The New Year is nearly here, and so is the time to celebrate, reflect on the year, and then leave it all behind to go again! Corporate catering for a New Year’s luncheon is a great way to achieve all that.
But we know planning a New Year’s luncheon can be stressful. You’ll want to impress your colleagues or clients so they feel valued. And you don’t like food and logistics that let you down.
So, let’s make it easy for you. With our guide to planning a New Year’s Luncheon:
How Choosing Onsite Catering in Houston Makes New Year’s Luncheons Simple:
Convenience
The primary benefit of hosting your New Year’s Luncheon catering onsite is that everything happens at the venue.
There’s no transporting trays of food, reheating, or coordinating with multiple vendors. We know that’s especially helpful when you’re juggling schedules and year-end tasks.
And hey, your team doesn’t have to travel to a restaurant or venue, which would affect work schedules and
Stress-Free Service
Using a professional on-site catering team like Goode Co. Catering & Events means you can relax about logistics.
Our onsite team cares for minor details like how to make buffet lines flow smoothly, carve brisket in style, or keep drinks stations stocked.
Plus, we can handle the preparation and cleanup, so you and your team can relax.
Incredible, Authentic Food
Relax. The food comes hot, either straight from the pit or from your catering team’s bags and packaging that are designed to keep it warm. There’s no risk of food drying out during transport, as you often find with takeout.
Professional Presentation
Our onsite catering team also takes care of the presentation, ensuring it all looks polished, from the food on the plates to the seating arrangements and cutlery.
10 Steps to Planning Your New Year’s Luncheon
1. Choose Your Date and Time
New Year’s corporate luncheons are usually held in the first or second week of January, when everyone’s back at work.
We recommend Tuesday to Thursday for the best attendance, and midday if you want your colleagues back at work after the meal.
Booking as early as possible is recommended to avoid disappointment.
2. Estimate Your Guest Count
Your Houston catering services team of choice will need a headcount to provide an accurate quote. This will also keep your budget under control.
So, take some time to consider if you’ll be inviting and feeding your entire team, a department, just clients, or a mix.
3. Select the Venue or Room
Decide on where you plan to host your New Year’s Luncheon. If you’re taking the catering option, you can host it in your office or on private property, but otherwise, you can consider hosting it at a private venue or even in our private rooms.
4. Choose Your Food Style and Catering Team
Now, the fun part. What do you want to eat? Polling your team can be a good idea to keep everyone happy.
Of course, we’re only going to recommend a genuine, authentic Texan barbeque. They’re always crowd pleasers and bring a festive yet relaxed vibe to any New Year’s Luncheon!
Remember to choose an on-site catering company in Houston that does more than just provide good food; it offers warm service, preparation, and clean-up.
You should also decide whether you want a buffet or a sit-down experience. We can set up carving, taco, and mac & cheese stations, for example, or just bring our delicious smoked meat to the table.
5. Select Your Menu
More fun. You can start crafting your menu with our signature brisket, homemade sausages, BBQ ribs, glazed ham, or mesquite-smoked turkey.
And, don’t forget those sides! We’re talking jambalaya, coleslaw, potato salad, Austin baked beans, mac & cheese, and baked potatoes! You can include desserts too, such as our Brazos Pecan Pie.
6. Create a Schedule
You’ll need to give the catering team a rough understanding of the event flow. Such as:
- When should we arrive to set up the catering
- When will the guests arrive
- When should the food be served
- How long should the eating and socializing last
- The time for any awards or presentations
- Clear up time
- And the time our catering team needs to leave the property.
7. Consider Decor and Theming
We always encourage you to make your New Year’s Luncheon a themed event. Some of our customers like to keep it simple with balloons and customized table markers, but others want to go all out with classic Texan decor for an authentic BBQ experience.
Or you can take the branded route, with banners and decor that reflect your team and its efforts.
8. Audio Visual Concerns
If you’re planning to give a presentation or hand out awards, you’ll likely want a TV, projector, microphone, and speaker system.
Our logistics team can take care of this if it’s made clear in advance!
9. Confirm Information
Confirm your headcount, parking information (if required), and any dietary requirements in advance.
We recommend sending out the RSVPs with a note option for guests who may be vegetarian or vegan, or have dietary needs, so they can make it clear.
Finally, send a reminder to your team in advance of the arrival time to ensure the New Year’s Luncheon goes off without a hitch!
10. Relax and Enjoy
If you’re using a reputable, experienced Houston catering service, you can now sit back and relax. We’ll handle the stress, so you and your guests can enjoy the day in style.
Our Recommended New Year Corporate Luncheon Menu Ideas
Brisket
Brisket is always a crowd pleaser and is a taste of authentic Texan barbeque when we prepare it.
We cook our USDA beef, low and slow, for 12-15 hours over mesquite wood to give it an incredible outer ‘bark’ and a tender exterior.
Serve it up with some mac and cheese or coleslaw, and everyone’s happy.
Ribs – The Real Way
One bite of ribs should see the pork slide off the bone. No need for knives here. That’s what we aim for. If you haven’t enjoyed ribs this way, then you’ve never truly had them at all.
Homemade Sausage
We use long-standing recipes for our Czech and Jalapeno sausages that are true to Texas history.
Our Czech sausages use a recipe given to us by an immigrant to Houston, way back in the 1970s. The incredible blend of pork and beef is a must-try, alongside our spicy Jalapeno blend.
Tex-Mex
For those with a spicy palette, go for Mesquite-grilled beef and chicken fajitas.
We serve it with Guacamole, salsa, chile con queso, and can even include shrimp, carnitas, or vegetables.
Live Action Stations
If you want to get people on their feet, mingling, and relaxed at your New Year’s Luncheon, then we recommend our immersive catering experiences.
From grilled oysters and sliders to campechana, mac and cheese, tacos, and a stuffed potato bar, we have a wide variety of stations to choose from.
It’s a great way to allow your guests to personalise their dishes and keep the mood upbeat!
Our Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie
The ultimate finale to the luncheon should be our delicious Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie. Nothing’s gooey.
Get a Portable Bar on Site, with Yonderlust
When it comes to drinks, you can make the event extra special with our little silverstream portable bar ‘Yonderlust’. It comes with a dedicated team to serve drinks, including fresh beers, soft drinks, homemade iced tea, and seasonal cocktails.
Book Your New Year’s Luncheon in Houston, with Goode Co. Catering & Events Today!
Simplify your New Year’s Luncheon by letting us take the reins.
Our warm, local-to-Houston catering and logistics team can take care of everything from the delicious, authentic barbeque food to preparation and cleanup.
Just give us a call at 713.844.8180 or email us at events@goodecompany.com to get in contact.
Required Booking Notice
- Full-Service Catering – 2 weeks to 1 month prior
- Delivery – 24 to 48 hours prior
- Private Events – 1 to 2 weeks prior
- More notice is recommended during heavier seasons, such as Rodeo, Holidays, and Spring/Fall Wedding Season.