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How To Throw A Mardi Gras Party—Tips From Your Denver Caterers

Mardi Gras is just weeks away (this year the biggest day of the celebration, Fat Tuesday, will be on Tuesday, February 13.). If you are unable to make it down to New Orleans for the “greatest free show on Earth”, we here at Pour la France Catering are here to offer you some tips for throwing the perfect Mardi Gras party.

As the proud owners of one of the best catering companies in Denver, the only thing we love more than a good celebration is adding to the celebration with superb catering. Check out our catering menu, learn about us, and contact us today!

What Is Mardi Gras?

Also called Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras refers to the Carnival celebrations that begin after the Christian Feast of the Epiphany and culminate the day before Ash Wednesday. The name Mardi Gras is French and means “Fat Tuesday”—a name that reflects all of the heavy and rich eating that occurs before the fasting of the Lenten season begins. It is a holiday that is celebrated all over the world, with each city offering a unique take on the celebration. Some cities with the most well-known festivities include New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, Barranquilla, and many more!

Tips for Throwing a Successful Mardi Gras Party

Mardi Gras Decor

Mardi gras is a vibrant celebration. Although you will likely see all the colors of the rainbow at a party, purple, green, and gold are the traditional colors of the holiday. When creating the atmosphere for your party, get the essentials: beads, doubloons—the little aluminum coin-like objects that often bear the symbol of the float krewes—and gold, purple, and green lights. Beads are not only a necessary part of a costume, but they are also great decorations that can be hung from the ceiling, furniture, windows, and everywhere and anywhere!

Mardi Gras Costumes

One of the great things about the Mardi Gras tradition is costumes. It’s a key part of the celebration, and as a rule, the wilder the costume, the better.  Encourage your guests to come to the party in Mardi Gras garb. For those who are not big on dressing up and wearing costumes, bedeck them in something simple like a feather boa, masquerade mask, crazy wig, or at the very least, some beads.

Mardi Gras Music

New Orleans is a music city. The presence of music is so strong that you don’t even have to seek it out. By simply being in the city, you’ll be exposed to the musical spirit of the Big Easy. This, however, won’t be the case if you are throwing a Mardi Gras party, say in Denver. To help create the feel, soundtrack your party with some traditional New Orleans music, like zydeco, New Orleans brass and jazz, swing, and other Big Easy favorites. To help you get started on your party playlist, check out some of these Mardi Gras staples: “Carnival Time” by Al Johnson and “When the Saints Go Marching in” by Louis Armstrong.

Mardi Gras Food

Like most big holidays, food is crucial to Mardi Gras, especially if you want to celebrate Mardi Gras—New Orleans style. Right along with music, food is a pillar of New Orleans culture. Therefore, If you really want to capture the true spirit of the festival and the spirit of New Orleans culture, you need to serve up delicious, authentic Cajun food. Dishes like jambalaya, beans, shrimp po-boys, hurricanes, and King Cake raised donuts are perfect items to add to a Fat Tuesday menu!

Not sure you have the time or ability to create some sensational New Orleans grub? Contact your go-to Denver caters! Check out our Fat Tuesday special!

Mardi Gras is a holiday rich with tradition, culture, music, food, and fun. If you want to curate the vibe of this truly unique celebration, follow these tips. And remember, if you really want to celebrate Fat Tuesday, you have to serve up some truly delicious food. As Denver caterers with a love for Cajun food, we would be honored to partner with you and make your Mardi Gras party a success. Check out our Bourbon Street buffet, our full catering menu, and contact us today with any questions!

 

Holiday Party Ideas and Tips from Your Denver Caterers—Pt. 2

In our last post, we talked about some of the ways you can improve your holiday party. In today’s blog, we are going to pick up right where we left off—if you have yet to read our last post, be sure to go back and do so (it has some good and potentially inspirational suggestions).

With over 25 years of catering experience, we have earned a reputation for being Denver’s go-to catering company. From dessert catering to full buffet catering, we have the experience and menu to handle all your needs. Contact us today to book us for your holiday catering. Whether you are hosting a big corporate party or a small gathering, read on to learn about some tips for improving your event.

Holiday Foods

There’s a reason why food is essential to almost all of the major holidays—we all love food, especially food that accentuates the celebration or time of the year. When planning your Christmas event, keep this in mind, because just as spectacular food can turn an okay event into an extraordinary event, bad food can ruin an event regardless of all of the other successes.

The following are some great food ideas to take your party to the next level.

  • Peppermint Brownies – Nothing gets the holiday spirit going like rich brownie layers sandwiching cool and creamy mint cheesecake and topped with mousse and pieces of peppermint. Schedule to have this holiday treat at your event.
  • DIY Hot Chocolate Bar – This is a fun, versatile, and interactive holiday option that is sure to wow your guests. Hot chocolate bars—fully loaded with a range of toppings like chocolate chips, marshmallows, candy canes, crushed Oreos, and other delectable treats—are perfect for company holiday parties or intimate family gatherings.
  • Gingerbread Decorating Station – There is perhaps nothing more emblematic of Christmas than making gingerbread men. Bring this tradition to your party. Setting up a station stocked with gingerbread men, icing, sprinkles, candies, and other sweets at your event will have your guests, regardless of their age, feeling like kids on Christmas Eve.  

