Abigail Kirsch @ The Loading Dock

Stamford, CT

Managed by renowned caterer Abigail Kirsch, The Loading Dock offers world class catering and service in an industrial-chic venue located in the heart of Stamford. While this modern space is the perfect backdrop for any event, the holidays are a particularly great time to host a company (or personal) party. In addition to a full array of holiday decorations and lighting that can be customized to your theme, Abigail Kirsch offers unique vignette stations to allow guests to mix and mingle while tasting irresistible cuisine from around the world.  And an added bonus—guests are treated to cups of their signature hot chocolate as they depart to create a sweet ending to a memorable celebration. They also offer a special holiday gelato cart with seasonal flavors such as Double Peppermint Chunk, Chocolate Cinnamon Chipotle, Mulled Black Cherry Pomegranate and Bourbon Pecan Maple Crunch. Brava! Brava! loadingdock@abigailkirsch.com

AMG Catering

Wilton, CT

This season, deck your halls and trim your table with Wilton-based AMG Catering and Events. Award winning chef, Alison Milwe Grace and her staff will provide you and your guests with sumptuous food, drink, and a festive holiday experience. As the season of celebrations begins with Thanksgiving, consider an AMG feast from turkey to pie, which can be conveniently delivered to your door or picked up at their kitchen (so grab a drink and forget slaving in the kitchen-woot!).You can also let their team of expertly trained servers, bartenders, and sous chefs seamlessly execute your next occasion. Event Coordinator Olivia Savarese will grant every wish, transforming your space with flair and a dash of whimsy. Every holiday needs a good dose of whimsy, right? Imagine a winter wonderland of antique sleds filled with gingerbread martinis, warm and flavorful Lemon-Caper Parmesan Potato bites or Shrimp & Grits on tasting spoons presented by a friendly and professional staff. Well known for their decadent dessert bar, AMG’s Mini Holiday Trifles and Deconstructed S’mores will put the Sugar Plum Fairy’s “Kingdom of Sweets” to shame. www.amgcatering.com

David’s Soundview Catering

Stamford, CT 

David’s Soundview Catering & Events, a culinary and event production powerhouse since 1998, creates special events ranging from intimate celebrations to corporate functions and weddings. DSC recently introduced The Landing, their private event space overlooking the beautiful Stamford Harbor Marina at Shippan Landing. Your holiday parties will be a thing of beauty there during this holiday season with the floor-to-ceiling water views. Spearheading the culinary side of this innovative catering company is Executive Chef Francois Kwaku-Dongo, formerly of L’escale in Greenwich and Spago in West Hollywood. Inspiring and inventive menus, along with special presentations such as spirited, international “around the world” serving stations offer guests a variety of globally inspired dishes from hand-rolled sushi and dumplings to Southern shrimp and grits to Mexican tamales.www.davidscatering.com

Fairfield Cheese Company & Greenwich Cheese Company

Fairfield & Cos Cob, CT

Holiday cocktail party with family or friends? Black Tie or casual fundraiser? Dinner party for a few or a lot? The Fairfield (and Greenwich) Cheese Company’s artfully designed gourmet platters will make just the right impression and strike a delicious note. Cheese Company platters include bread or crackers, fresh fruit, dried fruit and nuts. And to accompany, do you need a wine suggestion? You’re in luck as pairing is one of their specialties! To make your event extra personalized for you and your home, you can even bring us your favorite platter-they will arrange a selection right on it. Platters can be picked up in our store or delivered locally for an additional charge. Their creative, esthetically pleasing and mouth-watering platters come in a variety of sizes and prices and they will be a joyous addition to your holiday season. www.greenwichcheese.com

