Once November rolls around in New York City, it’s only a matter of time before you find yourself digging through dusty, old boxes searching for your favorite holiday decorations. And with so much else going on— sending out holiday cards, gift wrapping, shopping, visiting friends and family— it can be challenging to, on top of all the madness, sit down and brainstorm the perfect holiday party. With that being said, the holiday season just doesn’t feel complete without a holiday event to bring your friends and family together. That’s why we want to make things easier on you by helping you plan a crucial (and admittedly difficult) aspect of your holiday party: the catering. Whether you’re planning a corporate event or a private one, we have the ultimate guide to help you with holiday party catering this season. After all, what kind of a holiday party would you be throwing without the perfect holiday eats? Keep reading to learn more about creating a catering menu, our diverse catering options, and additional tips we can give you from our years of experience working with the best vendors in New York City during the holiday season.

Booking a catering service doesn’t mean you have to resort to a boring, run-of-the-mill chain restaurant. Food truck catering from local businesses and small restaurants balances your catering needs, such as full service and clean up, with the needs of your guests, like full-size entrees of delicious food, or just finger foods for an office cocktail party. Offering local options at your event can create a sense of community true to the holiday spirit. When you work with NYFTA, you’ll find absolutely no shortage of local and unique options. As our name suggests, The New York Food Truck Association focuses on food truck catering, connecting you to over a hundred of New York’s finest food truck vendors and coordinating all of the logistics of your catering event. All you have to do is tell us what you want, and we deliver.

For holiday parties in particular, we believe there are plenty of advantages of food truck catering as opposed to the traditional catering company approach. Mainly, it makes a statement and leaves an immediate impression on your guests, while still being more convenient, cost-effective, and customizable than traditional catering options. The benefits of food truck catering don’t simply amount to a new look or gimmick to your event, though. Food truck catering allows for the convenience of pick-up meals for your workers to take back to their workspace or a meeting, they offer a wider range of delicious meal options to fit your guests’ preferences, and the ability to select from different trucks allows you to style your catering depending on the type of event.

Companies cut through the noise in all different types of ways, like with a catchy jingle or an expansive social media campaign. Though different in nature, you should view your holiday party as another way of establishing your brand above competitors. It’s your opportunity to motivate employees and cultivate a company culture that people want to be a part of, which ultimately serves your business goals. With all this being said, how can you create a catering menu— from hors d’oeuvres and appetizers to holiday meals and desserts— that turns your holiday party into a special event your guests won’t forget? Let’s brainstorm. What calls your name: hot-cocoa and marshmallows on a chilly evening, or a sweet Christmas cider? For dessert, do you think your guests will prefer peppermint ice cream or s’mores? What about pecan pie versus waffles? Many of the same considerations will be made if you’re hosting a private event. For larger parties in general, you’ll want to think about what foods are easy to serve at a high volume, which foods are crowd-pleasers, and most likely, which are less pricey. There are many different directions you can go, so let’s look at some specific catering options we can offer you through our hundreds of vendors.

When you think of holiday foods and recipes, most of the items that come to mind fall under one of four categories:

• Hot beverages
• Cocktails and other libations
• Comfort food and seasonal specialties
• Desserts

Below you'll find some of our specific menu recommendations for each group!

Coffee and Hot-Cocoa

Coffee and hot cocoa are two holiday drink staples. Book with us to get New York favorites like Blank Street or Utopia Bagels at your upcoming holiday event! Both of these vendors are great options because they offer a ton of variety. Blank Street, for instance, offers specialty, seasonal beverages like peppermint mocha, salted caramel hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and holiday tea, while Utopia Bagels has a wide list of food options you can order along with coffee. During the holiday season, this might mean bagel and lox to accompany delicious drip coffee or latte!

Cocktails

If you’re looking to get alcoholic beverages, look no further. Two incredible options for your party are The Greats of Craft and Bubbles & Brews. The Greats of Craft mobile bar creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, perfectly suited for the holidays. This vintage 1960 Volkswagen-turned mobile bar has the ability to be personalized with a unique selection of craft beer, wines, and cocktails. Visit their website to learn more. Bubbles & Brews can also elevate your event beyond your guests’ expectations, serving still wines, craft beers, and cocktails made with fresh ingredients. They also offer non-alcoholic options that can be more inclusive to all of your guests!

Comfort food

Now, let’s move into the holiday eats. You don’t want to leave anyone hungry, which is why comfort food is a crowd favorite during the holidays. Pie Oh My and Fatty’s are two of our most delicious and reliable vendors. Pie Oh My makes some of the best wood-fired pizza in New York City, and their menu doesn’t stop there. They also offer wood-fired wings, wood-fired jalapeño poppers, and more. Find out for yourself and book Pie Oh My for your holiday event! Fatty’s food truck is also an excellent option, especially given the fact that their food incorporates flavors from cultures all over the world - from BBQ to Asian fusion. This metropolitan feel can help connect with a large audience and bring people together, from the beer-battered broccoli to the bussin burger, and even their myriad vegan options.

DESSERTS 

As we discussed previously, one of the advantages of food truck catering is that it can be more cost-effective than other catering services. Of course, the price depends on factors like your party size and the menu you choose, but generally, you save money and time with food truck catering, especially when you work through NYFTA to completely coordinate this part of your event for you. To get a basic idea of what you can expect to pay, be sure to calculate your costs while you’re still in the planning process.

As the winter season approaches, it’s time to start thinking about the catering details of your holiday party. No matter what the occasion, you don't want to wait too long and miss out on your favorite local trucks! 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 NYFTA. When you book holiday party 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!