Great Options for Your Upcoming Christmas Party

The Christmas and winter holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with family, friends, and co-workers, so you can expect a busy season in 2019. If you’re in charge of planning any events from November through January, you might already be thinking about ideas on how to throw an unforgettable fete. However, time is running short. You’ll need to start setting up, the venue, New York holiday and event catering services, and many other details. For some inspiration, check out some options that are sure to put your guests in the mood.

Breakfast or Brunch:

You may not be able to fully replicate the joy of Christmas morning, but you can at least start with a good hearty meal. Most catering companies have a range of choices, from a light continental or oatmeal breakfast to a filling brunch with frittatas, quiches, and an array of tasty meats. If you want to treat your guests to an elegant morning, you might opt for smoked salmon with all the accoutrements or English tea sandwiches. You might consider fruit juice mimosas for a festive affair, but don’t forget the coffee if your event is work-related.

Christmas Carnival:

In many ways, the holidays are about the joy of being a child. There’s perhaps nothing more iconic about being a kid than going to the local carnival, street fair, or festival. Cotton candy, pretzels, hot dogs, mini sandwiches, and many other treats will bring back the days of walking down the carnival fairway. When you add fantastic Christmas décor, you can be sure the crowd will get into the holiday spirit. With the right planning and consultation with your caterer, you can create a fantastic winter wonderland that guests will remember for years to come.

Holidays in the Tropics:

The days are short and the weather is cold around New York come Christmastime, but there are ways to take your event attendees to a tropical paradise. Consider treating them to a day at the beach, Caribbean BBQ-style. For this Christmas-themed event, kabobs are a fun finger-food that enables your guests to mingle with other beach-goers. Jerk-seasoned meat and chicken skewers will fill the room with the amazing aroma of the tropics, and spicy peppers provide warmth. You can trust sides like coleslaw and potato salad to cool off the heat.

Just Desserts:

While you may not think about doing a sweets-only catered event the rest of the year, the holidays are a time to indulge. Plus, if you’re the one preparing the traditional Christmas dishes, you owe it to yourself to get a break when it comes to dessert. Fortunately, the range of catering options is substantial and varied. You might consider: 

  • Beautifully decorated cookie, brownie, and cupcake platters;
  • Exotic choices, like churros, Italian pastries, and baklava;
  • A table scape of French delicacies;
  • Healthy fruit skewers; or,
  • Go simple with a design-your-own ice cream sundae bar.

Of course, if your Christmas time event is a wedding, there’s nothing better than chocolate dipped strawberries to set the mood for romance.

Warm Up with Seasonal Soups:

Hot, liquid sustenance is a staple throughout the cold months, which is why it stands to reason that soups are ideal for holiday festivities in New York. Manhattan caterers offer a multitude of seasonal options fit for any appetite, nutritional preference, cuisine, or style. Warm your guests up with:

  • Split pea, carrot, mushroom barley, and other vegetable soups;
  • Hearty, creamy soups featuring asparagus, broccoli, and tomato; and,
  • Seasonal favorites like butternut squash and pumpkin.

 A Hometown Celebration:

People come from all over the world to enjoy Christmas in the Big Apple, but many are lucky enough to call NYC home at this special time of year. Celebrate your city during the holidays by putting the spotlight on the traditions and cuisine you love. The most popular Christmas meal options are also the most stress-free when you cater deli meats, fantastic breads, cheesecake, and other favorites. Have your guests put together their own creations, stacked high with cheeses, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and other accompaniments.

 Contact Us Today about Christmas Catering in Manhattan

 These are just a few ideas on how you can make a Christmas even special with food, beverages, and other aspects of the holiday experience. If you’d like to know more about how a catering professional can help, please contact the Manhattan office of Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events. We can set up a consultation to review your objectives and outline plans for a memorable affair.

How much does it cost to cater your corporate event?

When you’re planning a corporate event, you know that your budget is going to be a top factor during the process. Whether it’s your first time or you’re an old hat, there are plenty of valuable resources to assist with cost considerations. Event Brite’s Event Budgeting: The 2019 Guide to Master Your Event Budget is one effective tool to help you get a grasp on the basics. However, there isn’t much guidance when you break down individual categories of expenses. 

As you review what you can spend, you may wonder if you can maximize your budget by retaining New York corporate catering services. In many situations, it’s wise to trust these professionals with your event, as they’ve amassed considerable experience and developed key vendor relationships to help streamline costs. Experienced caterers can assist with all your planning needs, starting with the key question: “How much does it cost to cater your corporate event?”

Your Corporate Event Purpose and Objectives:

Your first consideration is the role refreshments will play in your corporate event. Your menu and theme will be very different if you’re planning a meeting for employees, as compared to a spread for potential customers you’re looking to impress. The schedule for your event will obviously be a factor as well, since you want to maximize food and beverage service around your participants’ expectations. Some options include:

  • Prepared Platters, Delivered to Your Event: Probably the most convenient and unfussy alternative, you could make arrangements with your caterer to drop off multiple platters for offering in between sessions. Fruit, veggie, and cheese trays range from around $6-$8 per person, while a heartier antipasto platter may start at $11 each. Assorted sliders or chicken fingers are a fun break from the monotony of meetings, and they typically start at around $18 per attendee.
  • Pre-Meeting Breakfast Options: To get your corporate event off on the right foot, make sure participants have the essential fuel they need. There are many different options depending on your goals, starting from a continental breakfast at around $11 per person to a hot breakfast buffet for $14 each. If you want to keep things on the lighter side and avoid the dreaded food coma, you might consider a New York bagel platter at approximately $4 per guest or a produce-focused healthy breakfast for $12 a person.
  • Fixed Price Lunch: If your guests have spent the morning participating in intense sessions, they’ve probably worked up an appetite for lunch. Cost varies for a fixed price meal, starting at around $18 for a NY deli experience or hearty, meal-sized salad. Prices are higher for a typical meat or chicken and potatoes, usually $30 and up. However, a multi-course meal will usually be accompanied by a selection of sides.
  • Pasta for a Crowd: Pasta is filling, affordable, and can please even the pickiest corporate event attendees. Starting at around $14 per person, you could choose a few different options, such as meat-based, veggie-only, creamy or traditional red sauces – and many other alternatives. Fortunately, most caterers will also include a side salad, bread, butter, and rolls to round out the meal.
  • Themed Dinner Events: When you want to wind up your corporate meeting with a memorable feast, you might want to consider a meal that works around some theme you’ve developed for the event. If you encourage your employees to exceed their quota with a tropical trip, go for a Hawaiian luau. Is your company launching international operations? Treat your attendees to a Taste of Asia, France, or Italy. Many of these options start at around $30 per guest.

Additional Considerations for Corporate Event Catering:

Many of the above prices don’t include other costs for catering event dinners in New York, such as event staff. You need to add on expenses related to executive and assistant chefs, as well as event managers. These employees work at a rate of $45-50 per hour, and an hourly minimum usually applies. Plus, there are costs related to bartenders and services at approximately $40 per hour. 

Our New York Corporate Catering Services Can Help

This information may provide you with essential insight on how much it costs to cater your corporate event, but you may need additional details as you move through the planning process. Our team at Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events is here to help with all aspects of catering event dinners in New York and the surrounding region. Please contact our Manhattan office to set up a consultation with one of our experienced professionals.

How to Throw A Corporate Event with the help of a Caterer

According to U.S. Small Business Administration statistics from 2018, there are 2.1 million corporations in New York with less than 500 employees. That’s not including the numerous multinational organizations headquartered in the Empire State, many of which appear on the Fortune 500 list every year. 

With such a massive business presence, especially in Manhattan, there’s a good chance you’ll be invited, attend, or otherwise be involved with corporate events. However, you may also be in charge of planning one. When that opportunity arrives, you’ll need to understand everything that goes into the process. There’s a significant amount of time and effort behind the scenes, which is why many people in your position trust the task to corporate catering in NYC. Here are a few points to consider when you’re called upon to present an unforgettable event. 