Festivities Catering

Norwalk, CT

From bar to buche de noel, celebrate the season with Festivities! From global traditions to home traditions including regional favorites, their holiday offerings will make for a wonderfully festive time. “Room to Room”, “Roving Foods”, or “Food Truck Parked in the Kitchen” parties make the holiday get-togethers spirited! Join them for “Holiday Artful Foods” in favorite galleries or “Culinary Concerts.” Whether in the office, at home, or in one of their venues, your holiday gatherings will be unique and well-remembered. For those who love to cook and entertain, Festivities “Party Express” is simply a phone call away-small batch cooking from the freshest seasonal ingredients will be welcome additions to your repertoire or order a complete menu “incognito” (we won’t tell). Delivered to your door, Party Express makes entertaining family and friends an ease. Pre-season, join Executive Chef Bill Kaliff for “Holiday Entertaining Styles” at The Lillian August Café with Foods by Festivities.  Explore your entertaining style with Chef Bill…recipes, food demos, and entertaining tips from 30 years of setting the holiday table. For CT Bites readers, there is 20% off of any Party Express Holiday order. www.festivitiesevents.com

Fleishers Craft Butchery

Westport and Greenwich CT

Fleishers Craft Butchery, which opened at 160 E. Putnam Ave in Greenwich this fall, boasts a full catering kitchen downstairs to keep you and your guests well fed with the same pasture-raised meats found in their butcher shops. Whether you’re looking to cater a meeting, birthday party or a DIY wedding, the Fleishers culinary team will work with you to put together a delicious menu featuring seasonal salads, rotisserie chickens, and larger format platters of their specialties, like smoked brisket or perfectly cooked porchettas. All ingredients are sourced locally from producers sharing the same values for quality and sustainability. For smaller gatherings or when you need delicious food in a pinch, Fleishers also offers a rotating menu of ready-to-eat hot and cold foods at their take-away counter at the same Cos Cob location. Email catering@fleishers.com for more details or to place an order. www.fleishers.com

Garelick and Herbs

Westport, Greenwich, New Canaan and opening soon in Southport

The G& H philosophy? Good Food, Good Mood. That’s a slogan we can get on board with (just say no to hangry!) They offer full-service, customized catering and event planning to meet all of your entertaining needs so that you can be a guest at your own party this holiday season. Yes! Now we’re talking! From small, cozy get-togethers to sweeping, grand events, Garelick and Herbs believes in making each celebration a celebration of you and will create the signature style that it deserves. They are the exclusive caterer to MORA MORA, the spot for parties in the heart of SoNo and also their new venue, The Westport Inn. Their carefully selected wait staff will provide outstanding service that is friendly, professional, and unobtrusive. As they believe in gratifying the five senses with all things delicious, your holidays will be a feast for the senses. With extensive menus for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas Breakfast and Christmas Dinner, offerings such as Wild Mushroom Soup, Corn Spoon Pudding, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Roast Duck and Chocolate Bombs will soon be gracing your table. www.garelickandherbs.com

The Granola Bar

Westport, CT

Using local and organic ingredients, The Granola Bar strives to elevate casual dining, making what’s good for you also insanely delicious. They use simple and fresh ingredients to create dishes with a twist (they don’t use fryers or even a stovetop.) and are all about presenting food in the healthiest, most beautiful and tastiest way they can. From appetizers like their signature Candied Turkey Bacon Deviled Eggs, to main courses, salads, coffee and dessert treats like Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream Frosting, they offer it all for your holiday season. They custom-make large platters for pick-up and drop-off, on-site catering events where they come to you, and (here’s the best part) you can also have your party at the restaurant after-hours. A sleek, cozy, unique venue for hosting your holiday soirees that won’t soon be forgotten in the holiday whirlwind. The Granola Bar has a taste-delight for everyone on your invite list…paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian…and to all a good night. www.thegranolabarct.com

 

Old Post Tavern

Fairfield, CT

By definition, a tavern is a meeting place where patrons, seeking food and beverage, are treated as guests (as opposed to a mere “bar” which caters to anonymous members of the public). This is the welcoming atmosphere that the team at Old Post Tavern strives to give its patrons, one of congeniality and old world enjoyment. Hearty New England food (with modern updates) and catering is just as much a part of their history.  They have catered events ranging from intimate in-home parties to weddings and events for hundreds. They will bring the unique and quintessential New England charm of the Old Post atmosphere to your event and your guests, attending to every detail. They also have a lovely, large room upstairs at the restaurant for private events, which is perfect for corporate events or large family affairs. Their signature holiday dish of Lobster Risotto with Truffle essence as well as other offerings like Smoked Salmon Roulades on Brioche Toast or Mini Crabcakes with Chipotle Dipping Sauce will be thoroughly enjoyed whether catered at your home or at the Old Post, where you are always welcome. www.oldposttavern.com

