Celebrating the holidays within the confines of a professional environment can be tricky. Trying to do so on a tight budget can be even trickier. So how do you bring holiday cheer to the office when times are tight?
By Carlyn Berghoff
Location, location, location. When you have a party outside the office, it increases costs and decreases the likelihood that everyone will attend. You can forgo these issues by hosting your party in the office. With some decoration and music, even the drabbest boardroom can be turned into the perfect party locale.
Setting the Date. To insure good attendance at your bash, choose a date a week or two before the actual holidays begin. Thus, you won’t have so many employees out-of-town for holiday traveling or hectic with last-minute shopping. A Thursday or a Friday after work is best, as employees can simply come right from their offices to the party. Put a sign-up sheet in a heavily-populated area, such as the break room or the elevator corridor so people don’t forget to RSVP. An email blast a week before the event will also remind everyone to mark their calendars.
Catering on a budget. Catered holiday parties are the best way to thank your team for their efforts throughout the year. Even on a budget, a catered event can be a safe bet, as “drop-off menus” can be very affordable for office parties. With a drop-off menu, all you need is disposables (such as plates, cups and silverware), and a station where employees can serve themselves. A catered party is optimum for large groups because it ensures that dietary restrictions can be taken into account. It also makes everyone less stressed, as they don’t have to worry about bringing in a dish or preparing their own food. (And, let’s face it, having a couple pizzas delivered isn’t exactly going to ring in the holiday spirit.)
To drink or not to drink? Alcoholic beverages at company parties can sometimes be a recipe for disaster. However, if you decide to serve alcohol, you can cut back on costs by offering your employees three options: wine, beer or a specialty cocktail (which can be more original than just spiked punch or eggnog).
The reason for the season. Keep the spirit of the holiday season in mind by giving your party a charitable spin. You could sell drink tickets to employees to raise money for a local charity, or host a canned goods or toy drive in the office. Create a charity team within the office to be in charge of collecting the gifts and bringing them to a local shelter or hospital. Your employees will be proud to know they took part in something charitable, and it will help your office build relationships within the community.
Bringing holiday cheer to the office is the best way to reward your team for their hard work throughout the year, and to ensure strong teamwork in the New Year to come!
Carlyn Berghoff is founder, owner and CEO of the Berghoff Catering & Restaurant Group. Please visit www.BerghoffCatering.com or call 312.408.0200.
Office Happy Hour
Two of Carlyn’s favorite specialty cocktails.
Holiday Thyme Cocktail
• 4 ounces pear vodka
• 1 ounce cranberry juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• Fresh cranberries
• Champagne
Fill shaker with ice, vodka and cranberry juice; shake vigorously. Pour champagne in four glasses so they are ¾ full, strain the pear vodka mixture into the glasses and garnish drinks with a floating fresh cranberry. A few leaves should fit through the strainer as well.
Blackberry Bourbon Cobbler
• 2 ounces Berghoff Bourbon
• ¼ ounce sugar syrup
• 5 fresh blackberries
• 5 fresh raspberries
• 2 dashes peach bitters
• Soda water
Shake first two ingredients hard with ice and strain into a tall ice-filled glass. Top off with soda water and garnish with fresh raspberries and blackberries.
Sample drop-off menu
Trio of Skewers
Beef, Onion and Pear
Gorgonzola cream
Coconut Chicken
Passion fruit sauce
Teriyaki Salmon
Sesame soy sauce
Lavish cheese display
Assorted domestic and imported cheeses
Spanish – manchego, zamarano, campo de montalban
Italy – parmigiano-reggiano
France – chevre de argental, chaource, rocomadour, roquefort
Available with assorted dried fruits, blanched almonds and assorted nuts
Accompanied by an assortment of select kalamata, nicoise and green olives
Fresh Crudite
A variety of the seasons freshest vegetables, lightly grilled and drizzled with olive oil, accompanied by roasted red pepper aioli
Flatbreads
Parmesan pesto, sesame and gorgonzola walnut
Offered with...
Roasted cauliflower spread
Toasted walnut and olive tapenade
Sweet Bites
Mini Lollipop Garden
A lavish selection of sweets served on lollipop sticks ...
Mini dark chocolate dipped cheesecake with toasted almond
Mini white chocolate dipped pumpkin cheesecake
Mini dark chocolate dipped cheesecake with white chocolate swirls
Miniature Cupcake Bar
Pumpkin Pie
Sweet pumpkin cake with ginger infused buttercream frosting
Mint Chocolate Chip
Chocolate, chocolate chip mini cake topped with white chocolate peppermint buttercream
Eggnog
Eggnog infused cake topped with sweet buttercream infused with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon with a caramel drizzle
Red Velvet
Classic red velvet mini cupcake topped with whipped cream cheese frosting