Start with the Event’s Purpose and Budget:

You need to establish a clear, defined objective for your corporate affair, as you can’t confuse attendees with competing goals. Whether you’re selling a product, training employees, a company retreat, attracting investors, or aiming for other purposes, the first step is establishing your purpose. From there, you should consider:

  • What you hope to accomplish;
  • How you can achieve your goals through this event;
  • The message you want participants to take away.

Of course, your purpose is also closely tied to your budget and venue. Catering decisions must start with all of these initial considerations and, even if you need to adjust them, there’s less financial sting – and hassles – later if you’re scrambling to cover costs.

Review Corporate Guest Profiles:

The details of your attendees are just as important to initial planning, as they’re the equivalent of guests you’d serve if you owned a restaurant. Keep in mind that many of them may attend several events throughout the year – or maybe as often as a few times per month. You want your corporate affair to stand out, so consider:

  • The professions and occupations of your guests;
  • Similar events these people may be attending;
  • Any special considerations based upon your attendees; and,
  • What they’d expect from your event … and what would be a pleasant surprise in terms of refreshments and service.

Research Menu Options and Themes:

With your guest profiles in mind, you can work on style and the type of cuisine you’ll serve. The details depend on your purpose, but you might develop a theme around a product launch, investor goals, or corporate messaging. You’ll also need to consider your venue and what’s possible within the space you’ve chosen for your event. Popular options include such classics as passed hors d’oeuvres and appetizer buffets, but modern twists might be: 

  • Food trucks;
  • Stir fry stations;
  • Cupcake and candy stands;
  • Make your own concoctions; and,
  • Many more.

 Consider Regional and Seasonal Specialties:

Manhattan corporate catering services will typically incorporate food, beverage, and décor options that focus on location and time of year. The benefits are cost and efficiency, since suppliers have plentiful bounties and transportation is minimal. At the same time, these themes are attractive to corporate event attendees who appreciate sustainability and the diminished carbon footprint.

Work Around the Venue and Schedule:

While the catering should be an important factor in corporate events, it’s still necessary to make the arrangements efficient and workable around the objectives of the corporate meeting. If a segment is scheduled around a break between sessions, you’ll need to consider the best, most productive way to serve a multitude of people in a short amount of time. When your catering is part of an event that’s longer in duration, you’ll need to plan several courses that can proceed in appropriate succession.

 Double Check and Finalize:

One overlooked factor in corporate catering is the final walk-through and staging. Last minute details are crucial, especially when you don’t know the specifics of the venue until you arrive. The best Manhattan catering services always make time for a dress rehearsal, sometimes bringing in friends and colleagues to provide opinions and support.

Contact New York Corporate Catering Services for Help with Your Next Event

 As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into catering for a corporate event. The burden can be overwhelming as you’re juggling various tasks and items on your To-Do list. For the experienced professionals at Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events, this process is all part of a day’s work. We’ll have you covered from start to finish, so please contact our Manhattan office to learn more about our services for corporate catering and events.

Best Office Catering in New York

When you’re in the market for gourmet holiday catering, don’t settle for anything less than providers of the best office catering in New York: Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events. We provide catering for all occasions, from weddings and birthday parties to corporate and non-profit events.

Here’s where we’re different from most catering companies: we’re service-oriented. Most catering companies cook up a bunch of food, pack it in metal serving trays, and send it on its way to sit on sternos. That’s not how we do things. At Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events, we believe great service is as important to a catered event as great food. Expect custom menus, attentive catering staff, and top notch customer service when you choose to work with us.

Our Corporate Catering Menus

We can throw all different kinds of party. You pick the menu, we make the party happen. Or, you can work with our team to build a completely custom menu for your event – we do everything we can to accommodate every request we receive.

Our corporate catering menus include:

  • Breakfast. Catering options include a breakfast buffet, our challah french toast breakfast, and naturally, our New York bagel platter;
  • Themed lunch menus. Choose from one of our fun themed lunch menus like our Taste of Asia, our BBQ Buffet, our Hawaiian Luau menu, or our Taste of Greece;
  • Hot pasta options like penne vodka, baked ziti, and three-cheese stuffed shells;
  • Fixed price lunch menus, like our Jacket Potato Bar and our New Yorker Deli Luncheon;
  • Assorted hot and cold sandwich platter options;
  • Entree salad choices like our Southwestern Salad and our Cobb Salad; and
  • Our dessert menu, which includes fruit salads, cheesecake platters, cookie platters, and our Make Your Own Ice Cream Sundae Bar.

You can also design your own completely custom lunch or dinner buffet.

You might want to choose two or more of these menus to build out a multi-faceted catering menu or stick to just one. Don’t forget the beverages!

What Makes Thomas Oliver’s the Best Office Catering in New York?

Put shortly, we make every event we cater memorable for its guests and stress-free for its hosts. Whether you just need great food for your party or you need to rent tables, linens, chairs, and other items to make your party complete, we’ve got what you need. We also make it easy for you to hire servers and bartenders to keep your event flowing smoothly.

Unparalleled Customer Service

Great food makes a great party, but that’s not all it takes to be a great catering company. At Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with unparalleled customer service. Any dietary accommodations you need for your party, whether that’s vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal, gluten-free, or allergen-free, we can make it happen. New York City is one of the most diverse places in the United States, and we couldn’t call ourselves the best office catering in New York if we didn’t provide options for every diet.

We take every customer inquiry seriously and aim to answer questions as quickly as possible. Our catering department’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, so we can answer your questions any time you call us. We’re available for your event seven days per week, anywhere in the five boroughs or Long Island.

Sometimes, life takes unexpected turns and you need to cancel your event. We understand; it happens to everybody. When you know you have to cancel a catering order, tell us as soon as possible and preferably more than 24 hours before the event was scheduled to take place. If you can’t cancel within this time frame, you may be subject to a full charge for catering. We do our best to work with all changes and cancellations, but understand that our products are perishable and we simply cannot afford to refund every short-notice cancellation.

Book Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events for your Next Office Party

The right time to get started on planning your next corporate event is now. Don’t wait until a week before the event or even later to start interviewing and booking vendors because that’s too late – top-quality vendors like us will already be booked. To learn more about the catering packages we offer and to start planning your next corporate event with us, contact Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events today to set up your initial consultation with us.

Catering your Halloween Party

Halloween is coming up soon, and if you’re hosting a Halloween party, the time to book your catering is now. When you’re shopping around for catering services in Manhattan, ask about special Halloween- or autumn-themed menus the caterers offer. After all, the menu you choose is a big part of your party’s theming.

Take some time to brainstorm what you might find on a spooky Halloween menu. Maybe your event is a casual one that’d be best served by an autumnal salad and pumpkin bisque, or maybe it’s a more high-end affair full of sophisticated spooks and tantalizing treats.

Choosing the Right Theme for your Halloween Party

We offer a variety of fun themes for your party. A few of our themes are:

  • Hawaiian Luau;
  • The French Connection;
  • Italian Feast;
  • Mardi Gras;
  • Southwest BBQ;
  • New York Deli; and
  • Mexican Fiesta.

We also offer popcorn machine and pretzel machine rentals.

These themes might not initially scream “Halloween” to you, but think outside the box for a moment. A Mexican Fiesta catering menu can be the perfect choice for a Dia de Los Muertos-themed party, and a French Connection menu can be the perfect choice for an elegant haunted ball. Have fun with your party theming and if you want to adjust one of our menu packages, just call and give us your thoughts. We’re happy to make reasonable adjustments to make our menus fit your party better.

It’s Not Halloween without Candy!

Remember, Halloween is all about the candy. Make sure you’ve got plenty of candy to go around at your Halloween party to get your guests in the spirit.

One way to give your candy offering a little more oomph is to serve it as part of an ice cream sundae bar. Ice cream is fun for guests of all ages, and a well-stocked ice cream bar has enough candy to satisfy even the most finicky trick-or-treater.

Gourmet Holiday Catering All Year Long

Not too long after Halloween’s over, it’s time for Thanksgiving. And then Christmas and Hanukkah, then New Year’s, then Superbowl Sunday and Chinese New Year and then Valentine’s Day. We’re here to cater all your parties throughout the year, whether they’re private parties or corporate events.

We offer more than just food. With your package, you can rent glassware, linens, flatware, and even tables and chairs. If you need to rent party equipment as well, we can arrange this as well. We’re here to make hosting your party as easy as possible for you.

