Angela Petro
CEO & Keeper of the Culture at Together & Co.
Several years ago, my husband John and I decided to host a sit-down holiday dinner party. I had an image of a beautifully set table, delicious smells, and laughter. And while some of that vision came to life, I didn’t get to experience much of it myself.
I own Together & Company, a full-service caterer in Columbus, Ohio. I know well just how much work goes into serving a flawless meal while juggling everything else needed for a great holiday dinner party. And yet I decided the husband and I would do this on our own. Our friends had a fabulous time together. John and I spent most of the night working in the kitchen. After all our guests left, we exhaustedly sat down at the table, downed a glass of wine and swore never to make it that hard on ourselves again.
I get it. It can be hard to give ourselves permission to not do it all. My gift to you this season?
The top reasons you should hire a caterer for your holiday party this year:
Holiday party catering is a great value
It takes a lot of ingredients to prepare a multi-course Christmas dinner party menu. Groceries are expensive and that’s if you can even find what you’re looking for. In-person shopping is more frustrating than ever which means hiring a caterer to create a holiday menu, shop, prep, and serve may be a better value than you realize.
Time saved in delegating the meal to the quality time spent on your guests will, in the long run, make for a richer experience.
Effortlessly look like a pro
I’m an actual pro and still struggled to pull off the holiday menu I envisioned while juggling the art of hosting. Pulling everything together was stressful. Had I relied on my Together & Company team for my holiday party catering, they would have made sure the meal was ready on time, paced properly, and garnished beautifully.
Caterers can also handle last minute dietary variations that may not have been communicated in advance. Our chef once whipped up a garlic and onion free meal in the middle of serving 700 guests.
A couple of our favorite vegetarian winter menu entrées: Ravioli Wile Mushroom Ragout with a Red Caesar Salad and Herb Roasted Cauliflower Steak with Cranberry-Orange Relish.
Get inspiration and plan your holiday party menu now! See our seasonal menu.
Make a statement
The best caterers stay on top of trends, are creative, and will make suggestions to bring your vision to life. Stuffed chicken breast with Caramelized Citrus Miso? Vanilla Budino with Melted Chocolate Discs?
How about a frosty pitcher of bespoke cocktails and a cool collected host?
Be the host with the most
…Time to entertain that is! Jumping up and down from the table is distracting for you and your guests. And it cuts into the reason you threw that party in the first place…to celebrate with friends and loved ones. A professional catering staff anticipates your guests’ needs efficiently and discreetly while you engage in sparkling conversation.
Skip the dishes
What’s better than going to bed on that high note after hosting a successful dinner party? Waking up to a clean house.
While you were leisurely handing out those parting gift bags you hand-made with all your extra time, your caterer packed up the leftovers and mopped your floor.
Remember that dinner party where I spent most of the evening in the kitchen? I’m sure you can guess how I spent the following morning…up to my elbows in dirty dishes.
Kick back and get all the credit
Although my memory of that holiday dinner party gone wrong still haunts me, I also remember the laughter of my guests and the coziness of the dining table. And next time I’ll be at the head of the table while my caterer makes the holiday magic happen behind-the-scenes.
Feeling inspired to plan that catered holiday party?
From decorated sit-down dinners and seasonal spreads of hors d’oeuvres to straightforward click-and-order Holiday Bundles, Together & Co. is the catering expert who will make you a holiday hero.
Angela Petro is a twenty-six year veteran of the hospitality industry and founder of Together & Company and Sweet Carrot. Her Purpose in life is to Recognize Potential. While catering and special event planning were the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey, its sharing what she’s learned and empowering others through those stories that keep her coming back. You’ll find her on Linked In or can reach out directly at apetro@togetherandco.com.
