Christmas is a very special time of year when food’s at the centre of things – after all, traditionally this was always a time of feasting.

1. PLANNING A
CHRISTMAS PARTY:
What Food to Serve…

2. Christmas is a very special time of year when
food is at the centre of things – after all,
traditionally this was always a time of
feasting.
But choosing the right food requires a little
thought, if your party is to be remembered as
a Christmas cracker.
So here are a few things
to consider…

3. Style
How formal do you want your party to be?
An informal evening with lots of finger and
buffet food or something more substantial
with people sitting at a table?
The festive season can be an exhausting
time for many of us - will you have the
energy for a formal party that
requires planning of menus
and extra shopping?

4. Style
If you opt for an informal gathering,
then at this time of year the shops are full of
pre-prepared party food, cakes and snacks.
You can also add your own home-made
sandwiches, salads and cheeses to the mix.

5. Time
Think about how much time you’ll have for
cooking on the day.
If you’re going to be time tight, or don’t want
too much pressure, consider serving a hearty
seasonal stew, prepared well ahead and
heated up at the last minute.
This is not only a tremendous time saver but
also will give you a chance to mix with your
guests and enjoy yourself.

6. Date
When are you having your party?
At Christmas time you may be tempted to
automatically opt for a traditional turkey
roast with all the trimmings and Christmas
pud to follow.
The closer you get to Christmas itself, the
more likely it will be that people are already
getting tired of yet another turkey
dinner and may welcome
something different instead.

7. Date
In that case, what about a less traditional,
but still very special roast, such as rack of
lamb or rib of beef or even a delicious goose?
If you aren’t sure how to prepare or cook
them, you could start by asking your butcher
for advice.

8. Date
Or it could be an opportunity to push the
boat out by serving some more indulgent and
extravagant dishes like Beef Wellington or a
whole poached salmon.

9. Ring the changes…
But if you’re sticking with the tried and
traditional, then consider ringing the changes
on some old favourites:
 Use goose fat to give your roast potatoes
greater richness and crunch
 Roast a mix of winter vegetables like
parsnips, celeriac and butternut squash,
rather than the usual carrots, peas
and sprouts.

10. Ring the changes…
Don’t forget to cater for at least some
vegetarians with non-meat but still festive
dishes, such as a rich chestnut and
mushroom roast or a spicy Moroccan-style
vegetable tagine.
You may find non-vegetarians glancing
longingly at their neighbour’s plate!

11. The shopping…
But whatever food you plan to serve, make
sure you get the bulk of your shopping done
in good time and ideally pre-order meat and
fish and stock up on wine, spirits and soft
drinks.
Empty supermarket shelves on the day could
turn your party into The Nightmare Before
Christmas!

12. We hope we’ve given you some food for
thought…
You’ve got the menu sorted, so why not check
out some Christmas Party Venues and plan
the rest of your festive party?