Work with a Manhattan Catering Team that Knows How to Party

Start planning your Halloween party today by getting in touch with Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering. We can help you plan a menu that’ll delight your guests and cover all their dietary needs, whether you’ve got gluten sensitivities, food allergies, vegan diets, or other dietary restrictions among your guests. Contact us today to get the planning started. We work in all five boroughs, seven days per week.

How to Throw Together a Fabulous Last Minute Event

Planning an event can take months of careful devising of all the details, finding a venue, mapping out where the decor, tables, chairs and entertainment will go and outlining the perfect menu. But what if you don’t have months? What if you have to plan an event last minute? Not to worry, you can still make it fabulous. Many people agree, some of the best work is done under pressure and the same is true with event planning. You just need to know where to start and how to best utilize your time and resources. Slow down and concentrate, there is no sense in running in circles, you need to focus on what is important if you want to pull together something great in the short time you have. Here are a few tips to help your event go off with a smashing success.

Schedule the venue and entertainment ASAP

Your event needs a location. Finding something free in a pinch might be tricky but keep an open mind. There are so many ideas and places willing to let you reserve their space. Here are a few ideas to help you think out of the box:

  • Reception centers
  • Parking lots
  • Parks
  • A friend’s big backyard
  • A nightclub for daytime use
  • School or church gymnasiums
  • Hotel meeting rooms
  • Art galleries
  • Rooftops or lofts
  • Beach

There are so many ideas where you can hold an event and it does not have to be expensive. Booking the entertainment, if applicable, is also a must in the first stages of planning. DJ’s, musicians, clowns, magicians, traveling petting zoos—find entertainment to match the theme of your event. Obviously a group of Marvel characters would not fit with a wedding, but it would go fantastic for a children’s fundraiser. Schedule your venue and entertainment first and foremost and do not overthink it.

Hire a caterer

One of the most difficult parts of event planning is the food. When you have a time crunch, you can’t be running to dozens of stores picking up ingredients or sitting down sifting through handfuls of recipes or slaving at a kitchen stove cooking it all up yourself. This is simply not possible and with limited time, do not attempt it. You need to spend your time on other parts and caterers such as Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering are professionals when it comes to laying out a beautiful spread of the most delicious dishes imaginable. Our goal is to see your guests rave about the food, the taste and the presentation. While the purpose of your event should not be overshadowed, oftentimes, food is half of the event. The food is one of the ways you can wow your guests and you want it to taste sensational. Hiring a really good caterer takes the pressure off you and also makes you look good. Everyone will be amazed how well you threw together a party so perfectly so quickly. We have your back. Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering takes care of the set up, the food presentation, the clean up and even the dinnerware! Our events menu is a great idea for hors D’oeuvres and beverage services. This is a huge load off your back, you can’t afford NOT to hire a caterer.

Give your event a theme

Theming an event makes the entire planning process flow smoothly. If you have been put in charge of a large family reunion, giving it a Luau or Fiesta theme is an exciting and lively choice. A theme makes the decor and food selection easier. Thomas Oliver’s sumptuous Hawaiian shrimp creole, grilled chipotle corn and fruit skewers for a Luau theme is delicious and fun. Toss around some tiki torches and leis for your guests and you have a memorable event. What about a backyard reunion with friends? Our Picnic Lunch theme a cheese a fruit plate, tomato and mozzarella pasta salad and fresh mint lemonade and ice tea is the perfect summer theme for your party. When it comes to last minute helps, you can’t go wrong with a theme to help you gather decor and food selection.

Don’t do it all yourself

When time is involved, you can’t do it all alone, get help. Assign friends to take over specific tasks. Or better, hire someone to accomplish several areas at once. For instance, did you know that Thomas Oliver is not just a catering company? If you need party equipment rentals, floral arrangements, photography and videography services or venue ideas, we have the resources at our fingertips to help you. If the budget allows it, hiring an event planner is also a tremendous help since it is their job to throw together splendid parties in a jiffy. However you choose to do it, do not overwhelm yourself with too many tasks, get help, divvy out the duties to buddies or let Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering assist you.

Popular Themed Events for Your Corporate Party

It’s been decided, your corporate event is in the works and it’s time to start the planning. It’s a daunting task because you don’t want the event to bomb as that bodes negatively for your company. Not only does a lackluster party make you look bad, but it puts your business down a few notches and the purpose of corporate events is to not only make progress for the future but also to make a good impression. Keeping your employees and business supporters happy and satisfied is a big task. Selecting a theme for your event sets the tone and will have a memorable impact on the attendees. But where to start? What theme is appropriate for the occasion? Knowing your audience as well as the goals of your event will help you make this determination. If team building and getting to know fellow co-workers is the goal, a casual, light hearted event might be in order. Or perhaps introducing new concepts and showing employee appreciation would best be suited with a formal tone.

Determine the tone of the event

Determining the type of event will help you guide your decision towards the type of theme. You can’t have hot dogs at a fancy dressed gala and posh hors d’oeuvres will not mix well for a corporate party at the park. The food needs to match the mood. Any company can have a corporate beach retreat but toss in Thomas Oliver’s Day at the Beach BBQ theme homemade macaroni and potato salad, jerk chicken, teriyaki steak and pepper kabobs with grilled chipotle corn and fruit kabobs, the food fits the mood. A Hawaiian Luau theme is another perfect choice for a casual, summertime event. On the flip side, a formal event needs an elegant, sumptuous feel. This is accomplished with lavish themes such as the French Connection with succulent chicken francois, rosemary roasted potatoes and string beans almondine. What could set the elegant atmosphere better than creamy mashed potatoes in martini glasses with delicate toppings? Deciding the mood of your event with our themed catering menus is a great place to start.

Select the perfect venue to compliment your event

Once you decide the mood of your event, you need to find the best place to hold it. Casual events in the summer are perfect for outdoors and Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering can help you deliver that with our event and corporate planners. By subtly reinforcing the theme in small ways throughout your event, it creates a lasting impression. You don’t want your guests to be smacked in the face with garish and tacky theming. Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering will help you tastefully put together the perfect meal and ambiance so you can focus on the important business aspects of your event. It is also key to ensure that the purpose of your event not be overshadowed by the theme and we can help you achieve this delicate balance. In the New York area, we have established relationships with upscale venues for our clients. These include the high tech Loft 227 that is a spectacular venue for smaller, intimate corporate events as well as Smooth Sailing Celebrations, a swanky, luxurious yacht that is sure to impress. Wherever you decide to hold your event, Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering is excited to deliver the most exquisite themed catering menus to thrill your crowd.

Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering for all your NYC corporate catering needs

Whether your event or meeting is big or small, we are happy to serve and aim to delight. Our corporate menu is extensive and offers options for business breakfast, brunch or lunch meetings. On a grander scale, a corporate dinner buffet is the perfect choice when you need to concentrate on the finer details of business but want a sensational meal with little worry on your end. Our full service catering company is sensitive to those with food allergies so just ask, we are happy to make the appropriate accommodations. Feel free to bring up any dietary restrictions when you schedule your event and options will be given. Your satisfaction is important to us. Transforming your home, office or event space into a special occasion that will linger in their memories for a long time is what we are all about.

To Die For Corporate Catering Menus

It’s soon time for your next corporate event and this time, you want it to be memorable. You want the food to strike a chord. You want to impress your employees and associates. Preparing the presentations and getting the agenda ready for your event presses heavy on your mind. You want to have complete confidence that your corporate catering NYC company will deliver the most delicious dishes, sides and desserts. While your employees and associates spend many hours trying to wow their boss at work, during a corporate event, it’s your turn to wow them. The type of food and ambiance at corporate meetings and events also is a reflection of what your company stands for. You want the food to be enjoyable so no matter what your presentation is about, they will be in a good mood. Psychologically, food has great power to boost mood and poor quality food can do the opposite. Trusting in a professional NYC corporate catering company that will deliver scrumptious food to make your event a smashing success is what you need.

