Blog - Fresh City Kitchen

Often Overlooked & Under Utilized, Soup Season Is Here. At Home & In-Office

February 28, 2025/in Uncategorized /by Marisol Minich

It’s about that time when we’re all getting a little tired of the Boston winter. Sure, the snow is beautiful, but it’s always sludge on the side of the road a few hours after it falls. Tea and hot cocoa are nice, but you can only have so many mini marshmallows before you start missing margaritas and lemonade. The novelty of winter has officially worn off, and Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of 6 more weeks of winter was not well received. In light of the winter weariness hitting a little harder this week over at Fresh City Kitchen, we wanted to offer up the best solution we have for chilly weather: a warm bowl of soup (or at least our favorite recipe for one).

We know that sometimes soups get a reputation for being plain, but we vehemently disagree, and we’re here to set the record straight. We’ll open your eyes to a whole new world, a whole new fantastic point of view (any Disney fans out there?). Whether it’s bisque, black bean, curry, chili, chowder, egg drop, miso, minestrone, or FCK’s famous lasagna soup, we’re sure that there’s a recipe out there that will rock your world and keep you toasty right down to your New Englander L.L. Bean boots.

And don’t worry if you’re still not convinced, we aren’t done yet. First of all, soups are generally easy and quick to prepare. There might be some chopping, sauteing, or prep at the outset, but for the most part, a good soup is set it and forget it. Especially if you have a crock pot or a slow cooker, which are essential kitchen tools in the wintaahh! It’s easy to prep your recipe and head out for whatever errands, work, or kid transporting you have on the agenda for the day.

Soups are also pretty versatile. If you’re missing the corn for your chowder or the carrots for your chicken noodle soup, it’s not going to make or break the recipe. There’s no need to schlep through the snow (or the slush) to grab the one ingredient your partner forgot to get you at the store. We also love that soup can also be a hearty option for our friends with some common dietary restrictions (FCK’s deliciously spiced vegan and gluten-free Lentil Chickpea Stew fits the bill!). Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian soups are all easily done and make for a delicious, filling meal. When planning catering for your Boston office don’t forget to ask about seasonal soups this time of year. We’re serving up New England clam chowder, Fresh City chicken noodle, roasty tomato soup, and a variety of hearty chilis to offices catering lunch across Boston this winter!

Soups are also easily frozen, meaning you can make a big batch on the weekend so you’ll have one ready for whenever you need.

FCK's Soup Storage Hacks

★ Store With Ziplocs ★

If you’re short on freezer space, leave a pot to cool on your stove for a few hours, then grab a buddy to help you pour it (Carefully! And potentially over your sink to prevent spills) into a Ziploc bag. The flat shape is much easier to fit into a tight space than a big Tupperware.

★ Dining for One ★

If you’re only cooking for yourself, freeze your dinner in individual microwaveable containers. This way, you can defrost a little bit at a time.

★ Kick it Old School ★

Bring soup to work in a thermos. For only $15 you can grab a big dose of grade school nostalgia from your favorite retailer. It will keep your food warm all day, and it’ll last years!!

So if you’re still not convinced after all of that, we wanted to share a closely guarded FCK family recipe that was one of my favorite meals growing up.

Aunt Jill's White Chicken Chili

Ingredients:

3 Chicken breasts
2 Cans white beans (drained and rinsed)
1 Can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
32 oz chicken broth
1 Jar of your favorite salsa
2 Tbsp cumin
2 Cloves garlic (minced)
Optional: White onions
Optional: Hot chiles

Veggies:

Zucchini
Seasonal squash
Bell peppers

Toppings:

Avocado
Grated cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Cilantro
Scallions
Fritos (yup, Fritos!)

Instructions:

Put chicken broth, garlic, and cumin into a pot or slow cooker. Simmer the chicken until tender, then pull it out and shred it. This can be done eaily by mixing it with a paddle in a stand mixer, or simply by pulling it apart with a fork in each hand. Add the rest of the ingredients into the put and simmer until tender. Put the chicken back in, and you’re all done!

