Fresh Platters Make Holiday Entertaining Easy
I’m a huge fan of food and its countless combinations and variations, but hesitate to call myself a “foodie” – as it sounds a bit pretentious. That being said, I’m far more enamoured with its eating than its preparation.
This sentiment is even more clear-cut when it comes to party planning. With families and friends finally getting back together this holiday season, the task of rolling up the sleeves to clean, peel, chop, cube, slice, and arrange will be a little more onerous than the previous two years. And it’s one I’d rather avoid. Which means I’ll leave the food prep to those who have the time and expertise, and get on with managing guest lists, cleaning, decorating, and other fun stuff…
If you have the means, relief can take the form of hiring a chef or caterer. Many of them will even handle the cleanup. But if your budget is a little tighter, a few mouse clicks can take you on an equally easy path.
I’m talking about platters. There’s more to these than a few slices of deli meat and cubed cheese arranged on a plastic tray – although meat and cheese platters are still among the more popular options. In particular, our Artisan platters.
Our Artisan Cheese Platter, for example, includes a selection of double cream brie, aged white cheddar, mild blue cheese wedge, Applewood smoked cheddar, goat cheese log, crackers, grapes, dried apricots, and walnuts. Or how about our Artisan Meat & Cheese Platter: double cream brie, Applewood smoked cheddar, Genoa salami, spicy cacciatore sausage, crackers, grapes, dried apricots, walnuts, and olives. No substitutions please.
Among the many other options are platters that feature antipasto, pickles, fancy fruits, vegetarian wraps, shrimp – and sushi. There are even gluten-free platters.
These make a great spread for an evening soiree or after-work mixer. If you need something substantial but a little less formal for the company’s ‘holiday’ luncheon, sandwich platters are just the ticket. These can incorporate a variety of meats, cheeses, and vegetarian options.
One popular choice is the Artisan Sandwich Platter, which includes turkey and cheddar, roast beef and cheddar, ham and swiss, corned beef and swiss, with spring mix, mustard and mayo on artisan buns. And don’t forget to add a salad: garden, Greek, or Caesar.
Remember that all functions are more fun with a cookie or dessert platter. With coffee or tea in hand, it’s hard to resist an assortment of sweet treats.
Platters aren’t just convenient (and cost effective), they’re an eye-catching alternative to the do-it-yourself jumble of mismatched potluck containers and prepackaged desserts. Vince’s is known for our platter presentation, hand crafted by our dedicated team, and made fresh to order.
Find out more by calling 905-852-2442, visit us in store, or by shopping online: vincesmarket.ca/platters. We offer free shipping on orders over $250 (within a 15 km radius of our stores), or you can pick up at one of our locations.
Wishing you a stress-free holiday season!
— Neil
