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If you just finished reading my article from yesterday about different themed holiday parties, you’re going to want to follow up with this one. And if for some odd reason you missed it, I’ll sit here and wait while you catch up.
Whether you’re throwing a holiday party or just hosting Christmas or Hanukkah dinner, it’s easy to get overwhelmed if you aren’t exactly the second coming of Julia Child in the kitchen. If this is the case, do yourself a favor and have the meal catered. It might seem costly at first, but it’s a great option that will save yourself plenty of stress, not to mention keep your guests (and yourself) from dining on charred appetizers and undercooked entrees.
Here is a great selection of holiday catering options to choose from in the Metro Detroit area:
Gary’s Catering Inc., is based in Wixom, but serves the entire Metro Detroit area. Whether you’re looking for something simple like a Holiday Dessert Extravaganza with Beverage Station (for $9.95 per person), Cool and Casual Deli Buffet (for $7.95 per person) or a full on meal, Gary’s Catering has it all.
The traditional turkey buffet includes dessert and is great for a Christmas dinner party. For 50 to 74 people, it costs just $13.95 per person and includes your choice of vegetable, Traditional Herb Stuffing, Buttery Mashed Idaho Potatoes, sweet potatoes, tossed garden salad, bakery breads and rolls and two varieties of pie.
There are various delivery options, and you can add a second entrée onto your holiday buffet, such as a Spiral Baked Ham, Roast Pork Loin, Parmesan Baked Cod or Chef Carved Roast Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus. Additional appetizer and dessert options are available, as well as beverages.
Crank’s Catering, which is headquartered in Shelby Township, has off-site catering that will bring the food to wherever your holiday shindig is being held. Not only does Crank’s offer catering for holiday parties, but also Curbside to Go nightly dinners, where you can order a meal any night of the month.
Christmas dinner includes sliced turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, tossed salad, and baked rolls with butter. Meals are for four people and cost $29.95 total. Easiest catering option ever, right?
If your party is a little bit larger, try the buffet style, where you have your choice of one, two or three entrees (like Baked Herb Chicken, Beef Tenderloin Tips and Italian Sausage with Peppers), along with one pasta, potato and vegetable choice. All catering orders are accompanied by tossed salad, rolls with butter, fresh fruit, vegetables and dip, relishes, chef’s salads and disposable plates, forks, knives and napkins.
As for pricing, it depends on the size of your party and how many entrees you choose. With one entrée, you’re looking at $9.95 per person for more than 100 people, or $10.95 per person for less than 100 people. Find the entire pricing list on the official website.
Holiday Market has locations in both Canton and Royal Oak, but the catering menu below is strictly for the Royal Oak location. Holiday Market produces some seriously fine food, and the holiday dinner menu is no exception.
Dinner solutions include the Traditional Ham or Turkey Holiday Dinner Package (serves eight to 10 people for $240), which includes the main course along with mashed potatoes, maple-glazed yams, Brussels sprouts, cornbread stuffing or vegetarian sage dressing, garlic green beans, brandied cranberry chutney, dinner rolls with garlic chive butter and a cheesecake from the bakery. If you’ve got the turkey covered but struggle with the sides, just order the Traditional Side Dish Package, which includes most of the above items (without the main dish, of course) for $125.
Side items are available by the pound, including Marmalade-Glazed Carrots, Bourbon Sweet Potatoes, Michigan Cherry Salad and Turkey Gravy. The featured Christmas appetizer is Brie en Croute, topped with brandied cranberry chutney or sautéed mushrooms and served with crackers and baguette ($55 for a small serving, $75 for a large).
Meals must be ordered in advance and picked up on Christmas Eve between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Capuchin Soup Kitchen Catering, 1264 Meldrum, Detroit, offers a wide selection of Christmas and holiday catering options, all expertly prepared by chef Alison Costello. There are countless Christmas appetizer plates to choose from, including Chicken Satays with Thai Peanut Sauce, Seafood Stuffed Mushroom Cups, Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sweet and Sour Sauce, Smoked Salmon, Mini Spinach Pies and much more.
There are plenty of entrees to choose from, including Roman Style Chicken Breast, Barley Jambalaya, Greek Style Lamb or Citrus and Tarragon Salmon. Sides (like garlic green beans and au gratin potatoes), salads (orzo, spinach and feta or traditional Greek), desserts and snacks are plentiful.
Pricing can be found on the website or by calling chef Alison at 313-579-2100, extension 205. Keep in mind, all profits from catering orders at Capuchin benefit the Soup Kitchen’s various programs.
Wesley’s Catering is based in Chelsea but serves the whole Metro Detroit area. Sometimes putting together a menu can be overwhelming, because catering companies often provide so many options, you simply don’t know where to start! Wesley’s offers nearly half a dozen different holiday catering menus to give you some ideas. Either go with one of those, or just get some inspiration and create your own!
One such menu is “Festive Fare,” which includes Pear Pecan Salad, Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Chicken Marsala, Garlic Mashers and Roasted Asparagus. There are plenty of entrees to build your meal around, such as Steak Au Poivre (with a peppercorn and coriander crust), Chicken Marsala, Grilled Lamb Chops and Savory Ribs.
Chef and caterer Todd Wesley Brown has more than a dozen years of experience under his belt, and has cooked for famed chef Giada De Laurentiis. If he’s good enough for Giada, he’s good enough for me!
Zingerman’s Catering, 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor, is just as good as the deli and restaurant. Appetizers, entrees, sides and sweets are all available for catering, each in three different sizes: small feeds up to 10 guests, medium up to 20 and large up to 30.
Emma’s Remarkable Party to Go is a great appetizer deal for a holiday gathering with finger foods. It includes two varieties of salami, brown mustard, imported olives, soft spreadable cheese, Gouda, Bakehouse baguettes, hummus, bagel chips, salted peanuts, grapes and Bakehouse brownies for dessert.
Entrée options include Applewood Smoked Spiral Cut Ham, Mackinac Straits Whitefish, Bob’s Bourbon-Lime Salmon, Pasta with Shrimp and Ernst Farms Porchetta. There are plenty of side dishes that pair perfectly with each, including Sweet Garlic Squash, Ancho Lime Sweet Potatoes and Pear Spiced Pecan Salad. Dessert options consist of Cranberry Walnut Pie, Zingerman’s Creamery Peppermint Gelato and Spiced Pecans. Click here for pricing.
Whether you’re looking to cater a holiday meal for your family of four or extended clan of 100 guests, there are a number of catering companies in the Metro Detroit area to suit your needs. Now sit back and relax with a nice winter cocktail, because you just saved yourself a ton of trouble in the kitchen! Enjoy.
