December in OC moves fast.
Thanksgiving weekend, school shows, holiday shopping, and half the team heading out on PTO. The window to get everybody in one place and feed them gets small.
If you're the one in charge of the food this year, this one's for you.
We've been catering around Orange County for more than a decade, for groups as small as 5 people and as big as 400. Here's how we'd plan a holiday spread, start to finish.
Lock your date before Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving lands on Nov 26 this year. Christmas falls on a Friday.
That makes the week of Dec 14 the last full week before a lot of people take off. So that's the week everybody wants.
If your group is aiming for mid-December, set the date and a rough headcount before the turkey. You can fine-tune the order later. Holiday weeks get busy for every kitchen in town.
Think about breakfast
Here's one a lot of planners skip: a holiday breakfast.
Mornings work for a lot of teams in December. People are in before the day scatters, nobody has eaten yet, and it doesn't eat into anyone's afternoon errands.
Our breakfast catering covers it:
Breakfast Burrito Platter. Ten halved burritos with eggs, mozzarella, avocado, crispy potato and salsa verde. Add bacon, sausage or ham.
Breakfast Sandwich Platter. A mix of breakfast sandwiches in 9 or 16 pieces.
Italian Scrambler. Scrambled eggs with breakfast sausage, parmesan and pesto.
OC Scrambler. Scrambled eggs with arugula, heirloom tomato and goat cheese.
Fresh squeezed OJ and a coffee station with creamer and sweeteners.
If you're in Irvine, here's more on our breakfast burritos.
Pick the format that fits the room
How people eat matters as much as what they eat.
Everyone in one room at one time? Go with platters. The Sandwich Platter comes in 6 or 10 sandwiches, mix and match. Our Suns Out, Buns Out combo pairs sandwiches with Shaka Spuds and an Arcadian mixed greens salad, in half or full pans. It sets up like a buffet and keeps the line moving.
People coming and going all day? Lunch Boxes. Each one has a sandwich or salad, Shaka Spuds and a cookie. Ten box minimum. Hybrid schedules, staggered shifts, a team spread across two floors. Boxes travel. Grab one and get back to it.
A mix of both? Do a platter for the main room and a stack of boxes for the people who can't make the window.
Give the salads a real spot on the table
The Cran-Apple is pretty much December in a bowl: cranberries, Granny Smith apple, goat cheese and spring mix.
The Wedge Legend brings bacon, chicken, goat cheese and balsamic reduction. The Thai Chop and the Chinese Chicken Salad are a full meal on their own. The Farmer's Market, with kale, Swiss chard, arugula, heirloom tomato and seasonal veggies, takes care of your plant-based crew.
Any of them can come as a Gourmet Salad Bowl with avocado, chicken or bacon added.
Got dietary needs in the group? Tell us up front and we'll plan around them. More ideas in our post on health-conscious catering.
Add something warm
December mornings still get chilly here, especially near the water.
Our Seasonal Soup comes in an 86 oz container and rotates through the year. Put it next to a sandwich platter and you've got a holiday lunch that feels like winter, even when it's 70 out.
Don't forget the cookies
A dozen extra large chocolate chip cookies. That's the whole section.
It doesn't have to be the office party
A lot of holiday spreads happen away from work. Friendsgiving. The end-of-season party for your kid's team. Family in town the weekend after Christmas with no lunch plan.
We've done weddings, lunch on the beach, and boardroom meetings. If you're feeding a group, we can build it. Planning something bigger? Check out our wedding catering checklist.
Six shops across OC
Everything comes out of our scratch kitchen, with housemade sauces, sides, salads and soups made daily.
Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach
Fashion Island, Newport Beach
Downtown Huntington Beach
South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
The Shops at Mission Viejo
Woodbridge Village, Irvine
How to order
Two ways:
Start an order online from our catering page. You can see the full catering menu there too.
Email me at matt@sessionswcd.com with your date, headcount and what you have in mind. I'll help you build it.
Thanks for supporting a small business this holiday season. We'll see you out there.
Matt
Holiday catering FAQ
How far ahead should I book holiday catering in Orange County?
For mid-December dates, set your date and headcount before Thanksgiving. Email matt@sessionswcd.com to check availability for your day.
How many people can Sessions cater for?
We've catered events from 5 people up to 400.
Do you cater holiday breakfasts?
Yes. Breakfast burrito platters, breakfast sandwich platters, two scramblers, fresh squeezed OJ and a coffee station.
Do you offer individually boxed lunches?
Yes. Each Lunch Box has a sandwich or salad, Shaka Spuds and a cookie, with a minimum of 10.
Where in Orange County are you?
We have six shops: Newport Beach (Balboa Peninsula and Fashion Island), Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine and Mission Viejo. Send us your event location and we'll sort out the details.