Catering Trends for Holiday Events – What’s In!
Interactivity. Food Variety. Environmental Sustainability. Fun.
Times are changing and so are the trends for creating events that leave a lasting impression. People want fun events that foster connecting with each other and participating in activities! They prefer a wide variety of food, and environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly significant. Also, since gift giving is popular this time of year, so are creative ways to provide gifts that also engage your guests, providing amusement as well as memories.
Interactivity
Typically, people remember events when they are interactive. Here are some suggestions that encourage guests to connect with each other and participate!
CATERED ACTION STATIONS
Catered action stations engage and entertain your guests. Some of the most popular stations are carving, pasta, taco, slider, macaroni and cheese, baked potato, and dessert stations. Featuring these stations allows your guests to mix and mingle easily and offers the added benefit of people creating just what they want and… just the way they want it.
GRAZING TABLES
You would want your menu selections artfully displayed on a food-safe paper-lined table, platters, or a combination of those, creating the centerpiece for your event.
Traditional tables offer a wide variety of options that cater to different tastes and dietary considerations and typically include cured meats, domestic and imported cheeses, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, dips, nuts, breads, crackers and pita chips. Other grazing table ideas include Breakfast, Brunch, and Desserts… or you might want to do a combination of some of all these mentioned!
Traditional Grazing Table
HOLIDAY GIFT ACTIVITY STATIONS
Guests eat, enjoy, and make a gift to take with them!
Offering gifts to guests is a kind way to say thank you. Turn that gift into a station where guests create their own take home gift and are entertained at the same time. To create these stations, all the dry ingredients are displayed buffet style, complete with measuring cups and spoons, portioning directions, and a gift bag or container to hold the ingredients.
Make and Take Cookie Mix in a Bag
Guests layer ingredients in a gift bag, tie the bag with the list of ingredients, baking instructions and a bow! Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix and a Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookie Mix are a couple ideas!
Holiday Trail Mix Gift Bags
Guests make custom trail mix with Chex mix, Cheerios, pretzels, white chocolate chips and M&M’s.
Holiday Hot Chocolate Gift Jars
Guests assemble White, Mexican, or regular hot chocolate mixes in a mason jar or another container you would provide.
Cookie Decorating Stations
Giant Sugar Cookies
Guests decorate giant sugar cookies to take
with them! Some ideas… icing, sprinkles, colored sugars,
cinnamon candies, M&M’s, and peppermint.
S’mores for Two Treat Bar Baskets–
Guests assemble Graham crackers, marshmallows,
and chocolate bars, and wrap them in a holiday gift bag
with a bow
Beverage Trends
Signature cocktails and alcohol-free options, including mocktails and fruit infused waters, are increasingly popular! If you want to provide these at your company’s or organization’s event, consider naming them to match your theme, time of year, or company name. For wedding receptions, you could name them after the bride and groom.
Environmentally Sustainable
Using eco-friendly products is becoming increasingly more widespread. You can support sustainable practices by using these options, which can range from compostable plates, cups and utensils to biodegradable bamboo, palm leaf or sugarcane products. Using these will reduce landfill waste, lower the manufacturing carbon footprint, and reduce exposure to harmful chemicals that can be found in some plastics.