Casual corporate catering

For casual meeting luncheons, when you can place the burden of what to eat on an experienced catering team, your stress load will be lightened. Picking up sandwiches, fixings, condiments, desserts and drinks for the luncheon is a big job. Why not let us take care of these details? And along the way you will also get to relax a bit and enjoy one of the tastiest lunches you’ve had in awhile. Here are a few examples of appetizing corporate lunch menu options:

Sandwich lunch menu: Whether it’s an office, business or boardroom lunch, with a minimum of 8 guests, we will prepare an assortment of sandwiches and wraps that will appeal to all tastes. Adding Assorted David’s Cookies, cakes, brownies and blondies with a fresh fruit platter on the side makes a well rounded lunch.

Hot panini luncheon: If you want to serve something more interesting than the usual sandwiches, hot paninis are a perfect choice. How delicious does breaded chicken cutlet, fresh mozzarella, marinara and parmesan cheese with black forest ham, brie, and sliced pickles sound? The meat selection is superb. Salami, ham, prosciutto, and smoked turkey on a hot pressed sandwiches are a delicious choice everyone will love.
Formal corporate catering

For a fancier, more elegant corporate catering NYC event, we can offer a splendid feast for both the mouth and the eyes. These dishes look as beautiful as they taste and will definitely please your employees. Below are a few menu selections that are perfect for a formal event:

Build your own dinner buffet: If you’d like to select the menu choices that fit your event, we have a wide variety you will love. The chicken roûlade filled with spinach, provolone and roasted red peppers, rosemary roasted chicken or chicken milanese are 3 popular and elegant choices. If beef is what you are craving, sliced fire grilled marinated flank steak served with a horseradish cream sauce, Thai beef kebabs or Korean-style steaks are sure to impress your guests. A wide variety of many vegetable side dishes from fiesta corn to candied sweet potatoes to roasted cajun potato wedges are the perfect garnish to the meal. Desserts such as Italian dessert platters with tiramisu and cannolis or ice cream sundae bars add a brilliant finishing touch.

Themed corporate dinners: Why not make the dinner extra memorable with a theme? A Taste of France, A Taste of Italy and A Taste of Greece bring you the most exotic, elegant French, Italian and Greek dishes all will enjoy.
Worry free NYC corporate catering

Take the stress out of your corporate event planning by handing the meal preparations over to the professionals. Our recipes are out of this world excellent and worth every penny. Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering is excited to be your corporate catering NYC company and entertain the tastebuds of all in attendance at your event.

Three Ways Corporate Catering Will Wow Your Employees

Planning corporate events and meetings takes a lot of work, no matter what size your company is. When it comes to preparations, your list of to do’s is long and overwhelming. Formulating the agenda for the event is hard enough but adding food to all that means days of work. Purchasing the food, drinks, dinnerware, serving items, napkins and tablecloths is a large undertaking, even if the food is already prepackaged and ready to eat. As a business owner however, you know that there is an essential purpose to your meeting or event. It may be to train your employees on new information, inform them of policies and plans or last of all, team building, fun and treating them to a job well done. Regardless of the reasons, all of these purposes are vital to the success of your business. Happy employees reflect well on your company so delivering an event that will wow them should be your goal. Here are a few ways NYC corporate catering for your next meeting or event will wow your employees:

1-Corporate catering allows you to deliver a power packed meeting

If you are not worrying about what you will feed your employees, as well as purchasing all the necessary essentials for the meal, you have an increase of time to spend making the other details of the event or meeting flow seamlessly. You can focus your time and energy on the agenda of the meeting, working on your presentation or adding other exciting details to the schedule. Less stress for you means that you can focus on the most important aspects of the event and let Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events take this weight off your shoulders. Corporate meetings and trainings are sometimes dreaded by employees so by freeing up your time, you can find ways to ensure your meeting will be a positive and engaging experience.

2-NYC Corporate catering offers a delicious selection of dishes

Picture yourself trying to shoulder the burden of feeding everyone at your next corporate meeting or event. Even if you assign a few employees to help you out, with the time you have, you will not be able to provide a mouth watering, succulent and memorable meal. Remember happy employees mean a successful business. So make your employees happy with a meal they won’t forget! With Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering, you can select from a wide range of entrees, side dishes and desserts that will match the mood of any corporate event your business is providing. A buffet station is a great idea and our pasta station is the perfect choice for a corporate dinner. Choose from tortellini, penne, tri-color totini, farfalle or fusilli pastas with their choice between homemade marinara, alfredo or olive oil with garlic and white wine, vodka or pesto sauces. Add some homemade sides like baby glazed carrots drenched in honey and butter or roasted asparagus spears brushed with garlic olive oil and you have a meal they won’t soon forget.

3-No fuss setup and clean-up

Before a corporate event, you are finalizing details and the last thing you want to worry about is paper products or how to serve ice for the drinks. This is where Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering saves you. Food preparation and setup is a big job. We provide warming servers to keep the food hot, all the dinnerware and even black tie waiters at your request so you can focus on motivating your employees. After the event, you will be happy it is over and spending even one more second with clean-up is the last thing you will want to do. Leave it to us. We will take care of all the food clean-up so you can spend the final few minutes of your event shaking the hands of your hard working employees and thanking them for their time and effort. This time is vital, let us worry about the mess after.

Thomas Oliver’s corporate catering makes your job easier

Corporate catering for NYC events and meetings is what we are good at. We are excited to help you plan your event and make it spectacular. Want a themed event? This is our specialty! Matching the atmosphere of your event with the food is what makes your corporate event something your employees will be talking about for a long time. We are a full service catering company and want to help you make your next corporate event a massive success. Call us today, we can’t wait to wow YOU!

Exciting Manhattan Catering Themes for your Upcoming Summer Events


When it comes to event planning, the details can seem endless. Preparing and purchasing the food yourself is an insurmountable task, especially when you have other duties to take care of such as decor, paper products or dishes, place of the event, music, entertainment and so much more. Every aspect of this event needs your attention. The stress that goes into event planning can decrease the overall enjoyment you feel once it takes place. One of the best ways to eliminate the stress of event planning is to have a catering company handle all aspects of the food. This frees up your time to handle all the details that will make your event special and memorable. Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events is just what you need to make those aspects come to life.

No matter the event, we can make it extraordinary

Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events is your experienced Manhattan catering service. Setting the mood of your event with themed food selections and delicious dishes will exceed your expectations. When you need an accomplished caterer, here are some events we frequently cater for:

Corporate events
Weddings
Birthday parties
Funerals
Bat/Bar Mitzvahs
Family reunions
Backyard BBQs
Holiday parties

And more…No matter the occasion, Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering has a theme to set the mood. We can help reduce your stress and anxiety over event planning. We take care of all the difficult aspects of event planning so you can focus on the fun parts.

How to pick the perfect theme

The theme you pick for your Manhattan catering even should match the mood and tone you wish to set at your event. For instance, your wedding might be carefree and casual or fancy and elegant. To create that luxurious feel, the French Connection theme is perfect with our chicken francaise sauteed in lemon beurre blanc sauce accented with rosemary roasted potatoes and French macaroons. Is your wedding a more casual affair? The Hawaiian Luau or Picnic Lunch themes are sure to establish that relaxed, fun and light hearted atmosphere. For birthday parties, the Ice Cream Sundae Bar or Carnival themes are sure to excite all your guests. What party could be more fun than one with a popcorn machine, colorful cotton candy, stuffed animals or candy apples? All these exciting pops of creativity are provided by our experienced and innovative Manhattan catering service.

Much more than delicious food

Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events provides more than just exceptional entrees, side dishes and desserts, we can also take care of other aspects of your event. We are a full service caterer, which means we provide the paper products, black tie waiters and bartenders and even glassware, linen, as well as table and chairs rentals. And if that wasn’t over and above just an ordinary catering company, we also have business relationships with photography, wedding cake, floral and larger equipment rental companies to make event planning that much easier. Our goal is to make your event planning experience an easy one. There is no need for unnecessary anxiety or headaches over your summertime event when you have Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events to assist you.

