What Makes Mediterranean-Inspired Catering a Good Choice for Christmas?

Christmas party planning often starts with a simple question: what should you serve when your guest list includes family members, children, friends, colleagues, and people with different food preferences?

The challenge is not finding enough food. It is choosing a menu that feels generous, suits the occasion, and is practical to serve.

Choose the occasion first: A family dinner, office lunch and larger seasonal celebration may need different menus and serving arrangements.

Build variety into the table: Consider mezze, salads, main dishes, suitable sides, bakery selections and desserts.

Explore the catering categories: El Gourmet publishes family feast, corporate and wedding catering options.

Plan around your guests: Confirm attendance, allergies, dietary requirements, serving arrangements and budget.

Enquire early: El Gourmet recommends at least 5-7 business days for standard catering. For weddings and events with more than 100 guests, 3-4 weeks is recommended. Christmas availability should be confirmed directly.

This guide helps families, businesses and event organisers compare practical Christmas catering ideas across Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It explains how to select a menu, consider different event formats and prepare a useful catering enquiry.

It distinguishes El Gourmet’s published catering categories and menu information from suggested Christmas menu combinations. The combinations below are ideas to discuss with the catering team, not fixed Christmas packages or a promise that every listed dish is available.

Mediterranean-inspired catering can work well for Christmas because it offers variety across starters, mains, sides, and desserts. Guests can share dishes, choose from different flavours, and enjoy a meal that feels suitable for a group.

A gathering menu does not need to rely on one large main dish. A selection of mezze and salads can give guests different options before the main course.

Depending on the confirmed menu, a shared spread may include:

Hummus and other mezze selections.

Fresh salads such as fattoush or tabbouleh.

Appetizers such as kibbe and falafel.

Fresh bread and savoury bakery selections.

Suitable sides to accompany the main dishes.

This format can suit family-style dinners, office buffets and informal holiday parties. It also gives hosts more flexibility when guests have different preferences.

Grilled selections can make a substantial centrepiece for a Christmas meal. El Gourmet’s published catering information refers to choices such as shawarma, kafta, kebab and mixed grill selections.

For larger gatherings, ask the team about the current main-dish choices, serving quantities and suitable sides. A choice of rice options, with lamb, chicken or vegetarian selections where available, can also be discussed when confirming the menu.

Savoury bakery items can complement a buffet or provide convenient choices for an office lunch. El Gourmet’s corporate catering information lists items such as cheese manakeesh, lahmoujain and fatayer. Its catering page also features baklava.

A dessert selection can provide a familiar finish to a shared meal. Ask which bakery and patisserie items can be supplied for your event date.

The most useful starting point is the event itself. Consider the number of guests, the setting, the serving format, and how formal the occasion will be.

Family gatherings often benefit from a menu that can be shared at the table. El Gourmet’s published Family Feast option features a whole roasted lamb leg, traditional Ouzi rice, mezze for 20+ guests, and a baklava dessert box.

This is a published offering, not a universal menu for every group. Confirm the current price, availability, serving quantity, and any substitutions directly with El Gourmet before making plans.

For a different family gathering, ask about a combination of mezze, grilled selections, rice or other suitable sides, and desserts. The best arrangement will depend on the guest count and the current menu.

An informal office lunch can be easier to organise when the menu is practical to serve and offers variety.

A suggested combination to discuss with El Gourmet could include:

Shawarma bites or a shawarma family platter as the main selection.

Appetizers such as kibbe and falafel.

Fresh salads and mezze.

Rice and suitable sides, depending on the selected combination.

Lebanese sweets to finish.

This is an enquiry guide, not a fixed corporate Christmas package. Ask the team which current catering options can be combined for your group.

A more formal office event may call for a coordinated meal presentation and a substantial selection.

A suggested combination could include:

Mixed grill selections with a choice of appetizers.

Mezze and suitable sides.

A coordinated main-meal presentation.

Lebanese desserts and sweets.

El Gourmet’s corporate catering information describes boxed and buffet-style options. Discuss the event format, delivery timing, and setup requirements before confirming. Wedding catering may involve additional services, such as table staff or event coordination, but these should not be assumed to be included in a corporate or Christmas order.

Important: These suggested combinations help customers identify which current catering category to ask about. They do not represent new menu bundles or packages.

Before choosing dishes, establish:

The expected number of guests, including children.

Whether the event is a seated meal, buffet, or boxed lunch.

The event start time and preferred serving time.

Whether guests will be eating a full meal or light refreshments.

The available serving space, tables and equipment.

These details help the catering team discuss suitable quantities and serving arrangements.

A balanced menu should feel complete without becoming unnecessarily complicated.

Use this simple planning sequence:

Starters: Select mezze, salads or appetizers to begin the meal.

Main dishes: Choose the main selections that suit the occasion and guest count.

Sides: Ask which rice, bread, and other sides work with the chosen mains.

Desserts: Consider bakery items or Lebanese sweets for the finish.

Serving format: Confirm whether the food is supplied boxed, on platters, or in buffet-style arrangements.

Rather than estimating quantities from a generic online serving chart, ask El Gourmet to advise based on the actual dishes, guest count, and event format.

El Gourmet’s catering information describes its offering as halal. Guests do not need to treat halal as a separate menu request. However, hosts should still communicate any additional dietary requirements, food allergies, and ingredient concerns.

