore, you will want festive meals that everyone will be happy with. This isn’t your typical catering event; it is a holiday celebration! Everybody celebrates differently, so make sure to cater to all cultures and holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc. If you are looking for inspiration on which dishes to serve, look no further!
Cultural Traditions
Tis’ the season for fireplaces, hot chocolate, cold weather, snow, and plenty of festive events across all cultures. Some people celebrate Christmas, while others celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. To honor the miracle of the holy oil, during a traditional Hanukkah dinner, Jewish people will eat foods that are fried in oil, like potato pancakes paired with applesauce, sour cream, or jelly. Some of the must-haves for a Jewish holiday are latkes, braised brisket, challah, and matzo ball soup! You should also include dishes that highlight other holidays, like Kwanzaa. Typical Kwanzaa dinners include traditional African meals like pot stew and jollof rice, as well as African American soul food dishes like collard greens and yams.
Sandwiches & Soup
There’s nothing better than warm foods during the cold winter months! Specifically, soup. Between tomato, broccoli cheddar, or butternut squash, there are endless options. Surely, soup isn’t the best option for big gatherings, however they can be the perfect delight at smaller functions. What goes better with soup than sandwiches? I can’t really think of anything either! The best part about this combination at your holiday event is that they can be customized to however someone would like. This is beneficial when it comes to different diets, allergies, traditions, etc. Try the sandwich and soup station this holiday, it will be a hit!
Ham, Turkey & Chicken
Turkey might be superior around Thanksgiving, but during December, we start to think about ham. Being sweet, savory, and delicious, there’s a reason that honey-baked ham is a holiday staple. There are plenty of ways to serve your ham! It can be served buffet style with sides around it, like, biscuits, cheesy potatoes, sweet potatoes, popovers, spinach, mac-n-cheese, etc. Leave it up to the guest to decide which sides they would like to surround their ham with! You could have a smaller amount of turkey and chicken as a protein substitute to cater to all the guests. Doing it this way, you don’t have to worry about people’s individual preferences because everybody decides on what they want.
Seasonal Beverages
Nothing quite defines the holiday season more than holiday-themed drinks. Obvious holiday favorites are hot chocolate, eggnog, Christmas punch, cider, and more! Having the proper liquor to go along with these seasonal beverages is vital. Baileys and Whiskey are a great addition to any drink and will make the event fun and cozy. Another option to spice things up a bit is a create-your-own drink station! A base for the drink could be hot cocoa, eggnog, or coffee, and then add in liquor, syrup, and various candies. This is a fun activity while providing delightful and cozy drinks that everyone will like because they created it themself!
Festive Cookies
The holidays aren’t fulfilled without dessert, especially cookies! They are simple, delicious, and have so many different options to choose from. Making holiday cookies with family and friends is one of my favorite traditions. There are plenty of options for a cookie platter to incorporate into an event, like sugar cookies with various icing, gingerbread cookies, peanut butter blossoms, and so on. You can be creative and personal with this one! Stations have been a recurring theme throughout this blog, so why not continue with the cookies? Set up an area where guests can decorate their cookies with toppings like frosting, sprinkles, and more! This is a great way to end the night with their festive drinks while they remember your holiday event for years to come!