‘Tis the season for cozy dinner parties, festive family gatherings and extravagant year-end celebrations! Whether you’re hosting family Thanksgiving around your dinner table, or a company-wide holiday party, this blog post is for you. In this edition of our “Ask The Experts” blog series, we went straight to the trusted catering partners on our Recommended Vendor List for their top holiday hosting tips.

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Stress-Free Hosting

When it comes to stress-free holiday hosting, preparation is key! Think about the dishes or decor you can prepare ahead of time to lighten your to-do list on celebration day. Our friends at Chowgirls shared their top tips to help you create a festive holiday table, perfect for gathering your friends and family around this holiday season. Plus, read on for a delicious make-ahead dessert shared by Ivy Mattocks of CRAVE Catering.

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Tablescape Tips

• Make the dishes part of your decor – You can use fewer floral arrangements by serving beautiful dishes family-style, like a gorgeous roasted vegetable platter or a colorful salad.
• Don’t be afraid to forage – The perfect decor may be in your backyard! Pine branches, pine cones, and other gorgeous winter greenery can all be found for free to save you money while having fun outside.
• Use what you already have – Ornaments make a fun, festive addition to your table decor. Get creative with the tablescape using what you already have: candy canes, wrapped presents, candles, and more.
• Print a menu card – So many awesome templates exist online, so you don’t have to be a designer to create something great. Printing a menu can be a really beautiful way to elevate the guest experience.
• Get creative with your place cards – Use veggies as a name card holder or pipe guest names onto cookies! Go above and beyond guest expectations by thinking outside the box.

Hosting for a larger crowd this season? Elevate your event with one of Chowgirls’ styled buffet packages including two floral arrangements, elegant candles, curated linens, thoughtful signage, and hand-picked serving wares to complete the look. Choose from three distinct holiday styles—Wintery Green, Classic Red, or Midnight Glam—each designed to bring festive warmth and polish to your event.

-Casey Brand, Brand & Growth Manager
-Annie Pennings Edmond, Sustainability & Event Design Manager
Chowgirls

Make-Ahead Dessert

“Our Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding recipe is a great dessert that you can make ahead of time and utilize any leftover brioche bread from a holiday dinner! It is a holiday favorite, incorporating crème anglaise, pumpkin puree, salted caramel, and ice cream. The dessert can be prepared ahead of time to allow time to focus on your family gathering. Simply heat and serve when you are ready to eat!”

-Ivy Mattocks
Sales Manager, CRAVE Catering

Menu Planning

Let Your Menu Set The Mood

“I feel like the holidays call for a retro vibe when it comes to party planning. Think “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” – a little kitschy, colorful, and fun. For food and drink, think punch bowls, relish trays, cocktail meatballs, Pigs in a Blanket, Christmas cookies & bars. These are the classics of a Midwest holiday party!”

“Another route that always feels appropriate to me is to go big with luxury items. Caviar, prime rib, seafood, truffle, foie gras terrine, and of course, rich, oozy cheeses like a Triple-Crème Brie. Real Champagne. Open that special bottle of Cabernet you’ve been saving!

In my family we like to pull out the good stuff for holiday parties – crystal stemware, Grandma’s china, polish up the family silver. Celebrate the abundance of the season by sharing the very best with your favorite people.”

-Emily Surdyk
Catering Director, Surdyk’s Catering

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Create Immersive Dining Experiences

This season it’s all about creating immersive experiences for your guests, and that includes within your menu! Being creative with the display or presentation is a fun way to create a memorable moment and get your guests involved.

PASSED APPETIZERS – Passed appetizers are an ideal option for guests to enjoy while socializing, allowing people to be up and moving about. Devin Johnson, Director of Events at Fork & Flair recommends menu items like their “Bacon Wrapped Thanksgiving” and Sweet Potato shooters as the perfect passed hors d’oeuvres for a holiday gathering – everyone’s favorite holiday flavors, in one easy-to-eat bite!

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BUILD-YOUR-OWN STATIONS – Another great interactive option is a build-your-own station that allows your guests to personalize their dish. Fork & Flair offers holiday menu must-haves like a Baked Potato bar, Mac and Cheese bar, or a build-your-own “Thanks-Tini” bar including stuffing, smashed potatoes, turkey, gravy and cranberries served in a festive martini glass. If you are hosting a holiday happy hour, Fork & Flair’s Charcuterie Cart or Chowgirls’ cookie decorating station would be the perfect addition.

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Be Our Guest!

Allow us to eliminate the stress from your planning this season so you can focus fully on celebrating! Read on for ways that you can streamline and simplify your holiday party planning with things like our Executive Experience rental package at The Hutton House or a Thanksgiving dinner to-go, perfect for your at-home hosting.

Host Your Holiday Party at The Hutton House

If you’re looking for a space to host your holiday gathering this season, The Hutton House is an ideal backdrop! Contact our team to learn more about our Executive Experience rental package, designed with your corporate holiday party or year-end celebration in mind. This package includes all the components you need for a successful event in one streamlined experience. From our personalized planning assistance, to finishing touches like linens, and everything in between. Easily add on catering & bar services, floral or AV packages without any added stress thanks to our straightforward menu of offerings. Available to new clients who reserve a November, 2025 through March, 2026 event date. Visit the link below to learn more!

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Thanksgiving By-The-Box

Whether you’re a host or a guest this Thanksgiving, Chowgirls has everything you need to wow a crowd. With effortless online ordering, oven-ready offerings, and options for pickup or delivery, let Chowgirls make your Thanksgiving easy as pie with their Thanksgiving By-The-Box.

For the second year in a row, Chowgirls is donating a portion of all Thanksgiving sales to Dream of Wild Health, whose mission is to revitalize the health and well-being of Native communities by restoring access to traditional Indigenous foods, medicines, and cultural knowledge.

Ordering closes at 5pm on Friday, November 21, 2025
Pickup or delivery only on Wednesday, November 26, 2025

^{Image by Lucas Botz Photography}