Frigid temperatures, snowfall, and ice will be the norm for much of North America for the next few months, which has led catering companies and restaurants to offer menu items inspired by the season. From on-theme desserts and cocktails to inventive, upgraded takes on signature comfort dishes, here's a look at winter-friendly catering ideas from restaurants and catering companies in the U.S. and Canada.
Chicago-based Blue Plate Catering’s hot soup station offers made-to-order Asian broths infused with aromatics and vegetables in glass siphons. The broth is served in petite glass bowls filled with fresh garnishes.
Hot chocolate is a standard winter beverage, and Met Back Bay in Boston serves flight of four mini glasses: the classic hot chocolate with vanilla chocolate, whipped cream, and mini toasted marshmallows; the espresso, served with an almond biscotti garnish; the caramel sea salt, served with whipped cream and caramel drizzle; and the white chocolate peppermint made with white chocolate, vanilla cream, and crushed peppermint stick. Each flavor also is available as a larger, single version as well as in an alcoholic version.
McAlister’s Deli, which has more than 400 restaurants across the country, has a comfort food-focused catering options including a D.I.Y. baked potato bar that offers a variety of toppings.
Toronto-based events and catering company Daniel et Daniel serves a black garlic beef short rib as its featured dish for its winter collection. The beef is served on a potato parsnip latke surrounded by heirloom carrot coins, and topped with a parsnip chip and Urfa chili sauce.
Publico Street Bistro & Garden in Boston, which transformed its interior courtyard and garden space into a ski lodge-inspired concept for the winter, offers a classic seasonal favorite: grilled cheese made with Vermont cheddar, served with homemade tomato soup.
Fractured Prune, a doughnut shop that serves classic cake doughnuts with a variety of glazes and toppings, offers a seasonal White Out doughnut topped with marshmallows. The company has locations throughout the U.S., and offers catering services.
New York-based chain Mr Bing serves street crepes, a popular Northern Chinese comfort food. The crepes consist of rice, mung bean, and wheat flour batter coated scrambled egg, sesame seeds, and scallions. The crepes are then stuffed with hoisin sauce, crispy chili paste, wontons, and (optional) cilantro, and come in savory options such as the peking roast duck bing (pictured) and sweet options like Nutella. Mr Bing also has a bicycle cart available for catering events.
Restauration, an American restaurant in Long Beach, California, serves a large batch winter sangria made with Laya Spanish red blend, vodka, simple syrup, and Fuji apples, garnished with a cinnamon sugar rim and a cinnamon stick.
Chicago-based Fig Catering serves a winter-inspired twist on the caprese salad, which is typically served during warmer months. The bite-size salad consists of beets, apples, mint, and mozzarella.
Japanese restaurant Zuma in Las Vegas serves a variety of winter-friendly dishes, including a rice hot pot served with wild mushrooms, Japanese vegetables, and black truffles shaved table side.
Zuma also serves a Japanese twist on the penicillin cocktail. Burning History consists of Japanese whiskey, honey, yuzu, and fresh ginger. A bartender makes the cocktail table side, burning a barrel stave that captures the resulting smoke inside the glass.
Sticky buns can be an ideal snow day indulgence—but they don’t always have to be sweet. Aurora Inn Dining Room at the Inns of Aurora in New York serves a sweet and savory version of the brioche bun that combines smoked pork and pecans.
To pair with the sticky buns, Aurora Inn Dining Room serves a Cozy Sweater cocktail, which combines Earl Grey tea and amaretto liqueur.
For a beverage idea that will have event guests thinking of warmer weather, Merriman’s Waimea in Hawaii serves a coconut milk eggnog cocktail made with Old Forester bourbon, Licor 43, and house-made eggnog. The drink is served in a coconut and topped with whipped cream and fresh-grated nutmeg.
L-eat Catering in Toronto offers a winter-theme dessert that consists of cinnamon cheesecake, roasted apples, oat crumble, and caramel sauce.
New York vegan restaurant P.S. Kitchen offers an elevated take on the standard hot toddy. Bar manager Shawn Clayton-Patrick’s Muir’s Medley is made with homemade sweet potato and pumpkin spice-infused Bourbon, Rozelieurs smoked whiskey, Black Sheriff Rum, and house vanilla and cider.