This delectable soup walks the line between a classic chili and chicken soup, made with chicken stock instead of tomatoes. We love it for its versatility: it’s a go-to whenever we need to clean out the cabinets. The chicken breasts, broth, cumin, and garlic are a must, but everything else is fairly interchangeable. The beans and veggies can all be swapped with whatever kind you happen to have slowly turning mushy in your fridge drawers or gathering dust at the back of your pantry shelf. Our favorites are usually zucchini and squash, but chopped bell peppers, spinach, kale, carrots, or potatoes would also taste great.

Finally, the make-or-break finish to Aunt Jill’s chicken chili is the toppings. When we have it, we need to leave the pot on the stove to leave room for all the tiny bowls of toppings on the table. We highly recommend chopped avocado, sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, and chopped cilantro, and if you want an extra spicy zing, add pickled jalapenos or this delicious guacamole salsa. Together, they create a nice creamy finish with a zesty bite at the end. The only absolute non-negotiable is a bag full of Fritos. If you grab them, crush them up, and sprinkle them on top of the soup, you get the perfect crunch that makes the meal!

So if you find yourself thinking about the beach, iced coffee, and backyard barbecues, hold off before you start looking for flights to tropical locations. Our remedy is much faster and much cheaper! Try some soup, they’re truly souper!

DIETARY ACCOMODATIONS

WE'RE HERE TO SERVE YOU

Corporate office catering demands a high level of presentation, attention to the smallest details, and accommodation of many diets and allergies in the modern workplace.

If something looks off, the questions come your way. If an allergy is missed, the questions come your way, and if something is missing it’s you that winds up running around to fill that gap. Focusing on the smallest details that might not seem important until they’re overlooked, and that’s why our customers rave about us to their colleagues! We’ve got your back and are here to serve you so that you can focus on what matters most at work.

Kick Off the New Year by Eating Healthier at Work

January 21, 2025/in Uncategorized /by Marisol Minich

As we say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025, many of us are focused on starting the
New Year right. New Year’s resolutions often bring shiny new gym memberships, ambitious diet
plans, and the hope of building healthier habits. Yet, old habits can be tough to shake—especially after a holiday season filled with charcuterie boards and eggnog. Starting off strong can feel challenging when the winter slump sets in, especially considering how busy the New Year can be. We’re no strangers to the chaotic kick-off of a new year packed with meetings, events, and corporate travel that can make maintaining healthy eating habits a challenge. It’s all too easy to slip back into the convenience of microwave meals and fast food. But with a few simple strategies, eating healthier at work can be both manageable and delicious.

Many of us are familiar with the common enemy to healthy eating: hangriness. When the
afternoon hits and I’m fueled purely by the morning’s granola bar and a venti iced coffee, I know
the first thing I reach for is going to be a chocolatey treat.

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE THIS COME 1 PM?

This is the result of low blood sugar, which can make us cranky, irritable, and tired. And while carb and sugar-heavy snacks are certainly a valid option, unfortunately, they won’t get you out of your hangry rut. Carb-heavy foods have been shown to spike blood sugar rather than sustainably elevate it, leading to low blood sugar again about an hour after you snack.

By preparing meals and snacks higher in protein ahead of time, we can
pair the chips, chocolate, or baked goods we crave with options that prolong energy and boost
productivity, like protein shakes, greek yogurt, or peanut butter. Buying specific containers for meal prep can help you pack items ahead of time, and stick to a plan throughout the week.

The most important point is this enables you to have a healthy meal (available) when hunger strikes!

Another strategy is to bulk prep proteins such as grilled chicken, salmon, or steak,
on a Sunday to set yourself up for the week. These versatile proteins can be used throughout the
week in chicken Caesar wraps, hummus and grain bowls, or chicken pesto pasta. You can have the variety you crave but only have to prepare a single type of protein in one large batch.

Chopping up fruits and vegetables at the beginning of the week ensures that you have healthy snacks ready to grab, which are great alternatives to processed food. These can be paired with
high-protein dips like hummus, peanut butter, and Greek yogurt to add both flavor and nutrition.

