Taco Bell put a name to the concept of snacking after dinner, which you may be familiar with as the “Fourth Meal”. Since dinner tends to happen early in the evening when it comes to staying up late, guests may be craving the extra energy that late night snacks can provide.

Including late night snacks as part of your party catering is a must if you want your guests to stick around and dance the night away. Though late night snacks seem to be most popular at weddings, they really are a must-have for any late night event. 

Let’s set the stage: your guests are partying it up on your big wedding day. They’ve already been going for hours in terms of attending the ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, and socializing with other guests.

By the time the dance floor opens up, they’ll only have a little bit of energy left—even if you just dug into dinner! Multiple cocktails and a champagne toast are further adding to their need for a late night pick me up. Are you starting to see how late night snacks can be the cherry on top of a perfect night?

Here are a few guest favorites:

Ramen Station: Assisted by a Uniformed Chef

Miniature Tilapia Tacos + Warm Sourdough Pretzel Nuggets

Miniature Choco Tacos

Mini Beef BLT Burger + Firecracker Shrimp

Strawberry Banana Pop Rock Truffles

Which late night snacks will you serve at your next late night event? Check out Catering by Michael’s favorite menu offerings for some inspiration. We apologize in advance for making you hungry.

Let’s be honest, going out on New Year’s Eve is nearly always a bit of a disaster. It’s impossible to get a good table at a good restaurant, and, even when you do, the food prices are jacked up and the quality takes a hit because the kitchen is slammed.

If you skip food (never a great way to celebrate New Year’s Eve) you’ll still spend the better part of an hour wading through a crowd to reach a bar and order an overpriced cocktail. Don’t even get us started on herding the cats you call friends into one venue at the right time to celebrate together.

The deluge of reasons not to go out on NYE is driving more and more people toward hosting their own parties. Not only do they dodge more bullets than Neo in The Matrix, but they also take advantage of the slew of positive aspects of celebrating at home with friends and family.

Once you have your numbers set for your NYE event, you can start thinking about food.

But don’t panic—you don’t have to cook. There are catering services out there that will take care of you. For the Chicago area, Catering by Michaels leaves you wanting nothing for your winter holiday entertainment besides, perhaps, some signature family dish that’s hidden in your grandmother’s Rolodex of secret recipes.

Getting in Touch with Finger Food

When it comes to celebrating New Year’s Eve at home, don’t feel like you’re required to serve up a six-course meal. If you’re hosting a larger party, focus on finger food and appetizers to help keep in check the bubbly booze and homemade cocktails.

You can keep things simple with a spiced bourbon nut mix, a gourmet international cheese display, and a gourmet vegetable “baton” display, which is a beautifully designed selection of blanched jícama, beet, asparagus, English cucumber, green beans, yellow squash, peppers, and carrots garnished with cherry tomatoes and broccoli. And don’t forget the shrimp cocktail shooters!

Or, you can take it to the next level with a holiday tea sandwich display, lobster dip in a crock, Southwestern shrimp pico de gallo, a glorious holiday seafood spectacular display, our guest favorite winter panzanella salad, or an Asian skewer display. With more than 50 appetizer and cheese platter options – we’ll help you find exactly the right tasty bites for your New Year’s Eve party! 

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Christmas traditions are bountiful around the globe, though the way locals celebrate vary from country to country and even family to family.

However, one aspect of Christmas celebrations that is universal, from Japan to the United States, is food. Nothing brings family, friends, and a community together better than food, drink, and warmth.

By taking advantage of our experienced chefs at Catering by Michaels this holiday season, you can have a stress-free Christmas and a bounty of delicious food.

With more than 40 entrees from Whole Roasted Leg of Lamb and Apple Cider Glazed Spiral Sliced Ham to Turkey Tetrazzini and Wild Mushroom Pot Pie, you’ll find the perfect centerpiece for your holiday celebrations.

Then, it comes down to sorting through our ample selection of appetizers and side dishes.

You can dive into the deep end with seafood by nibbling on our Holiday Seafood Spectacular, Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Sampler, or Smoked Salmon Display. Or, you could mix things up with our Winter Panzanella Salad, Vegan Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes, and a Spiced Bourbon Nut Mix.

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December is a time for celebrating—but not everyone has the time, energy, or budget to throw an all-out bash. Furthermore, December tends to be a busy time (at least at the beginning of the month) where people try to get as much done as possible before the end of the year.

Even if you’re not planning a company holiday party, it’s still nice to acknowledge the holiday with your hard-working employees. Even something as small a nice catered lunch in the month of December can help you to show your appreciation and give employees an hour (or maybe a few if you’re feeling generous) away from their desks.

Think of holiday catering as an opportunity to bring everyone in the office together in a relaxed setting before holiday craziness sets in. The closer you get to Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year, the harder it will be for everyone to focus on work. It’s much better to accept the fact that as the holidays loom nearer, the office will be a little less productive. Instead of forcing employees to make it look like they’re working, take the opportunity to do something fun.

Catering by Michael’s corporate holiday menu includes options for everyone in the office—even the biggest Grinch about food. Furthermore, most of our food items can be prepared in terms of many different types of dietary restrictions and preference so nobody feels left out of the celebration.

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The tell-tale gobbles, pumpkins, and harvest season delights are all signs that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This is the time of year when you can strengthen family bonds and reflect on the bounty brought to your doorstep. Though many families have secret recipes for turkey stuffing or cranberry sauce, the reality of the situation in the kitchen is that there is often not enough time to prepare a Thanksgiving feast without the stress. This year, instead of injecting stressors into your holiday festivities, focus on quality family time with family and let Catering by Michaels take care of your sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.

Annually, Catering by Michaels delivers decadent meals with all your favorites, from a whole roasted free-range turkey and turkey gravy to our cranberry, pecan and feta salad, allowing you to craft your traditional homemade dinner without slaving away for hours in the kitchen. With more than 60 traditional and not-so-traditional options, there will be no problem designing your ideal holiday feast.

A hefty, whole roasted free-range turkey, might be the most traditional centerpiece to your Thanksgiving table, but those wanting something a little different can try honey mustard glazed salmon or mom’s sliced brisket. If you’re catering to vegetarian family members and friends, you can also try the butternut squash lasagna, which comprises sautéed butternut squash, sage, shallots, Parmesan cheese, and nutmeg, layered with béchamel and spinach pasta. Yum!

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