Catering to the family holiday

Looking for a righteous reason to demand help with party food over the next few weeks? Easy — everybody’s doing it. Dirk
Dreiberg, who helps run the family-owned L’Amore Catering, says more and more families have someone else lend a hand.

“Time compression is a reality,” says Dreiberg. “That’s lead to changes in the way people entertain in their homes. They’re looking for help, because they want that time with family and friends.”   

This season, that reads as healthier, authentic foods in smaller portions, says Dreiberg. “It’s gone away from funky
fusion.  Freshness is huge. You see it rustic
Italian. It’s traditional food, the kind Nona made, with really fresh ingredients — homemade pasta, handmade sauces. “

And size, says Dreiberg, apparently does matter. “We’ve gone from supersized to mini. For meals, everyone wants smaller
portions. It’s healthier and there’s less waste. People are also asking for multiple appetizers, and more of them — going for a marché effect. “

There’s a huge demand for catered food on Christmas and New Year’s Eves, so Dreiberg suggests you book early — as in
right now.

Estimating catering costs is tough, says Dreiberg, because there are so many variables. Generally speaking, though, you
can ballpark at between $20 and $25 per person.  But he also suggests you start with a budget, and talk to a caterer about what’s realistic.

BTW, L’Amore Catering is in the middle of a web redo, so there’s no website I can send you to, but you can call them at 416 998 3469.

Don’t forget to take food allergies and other dietary restrictions — including cultural and religious — into consideration when planning the menu. And remember that just because you love a particular food, says Dreiberg, doesn’t mean everyone does.

Think about splurging on serving help — even if it’s a few local teen-agers  to hand out nibbles and napkins. It’s one more way to free up even more of your time. And that, says Dreiberg, is what it’s all about.

“There are so many pressures on us today, and they all just eat away at our time. It’s really hard to place a price
on that time, but someone we all just now how valuable it is.”

 

 

 

 

-