FCK FAMILY'S FAVORITE MEAL PREP HACKS:

USE SALAD DRESSING AS A MARINADE

Simply put chicken breast in a ziploc bag with some Light Caesar dressing and leave it in the fridge overnight. Grill it up the next day, and you’ll get juicy, flavorful results!

MAKE DINNER AND A HALF

By making a little extra of your family’s favorite dinner, you can take a balanced meal to work without having to plan out another meal. Portion the leftovers into microwavable containers for an easy, ready-to-go lunch the next day.

GET CREATIVE WITH AI

Eating can feel like a drag if you have the same thing every
afternoon. Especially when it comes to salads, adding in foods you wouldn’t often think of can add excitement to the day. Try adding unique toppings like goat cheese, cranberries, strawberries, pepperoncini, or prosciutto (although maybe not all at once).

Believe it or not, using a free AI tool like ChatGPT can help come up with ideas for your weekly variety in under 60 seconds!

LIGHTLY ROASTED APPLES, GOAT CHEESE, TOASTED PECANS ARE EASY, DELICIOUS, AND HEALTHY!

For those lucky enough to work in companies that provide catered meals in the workplace, Fesh City
can help you eat what makes healthier. Simply asking your workplace coordinators is
the place to start. Most companies that have a strong focus on workplace culture will be wide open to ideas and requests from their team members that ultimately keep people healthier, feeling
better, and more productive!

Finding an office catering partner who is willing to help plan menus is step one.
Throughout January and February, we’re partnering with workplaces to provide healthy, protein-rich meals tailored to your team’s needs. We collaborate with you to build weekly menus that emphasize healthy options, eliminating the guesswork for you. We also provide options
for many different allergies, restrictions, or preferences. Our team is dedicated to killer hospitality, ensuring no one is left out of a nutritious, satisfying meal.

If you’re nervous about having teams on site for multiple days but don’t want to bog them down with heavy meals that will signal nap time, just say the words and we’ll create a simple plan based on your
days, headcount, and budget that will keep people fueled and feeling good to get the New Year off to a fast start!

For example, start the day with breakfast favorites like farm-fresh eggs and Greek yogurt parfaits, packed with fresh fruits to provide an energy boost to jumpstart the
morning and enough protein to keep you going.

Healthy afternoon meals and snacks are also crucial for avoiding the post-lunch slump. One of our winter menu favorites is the Asian Salad & Grain Bowl Bar with free-range chicken breast, avocado, chickpeas, and cashews, and a variety of other fun + healthy toppings to get people excited! You can also add char-grilled steak, roasted Atlantic salmon, or grilled chicken to any menu we offer for extra protein.

HEALTHY GRABS THROUGHOUT THE WORK DAY

DO'S

Hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, chia seed pudding (if you haven’t tried Fresh City Kitchen’s, you’re missing out big time!), fresh fruit, nuts, veggies, hummus or peanut butter, cold-pressed juices (with no added sugar), minimally processed shakes like Koia, or Chomps grass-fed beef sticks. Ask us for ideas if you’re planning catering for your next meeting and need some healthy snacks.

DON'TS

Processed, mass-produced snacks like “veggie sticks”, candy, high-sugar protein bars, and all the usual suspects like Cheetos, Fritos, and Doritos. These snacks make you hungrier and contain inflammatory vegetable oils that are found in addictive processed snacks.

AVOID THESE TEMPTATIONS—AS TASTY AS THEY MAY BE, THEY’RE NOT LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR HEALTH!

PRO TIPS

Adding electrolytes to your favorite Stanley or Swell bottle the next time you fill it at the cooler will keep your energy up during the day and heading out for a brisk 10-minute walk after lunch (maybe bring some mittens) will help you digest lunch more effectively and avoid spending the afternoon staring blankly at your keyboard.

Make 2025 a year of healthy habits, not temporary resolutions by starting with what we eat at work, and when we’re busy!

With a little planning and support from your favorite office caterer (hint —> Fresh City Kitchen), sticking to those New Year’s resolutions just got a whole lot easier.

