Eat, Drink & Be Merry: 5 Tips for Holiday Hosting

Holiday party season is back and we’re ready for plenty of good cheer, good food, and good times. As a long year comes to a close, now is an extra special time to get together with friends and family. Whether you’re planning a festive holiday brunch, a sit-down Christmas dinner, or an elegant New Year’s Eve soiree, here are a few helpful event-planning tips from the experienced professionals at Savoury City Catering.

Set a budget, and stick to it

Let’s face it, the holidays can be a pricy time of year; gifts, decorations, travel, new outfits, and other festive expenses start to add up fast. Entertaining friends and family can increase your seasonal spending exponentially, so you’ll want to set a budget at the start of the planning process – and stick to it. Think about how much you’re willing to spend on your holiday party and then adjust your guest list, food and drink menu, and the overall concept accordingly. Budgeting for a party is all about managing your priorities, if you want to splash out on fancy cheeses and fine wines, cut back on the flowers and costly festive décor.

Decide on your creative palette

The Yuletide season is the perfect time to have some fun with your table décor and accessories, but you may feel overwhelmed by the sheer variety of choices when it comes to holiday decorating. Will you choose red and silver? Gold and green? Vibrant colours or tasteful neutrals? If you want your holiday celebration to feel polished and purposeful, it’s important to decide on a creative direction ahead of time and use that concept to help guide your decisions when it comes to your colour palette and party décor. Remember, sometimes less is more. Displaying all of your mismatched ornaments together will look more tacky than tasteful. Instead, set out stylish table linens, flatware, floral centrepieces, and place cards that work together in a cohesive and complementary way.

Design a holiday menu to suit the occasion

Everyone loves to indulge around the holidays, so a good party host needs to be prepared with a range of delicious dishes and desserts on deck. Whether you’re serving finger foods, a family-style menu, or a formal plated dinner, your holiday party menu should reflect the style of event you’re hosting and be appropriate for the time of day. Canapés and platters work well for a drop-in Open House or an evening function, while a festive family-style spread of turkey and all the trimmings will wow guests at a sit-down dinner party. Hiring a professional catering team can definitely help you save time and effort during the busy festive period, and will also prevent unnecessary food waste – a common problem when planning a menu for a large crowd. And if you need some serious support to pull off your family Christmas dinner this year, Savoury City’s new signature Turkey-To-Go packages are a convenient ‘heat and eat’ solution featuring a range of chef-prepared holiday favourites and seasonal sweets. Available for pick-up in Vancouver on December 23 and 24, these hassle-free holiday meals are packaged in oven-proof container and come with simple heating instructions for effortless preparation and minimal clean-up.

Serve a variety of festive sips

Getting into the holiday spirit doesn’t have to mean loading up on holiday spirits. While Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve celebrations are typically synonymous with boozy libations, you should plan to have a variety of bar options available for holiday toasting. In addition to wine, beer, and classic cocktails, offer creative mocktails and delicious zero-proof drinks for designated drivers and party guests who prefer to abstain from alcohol. You could even prepare a batch of homemade eggnog, mulled apple cider, or a festive fruit punch and invite your guests to spike their drink – or not – with a liquor of their choosing. If you’re hosting an all-ages family affair, set up a kid-friendly drink station like a build-your-own hot chocolate bar with sweet toppings.

Keep things merry with fun activities

While everyone loves a gathering with tasty food and drinks, it’s nice to give guests a little thematic entertainment to get them feeling jolly. Depending on the type of event you’re throwing – and the crowd – you may want to plan some playful party games like charades or trivia, invite guests to decorate their own gingerbread houses, or suggest a rousing round of carol singing to cap off the evening. If you’ve planned a sit-down meal, add some cheerful Christmas crackers to each place setting. These colourful and interactive accessories are filled with puzzles, riddles, and other party favours designed to spark lively conversation at the dinner table.

Need some support planning your next party or dinner event? Savoury City Catering’s talented team of hospitality professionals are here to help. Contact us today at info@savourycity.com.