Simply Delicious Catering

Norwalk, CT

Known for her seasonally inspired recipes and fresh off a win at Westport’s Chowdafest in the Soup/Bisque category, Chef Lauren Peden has been creating memorable culinary experiences throughout Fairfield County since 2007. And in case you are wondering, they are, well, Simply Delicious! Whether you are hosting a casual gathering, intimate cocktail party or festive gala, Lauren and her expert team will handle all aspects of creating your beautiful holiday occasions. Simply Delicious is ready to raise the snow-covered rooftops and delight you with pumpkin-filled profiteroles, crumble-stuffed apples and Brie beggar’s purses with candied onion jam and poached pears, to name a few of their treats. You’ll be happy and relieved to know, as we enter this hectic season, that gourmet meal delivery is also available straight to your doorstep every night of the week. As they like to say at Simply Delicious…they’ll do the work, you enjoy the party.www.simplydeliciousct.com

Spread Out Catering (The Spread)

South Norwalk, CT

The Spread restaurant is excited to Spread Out into catering and bring their unique rustic-industrial feel and extensive array of culinary treats to you. Whether at your home or office, for an intimate gathering of friends or a larger business affair, they are happy to offer up their distinct style of decor and food. Bacon Lollipops, Lamb Tartar, Drunk Monk and Womanchego cheeses, Paella, Hand-crafted Gnocchi are just a teeny smidge of the extensive and highly creative catering menu. They also offer Grazing Tables, Shucking Stations, Fois Gras and Carving Stations, copious salads and entrees – trust us, no one is going to walk away hungry or bored by any of these mouth-watering offerings. Working to create your perfect gathering is their goal, from the tablescapes to the palates of your guests. Cheers. www.thespreadsono.com/catering

Thaithentic Catering

Want to shake things up a bit this season? Getting a little tired of the usual hors d’oeuvres and traditional entrees? Don’t want to dip one…more…chilled…shrimp into cocktail sauce? Well, then, go Thai! Thaithentic caters exclusively Thai menus, ranging from traditional Northern Thai favorites to contemporary interpretations of classic Thai dishes. Their chefs are masters of finding the subtle balances of salty, spicy, sour, bitter, and sweet flavors that will awaken your palate and delight your private dinners, corporate and non-profit catering events. They happily serve Fairfield County and Westchester County, using local ingredients from Fleishers Craft Butchery and Fjord Fish Market and many quality Thai ingredients. Their chefs can also accommodate food allergies and preferences. Your Thai event will be creative and beautiful, highlighting the cuisine and decor of this country…native linens, cooking implements, and spices will be displayed to offer those special notes to your event. Flavorful specialties such as Pork Belly Kratiem Prik Thai with cucumber salad and cilantro vinaigrette, Tapioca-filled mince pork and Nam Jim Jaew Marinated Ribeye with chimichurri and sticky rice are sure to delight, educate and enthrall. Most smaller dinner parties, in fact, become a mix of cooking tutorial and dinner…a recipe for a great night. www.thaithentic.com

Walrus and Carpenter

Black Rock, CT

Pig Roasts + Craft Cocktails,  Fried Chicken + Craft Beer.  If you are looking for a unique, high-quality catering option for your upcoming event and are hoping to dazzle your guests with something flavorful and memorable, Walrus + Carpenter is the place to call.  Every uniquely curated event is given special attention. Whether in the restaurant or at your home, W+C can handle all the details including chefs and service staffing, full bar and specialty cocktails, live music, event rentals and tents, custom menus and more. And while pig roasts and ribs are the specialty, the W+C menus offer so much more including seasonal salads, pickled shrimp and smoked fish, steak tartare, local charcuterie and cheeses, piles of delicious hors d’oeuvre for passing, and of course, don’t forget about the desserts!  W+C has a pie for every occasion…ready? Bourbon-Chocolate Pecan, Banana Cream, Key-Lime, Southern Chess Pie and the famous Bacon Chocolate Chip Walrus Ice Cream Pie. Yes, they have a dessert with bacon. Your holiday wish just came true.