GUIDE FOR BUDGETING YOUR CORPORATE HOLIDAY PARTY

November 19, 2024/in Blog, Event Planning /by Savannah O'Brien

Planning a successful company holiday party requires careful budgeting to ensure that every aspect contributes to a memorable experience without overspending. Here’s a concise guide to help you navigate the essential elements of budgeting for your event.

IMPORTANCE

The venue sets the tone for your event and can significantly influence attendance based on where most of your team is located. If the venue is underhwelming it can sometimes deflate the energy of the event itself.

CONSIDERATIONS

Location and accessibility
Capacity to accommodate guests
Included amenities: AV equipment, tables/chairs, and catering options available will help your event run smoothly and can avoid significant costs.

BUDGETING TIPS

Save money by finding an off-peak date for your holiday event. Venues often offer discounts for off-peak times and you’ll often avoid peak pricing. Early January is great for this!

IMPORTANCE

Food and beverage is typically the largest piece of your holiday event budget. If the food is not good or doesn’t accommodate everyone it’s a let down for your team.

CONSIDERATIONS

Type of catering: buffet, plated dinner, hors d’oeuvres
Interactive buffet stations offer a more personalized experience for your guests, allowing them to customize their meals with build-your-own bars and interactive food stations.
Dietary restrictions and preferences
Holiday specialty cocktails and full open bars are a ton of fun but come with additional costs versus a bar with beer and wine service.

BUDGETING TIPS

Save by hosting the event at your office. This tends to cut down on large holiday minimums private spaces have for food & beverage spending. You can bring in your favorite event caterer and bartending service to make it a great time for everyone!

IMPORTANCE

Trust us when we say this. We’ve done experiments at events simply by moving the Bluetooth speaker from one side of the party to another.

THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN A PARTY WITH NO MUSIC!

Without even knowing it party guests subconsciously gravitate towards the music with no conscious intent because it has an incredible gravitational pull.

Entertainment can take an awkward, slow-starting event and turn it into a night that will make the accountants engineers move, shake, and have a blast!

CONSIDERATIONS

Type of entertainment: DJ, interactive activities (e.g. trivia, raffles, cheese or scotch tastings), 360° photo booths, or cookie decorating contests.
DIY cookie decorating can be quite a savings from a high end scotch tasting and just as impactful depending on your crowd’s expectations.
Outsourcing entertainment to a professional service often saves the planning team tons of time and stress!

BUDGETING TIPS

Outsourcing an average priced entertainment service can run between 5-10% of your event budget. If you have 150 people, expect to dish out $1500 for a great service. In contrast putting together DIY experiences can cut that amount in half if you have the time to commit to it.

Super high-end events with custom entertainment, bands, and top-tier professionals can expect to pay much higher premiums for entertainment.

IMPORTANCE

Ensures guests arrive and depart safely and comfortably. If it’s not easy for guests to find, navigate to, and park it is likely to impact event turnout. The last thing you want to happen is for people to feel that the event will be inconvenient to attend.

CONSIDERATIONS

There are a number of creative ways you can make attending your holiday party easier for employees!
Group shuttles are a great way to completely remove the burden on the team but the downside of this option is the employee can no longer come and go from the party on their own schedule.
Parking reimbursements are a simple alternative that enables people to attend without having to pay to get to the party.
Free rideshare codes are very popular for company-sponsored events and add another layer of benefit so team members don’t have to navigate whether or not to consume alcohol while also being responsible to drive safely.

BUDGETING TIPS

Although any sort of transportation adds another layer of expense to any event it can be a great attendance booster and safety mechanism to ensure employees come and go safely from the event when alcohol is involved.

Rideshare codes and parking reimbursement tend to be the least expensive option, on average. Companies like Uber and Lyft offer corporate discounts for group purchasing often averaging less than $25 per person.

If you have the budget for it private car or shuttle services are a great way to get people there in style and add even more wow factor to the event. This is always the most expensive option and can run $50 or more per guest oftentimes.

IMPORTANCE

Thoughtful decor enhances the ambiance and reflects your brand. This is also a fun way to involve employees leading up to your event. This is particularly true for holiday parties held in your own office. Decorating beautifully can create an added sense of pride for the team planning the event in an effort to provide a memorable experience for the rest of the team.

