A Guide to Holiday Catering (2023): Corporate Events, Private Parties, And More
As November ushers in, it’s that delightful time of year when you unearth your treasured Christmas lights and festive decorations from the depths of your storage. Amidst the whirlwind of holiday cards, gift wrapping, and visits to cherished friends and family, finding a moment to create the perfect holiday party can be a bit overwhelming.
The holiday season, however, wouldn’t be complete without a joyous gathering that brings together your loved ones or colleagues. To ease your holiday preparations, we’re here to lend a hand in addressing one of the most pivotal, yet occasionally challenging, aspects of your holiday celebration: catering.
Whether you’re orchestrating a corporate gala or an intimate cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres, our comprehensive guide is your go-to resource for holiday party catering this year. Because let’s face it, what’s a holiday festivity without a delightful spread of seasonal culinary delights?
Keep on reading to uncover the art of crafting a catering menu, explore our diverse range of catering options, and glean invaluable tips from our wealth of experience collaborating with Los Angeles’ most esteemed vendors during the festive season.
Give Your Holiday Party Guests a Flavorful Local Experience
When it comes to catering for your holiday event, there’s no need to settle for the mundane offerings of a typical chain restaurant. Instead, why not indulge in the flavorful diversity offered by local businesses and charming small restaurants? Their catering services seamlessly blend your event’s requirements, from full-service setups to efficient clean-up, with your guests’ desires, whether it’s hearty full-sized entrees or delectable appetizers and finger foods for an office cocktail soirée. Embracing these local options at your gathering embodies the true spirit of community that the holidays represent.
When you partner with FTALA, the possibilities are endless. We specialize in food truck catering, connecting you to a vast array of Los Angeles’s finest food truck vendors. From managing all the logistical details of your catering event to crafting a menu that suits your vision, we’ve got it covered. All you need to do is share your preferences with us, and we’ll deliver an unforgettable culinary experience.
Why Food Truck Catering?
As far as holiday party catering goes, we firmly believe that food truck catering offers numerous advantages compared to the traditional catering company approach. It’s not just about making a statement and leaving an instant impression on your guests; it’s also about practicality, cost-efficiency, and customization, which traditional catering options often struggle to match.
However, the advantages of food truck catering go beyond the surface. They encompass the convenience of grab-and-go meals for your attendees to pick up in a rush, ideal for workers heading back to their workspace or a meeting. Food trucks present a diverse array of mouthwatering meal choices that can cater to your guests’ varying preferences. Plus, the ability to choose from a variety of trucks allows you to tailor your catering to suit the specific character of your event.
What Should You Serve at a Company Holiday Party or Private Event
In the corporate world, companies strive to stand out amidst the noise using various strategies, be it a catchy jingle or an extensive social media campaign. Your holiday party, although distinct in nature, serves as an opportunity to elevate your brand above competitors. It’s a chance to inspire your employees, fostering a company culture that attracts talent and ultimately aligns with your business objectives.
So, with all this in mind, how do you craft a catering menu that transforms your holiday party into an unforgettable event for your guests? Let’s brainstorm.
Consider what beckons to your senses: a warm cup of hot cocoa with fluffy marshmallows on a chilly evening or the sweet embrace of Christmas cider? When it comes to dessert, will your guests savor peppermint ice cream or the nostalgia of s’mores? And what about the choice between the classics and the comforting? Will your guests want a seasonal favorite like pecan pie or a modern delight like waffles with toppings?
If you’re planning a private event, you’ll face many of the same considerations. For larger gatherings, ponder over which dishes can be efficiently served in high volumes, which ones are universally beloved, and, of course, which fit within your budget.
With numerous avenues to explore, let’s now delve into some specific catering options available through our extensive network of vendors.
Consider Some of These Classic Holiday Recipes
When you think of holiday foods and recipes, most of the items that come to mind fall under one of four categories:
- coffee or hot-cocoa
- holiday themed cocktails
- comfort food
- desserts
Below you’ll find some of our specific menu recommendations for each group!
FTALA's Gourmet Catering Options
Maesto Luxury Coffee
Who doesn’t love coffee? This holiday party, book Maesto Luxury Coffee for a high-end and delicious experience. Aside from their extensive and exotic menu, Maesto makes a great caterer because the truck has indoor capabilities and the mobile bar is perfect for small gatherings or large events.
Granno Cafe
Granno Cafe is another great option, as they provide people’s go-to coffee orders, as well as vegan and gluten free options that can be inclusive for a large holiday event. Like Maesto, the Granno Café truck also offers indoor service which gives you venue flexibility!
Grilled Cheese N Things
Grilled cheese is the perfect comfort food item to offer holiday guests. This simple, classic dish can go a long way with your attendees, especially when you’re offering six different types of cheeses melted onto buttery french bread. If this sounds interesting, don’t wait to book Grilled Cheese N Things!
Uncle Al’s BBQ
Offering a delicious selection of meats, including pulled brisket, Uncle Al’s style BBQ, flavorful pulled pork, and of course, their signature Three Little Piggies pork sliders topped off with Uncle Al’s BBQ & mustard sauce, Uncle Al’s BBQ is sure to leave crowds with delicious and unique gourmet dishes that taste just as good as they smell. So, grab extra napkins and get ready to dig in with Uncle Al’s BBQ food truck.
Crepes Bonaparte
Crepes are a staple part of the holiday experience, and another crowd favorite. Even with the dessert trucks’ capability to make a wide range of different crepes for a high-capacity of people, each crepe is made with the same perfectionism, passion, and attention to detail as the last. Want to add some bubbly fun to your event? You can also request ‘The Mimosa Bar’ to go along with Crepes Bonaparte’s catering options for an unforgettable experience!
Cinnabon
Cinnabon’s world-famous Cinnamon Rolls have been voted one of the most delicious and craveable desserts in the country. Not to mention, the ooey-gooey Cinnamon rolls that made the food trucks one of the best food trucks in LA is perfectly complemented by their signature Churro Swirls and Cold-Brew Iced Coffee. Book the Cinnabon food truck for your holiday event to discover why so many people are in love with this Los Angeles Food Truck!
Catering for Large Parties on a Budget
As stated before, there are certain features you need to consider when you’re creating a menu and deciding which vendors you want to book. For large parties, here are three top concerns:
Pricing.
Efficiency.
Relevancy.
To state the obvious, pricing is the first-and-foremost priority when you are planning a party on a budget. Thankfully, we offer some of the most cost-friendly options in the world of catering.
Small budget or not, efficiency is a huge factor when you think about catering for large parties. You need to consider menu items that can be prepared at high-volume and high-speed. This way, everyone is left full and happy.
As we touched upon before, certain menu items are more appealing or fitting for the holiday season. Aside from curating a menu that is exciting to a large sum of people, think about what food gets people in the holiday spirit.
With these three primary factors in mind, it’s always a good idea to get a basic idea of what you might be paying by calculating your costs.
Wrap Up
As the winter season approaches, it’s time to start thinking about the catering details of your holiday party. Whether you’re planning a corporate event or a private gathering, sourcing local vendors is an excellent touch you can put on your party that will go a long way, especially when it’s made easy and simple by FTALA.
When you book holiday catering with us, we connect you to the food trucks of your dreams, while handling all of the logistics so that you have time to focus on the other details of your event!
We hope that we left you with some useful knowledge and hope to work with you this holiday season!
