Some people look forward to the office holiday party all year, only to arrive on the big day and discover limp Caesar salad and a chafing dish full of meatballs and mashed potatoes. Comfort food can be delicious, but the best parties will offer creative and delicious eats.
Unique Menu Ideas For A Company Holiday Party
Ditch your traditional holiday party menu and check out these festive new menu ideas that’ll make your bash a truly memorable event.
A Holiday Tribute to Tapas
Tapas are small dishes traditionally served in Spanish bars. You don’t have to stick to Spanish food to do a holiday tapas tribute. Instead, focus on appetizer portions that pack big flavors.
The Summer-Meats-Winter Spread
Baby, it’s cold outside. Really, really cold! Treat your team to a tailgate themed meal in the dead of winter with hot dogs, brats, and coleslaw. Turn up the heat and ward off the December chill with a Caribbean style office lunch that will make people think of the beach, even if the ground is covered in buckets of snow.
Perfect Pairings
If your HR department is OK with office Christmas party ideas that involve a little alcohol, consider elevating the event with some thoughtful wine pairings. Set up several stations, each featuring a different dish (a carving station with roast beef and turkey, a pasta station, a table with chilled seafood and sauces) and a complementary wine. Guests can hop from area to area, seeing how their pinot noir brings out the sweetness in the cherry-glazed duck egg rolls, and you’ve managed to combine entertainment and a memorable menu.
Brunch Bites
Evenings during the holiday season can be tricky for families who have other obligations or who don’t have a regular babysitter. Opt for brunch instead and you can offer childcare in one room while the adults nosh on bagels and lox, potato pancakes and mini club sandwiches. Fresh-squeezed juice and coffee are must-haves; mimosas and Bellini’s are bonuses.
Dinner and a Movie
There are so many classic Holiday movies that we all know and love. Pump up the nostalgia at your holiday office party by putting together a menu full of movie-inspired recipes like:
- Banoffee pie — Love Actually
- Spaghetti (without the maple syrup!) — Elf
- Macaroni and cheese — Home Alone
- Christmas pudding — A Christmas Carol
- Mulled wine — It’s a Wonderful Life
- Peking duck — A Christmas Story
- Hot chocolate — Polar Express
- Roast beef — How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Feel free to make gourmet versions of those classic treats or make up your own movie-inspired.
Not all your corporate holiday party ideas have to break the bank, but you may be surprised at how much mileage you get out of an interesting menu.
Happy holidays!