CONSIDERATIONS

Theme and style: festive vs. formal
Lighting
Table ettings
Festive centerpieces
Table linens

BUDGETING TIPS

Repurpose items instead of buying expensive decorations. Create festive touches with affordable materials like ribbon, string lights, and inexpensive greenery. Local farm stands and garden centers often have these items throughout the late fall at reasonable prices, and in bulk!

Reuse items from previous events or use office supplies creatively

A simple holiday centerpiece or a DIY photo backdrop can make a big impact without a high cost.

Find vendors who will help in the decorating process. For example your caterer is likely able to add a beautiful decor element to all of the food catering presentations throughout the space for a nominal fee and a massive time savings to you. Great event caterers will also tend to have ample ideas to help you with this part of the process.

DETERMINE YOUR TOTAL BUDGET

Establish a realistic overall budget based on your company’s resources and historical spending.

BREAK DOWN COSTS

Allocate funds to each category mentioned above, ensuring to keep track of actual vs. planned expenses

Reference event costs from recent years to help plan this year’s event. Keep in mind that costs spiked with economic inflation in early 2022 and events held before this time may not be a pertinent reference point.
Cost saving tips – Look for off peak dates in early January or Mid-November if you need to find some savings. Oftentimes venues and vendors will have slightly better pricing and availability outside of the high peak times.
Plan for contingency – We suggest a 10-15% contingency budget component knowing that something always pops up. It’s better to plan for this than be surprised later on.
Find vendors with high on-time and reliability scores. It’s so busy in the peak holiday season often times small entertainment and transportation vendors become overbooked and can run late or even cancel last minute. Be sure to avoid extra costs by paying a bit of a premium for vendors who have strong reputations for showing up and being on time!

MONITOR & ADJUST

Regularly review your budget as planning progresses and adjust as necessary to stay on track

We understand how important it is to create a holiday event that brings joy and connection among your team. By carefully planning and budgeting, you can craft a celebration that not only reflects your company’s values but also leaves a lasting impression on your guests. We’re here to support you every step of the way and ensure your holiday gathering is both memorable and enjoyable.

FCK Famous Apple Crisp Recipe

October 18, 2024/in Fun Food, Drinks & Recipes /by Marisol Minich

‘Tis the season. School buses are rolling down the street again, the smell of pumpkin spice is wafting out of just about every coffee shop, and Halloween decorations are sneaking onto the shelves at the local grocery store. As much as we might hesitate to pack the bathing suits away and pull out our sweaters and scarves from wherever they’re hiding, summer has turned to fall whether we want it to or not.

So, to chase the seasonal blues away, Fresh City Kitchen has an excellent suggestion: the perfect fall dessert! Autumn’s confectionary king is a topic of much debate. For some, pumpkin reigns supreme: pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, and even pumpkin cheesecake are delicious without a doubt. But in our opinion, the undisputed flavor of fall in Boston and New England is apple. And when it comes to dessert, specifically apple crisp. (Just because we’re office catering experts doesn’t mean we’re a one-trick pony!)

It’s the best of every world, balancing a crunchy topping with a gooey filling, and the sweetness of apple with the warm flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. And unlike many other dessert options, apple crisp is a breeze to throw together. Contrary to what the saying “easy as pie” might make you believe, pie crust can be pretty finicky to make. A dash too much flour and it’s crumbling to pieces or one too many tablespoons of butter and it’s mush at the bottom of the pan. Apple crisp is far simpler to make, just cut up the apples and mix up the topping. The hardest part is getting the buttery bits off your fingers!

So when summer vacations come to an end, kids need to be dropped off at school again, and assignments are coming in faster than you can crank them out, do yourself a favor. Skip the apple pie, go for the crisp!

