Festive menu

Planning Holiday Menu

Creating a delicious and memorable holiday menu can be a fun and rewarding experience. 

• Appetizers: If you’re serving a variety of appetizers, aim for about 10-12 pieces per person.
  
  
• Soup: If you’re including soup, plan for about 1 cup per person.
  
  
• Main Course: For a buffet, consider 1.5 servings per person. Ensure each plate has a balanced portion of protein, vegetables, and starch for a plated meal.
  
  
• Side Dishes: Offer a variety of sides, with about 0.5-1 cup per person for each side.
  
  
• Desserts: Plan for 2-3 small dessert options per person, such as cookies, mini tarts, or slices of cake.
  
  
• Beverages: Have a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, with about 3-4 drinks per person for the event.
  
  
• Snacks: Include light snacks like nuts, chips, or pretzels, about 1-2 ounces per person.

1. Consider Your Guests

• Dietary restrictions: Are there any vegetarians, vegans, or individuals with allergies?
• Preferences: Do your guests have any specific food preferences or dislikes?

2. Choose a Theme

• Traditional: Stick to classic holiday dishes.
• Fusion: Combine flavours from different cuisines.
• Theme: Base your menu around a specific theme, like a country or a decade.

3. Plan Your Courses

• Appetizer: A light dish to start the meal.
• Main course: The centrepiece of your meal.
• Side dishes: Complementary dishes to accompany the main course.
• Dessert: A sweet ending to the meal.

4. Balance Flavors and Textures

• Variety: Offer a mix of flavours, textures, and colours.
• Complementarity: Ensure that the dishes complement each other.

5. Consider Ease of Preparation

• Time constraints: How much time do you have to prepare the meal?
• Complexity: Choose dishes that you are comfortable preparing.

6. Plan for Leftovers

• Reheating: Consider how the dishes will be reheated.
• Freezing: Decide which dishes can be frozen for later.

7. Create a Shopping List

• Ingredients: List all the ingredients you need.
• Quantities: Determine the appropriate quantities based on your guest list.

8. Don't Be Afraid to Experiment

• New recipes: Try out new recipes or put your own spin on classic dishes.

Here are some popular holiday menu ideas:

• Thanksgiving: Roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
• Christmas: Ham, roasted potatoes, green bean casserole, and Christmas cookies.
• New Year's Eve: Prime rib, roasted vegetables, and champagne.