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General Info

Thomas Oliver's Gourmet Catering & Events

240 West 35th Street,
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 239-0090
Cell: (646) 335-6310
Fax: (212) 239-0092

Delivery Hours:
7 Days a Week 8:00am to 8:00pm

We Cater 7 days a week all over 5 Boroughs throughout NYC including: Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Bronx & Brooklyn, New York

 

Category Archives: Corporate Catering

happy people enjoying catered food

Great Options for Your Upcoming Christmas Party

The Christmas and winter holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with family, friends, and co-workers, so you can expect a busy season in 2019. If you’re in charge of planning any events from November through January, you might already be thinking about ideas on how to throw an unforgettable fete. However, time is running short. You’ll need to start setting up, the venue, New York holiday and event catering services, and many other details. For some inspiration, check out some options that are sure to put your guests in the mood.

Breakfast or Brunch:

You may not be able to fully replicate the joy of Christmas morning, but you can at least start with a good hearty meal. Most catering companies have a range of choices, from a light continental or oatmeal breakfast to a filling brunch with frittatas, quiches, and an array of tasty meats. If you want to treat your guests to an elegant morning, you might opt for smoked salmon with all the accoutrements or English tea sandwiches. You might consider fruit juice mimosas for a festive affair, but don’t forget the coffee if your event is work-related.

Christmas Carnival:

In many ways, the holidays are about the joy of being a child. There’s perhaps nothing more iconic about being a kid than going to the local carnival, street fair, or festival. Cotton candy, pretzels, hot dogs, mini sandwiches, and many other treats will bring back the days of walking down the carnival fairway. When you add fantastic Christmas décor, you can be sure the crowd will get into the holiday spirit. With the right planning and consultation with your caterer, you can create a fantastic winter wonderland that guests will remember for years to come.

Holidays in the Tropics:

The days are short and the weather is cold around New York come Christmastime, but there are ways to take your event attendees to a tropical paradise. Consider treating them to a day at the beach, Caribbean BBQ-style. For this Christmas-themed event, kabobs are a fun finger-food that enables your guests to mingle with other beach-goers. Jerk-seasoned meat and chicken skewers will fill the room with the amazing aroma of the tropics, and spicy peppers provide warmth. You can trust sides like coleslaw and potato salad to cool off the heat.

Just Desserts:

While you may not think about doing a sweets-only catered event the rest of the year, the holidays are a time to indulge. Plus, if you’re the one preparing the traditional Christmas dishes, you owe it to yourself to get a break when it comes to dessert. Fortunately, the range of catering options is substantial and varied. You might consider: 

  • Beautifully decorated cookie, brownie, and cupcake platters;
  • Exotic choices, like churros, Italian pastries, and baklava;
  • A table scape of French delicacies;
  • Healthy fruit skewers; or,
  • Go simple with a design-your-own ice cream sundae bar.

Of course, if your Christmas time event is a wedding, there’s nothing better than chocolate dipped strawberries to set the mood for romance.

Warm Up with Seasonal Soups:

Hot, liquid sustenance is a staple throughout the cold months, which is why it stands to reason that soups are ideal for holiday festivities in New York. Manhattan caterers offer a multitude of seasonal options fit for any appetite, nutritional preference, cuisine, or style. Warm your guests up with:

  • Split pea, carrot, mushroom barley, and other vegetable soups;
  • Hearty, creamy soups featuring asparagus, broccoli, and tomato; and,
  • Seasonal favorites like butternut squash and pumpkin.

 A Hometown Celebration:

People come from all over the world to enjoy Christmas in the Big Apple, but many are lucky enough to call NYC home at this special time of year. Celebrate your city during the holidays by putting the spotlight on the traditions and cuisine you love. The most popular Christmas meal options are also the most stress-free when you cater deli meats, fantastic breads, cheesecake, and other favorites. Have your guests put together their own creations, stacked high with cheeses, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and other accompaniments.

 Contact Us Today about Christmas Catering in Manhattan

 These are just a few ideas on how you can make a Christmas even special with food, beverages, and other aspects of the holiday experience. If you’d like to know more about how a catering professional can help, please contact the Manhattan office of Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events. We can set up a consultation to review your objectives and outline plans for a memorable affair.

Passed Hors d’Oeuvres

How much does it cost to cater your corporate event?

When you’re planning a corporate event, you know that your budget is going to be a top factor during the process. Whether it’s your first time or you’re an old hat, there are plenty of valuable resources to assist with cost considerations. Event Brite’s Event Budgeting: The 2019 Guide to Master Your Event Budget is one effective tool to help you get a grasp on the basics. However, there isn’t much guidance when you break down individual categories of expenses. 

As you review what you can spend, you may wonder if you can maximize your budget by retaining New York corporate catering services. In many situations, it’s wise to trust these professionals with your event, as they’ve amassed considerable experience and developed key vendor relationships to help streamline costs. Experienced caterers can assist with all your planning needs, starting with the key question: “How much does it cost to cater your corporate event?”

Your Corporate Event Purpose and Objectives:

Your first consideration is the role refreshments will play in your corporate event. Your menu and theme will be very different if you’re planning a meeting for employees, as compared to a spread for potential customers you’re looking to impress. The schedule for your event will obviously be a factor as well, since you want to maximize food and beverage service around your participants’ expectations. Some options include:

  • Prepared Platters, Delivered to Your Event: Probably the most convenient and unfussy alternative, you could make arrangements with your caterer to drop off multiple platters for offering in between sessions. Fruit, veggie, and cheese trays range from around $6-$8 per person, while a heartier antipasto platter may start at $11 each. Assorted sliders or chicken fingers are a fun break from the monotony of meetings, and they typically start at around $18 per attendee.
  • Pre-Meeting Breakfast Options: To get your corporate event off on the right foot, make sure participants have the essential fuel they need. There are many different options depending on your goals, starting from a continental breakfast at around $11 per person to a hot breakfast buffet for $14 each. If you want to keep things on the lighter side and avoid the dreaded food coma, you might consider a New York bagel platter at approximately $4 per guest or a produce-focused healthy breakfast for $12 a person.
  • Fixed Price Lunch: If your guests have spent the morning participating in intense sessions, they’ve probably worked up an appetite for lunch. Cost varies for a fixed price meal, starting at around $18 for a NY deli experience or hearty, meal-sized salad. Prices are higher for a typical meat or chicken and potatoes, usually $30 and up. However, a multi-course meal will usually be accompanied by a selection of sides.
  • Pasta for a Crowd: Pasta is filling, affordable, and can please even the pickiest corporate event attendees. Starting at around $14 per person, you could choose a few different options, such as meat-based, veggie-only, creamy or traditional red sauces – and many other alternatives. Fortunately, most caterers will also include a side salad, bread, butter, and rolls to round out the meal.
  • Themed Dinner Events: When you want to wind up your corporate meeting with a memorable feast, you might want to consider a meal that works around some theme you’ve developed for the event. If you encourage your employees to exceed their quota with a tropical trip, go for a Hawaiian luau. Is your company launching international operations? Treat your attendees to a Taste of Asia, France, or Italy. Many of these options start at around $30 per guest.

Additional Considerations for Corporate Event Catering:

Many of the above prices don’t include other costs for catering event dinners in New York, such as event staff. You need to add on expenses related to executive and assistant chefs, as well as event managers. These employees work at a rate of $45-50 per hour, and an hourly minimum usually applies. Plus, there are costs related to bartenders and services at approximately $40 per hour. 

Our New York Corporate Catering Services Can Help

This information may provide you with essential insight on how much it costs to cater your corporate event, but you may need additional details as you move through the planning process. Our team at Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events is here to help with all aspects of catering event dinners in New York and the surrounding region. Please contact our Manhattan office to set up a consultation with one of our experienced professionals.

gorgeous catered spread

How to Throw A Corporate Event with the help of a Caterer

According to U.S. Small Business Administration statistics from 2018, there are 2.1 million corporations in New York with less than 500 employees. That’s not including the numerous multinational organizations headquartered in the Empire State, many of which appear on the Fortune 500 list every year. 

With such a massive business presence, especially in Manhattan, there’s a good chance you’ll be invited, attend, or otherwise be involved with corporate events. However, you may also be in charge of planning one. When that opportunity arrives, you’ll need to understand everything that goes into the process. There’s a significant amount of time and effort behind the scenes, which is why many people in your position trust the task to corporate catering in NYC. Here are a few points to consider when you’re called upon to present an unforgettable event. 

