Catering inspiration for cool Christmas food

 

 

This 70s-inspired food station from event stylist Tina Nisson Design (see photo above). A fantastic pop-up addition to any party or office during the festive season, Tina’s designs can be entirely tailored to your chosen theme. We’ve taken a particular shine to this retro get-up. Creating a party suited to guests of all ages can be an event planner’s nightmare, but this groovy set piece is sure to appeal equally to millennials and Generation Xers. 

 

 

 

If you’re looking for a high-flying festive treat, we’d recommend zipping over to Aqua Shard to try its new Mary Poppins-themed afternoon tea (from £49pp). Available for group bookings, it features illustrated crockery and a custom-made tea stand with Mary’s umbrella on top. You’ll start with finger sandwiches and smoked salmon crumpets, before moving on to scones – found inside the famous nanny’s trademark carpet bag. Sweet treats include an edible version of her hat, while you can even add some ‘medicine’ to your glass of bubbly via three homemade liqueurs – just what the doctor ordered. 

 

 

 

It’s the point of the meal when everyone is too full (and too drunk) to eat any more, but no Christmas lunch or dinner would be complete without a mince pie. Fortnum & Mason has had the brilliant idea of baking mini versions of all of its popular variations. The Christmas Mince Pie Mini Medley (£19.95 a box) contains bite-size, petit four-style versions. Flavours include the likes of almond, chocolate and St Clement’s (orange and lemon). And if they’re smaller, you can eat more of them – right?

 

 

 

We must admit we’re drooling over this year’s festive menu from caterer Ashutosh Events. Its entirely vegetarian Royal Christmas offering is a joy to behold, swapping out the classic turkey with all the trimmings for a selection of traditional Indian sharing dishes. The menu kicks off with starters of vegetable samosas and crispy bhajis, before moving on to hearty mains including a paneer butter masala, served with accomplished sides such as pilau rice and aloo paratha. Finish off with traditional Indian desserts – pistachio kulfi and gulab jamun, perhaps. We’ll take one of everything.

 

 

 

Christmas menus just feature the same thing every year, right? Well, not at 30 Euston Square. The event space is mixing things up with street food twists on festive classics, including Yorkshire pudding burritos and mulled wine fruit compote. Guests will watch the chefs cooking in front of them before serving up their creations street food-style from stalls. If that wasn’t enough, three hours of bottomless drinks should seal the deal. Packages start at £95pp.

 

 

 

Going a bit Nordic this Christmas, Eden Caterers has come up with a menu inspired by the Danish concept of hygge (essentially, sitting in front of the fire being cosy in your jim jams). With prices starting at £48pp, the bowl-food menu is suited to more casual functions. We’re particularly taken by the confit duck leg with pancetta, baby onion and bean cassoulet. 

 

 

 

If you’re planning on a break from traditional Christmas catering, why not exchange pigs in blankets for sushi? The team at Inamo is ready to give your party an original touch with its sushi Christmas tree. Piled high with vegetarian sushi rolls, the tree includes treats like the Red Dragon Roll: Rudolph-red peppers rolled around crunchy cucumber and smooth avocado. A guaranteed talking point for your party that should bag you plenty of likes on Instagram.