Holiday Dinner Buffet Catering Menu

Holiday Dinner Buffet Catering Menu Items(click through different sections)

  • Cold Selection
    Pomegranate Goat Cheese Bites
    with truffle honey and thyme
    Thai Pumpkin Veloute Shooters
    with caramelized pumpkin seeds
    Wild Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Toasts
    with a spiced port drizzle
    Cranberry Pecan Cheese Truffles
    with lavender honey
    BLT Cakes
    double smoked bacon, pickled roma, arugula cream
    Cranberry and Brie Bites
    candied walnuts, rosemary
    Prosciutto and Figs
    with mascarpone cheese on a designer spoon
    House Made Smoked Salmon
    on a caper bisquit with lemon aioli
    Antipasto Sticks
    grilled squash ribbons, prosciutto, mozzarella
    Crispy Polenta Bites
    arugula olive tapenade, ninja radish
    Open Face Italian Crisps (selection of 3)
    - roasted tomato | goat cheese, basil chiffonade
    - porchetta | spiced tomato jelly, squash
    - crispy procuitto | brie cheese, grilled asparagus
    - charcuterie | genoa, ricotta, gem tomato, artichokes
    - Italian chicken | spiced hummus, olive tapenade
    Crispy Toasts (selection of 3)
    - Italian | prosciutto, radish, mascarpone ricotta, pistachio
    - avocado | grilled vegetables, asiago
    - caponata | goat cheese, green onions
    - wild mushrooms | carmelized ramps, feta mousse
    - chicken caprese | balsamic droplets
    Caramelized Onion Tartlettes
    chive, crème fraîche
    Hot Selection
    Cranberry and Whipped Ricotta Crisps
    with fresh basil chiffonade butler
    Turkey Dinner Stuffed Mushroom Caps
    with marjoram crumb
    Beef Wellington Bites
    with a horseradish crema
    Apple Cider Braised Beef Tartelette
    with butternut squash
    Cream Cheese Sausage Bites
    with a pecan pesto dipping sauce
    Christmas Dinner Dumplings
    with a cranberry glaze
    Chicken Arancini
    smoked tomato jam
    Lemongrass Chicken Satay
    peanut dipping sauce
    Chicken, Beef or Vegetarian Gyoza
    with japanese dipping sauce
    Tandoori Salmon Skewers
    mango chutney
    Crispy Shrimp Tempura
    bang bang sauce
    Zucchini Pakora
    indian-style vegetable fritters with yogurt dip
    Chicken, Beef or Vegetarian Samosas
    mango balsamic chutney
    BBQ Vegan Meatballs
    with caramelized onions
  • Salad Selection
    Chopped Kale Salad
    with candied pecans, dried cranberries, creamy apples, mixed greens, orange poppy seed dressing
    Classic Caesar Salad
    hearts of romaine, herb and garlic baguette croutons, fresh-grated aged parmesan cheese, creamy garlic dressing
    Red Cabbage, Radicchio, and Endive Salad
    red cabbage, radicchio, endive, fennel, walnuts, goat cheese, maple cider vinaigrette
    Fall Rotini Pasta Salad
    rotini pasta, brussel sprouts, shallots, pine nuts, marjoram, brown butter olive oil vinaigrette
    Roasted Beet and Onion Salad
    goat cheese, arugula, roasted walnuts, lemon orange vinaigrette
    Turmeric Roasted Chickpea and Carrot Salad
    apple cider tahini dressing
    Brussel Sprout and Bacon Salad
    brussel sprouts, kale, bacon, pomegranate, parmesan, zesty citrus and honey dressing
    Cranberry and Orange Glazed Green Beans
    green beans, red onions, cranberries, orange mustard vinaigrette
    Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds
    crisp broccoli, onions, feta, roasted almonds, achiote olive oil dressing
    ENTRÉE SELECTION
    Traditional Roasted Turkey
    sugar spiced crock pot stuffing, natural savoury pan jus, house-made cranberry chutney
    Honey Maple Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Turkey Breast
    ricotta and sausage stuffed, thyme jus, house-made cranberry chutney
    Fiddlehead and Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast
    wild glazed ramp sauce
    Cranberry and Balsamic Roasted Chicken Breast
    summer savoury chicken jus
    Red Wine and 5 Spice Beef Short Rib
    Herbed demi drizzle
    Rosemary and Black Garlic Prime Rib
    yellow birch syrup demi
    Garlic Butter Roasted Beef Sirloin
    wild mushroom brunoise sauce
    Bourbon Mustard Glazed Ham
    green onion chutney
    Apple and Cherry Stuffed Pork Loin
    brown sugar glaze
    Orange Maple Glazed Salmon Filet
    parsnip purée
    Wild Mushroom Wellington
    spiced tomato stew
    Certified Angus Beef® Tenderloin
    Available upon request
    Starch Selection
    Spiced Rice Pilaf with Herbs
    Roasted Shallot and Garlic Baby Potatoes
    Mashed Brown Butter Yukon Potatoes
    Melting Sweet Potato with Fine Herbs
    Potato Gratin Stack
    | add $1.00 per person
    Vegetable Selection
    Option 1
    Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Vegetables with Chive Drizzle
    Option 2
    Brussel Sprouts with Butternut Squash and Roasted Candied Pecans
    Option 3
    Aromatic Spiced Vegetables with Balsamic and Thyme
    Option 4
    Robust Ratatouille Rounds with Tomato Coulis
    Desert Selection
    Festive Dessert Bar
    festive desserts and cookies, tortes, mousse dessert cups, assorted french pastries
    Seasonal Fresh Fruit Tray
    Coffee, Decaf and Fine Teas
    Desert Table Upgrades
    Canadian Cheese Board
    white cheddar, swiss, marble, brie, blue, monterey jack, gouda, dried fruit, grapes, gourmet crackers, raincoast crisps
    Chocolate Fondue
    choice of dark, milk or white chocolate. served with an array of fresh seasonal fruit, pineapple, strawberries, bananas, melon and biscottis (minimum 30 guests)
    Loaded Hot Chocolate Bar
    steeped melted belgium chocolate milk served with chantilly cream, chocolate and caramel spoons, marshmallow sticks, toffee bits,
    grated chocolate, pralines, sprinkles
    Chocolate Fountain Rental | optional
    - large (more than 100 guests)
    - small (minimum 50 guests)
    Lollipop Parade
    cheesecake and brownie lollipops, dipped with dark and white chocolate
    Mini Créme Brûlée
    french vanilla | dark chocolate
    Gourmet Cupcakes
    Pie in a Jar
    apple cinnamon | pumpkin | baked in mason jars
  • One Selection From
    Deluxe Cold Cut Tray
    make your own sandwiches from our selection of fancy sliced meats and cheeses, black forest ham, roast sirloin of beef, genoa salami, smoked turkey, grilled sliced chicken breast, swiss emmental, and canadian cheddar cheese, assorted breads and rolls, lettuce, tomato, pickle spears and condiments
    Mini Cocktail Buns
    parma ham | shaved sirloin of beef | smoked salmon | double cream brie | black forest ham with swiss emmental | smoked chicken | good-nature vegetarian
    Baja Rolls
    carne asada | red onion, tomato, quinoa, queso, cilantro, chili sour cream
    spicy thai chicken | quinoa, carrots, purple cabbage, red curry peanut sauce
    fiesta shrimp | field greens, black beans, corn, avocado, cheddar, lime vinaigrette
    hummus market veggie | red pepper hummus, avocado, spinach, cucumber, quinoa, fresh basil
    Two Selections From
    Market Dips
    creamy dill dip | white bean dip | cheddar bacon ranch | baked pita chips and raincoast crisps
    Balsamic Caprese Bruschetta
    chopped fresh roma tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella, garlic, basil, olive oil, balsamic and lemon juice with toasted slices of baguette
    Homemade Potato Chips
    with spicy ketchup and onion dip
    Market Fresh Vegetable Display
    with fine herb sauce for dipping
    Canadian Cheese Board
    a variety of canadian cheeses with dried fruit, grapes and gourmet crackers
    Fresh Selected Fruit Tray in Season