Need help picking the right foods? Let the best in Denver catering help! At Pour La France! Catering we have an extensive holiday menu perfect for nearly every occasion. From Christmas dinner items like a Rocky Mountain Prime Rib to classic holiday desserts like pecan pie, we offer a range of succulent items. View our full catering menu here.  

Embrace the Giving

The holiday season often brings out the best in people. Oftentimes, it seems to be the time of the year when people are most inclined to acknowledge all of their blessings and give a little.Take advantage of this collective generosity and provide your guests with an opportunity to donate to a worthy cause. This might include setting out a collection box for a good local organization, hosting a silent auction, or devoting a portion of the day to volunteer together in your community. To get the most out of this, brainstorm some of the causes that you and your guests might have a connection to.

While it’s impossible to absolutely ensure that your event is a success, there are a number of things you can do to improve the likelihood that your Christmas party is fun, entertaining, and enjoyable. Keep this list in mind when planning your holiday party. With that said, also remember to not overthink it. You don’t have to throw an elaborate party to have a good time. By simply adding some personal touches, nice gestures, delicious food, and creative ideas you can create a fun and festive atmosphere.

Need catering for your event? Contact us! From corporate buffet catering to holiday catering to just dessert catering, we are ready to make your holiday event a success. Start customizing your menu today!

 

Catering Menu Spotlight – Fall Flavors

Look around, the leaves are a fiery mix of orange, red, and brown, and we’ve already been hit with our first snow. There’s no doubt about it, Denver—fall is officially upon us. If you’re hosting a social or corporate event during this wonderful time of the year, why not serve your guest some fall-inspired recipes? At Pour La France! Catering we are offering our clients a special fall flavor catering menu.

Read on to learn about some of our favorite fall dishes.

Pumpkin Spice French Toast

Pumpkin Spice French Toast

Imagine attending a morning conference, walking in from a brisk fall morning and finding out that the event coordinator is not only serving hot, freshly brewed coffee but also a heaping tray of Pumpkin Spice French Toast. Sound like a perfect fall morning? We think so, too—it’s why we are showcasing this seasonal treat. This season treat includes slices of French baguettes dipped in pumpkin spice egg batter, dusted with powdered sugar, and finished with a dollop of pumpkin butter.

Sweet Potato, Black Bean, Quinoa Wrap

If you have an upcoming conference, office party, or some other social event, chances are there’ll be a few vegetarians in attendance. When planning your catered lunch, it’s important to accommodate to their dietary needs. However, keep in mind that you can address this need while also satisfying the hunger of even the staunchest carnivores. This is what we seek to do with our newest, fall flavor wrap. We take roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, black beans, green onions, cilantro, shredded broccoli, kohlrabi, kale, brussels sprouts, golden beets, carrots, and red cabbage tossed in lime vinaigrette and wrap it in a garlic herb tortilla. It’s not only a perfect fall dish, but when added to a box lunch, you can impress your guests and show them what out-of-the-box box lunch catering is all about.

Pear, Roquefort & Pecan Spinach Salad

This is a quintessential fall salad with ingredients that will engage all your fall cravings—pecans, pears, bleu cheese, etc. We can also add your choice of protein—chicken, salmon, steak, prosciutto, or avocado. It would work great when coupled with a main entree like this Applewood Smoked Ham Buffet, which comes with cornbread stuffing and green bean amandine. Contact your go-to catering company today to arrange for us to bring this fall food spread to your next Denver event.

Savory Butternut Squash Bisque

Fall food is nearly synonymous with hearty soups. If you have an upcoming event, be sure to add a rich and tasty soup to your catering menu. This elegant autumnal soup may be the perfect option. This bisque combines savory butternut squash with balanced notes of curry and ginger. And to accentuate the fall-ness of the bisque, we pair it with our pear-cranberry relish.

Pumpkin Trifle

There are few items that scream fall more than pumpkins. And the wonderful thing about these autumn staples is that they are incredibly versatile. When added to a cake, for example, you not only have a season-appropriate treat, but you also get a delicious dessert. Our Pumpkin Trifle is just that. Topped with pumpkin mousse and maple-soaked ladyfingers and finished with cinnamon cream, it is sure to elevate your fall event.

Looking for a delectable fall treat that doesn’t include pumpkin? We’ve got you covered on that front, too. How about Caramel Apple Bars, consisting of tart granny smith apples covered in granola shortbread and custard and topped with a caramel drizzle?

For more cool-weather classics, check out our entire fall catering menu here. And remember, if you’re looking for an exceptional Denver catering company, we’ve got you covered. Whether you need hot buffet catering for a social event or holiday catering for a corporate event, we have the food to elevate any occasion. Start customizing your menu today!