Fresh City Kitchen’s perfect apple crisp recipe has one special detail that makes it stand out: the apple variety. For the best possible crisp, you want half Granny Smith apples and half MacIntosh. While it may seem nit-picky, it’s important. The MacIntosh apples will soften up pretty quickly when they’re cooked. As they bake, they’ll mix in with the sugar and spices, creating a delicious apple, nutmeg, and cinnamony delight that mixes perfectly with a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream (we highly suggest Brigham’s vanilla bean). The second part of our dynamic apple duo, the Granny Smith, maintains its shape in the heat of the oven. That way once the pan comes out of the oven, instead of just having applesauce—albeit delicious applesauce—with a crumble on top, you will have a mouthwatering crisp that still has a nice bite to it.

If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity to get some leaf peeping in and enjoy the last few rays of sunshine before we creep towards winter, head out to a Boston area farm and pick your own apples! It’s the perfect fall date idea or excursion for the family, and there are plenty of pick-your-own farms within 45 minutes of downtown Boston. In particular, Honey Pot Hill Orchard in Stow, Massachusetts offers beautiful views and bountiful trees only 45 minutes out of the city. With hayrides, farm animals, hedge mazes, and a hard cider tent, Honey Pot Hill provides something for everyone. And if you’re looking for somewhere a little more low-key, CN Smith Farm in East Bridgewater, MA has been a personal favorite of the Fresh City Catering team for a decade! Just 45 minutes south of Boston, it offers a calmer atmosphere, as well as another fall dessert must-have: apple cider donuts. For those of you on the north shore stop by Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury for incredible hard cider and live music, or the family favorite in Danvers, Connor’s Farm which is ripe (get it) with fun family activities during the fall!

TOPPING:

1/2 lb Butter, cubed
1 cup Flour
1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tbsp Cinnamon

TOPPING DIRECTIONS:

1) Put all dry ingredients in mixer and mix until incorporated.

2) Add cut pieces of butter and mix until it has a mealy texture and all ingredients are mixed well together.

FILLING:

6 lbs Apples (Macintosh/Granny Smith), peeled, cored, sliced
3/4 cup Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
Pan Spray

Directions

1) Peel, quarter, core and slice the apples into 1/4” thick slices.

2) Toss apples with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

3) Spray 9”x7” lightly with non-stick pan spray

4) Fill pan half way with apple mixture.

5) Sprinkle a layer of the topping. This helps soak up all the goodness when it bakes.

6) Fill the pan with the rest of the apples.

7) Top with remaining topping.

8) Bake at 350°F for 30-45 minutes. The topping should start to caramelize and you should see apple sugar juice bubbling up around the edges.

9) Let cool for as long as you can withstand, then dive-in and top with vanilla ice cream for optimal enjoyment!

Let us know how your apple crisp turns out by sending tagging us with a picture on Instagram @freshcitycatering

If you need help planning the perfect fall catering menu for your next office meeting or event email us for Boston office catering and menu planning!

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In Office vs. Outside Venue Holiday Party: The Ultimate Showdown

September 17, 2024/in Event Planning /by Savannah O'Brien

IN OFFICE VS. OUTSIDE VENUE HOLIDAY PARTY: THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN

DECIDING WHERE TO HOST YOUR COMPANY’S HOLIDAY PARTY CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE FESTIVITIES AND OVERALL MORALE. DIVE INTO AN IN-DEPTH COMPARISON TO FIND OUT WHICH OPTION SUITS YOUR CORPORATE CELEBRATION NEEDS THE BEST.

SETTING THE SCENE: ATMOSPHERE AND ENVIRONMENT

When it comes to setting the scene for a holiday party, the choice between an office or an outside venue can greatly influence the event’s atmosphere and environment. Hosting the party in the office may offer a familiar and comfortable setting for employees, allowing for personal touches and a sense of ownership. On the flip side, an outside venue provides a change of scenery, potentially elevating the event to a more formal or festive atmosphere, separate from the daily work environment. It might also allow for more elaborate themes and decorations that could be constrained by the typical office layout.

Ultimately the office setting might be more casual and can encourage a ‘come as you are’ vibe, which some may prefer. Oftentimes people are more likely to show up when they feel comfortable going somewhere they already know. Not to mention you can decorate your way, and customize your event catering menu and bar services to fit your group best.

