The Ultimate Corporate Holiday Party: Creating a Lasting Memory

The Ultimate Corporate Holiday Party: Creating a Lasting Memory

A company holiday party can be far more impactful than you might initially think. These are the types of events people talk about and think about for years after they are over. Therefore, you need to know the best ways to arrange a corporate holiday party that will create a lasting impression. 

Create a Budget 

The first step for a successful corporate holiday party is setting a budget to guide your planning decisions. The budget might not be the most enjoyable thing to put together. However, it is the guiding document that will chart the course for how this party is going to go. 

The budget will give you an idea of how much you can reasonably spend on the following categories: 

  • Venue
  • Decorations
  • Refreshments
  • Transportation
  • Party favors

You need to have a dollar figure in mind or you are going to be flying blind. Once you know what you can afford to spend on those categories, you will be in good shape to start to put this party together. 

Set the Date 

Everyone attending your corporate holiday party must know when it will be held. This means setting a specific date and time that is firmly set in stone. Attendees will likely need to make many personal planning decisions to arrive at the event on time. Thus, you need to ensure that you have a firm date and time that works for as many people as possible. Once you set the date, avoid changing it, so ensure the chosen date works for as many people as possible.

Book the Venue 

Have the venue set up and booked for the date that you have selected. You need to confirm the venue’s availability on the date you plan to hold your corporate holiday party. If a specific venue doesn’t work for the dates that you need, then you might consider making a switch to another venue. It is not ideal to do this, but you might have to shop around through various venues until you find one that works for you

Buy Food and Beverages

Feeding a large crowd of people takes some planning. You want to select a food option that works for the most people possible, and you need to purchase enough of that food to feed the entire crowd. You will also need to purchase enough drinks for the party. 

Always make it clear in the party invitations if alcoholic beverages will be available or not and if they will be provided free of charge or if they must be purchased. Many companies choose to not provide alcoholic beverages because of the liabilities involved, but the decision is completely up to you. 

For all your catering needs, consider K. Pacho. Whether you’re hosting the event on-site or need off-site catering, K. Pacho offers a variety of delicious options to make your event memorable. https://www.kpacho.com/catered-events/

Send Invites and Hype the Party 

Among the last things to do is to send out invitations to your party and hype the party itself. You need to keep reminding people about how fun the party will be and when it will all take place. The number of people who show up will greatly depend on how often you remind the guests about when and where it is. Make sure you keep pushing the issue until you get the kind of turnout that you need to make your corporate holiday party something that people never forget. 

For more information on setting up the ultimate corporate holiday party, contact us at K. Pacho today.

25 Best Mexican Party Food Ideas for Cinco de Mayo!

25 Best Mexican Party Food Ideas for Cinco de Mayo!

No Cinco de Mayo holiday party would be complete without some classic Mexican dishes. If you’re looking for some inspiration for food you could serve at your family celebrations, then you’ve come to the right place. Below are 25 of the best Mexican party foods that you could serve at your Cinco de Mayo party events.

1. Churros

At a celebration of Mexican culture, a good dessert is sure to make anyone happy. Churros are warm Mexican doughnuts dusted with cinnamon and sugar. K. Pacho serves Churr’o’s with cajeta and house-made chocolate dipping sauces for an experience you won’t forget!

2. Elote

Grilled corn is always a crowd favorite, but sometimes you’ve got to take things a step further. One dish, commonly referred to as “street corn” or Elote, involves coating grilled corn in mayo, cheese, and chili powder. Some even incorporate cotija cheese. You can then top them with anything you like, from cilantro and sour cream to lime or even garlic.

3. Beans and Rice

Black beans and rice is one of the most common Mexican side dishes out there and with good reason. Black beans and rice are not only good together, but they’re filling, low in fat, and rich in complex carbohydrates. One of the best parts is that they’re relatively easy to make as well.

4. Guacamole & Chips

Guacamole is yet another classic Mexican party dish. In fact, no list of side dish recommendations would be complete without it. There are hundreds of recipes on the internet, but they can easily be tweaked to adapt to whatever your personal preferences are.

5. Taquitos

The word, “Taquito” means small taco. In Mexico, fried Taquitos are commonly sold under the name of Tacos Dorados (“Golden Tacos”) or Flautas. Flauta means flute and refers to the small, rounded shape of many taquitos. The best Taquitos are made with chicken and feature a crispy tortilla wrapped around delicious melted cheeses and salsas.

6. Nachos

What could be better on Cinco de Mayo than nachos? Nachos are a great way to share a time of celebration with friends and family. They are also delicious. We start with warm toasted corn tortilla chips, top them with cheddar and jack cheeses, and then liven things up with jalapeno chilli, pico, and sour cream. A truly delicious starter. On the other hand, you could also add chicken and make them an entree!

7. Skillet Chicken Fajitas

Often served in a still-sizzling skillet, these chicken fajitas pack a punch of flavor. Marinated chicken with peppers, onions, and any other choice of vegetables may be a bit more work than some of the other dishes on this list, but it’s totally worth it.

