When you hire a food catering service for your office party, you have one major decision to make. Do you go with the hors d'oeuvres and finger foods, or do you delve all the way in for a full three- or four-course meal? There are some other factors to consider before you can make the correct food choice here:

Eating at the Office

If the office party is actually at the office, where is the food going to go? Is it going to sit on the break room table, or go on display in the conference room? In either case, you may want to choose the hors d'oevures and finger food options, since these are quick and easy to serve, and ready to nibble. These foods are also less messy than trying to serve a several course meal in the office.

Eating at a Fancy Venue

Of course, if you are holding the office party in a hotel conference room (or similar venue), then a full meal is a good idea. There will be lots of tables and nice linens out for the occasion and people can actually sit and enjoy what they have on their plates. It also adds a touch of class to whatever occasion the office party is celebrating, be it Christmas, New Year's, or company anniversary.

Picnic in the Park

Finally, if this is an outdoor party, such as the ones frequently held by corporations as company and family picnics, you can have both an hors d'oeuvres table and a full meal table. Everyone can come up to these two tables and take what they like, or order up a steak or burger to their preferred done-ness. Nibble a shrimp cocktail on ice, or chow down on chilled salads. The location of the party really does dictate what you eat and how it is served.

Talk to Your Catering Service

It helps to meet with your catering service and talk with the main caterer/chef. He or she can help you decide what to serve based on where your office party will be. Then you can discuss the menu, and what tasty little extras you can serve that will accommodate all tastes and palates, including any vegans or vegetarians in the office. What is served may also have to be constrained to the company office party budget, in which case you may just have to stick to hors d'oeuvres anyway.

Contact a company like Menu For Your Venue Inc for more information and assistance.