Holiday Entertaining 101: 6 Tasty Holiday Meals and Menus

Photo courtesy of  Yulia Furman

Google “stress-free holiday entertaining” and this is what you get: Plan the party, set the menu, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

With a wide selection of talented caterers and party planners in Colorado, this is more than achievable. As Jennifer Whitman, creative director at Catering by Design, aptly sums it up: You can’t do it all!

The No. 1 goal is to create a space for everyone to connect. Guests will look back on your party and remember enjoying the time spent with one other—not the mishaps that may have happened or the little things that weren’t perfect. Getting lost in the fear of throwing the ideal party makes us all forget to be present in the moment.

Whitman suggests bringing in someone to deep-clean your home the day before the gathering, creating a holiday playlist on Spotify, using elegant disposable dishware options (or using an equipment rental company), and lighting an array of candles throughout your home to set a festive tone and mood.

Here is a sampling of holiday gathering ideas and menus so that everyone can maximize their time with loved ones—which is the most important part of any function. 

Photo courtesy of Footers

THE FORMAL NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER

For a sit-down dinner option, host a New Year’s Eve gathering and request formal, holiday-themed attire. Make sure to greet everyone at the door with a chilled glass of champagne.

“Hosting a sit-down dinner during the holiday season shares the most precious gift of time. It’s a moment for guests to forget about exhausting December calendars packed with light shows and traditions, and take part in an evening where they feel thoughtfully taken care of and can reflect gratitude for another year flown by. Festive cocktails and light bites greet guests as they arrive to celebrate the season. The conversations continue to an elegant, candle-washed dining table thoughtfully set with personalized name cards. Warm soup poured table-side eases guests into a serene evening, where beautifully presented courses are surrounded by laughter and toasts to a New Year.”

Colbert Callen
Director of sales and marketing, Footers
footerscatering.com 

A sample menu from Footers Catering

Passed Hors d’Oeuvres

Petite Beef Wellington – Tender braised beef, flaky puff pastry, mushroom and onion duxelle, green peppercorn and sherry aioli

Salmon Caviar Blini – Scallion blini, smoked salmon rillette, caviar, fresh dill

Warm Baked Brie Bites – Lingonberry preserves, toasted almonds

Walnut Miso Bruschetta – House-made herb focaccia, miso walnut pesto, lemony fennel and onion slaw, pepita crumble

Prosciutto Scallop Spoon – Pan-seared scallop, fennel grapefruit beurre blanc, crispy prosciutto, appetizer spoons

First Course

Butternut Squash Bisque – Honey goat cheese mousse swirl, toasted pepitas, thyme sprig garnish

Harvest Bread Basket – Rosemary sweet potato brioche, asiago lager dinner rolls, pesto babka, whipped butter with sea salt 

Second Course

Savory Roasted Cauliflower Salad – Arugula, lemon tarragon ricotta, curry roasted cauliflower, golden raisins, green apple, balsamic vinaigrette

Third Course

Seared Snapper Vera Cruz – Crispy seared skin-on snapper, spicy tomato-caper sauce, grilled lemon wheel. Served over winter wild rice pilaf, roasted chestnuts, green apples, preserved lemon, thyme

Fourth Course

Grilled Colorado Lamb Chops – Bone-in chop, sweet cherry demi-glace. Accompanied by potato and celery root gruyere gratin, roasted heirloom carrots

Dessert Course

Pear and Chocolate Tart – Almond rosemary crust, allspice frangipane, pear compote, rosemary almonds, dark chocowlate ganache, vanilla creme anglaise

Chai Marbled Cheesecake – Chai spiced cheesecake, espresso malt whipped cream, chocolate crust, golden latte creme anglaise, white chocolate crunch pearls 

Photo courtesy of Epicurean

CRANBERRY SHRUB

From Epicurean Catering 

Ingredients

12 ounces cranberries, fresh
1 cup sugar, granulated
3/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups water

Preparation

Bring all ingredients to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often.
Reduce heat to low and cook 5 minutes or until most cranberries have burst.
Spoon out a few whole cranberries and set aside for garnish.
Strain mixture, pressing liquid out of pulp using the back of a large spoon. Discard pulp.
Chill. 

Serving Options

Mix with sparkling wine.
Muddle with an orange slice and ice, add bourbon and top with club soda.
Fill a tall glass with ice, layer in splash of shrub, then add equal parts orange juice and tequila.
Shake with ice and equal parts shrub, gin and sweet vermouth.
Note: You can use any seasonal fruit for your shrub. 

Photo courtesy of Biscuit and Berries

THE FULL SIT-DOWN CHRISTMAS DINNER 

“The holidays are a wonderful time of year filled with love, family, friends and food. Hosting a sit-down dinner is the perfect way to show your love and appreciation for those in your life by putting those elements into every aspect of the dining experience. By creating a warm and inviting space, you are emphasizing their place in your home as someone who holds a special place in your life. Plated meals offer the opportunity to express this sentiment through the time and effort you put into not only the cooking process, but also the menu design and presentation.”

