Office Event

Office parties are the staple of any functional workplace. Parties help employees feel valued and give them something to look forward to, whether it's a Christmas soiree or cake and a round of drinks to send off a retiring co-worker. It's a time to turn off the automatic strapping machine, abandon the sheet metal crimper, shut down operations for a little while, and kick back. Unfortunately, the recession has put a damper on the entertaining budgets of a lot of companies, and some may be considering doing away with parties altogether. But we're here to tell you it doesn't have to get that bad. Catering your office party yourself will save some dough and hopefully the future of festivities at your company. Read on for some do-it yourself catering tips:

Buffet

A serve-yourself buffet station is how the food gets distributed at most informal office parties. There's just something about free, all-you-can-eat food that makes people happy. It doesn't matter if they own enough precious metal funds to buy Peru. They'll still go for free food. When planning a buffet, you'll want a variety of foods that are easy to serve and carry on a plate like rice, chicken, or desserts. Avoid vats of messy or unruly food like soup or spaghetti. You can purchase the dishes from a grocery store or prepare them yourself if you have time.

Sit-Down Dinner

Sit down dinners are fancier and more formal than buffets and because the menu is set, the responsibility is on you to serve something everyone likes. Chicken and turkey are popular choices, as are potatoes and mixed vegetables. Because sit down meals are served hot, you'll need to make sure you have adequate time and space to prepare the food if you're self-catering. You don't want the entire staff of the Ottawa recruiting office fidgeting at the table while you hastily microwave each plate.

Allergies

If you're planning to self-cater a party, it's your responsibility to find out who among your staff has food allergies or special dietary requirements. Some common allergies or food conditions include: nut or egg allergies, Celiac's disease (an inability to process wheat gluten), vegetarianism, and veganism. To avoid having to rush in the paramedics because one of your employees had an allergic reaction to your 'delicious' spaghetti sauce, survey your staff beforehand. Read ingredient labels carefully for allergy alerts, and always make sure you have a vegetarian option just in case.

Food Preparation

While you can't expect the staff of Accpac Vancouver to know the finer points of searing a roast, there are certain things that everyone who prepares food should know, such as to always cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 71 degrees or to never leave dishes containing mayonnaise unrefrigerated. When handling raw meat, especially chicken, always wash your hands before handling other foods. Always make sure food is properly covered and stored. Be sure you know and follow every step of kitchen and culinary sanitation while cooking for your office event. The last thing you want is to give your entire staff food poisoning. That's not the kind of memorable party you should be aiming for.