Start with the Event’s Purpose and Budget:

You need to establish a clear, defined objective for your corporate affair, as you can’t confuse attendees with competing goals. Whether you’re selling a product, training employees, a company retreat, attracting investors, or aiming for other purposes, the first step is establishing your purpose. From there, you should consider:

  • What you hope to accomplish;
  • How you can achieve your goals through this event;
  • The message you want participants to take away.

Of course, your purpose is also closely tied to your budget and venue. Catering decisions must start with all of these initial considerations and, even if you need to adjust them, there’s less financial sting – and hassles – later if you’re scrambling to cover costs.

Review Corporate Guest Profiles:

The details of your attendees are just as important to initial planning, as they’re the equivalent of guests you’d serve if you owned a restaurant. Keep in mind that many of them may attend several events throughout the year – or maybe as often as a few times per month. You want your corporate affair to stand out, so consider:

  • The professions and occupations of your guests;
  • Similar events these people may be attending;
  • Any special considerations based upon your attendees; and,
  • What they’d expect from your event … and what would be a pleasant surprise in terms of refreshments and service.

Research Menu Options and Themes:

With your guest profiles in mind, you can work on style and the type of cuisine you’ll serve. The details depend on your purpose, but you might develop a theme around a product launch, investor goals, or corporate messaging. You’ll also need to consider your venue and what’s possible within the space you’ve chosen for your event. Popular options include such classics as passed hors d’oeuvres and appetizer buffets, but modern twists might be: 

  • Food trucks;
  • Stir fry stations;
  • Cupcake and candy stands;
  • Make your own concoctions; and,
  • Many more.

 Consider Regional and Seasonal Specialties:

Manhattan corporate catering services will typically incorporate food, beverage, and décor options that focus on location and time of year. The benefits are cost and efficiency, since suppliers have plentiful bounties and transportation is minimal. At the same time, these themes are attractive to corporate event attendees who appreciate sustainability and the diminished carbon footprint.

Work Around the Venue and Schedule:

While the catering should be an important factor in corporate events, it’s still necessary to make the arrangements efficient and workable around the objectives of the corporate meeting. If a segment is scheduled around a break between sessions, you’ll need to consider the best, most productive way to serve a multitude of people in a short amount of time. When your catering is part of an event that’s longer in duration, you’ll need to plan several courses that can proceed in appropriate succession.

 Double Check and Finalize:

One overlooked factor in corporate catering is the final walk-through and staging. Last minute details are crucial, especially when you don’t know the specifics of the venue until you arrive. The best Manhattan catering services always make time for a dress rehearsal, sometimes bringing in friends and colleagues to provide opinions and support.

Contact New York Corporate Catering Services for Help with Your Next Event

 As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into catering for a corporate event. The burden can be overwhelming as you’re juggling various tasks and items on your To-Do list. For the experienced professionals at Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events, this process is all part of a day’s work. We’ll have you covered from start to finish, so please contact our Manhattan office to learn more about our services for corporate catering and events.

Best Office Catering in New York

When you’re in the market for gourmet holiday catering, don’t settle for anything less than providers of the best office catering in New York: Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events. We provide catering for all occasions, from weddings and birthday parties to corporate and non-profit events.

Here’s where we’re different from most catering companies: we’re service-oriented. Most catering companies cook up a bunch of food, pack it in metal serving trays, and send it on its way to sit on sternos. That’s not how we do things. At Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events, we believe great service is as important to a catered event as great food. Expect custom menus, attentive catering staff, and top notch customer service when you choose to work with us.

Our Corporate Catering Menus

We can throw all different kinds of party. You pick the menu, we make the party happen. Or, you can work with our team to build a completely custom menu for your event – we do everything we can to accommodate every request we receive.

Our corporate catering menus include:

  • Breakfast. Catering options include a breakfast buffet, our challah french toast breakfast, and naturally, our New York bagel platter;
  • Themed lunch menus. Choose from one of our fun themed lunch menus like our Taste of Asia, our BBQ Buffet, our Hawaiian Luau menu, or our Taste of Greece;
  • Hot pasta options like penne vodka, baked ziti, and three-cheese stuffed shells;
  • Fixed price lunch menus, like our Jacket Potato Bar and our New Yorker Deli Luncheon;
  • Assorted hot and cold sandwich platter options;
  • Entree salad choices like our Southwestern Salad and our Cobb Salad; and
  • Our dessert menu, which includes fruit salads, cheesecake platters, cookie platters, and our Make Your Own Ice Cream Sundae Bar.

You can also design your own completely custom lunch or dinner buffet.

You might want to choose two or more of these menus to build out a multi-faceted catering menu or stick to just one. Don’t forget the beverages!

What Makes Thomas Oliver’s the Best Office Catering in New York?

Put shortly, we make every event we cater memorable for its guests and stress-free for its hosts. Whether you just need great food for your party or you need to rent tables, linens, chairs, and other items to make your party complete, we’ve got what you need. We also make it easy for you to hire servers and bartenders to keep your event flowing smoothly.

Unparalleled Customer Service

Great food makes a great party, but that’s not all it takes to be a great catering company. At Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with unparalleled customer service. Any dietary accommodations you need for your party, whether that’s vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal, gluten-free, or allergen-free, we can make it happen. New York City is one of the most diverse places in the United States, and we couldn’t call ourselves the best office catering in New York if we didn’t provide options for every diet.

We take every customer inquiry seriously and aim to answer questions as quickly as possible. Our catering department’s office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, so we can answer your questions any time you call us. We’re available for your event seven days per week, anywhere in the five boroughs or Long Island.

Sometimes, life takes unexpected turns and you need to cancel your event. We understand; it happens to everybody. When you know you have to cancel a catering order, tell us as soon as possible and preferably more than 24 hours before the event was scheduled to take place. If you can’t cancel within this time frame, you may be subject to a full charge for catering. We do our best to work with all changes and cancellations, but understand that our products are perishable and we simply cannot afford to refund every short-notice cancellation.

Book Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events for your Next Office Party

The right time to get started on planning your next corporate event is now. Don’t wait until a week before the event or even later to start interviewing and booking vendors because that’s too late – top-quality vendors like us will already be booked. To learn more about the catering packages we offer and to start planning your next corporate event with us, contact Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering and Events today to set up your initial consultation with us.

Catering your Halloween Party

Halloween is coming up soon, and if you’re hosting a Halloween party, the time to book your catering is now. When you’re shopping around for catering services in Manhattan, ask about special Halloween- or autumn-themed menus the caterers offer. After all, the menu you choose is a big part of your party’s theming.

Take some time to brainstorm what you might find on a spooky Halloween menu. Maybe your event is a casual one that’d be best served by an autumnal salad and pumpkin bisque, or maybe it’s a more high-end affair full of sophisticated spooks and tantalizing treats.

Choosing the Right Theme for your Halloween Party

We offer a variety of fun themes for your party. A few of our themes are:

  • Hawaiian Luau;
  • The French Connection;
  • Italian Feast;
  • Mardi Gras;
  • Southwest BBQ;
  • New York Deli; and
  • Mexican Fiesta.

We also offer popcorn machine and pretzel machine rentals.

These themes might not initially scream “Halloween” to you, but think outside the box for a moment. A Mexican Fiesta catering menu can be the perfect choice for a Dia de Los Muertos-themed party, and a French Connection menu can be the perfect choice for an elegant haunted ball. Have fun with your party theming and if you want to adjust one of our menu packages, just call and give us your thoughts. We’re happy to make reasonable adjustments to make our menus fit your party better.

It’s Not Halloween without Candy!

Remember, Halloween is all about the candy. Make sure you’ve got plenty of candy to go around at your Halloween party to get your guests in the spirit.

One way to give your candy offering a little more oomph is to serve it as part of an ice cream sundae bar. Ice cream is fun for guests of all ages, and a well-stocked ice cream bar has enough candy to satisfy even the most finicky trick-or-treater.

Gourmet Holiday Catering All Year Long

Not too long after Halloween’s over, it’s time for Thanksgiving. And then Christmas and Hanukkah, then New Year’s, then Superbowl Sunday and Chinese New Year and then Valentine’s Day. We’re here to cater all your parties throughout the year, whether they’re private parties or corporate events.