Buffet Catering Menu Setup

Your event can be formally seated at round or long tables, or you can offer soft seating, like loungey sofas and cocktail tables, depending on the items you select. The food can be served by waiters (perhaps if items are limited) or guests can serve themselves. A chef-attended carving station can be added for a special touch.

When setting the room, the plates should always be stacked on the buffet lines with the food. Although many planners think it’s a nice look to put plates on guest tables and announce that they should bring the plates with them to the buffet, many guests will miss the announcement or forget. On the other hand, the choice is yours whether to set the flatware at the place settings or wrap them in linen or paper napkins and stack them in a basket at the end of the buffet line.

Designing the Buffet Catering Menu

Mitigating long waits at the buffet line is paramount, especially with larger events. Set double-sided tables at multiple locations to get guests through quickly. Adding a game conducted by a humorous emcee–in which tables contend for their place in line–takes the edge off the wait.

You should carefully track guests’ food allergies and inform about the meals’ ingredients. The best way to do so is to print food signs that will be displayed right beside each item. If a guest has very specific dietary considerations, it may be best to request a separately prepared plate from the caterer.

Because buffet menus aim to satisfy a large number of tastes, it’s best to choose items that are generic, like chicken, salmon and roast beef. Stay away from eclectic items like lamb, game or shellfish unless your group is quite large and these are secondary options. Not everyone you invite will be a foodie!

The buffet menu grants the opportunity to offer a wide or limited number of items. Be careful not to offer too many choices with a smaller crowd, as this may mean you will run out of one item before all the guests are served. This is less of a worry with larger crowds, but could mean leftover food. A good balance of variety and quality should be discussed with the chef or sales rep prior to your selections.

How to offer variety with your buffet menu

Choose your proteins for the main dish:

  • one meat
  • one seafood
  • one vegetarian item
Choose at least one salad:

  • a leaf salad (Caesar or mixed greens)
  • a grain salad (quinoa or bean)
  • a chunky vegetable salad (Greek or potato)
  • etc.
Choose 2-3 side items:

  • one or two types of vegetables
  • a starch
  • etc.

Add a dessert display.

Alternatives to the Holiday Buffet Catering Menu

There are several alternatives to the Holiday Buffet Catering Menu, based on the event type, the allocated budget, the event facilities, table setup and number of guests. Please find several alternative menus below. Keep in mind that our catering experts are ready to assist you along the process of designing the menu for your event. Feel free to contact us at any point and we will be happy to help you!

Please check our Holiday Plated Dinner Catering Menu for a plated dinner setup. It may be a better option for events where guests are seated at the tables and when the number of guests is well known in advance. It can either minimize the food serving time or integrate the food serving into the event’s agenda (e.g. Fundraising Dinner).

Also check our Holiday Lunch Catering Menu. It may work better for events in which the food is complementary to the agenda (e.g. business meetings, workshops).

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