By Matt Schickling
Wire Staff Writer
Whether you accepted the duty of taking on the holiday family party again this year or are throwing a small get-together for friends, there are a whole host of problems you can run into. The Midweek Wire staff consulted some local professionals for their input on planning the best holiday party possible.
“People try to do so much and make everything so perfect that they don’t enjoy their own party,” Nick Milillo, owner of MEI Catering in Trevose, said. “The first thing is to not get yourself overwhelmed.”
For this, he recommends getting started way ahead of time. The first step for this is to make a list of everything you need and have it all ready before the day of the event. This includes specialty items that may not be used every day, like tongs or certain serving dishes.
“There may be that one thing that you do forget, and, this way, you’ll have time,” he said.
When decorating, he tapes notes to where he will set certain items to ensure that there’s enough space for everything. With everything carefully planned, it’s easier to relax and enjoy your own party.
Bill Cavanaugh, of Cav’s Catering in Huntingdon Valley, agrees with this notion.
“Planning is half the battle,” he said. “Make lists for everything you need and know what time you need it. If you want to have seven different dishes, make sure they’re ready at the same time.”
Cavanaugh typically handles tailgates for sporting events or concerts, but he also does private parties that seek the same kind of atmosphere.
“For holiday parties, you want something more casual, more fun,” he said. “Who wants to suit up?”
But regardless of whether the setting requires formal wear or it’s sweatpants-optional, all party-goers want the same thing — quality-prepared food and drink, and enough of it to go around.
How you handle this depends on your party’s theme. If it is indeed a more formal party, people expect more formal ambiance, so decorate accordingly. But, when talking about food, the same rules apply for keeping your guests happy.
“No matter how much money you have, we all like simple food,” Frank Cullura, owner of Frank Cullura Catering in Bristol, said. “Keep it as simple and elegant as possible. The better the food, the better time they’ll have. For the good times, good food and good wine.”
It’s important to have options, though, especially for guests with dietary restrictions. Even if you can’t always please everyone, people will be appreciative of your consideration. If you know a family of vegetarians is coming, for example, serving only roast beef and meatballs might not be the best idea.
“You want to find out how many people you’re having and what their tastes are,” said Tony Venere, assistant manager at Lou’s Farm Mart in Bensalem.
For this, turning to places like Lou’s might not be a bad idea. They know what’s in their food because they prepare it on-site, and can help you decide what might be best to suit the needs of your guests.
If you plan on preparing the food yourself, most guests will not mind chipping in, especially those who know their options will be limited. You can reach out to your guests to bring sides, beverages or whatever else you might need.
But remember, if pulling the whole thing off seems like it might ruin your holiday, you can always call on the professionals for help.
“People will have a good time because they’re with family and friends, not because they’re having prime rib,” Milillo said. “If you have everything planned out, it will be a lot less stressful.”