8. Crispy Shrimp Tacos

Those who truly want to get into the spirit of Cinco de Mayo should indulge in truly authentic Mexican cuisine. One of the best ways to do that is to eat Tacos de Camarones (“shrimp tacos”). Shrimp tacos originated in Baja California in Mexico and have been enjoyed by people all over the world. Our signature Crispy Shrimp taco features fried shrimp, mango jicama salsa, creamy slaw, and chipotle aioli for an explosion of delicious flavors.

9. Queso Fundito

One of the best Mexican party dishes around is Queso Fundito. Queso Fundito is often compared to cheese fondue and features a plate of backed chihuahua cheese mixed with onions peppers, cilantro, and beef over a warm corn tortilla. The result is a dip that you and your friends won’t be able to resist.

10. Cheese Quesadillas

Quesadillas are a delicious way to feed your Cinco de Mayo party. A truly crispy tortilla sandwich with warm, melted cheeses, pico de gallo, and sour cream. You can also add meat (chicken or steak) to make this an even more satisfying dish.

11. Mango Salad

You may have tried the exquisite fresh spring flavors of a mango salsa, but have you ever had a mango salad? A Mexican mango salad starts with the best ingredients: arugula, fresh mangos, jicama, red peppers, radishes, and cucumbers. Then, over the top of it all is drizzled a rich cilantro lime vinaigrette.

12. Mexi Wings

Wings might be thought of as an American dish, but their Mexican counterpart makes a great option for your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Wings covered in sweet chili sauce and served with a hot’n’spicy jalapeno ranch dressing make a delicious appetizer or entree!

13. Carne Asada

Carne asada is a hit on the grill. At face value, it’s just thinly chopped, grilled steak. However, depending on how you serve it, it can be so much more. When seasoned and cooked with care, carne asada can be a delicacy all on its own, or it can be made into tacos for a next-level meal.

14. Burritos

Burritos, whether wrapped in tortillas or served in a bowl make excellent main dishes for any Mexican-themed party. Here at K.Pacho, our burritos are mad with rice, beans, lettuce, pico, & sour cream. For your main filling, we provide the options of chicken, steak, and shrimp.

15. Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice is a fairly self-explanatory dish. As the name suggests, it consists of rice cooked in cilantro and lime juice. Although it’s rarely a stand-alone meal, there are very few dishes that cilantro lime rice doesn’t pair well with.

16. Veggie Tacos

Another kind of taco which would be highly popular for a Cinco de Mayo party is a veggie taco. Our veggie tacos feature roasted broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato, spiced pepitas, and pepper jack cheese.

17. Pico de Gallo

Pico de Gallo is a simplistic type of salsa with tomato, chopped onion, serrano peppers, cilantro, lime, and salt. It’s a low-effort and low-calorie way to add a bit of freshness and flavor to your meal.

18. Loaded Birria Fries

Everyone loves fries. Loaded Birria Fries are a Mexican twist on this beloved potato-based dish. It all starts with a base of warm, crunchy fries. This is then topped with pulled braised beef, melted cheese, jalapeno, and sour cream.

19. Baja Fish Taco

One of the great things about Mexican food is its variety. Baja Fish tacos are deep-fried tacos featuring coleslaw, avocado citrus crema, scallions, radish, and cilantro for a fresh, flavorful experience. Be sure to make this taco a part of your Cinco de Mayo experience.

20. Abuelita

No Mexican party would be complete without a salad. Abuelita is a Mexican salad made with chopped romaine, pico de gallo, roasted corn, bacon, and shredded cheddar. The salad is then topped with crispy tortilla strips and a rich avocado ranch dressing.

21. Coconut Tres Leches

Tres leches roughly translate to three kinds of milk and is the name for a dish which is made using a cake soaked in three flavored milks. At K.Pacho, we provide a coconut-flavored Tres Leche that is perfect for your Cinco de Mayo dessert. Our Tres Leches is topped with coconut and whipped cream.

22. Fried Ice Cream

Fried ice cream is a classic Mexican dessert and consists of vanilla ice cream deep-fried in oatmeal and cornflake flour. It is then topped with rum cream, whipped cream, and mint for a truly delectable experience.

23. Mexican Coffee

No Mexican-themed celebration would be complete without drinks. Coffee did not arrive to Mexico until the late 1700s. Since then, it has been a favorite. Mexican coffee starts with fresh hot coffee and then adds tequila and kahula for a delightful addition to your dessert.

24. Sweet Fried Plantains

Fried plantains are one of the easiest Mexican sweet dishes to make. All you have to do is take some ripe plantains, drop them in a pan of hot oil, and fry them until they’re a nice golden brown color. This causes their natural sugars to emerge, giving them that easily-recognizable flavor.

25. Tacos Al Pastor

“Al pastor” refers to “shepherd style” tacos that are made of steak seasoned with adobo. K.Pacho’s al pastor taco features grilled pineapple, diced onion, cilantro avocado crema.

 

Whatever dishes you decide to serve at your holiday parties, KPacho is here to meet all of your catering needs. No Cinco de Mayo parties would be complete without food, and getting catering for your favorite dishes means you don’t have to spend any time slaving away in the kitchen and missing out on the fun.