If you are looking for something to really set your parties apart this fall and winter, keep in mind that Cajun party trays are ideal for the holidays. Soon the invitations will start pouring in for office parties, block parties, and holiday get-togethers with friends and family, which always include delicious food.
Holiday Party Goals
There are those who love to throw parties and those who prefer to attend them. Which one are you? Regardless of where you fall on the party spectrum, here are a few things to keep in mind.
If you are hosting:
- Invite who you want to come and ask them to RSVP
- Create a fun holiday atmosphere with decorations and special touches
- Offer fabulous food and drinks
- Spend more time with your family and friends than you do in the kitchen
If you are a guest for a holiday party, your goals should be:
- To dress festively
- Bring a delicious entree or side that is so good that it disappears quickly
Whether you are a host or guest contributing a dish to the holiday party, consider ordering Cajun party trays for pickup and take out. This leaves you free to enjoy the guests and festivities without any fuss.
Why Cajun Party Trays Are Ideal for the Holidays
As a society, our party skills have become over the top when it comes to decorations, mocktails, and spirits, but one place we continue to lack inventiveness is in the main course itself.
For example, Halloween parties usually include pizza or something fast so the trick or treaters can hit the road, or themed foods like spaghetti (aka brains), grapes (aka eyeballs), etc. Thanksgiving is often a Friendsgiving potluck, and Christmas parties can feature a traditional pasta or meat entree. Not that those aren’t good options, it is just that they have been done so many times that guests have come to expect these dishes.
But what if you kicked your holiday party hosting up a notch or two by reinventing the main course with Cajun party trays? Think about it—how many holiday parties have you been to with Cajun food on the table? I bet you remember all of them – because they were fun and different. Bring back the spice and flavor to your gatherings and make it something the guests will talk about all year through.
What To Expect on a Cajun Party Tray
One thing to keep in mind when ordering is the number of guests that will be attending the party. The goal is to have just a couple of extra servings so there is enough for everyone. This is why party invitations should include a R.S.V.P. If the week of the event you have not heard from more than half of your intended guests, it may be helpful to touch base with them individually to see if they can attend.
Once you know how many guests are coming, it is time to order the right size party tray. Most reputable Cajun seafood restaurants will have several options that serve small crowds of ten or so people all the way up to larger crowd sizes of up to sixteen people. It may also be beneficial to order some additional items a la carte if you know they will be crowd favorites.
A basic Cajun party tray for eight to ten people would typically include the following:
- A dozen catfish strips
- A dozen chicken tenders
- 20 shrimps
- A large house salad
- 8 Boudin balls
- 2 pounds of coleslaw
- 2 pounds of dirty rice
- A dozen red skin potatoes
- 3 corns on the cob
- A dozen assorted two-ounce dips
A Cajun party tray for ten to twelve people would likely be similar, but will often have a greater number of offerings, such as:
- 16 catfish strips
- 14 chicken tenders
- 30 shrimps
- 10 Boudin balls
- A large house salad
- 2 pounds of coleslaw
- 2 pounds of dirty rice
- A dozen red skin potatoes
- 4 corns on the cob
- 14 assorted two-ounce dips
The largest sized party tray typically feeds around fifteen people and will often include items such as:
- 20 chicken tenders
- 40 shrimps
- 20 catfish strips
- 12 Boudin balls
- A large (half-pan) house salad
- 3 pounds of coleslaw
- 4 pounds of dirty rice
- 20 red skin potatoes
- 10 corns on the cob
- 20 two-ounce dips
Holiday party hosts may also want to consider ordering extra sides a la carte. Cajun foods you can order a la carte typically include:
- 20 catfish strips
- 40 chicken tenders
- 50 shrimps
- 20 Boudin balls
- 1 pound of fried crawfish tails
- Half-pan of dirty rice or coleslaw
- 20 redskin potatoes
- 10 corns on the cob
- Chicken, shrimp, sausage, and crawfish tail gumbo (by the quart or half gallon)
- Shrimp and crawfish etouffee with toast (by the quart or half gallon)
- Red beans and rice with sausage (by the quart or half gallon)
- Extra dips for those that like to go heavy on the flavor
Cajun party trays are ideal for the holidays as they allow you to focus on the guests and having a memorable time, regardless of the occasion.
When your next holiday gathering is being planned, remember that ordering Cajun party trays is a great way to keep you from spending your entire day in the kitchen and still enable you to wow all your guests with some deliciously tasty Cajun fare. 7Spice Cajun Seafood is ready to help make your next party memorable, with food that will make your gathering a hit. Place your order today and go ahead and check that to-do item off of your list!