COST CONSIDERATIONS: BUDGETING FOR YOUR BASH

Budgeting is a crucial aspect of holiday party planning. An office party can often be more cost-effective, eliminating many rental fees and potentially reducing event catering costs. DIY decorating can save on budget and become a fun activity for staff to participate in ahead of the event, creating an additional sense of pride about how great your office looks! Companies can also save on transportation in a city like Boston if the office is centrally located for most employees.

Conversely, hosting a party at an outside venue usually comes with a higher price tag, including venue and/or furniture rental, more limited catering menu options, and possible transportation or parking fees. It’s essential to weigh these costs against the value they bring. An external venue might offer catering packages that reduce the burden of planning and setup, allowing employees to fully enjoy the event without worrying about logistics. Additionally, the perceived value of a more extravagant event at an outside venue can reflect positively on the company’s image and employee morale.

LOGISTICAL LAYOUT: PLANNING AND EXECUTION

The logistics of planning and executing a holiday party are pivotal to its success. An office party may require more hands-on organization from staff, including setup and cleanup, which could impact work schedules. However, access to technology and office resources can make certain aspects like music and presentations easier to manage. Having an office holiday party might open the door for you to have the DJ and music of your choice that might not be feasible at a crowded restaurant. You can also bring your favorite office caterer in to show off unique holiday menus that you don’t get to experience with the daily sandwich catering the team is used to.

Choosing an outside venue often means professional event staff will handle the details, from setup to tear-down. This can result in a polished event with less time required from employees. Nevertheless, it requires careful coordination, site visits, and consistent communication with the venue to ensure every detail aligns with the company’s vision for the party.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT: PARTICIPATION AND ENJOYMENT

Employee engagement is the heart of a successful holiday party. An office party may encourage higher attendance due to the convenience of location, especially if it’s held in conjunction with office hours. It can also feel more inclusive for all staff members. If the holiday party includes a plus-one, it may be the first time someone’s significant other gets to see where they go to work everyday, which creates a personal connection to the company for your employee’s loved ones. People tend to be more relaxed and more likely to socialize in a familiar environment.

On the other hand, an outside venue might foster a sense of special occasion that can increase excitement and engagement. A change of environment can also break down hierarchical barriers, encouraging mingling and conversation among different levels of staff in a way that might not occur within the office. There’s no one formula for this and many companies poll their employees to see what they prefer annually. Companies that are built around their culture tend to alternate from year to year and find that employees like to switch between office parties and outside venues every other year so they get a sense of variety.

MAKING THE DECISION: EVALUATING COMPANY CULTURE AND PREFERENCES

Ultimately, the decision between an office party or an outside venue should align with the company’s culture and employee preferences. A startup with a tight-knit team might prefer the intimacy of an office gathering, while a larger corporation may opt for the grandeur of an outside venue to accommodate a bigger guest list and showcase its success.

Surveys and feedback from previous events can guide the planning committee (oh yes, don’t forget, you should have a small group of team members designated to plan your holiday event). The key is to balance practical considerations with the intangible benefits of creating a memorable experience that strengthens team bonds and celebrates the year’s achievements.

From the look, to the cost, the time to plan, getting people to attend, finding the perfect event caterer or bar service, planning entertainment and more, it can feel overwhelming to choose between these two options. At the end of the day there is usually one choice that simply feels right for your company and your employees each year. Ultimately if you can make people feel comfortable, show authentic appreciation for what they do all year long, feed them well, and remove the stress for an evening, your company’s holiday event is sure to be a hit this year!

NEED HELP PLANNING THE PERFECT EVENT MENU FOR THIS YEAR’S HOLIDAY PARTY?

P.S. If you're reading this in September it means everyone else is in the process of planning their 2024 events already. Don't wait any longer! Restaurants, venues, event caterers, and amazing vendors are all booking quickly. Dates are already being taken.
Insider tip: The first two weeks of December are always the most in demand. If you have flexibility with the date you can often find more availability and sometimes better deals for your company holiday event!
Wishing you all amazingly successful holiday events for your office in 2024! Happy Holidays
-The Fresh City Catering Team