We offer more than just food. With your package, you can rent glassware, linens, flatware, and even tables and chairs. If you need to rent party equipment as well, we can arrange this as well. We’re here to make hosting your party as easy as possible for you.

Work with a Manhattan Catering Team that Knows How to Party

Start planning your Halloween party today by getting in touch with Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering. We can help you plan a menu that’ll delight your guests and cover all their dietary needs, whether you’ve got gluten sensitivities, food allergies, vegan diets, or other dietary restrictions among your guests. Contact us today to get the planning started. We work in all five boroughs, seven days per week.

How to Throw Together a Fabulous Last Minute Event

Planning an event can take months of careful devising of all the details, finding a venue, mapping out where the decor, tables, chairs and entertainment will go and outlining the perfect menu. But what if you don’t have months? What if you have to plan an event last minute? Not to worry, you can still make it fabulous. Many people agree, some of the best work is done under pressure and the same is true with event planning. You just need to know where to start and how to best utilize your time and resources. Slow down and concentrate, there is no sense in running in circles, you need to focus on what is important if you want to pull together something great in the short time you have. Here are a few tips to help your event go off with a smashing success.

Schedule the venue and entertainment ASAP

Your event needs a location. Finding something free in a pinch might be tricky but keep an open mind. There are so many ideas and places willing to let you reserve their space. Here are a few ideas to help you think out of the box:

  • Reception centers
  • Parking lots
  • Parks
  • A friend’s big backyard
  • A nightclub for daytime use
  • School or church gymnasiums
  • Hotel meeting rooms
  • Art galleries
  • Rooftops or lofts
  • Beach

There are so many ideas where you can hold an event and it does not have to be expensive. Booking the entertainment, if applicable, is also a must in the first stages of planning. DJ’s, musicians, clowns, magicians, traveling petting zoos—find entertainment to match the theme of your event. Obviously a group of Marvel characters would not fit with a wedding, but it would go fantastic for a children’s fundraiser. Schedule your venue and entertainment first and foremost and do not overthink it.

Hire a caterer

One of the most difficult parts of event planning is the food. When you have a time crunch, you can’t be running to dozens of stores picking up ingredients or sitting down sifting through handfuls of recipes or slaving at a kitchen stove cooking it all up yourself. This is simply not possible and with limited time, do not attempt it. You need to spend your time on other parts and caterers such as Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering are professionals when it comes to laying out a beautiful spread of the most delicious dishes imaginable. Our goal is to see your guests rave about the food, the taste and the presentation. While the purpose of your event should not be overshadowed, oftentimes, food is half of the event. The food is one of the ways you can wow your guests and you want it to taste sensational. Hiring a really good caterer takes the pressure off you and also makes you look good. Everyone will be amazed how well you threw together a party so perfectly so quickly. We have your back. Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering takes care of the set up, the food presentation, the clean up and even the dinnerware! Our events menu is a great idea for hors D’oeuvres and beverage services. This is a huge load off your back, you can’t afford NOT to hire a caterer.

Give your event a theme

Theming an event makes the entire planning process flow smoothly. If you have been put in charge of a large family reunion, giving it a Luau or Fiesta theme is an exciting and lively choice. A theme makes the decor and food selection easier. Thomas Oliver’s sumptuous Hawaiian shrimp creole, grilled chipotle corn and fruit skewers for a Luau theme is delicious and fun. Toss around some tiki torches and leis for your guests and you have a memorable event. What about a backyard reunion with friends? Our Picnic Lunch theme a cheese a fruit plate, tomato and mozzarella pasta salad and fresh mint lemonade and ice tea is the perfect summer theme for your party. When it comes to last minute helps, you can’t go wrong with a theme to help you gather decor and food selection.

Don’t do it all yourself

When time is involved, you can’t do it all alone, get help. Assign friends to take over specific tasks. Or better, hire someone to accomplish several areas at once. For instance, did you know that Thomas Oliver is not just a catering company? If you need party equipment rentals, floral arrangements, photography and videography services or venue ideas, we have the resources at our fingertips to help you. If the budget allows it, hiring an event planner is also a tremendous help since it is their job to throw together splendid parties in a jiffy. However you choose to do it, do not overwhelm yourself with too many tasks, get help, divvy out the duties to buddies or let Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering assist you.

Popular Themed Events for Your Corporate Party

It’s been decided, your corporate event is in the works and it’s time to start the planning. It’s a daunting task because you don’t want the event to bomb as that bodes negatively for your company. Not only does a lackluster party make you look bad, but it puts your business down a few notches and the purpose of corporate events is to not only make progress for the future but also to make a good impression. Keeping your employees and business supporters happy and satisfied is a big task. Selecting a theme for your event sets the tone and will have a memorable impact on the attendees. But where to start? What theme is appropriate for the occasion? Knowing your audience as well as the goals of your event will help you make this determination. If team building and getting to know fellow co-workers is the goal, a casual, light hearted event might be in order. Or perhaps introducing new concepts and showing employee appreciation would best be suited with a formal tone.

Determine the tone of the event

Determining the type of event will help you guide your decision towards the type of theme. You can’t have hot dogs at a fancy dressed gala and posh hors d’oeuvres will not mix well for a corporate party at the park. The food needs to match the mood. Any company can have a corporate beach retreat but toss in Thomas Oliver’s Day at the Beach BBQ theme homemade macaroni and potato salad, jerk chicken, teriyaki steak and pepper kabobs with grilled chipotle corn and fruit kabobs, the food fits the mood. A Hawaiian Luau theme is another perfect choice for a casual, summertime event. On the flip side, a formal event needs an elegant, sumptuous feel. This is accomplished with lavish themes such as the French Connection with succulent chicken francois, rosemary roasted potatoes and string beans almondine. What could set the elegant atmosphere better than creamy mashed potatoes in martini glasses with delicate toppings? Deciding the mood of your event with our themed catering menus is a great place to start.

Select the perfect venue to compliment your event

Once you decide the mood of your event, you need to find the best place to hold it. Casual events in the summer are perfect for outdoors and Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering can help you deliver that with our event and corporate planners. By subtly reinforcing the theme in small ways throughout your event, it creates a lasting impression. You don’t want your guests to be smacked in the face with garish and tacky theming. Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering will help you tastefully put together the perfect meal and ambiance so you can focus on the important business aspects of your event. It is also key to ensure that the purpose of your event not be overshadowed by the theme and we can help you achieve this delicate balance. In the New York area, we have established relationships with upscale venues for our clients. These include the high tech Loft 227 that is a spectacular venue for smaller, intimate corporate events as well as Smooth Sailing Celebrations, a swanky, luxurious yacht that is sure to impress. Wherever you decide to hold your event, Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering is excited to deliver the most exquisite themed catering menus to thrill your crowd.

Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering for all your NYC corporate catering needs

Whether your event or meeting is big or small, we are happy to serve and aim to delight. Our corporate menu is extensive and offers options for business breakfast, brunch or lunch meetings. On a grander scale, a corporate dinner buffet is the perfect choice when you need to concentrate on the finer details of business but want a sensational meal with little worry on your end. Our full service catering company is sensitive to those with food allergies so just ask, we are happy to make the appropriate accommodations. Feel free to bring up any dietary restrictions when you schedule your event and options will be given. Your satisfaction is important to us. Transforming your home, office or event space into a special occasion that will linger in their memories for a long time is what we are all about.

To Die For Corporate Catering Menus

It’s soon time for your next corporate event and this time, you want it to be memorable. You want the food to strike a chord. You want to impress your employees and associates. Preparing the presentations and getting the agenda ready for your event presses heavy on your mind. You want to have complete confidence that your corporate catering NYC company will deliver the most delicious dishes, sides and desserts. While your employees and associates spend many hours trying to wow their boss at work, during a corporate event, it’s your turn to wow them. The type of food and ambiance at corporate meetings and events also is a reflection of what your company stands for. You want the food to be enjoyable so no matter what your presentation is about, they will be in a good mood. Psychologically, food has great power to boost mood and poor quality food can do the opposite. Trusting in a professional NYC corporate catering company that will deliver scrumptious food to make your event a smashing success is what you need.