Bonnie Vidal
Director of sales at Biscuits and Berries Catering
biscuitsandberries.com 

A sample menu from Biscuits and Berries

Amuse Bouche

Wild Mushroom Sacchetti – Toasted hazelnut, butternut squash, sage crema and roasted chicken jus

First Course

Elevated Waldorf Salad – Little Gem lettuce with green apple, pecans, grapes, celery and lemon

Second Course

Colorado Lamb Three Ways – Braised neck, loin chop and belly, with fava peas and morel ragout, lamb jus and seasonal veggies

Third Course

Chocolate Mousse with Sea Buckthorn and Yuzu – Sea buckthorn is a little berry that grows by the sea and is very bright and acidic, and yuzu is an Asian citrus fruit that backs up the flavor of the buckthorn. 

Photo courtesy of anaumenko

THE HANNUKAH BUFFET 

Hannukah can be a wonderful family gathering for all ages, so a buffet dinner is an easier choice for a more casual and festive evening, complete with the requisite menorah candle lighting and holiday games. Don’t forget to provide the gelt!

“These days, dietary restrictions rule the realm, even for home entertaining. But when we gather to light the Hannukah menorah and spin the dreidel, everyone’s gotta eat! This menu has some- thing for everyone, without sacrificing tradition or flavor, and it celebrates wonderful seasonal ingredients. Adjust it to your guests’ needs and enjoy.”

Jeremy Bronson
Owner, Occasions Catering
occasionsdenver.com 

A sample menu from Occasions Catering

Pomegranate-Braised Brisket – Pomegranate jus and fresh herbs

Roasted Salmon Filet – With rosemary chimichurri

Crispy Potato Latkes – With roasted applesauce and chive sour cream

Ginger-Glazed Carrots – With freshly minced parsley and thyme

Buttered Egg Noodles – With poppy seeds and salted European butter

Winter Kale Salad – With green apples, pepitas and crumbled feta

Freshly Baked Challah

Chocolate Bundt Cake – With iced glaze and mascarpone gelato

Photo courtesy of 2-Taste Catering

THE NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN HOUSE 

A thoughtful way to thank and celebrate those in your immediate vicinity is to host an open house for your neighborhood friends, with a flexible swinging-door policy so all can come and go as they please.

“Creating a warm and inviting experience from start to finish is both the challenge and the joy of the holidays. But it’s where we thrive. Capturing the season through taste, a visually appealing display of foods, and a unique touch is how so many local caterers can deliver. This way you can focus on the importance of your gathering, which is to engage with your dear friends. Once we do our part, you can focus on the more appealing details of your party, such as the candles, music, flower arrangements and decorations. And together, we bring all the finite details together for a truly stress-free holiday.” 

Brian Hubner
Owner/chef, 2 Taste Catering
2-taste.com 

A sample menu from 2 Taste Catering

Charred Local Beef Rib Eye Skewers – With “Italian” chimichurri

Big Eye Tuna Tostadas – With crisp slaw, pineapple habanero salsa, “Baja Sauce” roasted jalapeno aioli

Charred St. Louis-Style Ribs – With garlic sparerib-style glaze, togarashi peanut crunch, scallion

Denver Style Fried Chicken Bites – With bread-butter pickles, whole-grain mustard aioli, Calabrian chili spiced honey

Zucchini Goat Cheese Fritters – With basil pesto aioli

Lobster Mac-n-Cheez Bites – Maine lobster, mascarpone

Holiday Turkey Sliders – With cranberry aioli, honey crisp slaw, traditional holiday stuffing, gravy

Crispy Duck Confit Taquitos – With Hatch chiles, Oaxaca cheese fondue

Photo courtesy of Catering by Design

THE KIDS’ TABLE 

What fun to let your children invite their best friends over for a holiday party of their own! A cookie-decorating table provides hands-on entertainment for the kids, and they can munch and nibble on the colorful buffet while sipping festive mocktails.

“Hosting a holiday cookie-decorating party for the kiddos can be so much fun if you plan ahead and keep it simple. Buy cookie cutters in a variety of shapes—and remember, you don’t have to choose classic shapes. There’s no reason you can’t choose dinosaur holiday cookies. Give every baker a chef’s hat and an apron. (If you want to personalize them with a glitter pen, go right ahead—it’s fun and practical for the baking, and great for photos.) Speaking of which, set up an area for photos by picking up some inexpensive removable holiday decals for a wall in the kitchen, so the kids in their chef’s hats can get pictures with their creations. Finally, start to simmer cider and mulling spices before guests arrive. In addition to being delicious and easy to make, it pairs well with a tot of bourbon for the grown-ups, topped with a fresh slice of orange and a cinnamon stick!”

Jennifer Whitman
Creative Director, Catering by Design
cateringbd.com 

A sample menu from Catering by Design

Buffet Menu

O Christmas Tree – Cheese board shaped like a Christmas tree— cheese, fruit, crackers, fresh herbs

The Christmas Pig-in-a-Blanket – Mini hot dogs wrapped in puff pastry with honey-mustard dipping sauce

The Partridge in a Pear Tree – Chicken tenders with a pear dipping sauce

The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Stuffed cherry tomatoes, cream cheese, fresh herbs and parmesan

The All I Want for Christmas Is EWE – Flatbread with goat cheese, stewed marinara, garlic and basil

Frosty the S’more-man – Marshmallows dipped in white chocolate on a skewer, with edible marshmallow paint for the face

Cookie Decorating Station – Sugar-cookie dough with a variety of toppings and frostings  

Rebecca Gart is a freelance food writer based out of Vail and Denver, where she lives with her husband and teenage son.