What should we have for our work Christmas Party Dinner?

Question

I am in charge of our work Christmas Party this year. I am trying to come up with options for everyone to vote on and decide what to serve. I am responsible for making and bringing all the food in myself. I need some suggestions for main dishes.

I am a caterer on the side so making something complicated is not the issue. Just looking for fresh ideas to keep this years party from getting stale. No one has any suggestions of what they want.

Ok let me clarify. This is our department party. Our whole company's christmas party menu is decided and i am catering that too. This is a small at work party for like 10 ppl.

FYI, going home is not an option at a hospital and I would never buy a premade pie. Never.

Answer 1

Happy Holidays! You have a big task a head of you. I love to entertain and I do ALOT of it so let me share with you what I menu I used last year for a holiday get together that I hosted.

Most of these ideas I got from Foodnetwork.com

Sugar and Nut Glazed Brie
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_29382,00.html

Veggie Tray

Mimosa Punch (YUMMY!)
1 (12-ounce) can thawed orange juice concentrate
1 (12 oz) cranberry juice
1 to 2 bottles sparkling wine or champagne

Put 1 can cold but thawed orange juice concentrate into a punch bowl or in a large pitcher. Stir to soften. Stir in cranberry juice. Then add the sparkling wine and stir gently. Pour into Champagne flutes or coupes and serve.


Crispy Olives Stuffed with Sausage
Recipe courtesy Michael Chiarello
Show: Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello
Episode: Casino Night Cocktail Party
1/4 pound (1 link) fresh Italian sausage
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
1 jar (8 ounces) large pitted green olives
4 to 6 cups peanut oil, for deep-frying
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/2 cup fine bread crumbs
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Remove the sausage meat from the casing and place it in a medium bowl. Add the garlic, a pinch of salt, and red pepper flakes, if using. Mix to evenly distribute the ingredients. Drain the olives and rinse them under cold water. Remove the pimentos, if necessary. Stuff each of the olives with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the sausage mixture.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer, or stock pot, to 375 degrees F.
Spread the flour on a dinner plate.
Break the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat lightly.

Spread the bread crumbs on another dinner plate and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Moisten the olives with the olive oil, stiring to evenly distribute the oil and seasoning.

Roll the olives in the flour, coating them all over and shaking off the excess. Then dip them in the egg, letting any excess drip back into the bowl. Finally, coat the olives all over with the bread crumbs. As each olive is coated, place it on a tray. Cover the olives and refrigerate until you are ready to fry them.

Fry the olives until golden brown and the sausage in the middle is cooked through, about 3 minutes. The olives will bubble vigorously until they are nearly done, so watch for splatters. Drain on paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Answer 2

final Christmas we did no longer something yet appetizers. while you're a great cook dinner, you're able to be able to lead them to, or you will get a celebration tray and a few frozen appetizers. It replaced right into a huge hit. We have been waiting to %. on the nutrition all night long on an analogous time as nevertheless putting out and having exciting. additionally, do secret santa and set a decrease on the cost of the present. in case you have all of us carry a 5 dollar present and make a contribution 5 greenbacks for the nutrition and non aloholic beverages, it enables (esp because of the fact you're pupils). Then if somebody needs to hold alcohol they could purchase it. And a exciting interest to play is advise Santa. you placed a quantity on the backside of each and every present and corresponding numbers on slips of paper in a hat. Have each and every individual draw a quantity until eventually now beginning presents. Then as each and every individual opens a cutting-edge, the guy with the matching quantity can decide for to take the basically opened present or jeep what they have (regardless of in the event that they do no longer understand what their present is yet) or shop what they have. gets thrilling because of the fact until eventually now each and every thing basically a number of the presents have been opened and that they could no longer understand what they're freely giving of their unopened equipment. you additionally can do BBQ. Roasted candy Potatoes, Grilled Corn, A smoked turkey (began the night until eventually now), heck the opportunities on grilled greens are limitless. I relatively have additionally been to some Christmas Dessert events (no longer a sturdy thought while you're ingesting- you choose something else to eat too). while you at the instant are not enormous drinkers, those are exciting. all of us brings a distinctive dessert and you pig out and socialize. If basically a number of your persons are coming you will possibly forego presents and bypass to the movies when you grub. they regularly have some sturdy movies out at Christmas and there is no longer something like relaxing after a huge meal.

Answer 3

hire a caterer and have them do all the work.
have a choice like chicken or beef stew.

there are so many people out there that would do it cheaply
it;s unbelievable.

I got a local deli last year to do a christning
at 1/2 the price of a caterer.

and we had soup sandwiches-potatoe chips and vegatables and dips-ham-turkey-tuna-egg-peperroni-capacoli
desserts -coffee-tea.two different type of rolls
potatoe salad-pepper salad-macaroni salad.
as entree they had meatballs with diane sauce
crab meat and shrimp.

at about $16.00 a head.

so we bought a bottle of wine for everyone as well.
and had specials labels put on them.

it was awesome

Answer 4

Give them the option of beef wellington or stuffed sole. That way they can choose and one is beef and the other fish so hopefully that covers everyone. For a veggie dish have broccoli cheese casserole. I made this recipe at my last pot luck and everyone loved it.

3-4 cups of cooked broccoli
8 oz cream cheese
2 cups chedder grated
1 cup sour cream
mix everything but the broccoli then put half the broccoli in a casserole dish and put half the cheese mix over it and repeat.

For sure you would have to double that but I'm telling you... it's good! (if you wanted to be festive, you could through some red peppers in it just for show.)

For a carb I would choose rice. If it is a buffet style then potatoe or pasta salad.


That's one idea.

If you wanted to go another way do like a ukranian buffet. cabage rolls, perogies, sausage....etc.

Good luck cheers

Answer 5

I was gonna say lobster and filet mignon until I read that you have to make and bring it yourself.

So bring them lasagna (it's really easy to make, don't freak out--use the recipe on the back of the Prince lasagna noodle box), Garlic bread and a nice tossed salad with italian dressing.
Lasagna can be made ahead, cooked then frozen and reheated.
Throw some Baker's Square pies at them and call it a party.

Answer 6

I would go with an Italian menu - Lasagne, etc. Since the colors for the Italian flag are red, white and green (you still will have your Christmas colors) By the time Christmas gets here - we have had our fill of turkey & ham, and lasagne would be welcome change.

Or go for a "Down Home Christmas" - Serve comfort foods - use bandanas for napkins. Serve BBQ or ribs, potato salad & beans and then a kick-*** dessert.

Answer 7

Ham is quick and easy I figure if you are the only person bringing stuff in make what is easiest forget about pleasing everyone it will never happen there are at least a few spoil sports in everything.

Answer 8

WOw a big job! One of the best work Christmas parties I went to was a themed one. It was themed "western" it was nothing but BBQ stuff and everyone dressed western. It was a hoot! It was even held in a refurbished barn!

Answer 9

Why are you making all the food yourself? I would refuse or ask for more volunteers.

We always have little sausages called chipolatas in Scotland at Christmas time

Answer 10

How about offering 'apologizes' for making everyone work on Christmas?

Or give them a choice of either, fish, meat or 'go home'....
Going home should win by a landslide.

:)