Ask the catering team to confirm dish-level ingredients, preparation arrangements and any cross-contact considerations. Do this before the order is finalised, especially when guests have serious allergies.

El Gourmet recommends at least 5-7 business days for standard catering orders. For weddings and large events of more than 100 guests, its published guidance recommends 3–4 weeks.

Christmas is a busy seasonal period. These general lead times do not guarantee availability for a particular date. Contact the team early to check the date, menu options, and order requirements.

El Gourmet’s catering page identifies the Greater Toronto Area as its service area and invites customers to request a catering quote. Its contact page also advises customers to call about direct catering delivery arrangements.

Before confirming, ask:

Is delivery available to the event address?

What delivery window can be arranged?

Is setup included or handled by the host?

Are serving utensils, plates, or other supplies included?

What is the minimum order or guest count for the selected option?

When must the final guest count be confirmed?

Do not assume that delivery, staffing, buffet setup, or table service is included. Confirm each requirement in writing.

A clear enquiry helps the catering team understand what you need. Include:

Event date, location, and type.

Estimated guest count.

Preferred serving format.

Main dishes and food categories you are considering.

Dietary requirements and allergies.

Budget range, if you have one.

Delivery, setup, and serving requirements.

This gives the team the information needed to discuss suitable current options and provide a more useful quote.

• Does El Gourmet offer Christmas catering in Durham Region and the GTA?
  El Gourmet publishes catering services for family gatherings and corporate events and identifies the Greater Toronto Area as its service area. If your event is in Durham Region, contact the team with your exact address and event date to confirm delivery and availability.
• What types of Christmas catering can I ask El Gourmet about?
  You can enquire about its published family feast, corporate catering, and other catering options. The team can discuss current menu selections and whether they suit your event. Suggested Christmas combinations in this article are not fixed packages.
• Is there a family feast option for a large Christmas gathering?
  El Gourmet’s catering page currently lists a Family Feast featuring a whole roasted lamb leg, traditional Ouzi rice, mezze for 20+ guests, and a baklava dessert box. Confirm the current price, guest suitability, availability, and any menu changes directly with the team.
• Can El Gourmet cater an office Christmas lunch?
  El Gourmet publishes corporate catering options, including boxed and buffet-style service. Its corporate catering information also describes grilled selections, salads, bakery items and customised menus. Ask which options are currently available for your date and guest count.
• Can I request a vegetarian selection?
  El Gourmet’s published catering information refers to dietary options, and its corporate catering page describes salads and vegetable selections. Tell the team how many vegetarian meals are needed and ask them to confirm suitable dishes and preparation details.
• Is El Gourmet’s catering halal?
  El Gourmet identifies its catering offering as 100% halal certified on its catering page. If you need details about certification or a particular ingredient, ask the team when making your enquiry.
• How far in advance should I book?
  El Gourmet recommends 5-7 business days for standard catering orders. For weddings and events with more than 100 guests, it recommends 3-4 weeks. Christmas dates may be limited, so contact the team as early as possible.
• Does El Gourmet deliver catering orders?
  El Gourmet’s contact page says direct delivery can be arranged for catering and large market orders across the GTA. Confirm whether delivery is available to your address, along with the delivery fee and timing.
• Does the catering quote include setup and serving staff?
  Do not assume that it does. Ask whether your selected service includes delivery, buffet setup, serving equipment, staff, or table service. Confirm the inclusions in your quote.
• How do I request a Christmas catering quote?
  Visit the El Gourmet catering page and submit an enquiry with your event date, guest count and event type. You can also call 905-831-6060 to discuss your requirements.

A successful Christmas meal is about more than choosing dishes. It is about selecting food that suits the people attending, the style of the event, and the way the meal will be served.

Mediterranean-inspired catering gives hosts a flexible starting point, from mezze and grilled selections to savoury bakery items and Lebanese sweets. El Gourmet’s published family feast and corporate catering services offer options to explore for gatherings across the GTA, with Durham Region enquiries best confirmed by event address.

If you are planning a family dinner, office Christmas lunch or seasonal celebration, share your date, guest count and preferred menu style with the team.

Planning a Christmas gathering? Request a catering quote from El Gourmet or call 905-831-6060 to discuss your event.

A successful Christmas meal is about more than choosing dishes. It is about selecting food that suits the people attending, the style of the event, and the way the meal will be served.

Mediterranean-inspired catering gives hosts a flexible starting point, from mezze and grilled selections to savoury bakery items and Lebanese sweets. El Gourmet’s published family feast and corporate catering services offer options to explore for gatherings across the Greater Toronto Area.

If you are planning a family dinner, office Christmas lunch or seasonal celebration, share your date, guest count and preferred menu style with the team.

• Corporate catering page; use in the corporate catering section:
  https://elgourmet.ca/corporate-catering-services-in-pickering/
• El Gourmet contact page; use for contact and delivery details:
  https://elgourmet.ca/contact/

• The Cultural Value of Mediterranean Food Sharing:
  https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/mediterranean-diet-00884
  
• Local Durham Region Holiday Events:
  https://www.durham.ca/tourism/
  https://www.durham.ca/news/posts/30plus-christmas-markets-and-holiday-events-in-durham-region-this-season/
  
• Managing Food Allergies at Events (User Trust & Practical Value:
  https://foodallergycanada.ca/campaign/food-allergy-and-the-holidays-celebrating-during-the-pandemic/holiday-resources/