Casual corporate catering

For casual meeting luncheons, when you can place the burden of what to eat on an experienced catering team, your stress load will be lightened. Picking up sandwiches, fixings, condiments, desserts and drinks for the luncheon is a big job. Why not let us take care of these details? And along the way you will also get to relax a bit and enjoy one of the tastiest lunches you’ve had in awhile. Here are a few examples of appetizing corporate lunch menu options:

Sandwich lunch menu: Whether it’s an office, business or boardroom lunch, with a minimum of 8 guests, we will prepare an assortment of sandwiches and wraps that will appeal to all tastes. Adding Assorted David’s Cookies, cakes, brownies and blondies with a fresh fruit platter on the side makes a well rounded lunch.

Hot panini luncheon: If you want to serve something more interesting than the usual sandwiches, hot paninis are a perfect choice. How delicious does breaded chicken cutlet, fresh mozzarella, marinara and parmesan cheese with black forest ham, brie, and sliced pickles sound? The meat selection is superb. Salami, ham, prosciutto, and smoked turkey on a hot pressed sandwiches are a delicious choice everyone will love.
Formal corporate catering

For a fancier, more elegant corporate catering NYC event, we can offer a splendid feast for both the mouth and the eyes. These dishes look as beautiful as they taste and will definitely please your employees. Below are a few menu selections that are perfect for a formal event:

Build your own dinner buffet: If you’d like to select the menu choices that fit your event, we have a wide variety you will love. The chicken roûlade filled with spinach, provolone and roasted red peppers, rosemary roasted chicken or chicken milanese are 3 popular and elegant choices. If beef is what you are craving, sliced fire grilled marinated flank steak served with a horseradish cream sauce, Thai beef kebabs or Korean-style steaks are sure to impress your guests. A wide variety of many vegetable side dishes from fiesta corn to candied sweet potatoes to roasted cajun potato wedges are the perfect garnish to the meal. Desserts such as Italian dessert platters with tiramisu and cannolis or ice cream sundae bars add a brilliant finishing touch.

Themed corporate dinners: Why not make the dinner extra memorable with a theme? A Taste of France, A Taste of Italy and A Taste of Greece bring you the most exotic, elegant French, Italian and Greek dishes all will enjoy.
Worry free NYC corporate catering

Take the stress out of your corporate event planning by handing the meal preparations over to the professionals. Our recipes are out of this world excellent and worth every penny. Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering is excited to be your corporate catering NYC company and entertain the tastebuds of all in attendance at your event.

Three Ways Corporate Catering Will Wow Your Employees

Planning corporate events and meetings takes a lot of work, no matter what size your company is. When it comes to preparations, your list of to do’s is long and overwhelming. Formulating the agenda for the event is hard enough but adding food to all that means days of work. Purchasing the food, drinks, dinnerware, serving items, napkins and tablecloths is a large undertaking, even if the food is already prepackaged and ready to eat. As a business owner however, you know that there is an essential purpose to your meeting or event. It may be to train your employees on new information, inform them of policies and plans or last of all, team building, fun and treating them to a job well done. Regardless of the reasons, all of these purposes are vital to the success of your business. Happy employees reflect well on your company so delivering an event that will wow them should be your goal. Here are a few ways NYC corporate catering for your next meeting or event will wow your employees:

1-Corporate catering allows you to deliver a power packed meeting

If you are not worrying about what you will feed your employees, as well as purchasing all the necessary essentials for the meal, you have an increase of time to spend making the other details of the event or meeting flow seamlessly. You can focus your time and energy on the agenda of the meeting, working on your presentation or adding other exciting details to the schedule. Less stress for you means that you can focus on the most important aspects of the event and let Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events take this weight off your shoulders. Corporate meetings and trainings are sometimes dreaded by employees so by freeing up your time, you can find ways to ensure your meeting will be a positive and engaging experience.

2-NYC Corporate catering offers a delicious selection of dishes

Picture yourself trying to shoulder the burden of feeding everyone at your next corporate meeting or event. Even if you assign a few employees to help you out, with the time you have, you will not be able to provide a mouth watering, succulent and memorable meal. Remember happy employees mean a successful business. So make your employees happy with a meal they won’t forget! With Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering, you can select from a wide range of entrees, side dishes and desserts that will match the mood of any corporate event your business is providing. A buffet station is a great idea and our pasta station is the perfect choice for a corporate dinner. Choose from tortellini, penne, tri-color totini, farfalle or fusilli pastas with their choice between homemade marinara, alfredo or olive oil with garlic and white wine, vodka or pesto sauces. Add some homemade sides like baby glazed carrots drenched in honey and butter or roasted asparagus spears brushed with garlic olive oil and you have a meal they won’t soon forget.

3-No fuss setup and clean-up

Before a corporate event, you are finalizing details and the last thing you want to worry about is paper products or how to serve ice for the drinks. This is where Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering saves you. Food preparation and setup is a big job. We provide warming servers to keep the food hot, all the dinnerware and even black tie waiters at your request so you can focus on motivating your employees. After the event, you will be happy it is over and spending even one more second with clean-up is the last thing you will want to do. Leave it to us. We will take care of all the food clean-up so you can spend the final few minutes of your event shaking the hands of your hard working employees and thanking them for their time and effort. This time is vital, let us worry about the mess after.

Thomas Oliver’s corporate catering makes your job easier

Corporate catering for NYC events and meetings is what we are good at. We are excited to help you plan your event and make it spectacular. Want a themed event? This is our specialty! Matching the atmosphere of your event with the food is what makes your corporate event something your employees will be talking about for a long time. We are a full service catering company and want to help you make your next corporate event a massive success. Call us today, we can’t wait to wow YOU!

Exciting Manhattan Catering Themes for your Upcoming Summer Events


When it comes to event planning, the details can seem endless. Preparing and purchasing the food yourself is an insurmountable task, especially when you have other duties to take care of such as decor, paper products or dishes, place of the event, music, entertainment and so much more. Every aspect of this event needs your attention. The stress that goes into event planning can decrease the overall enjoyment you feel once it takes place. One of the best ways to eliminate the stress of event planning is to have a catering company handle all aspects of the food. This frees up your time to handle all the details that will make your event special and memorable. Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events is just what you need to make those aspects come to life.

No matter the event, we can make it extraordinary

Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events is your experienced Manhattan catering service. Setting the mood of your event with themed food selections and delicious dishes will exceed your expectations. When you need an accomplished caterer, here are some events we frequently cater for:

Corporate events
Weddings
Birthday parties
Funerals
Bat/Bar Mitzvahs
Family reunions
Backyard BBQs
Holiday parties

And more…No matter the occasion, Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering has a theme to set the mood. We can help reduce your stress and anxiety over event planning. We take care of all the difficult aspects of event planning so you can focus on the fun parts.

How to pick the perfect theme

The theme you pick for your Manhattan catering even should match the mood and tone you wish to set at your event. For instance, your wedding might be carefree and casual or fancy and elegant. To create that luxurious feel, the French Connection theme is perfect with our chicken francaise sauteed in lemon beurre blanc sauce accented with rosemary roasted potatoes and French macaroons. Is your wedding a more casual affair? The Hawaiian Luau or Picnic Lunch themes are sure to establish that relaxed, fun and light hearted atmosphere. For birthday parties, the Ice Cream Sundae Bar or Carnival themes are sure to excite all your guests. What party could be more fun than one with a popcorn machine, colorful cotton candy, stuffed animals or candy apples? All these exciting pops of creativity are provided by our experienced and innovative Manhattan catering service.

Much more than delicious food

Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events provides more than just exceptional entrees, side dishes and desserts, we can also take care of other aspects of your event. We are a full service caterer, which means we provide the paper products, black tie waiters and bartenders and even glassware, linen, as well as table and chairs rentals. And if that wasn’t over and above just an ordinary catering company, we also have business relationships with photography, wedding cake, floral and larger equipment rental companies to make event planning that much easier. Our goal is to make your event planning experience an easy one. There is no need for unnecessary anxiety or headaches over your summertime event when you have Thomas Oliver’s Gourmet Catering & Events to assist you.