Recently, experts at a few of these local party service businesses revealed what’s on the menu on the local party scene.

Cookbook Co. Cooks is just one of a multitude of Calgary companies offering excellent and unique party services. Catering manager Jenni Neidhart and her catering team at Cookbook Co. custom design events from intimate parties for 16 to grand events for 1,500 guests. From a cocktail party to a formal sit-down dinner, the full-service catering package includes food, staffing, rentals, linens, beverages, flowers and more. “Our brand new kitchen-classroom is the perfect venue to host a fabulous, interactive part … perfect for both personal and corporate events,” explains Neidhart. “We will help you design your own custom cooking class, dinner or event by arranging for you to consult with a prominent local chef, specifically paired to the occasion.”

Among party favourites Cookbook Co.’s clients have to select from for their event, along with scores more mouthwatering items, are chipotle cilantro grilled shrimp, quesadillas filled with applewood smoked cheddar, crostini with valbella smoked duck and balsamic onion confit. To meet Calgary’s hungry appetite for entertaining the company contracts out the works—bartenders, kitchen staff and professional servers.

They’ll take care of all rental equipment needs from tables, chairs, and linens to outdoor canopies and heaters for cool Calgary nights. For beverage needs the staff can recommend and arrange all libations from pairing special wines for a dinner party to bar requirements for the classic cocktail party.

“Current (Calgary) trends I have recently noticed are more requests for cocktail events in place of dinner,” says Neidhart. “(There are) a large variety and selection of fun appetizers that give guests the chance to mingle and interact during a party.”

“The best part is there is minimal serving ware required, which means less clean up and a more relaxed way of entertaining.”

Susan Hopkins, co-owner of Red Tree Red Catering, agrees the city has developed an upscale taste for entertaining, especially over the last four years. She says while many Calgarians are still throwing bashes with the full treatment—serving staff, chefs, bartenders, rentals and even a theme—for those special occasions, many more regularly enlist the eight-year veteran caterers to simply prepare food for takeout from their Marda Loop and Kensington storefronts.

Hopkins has seen a trend, especially for intimate affairs of 20 or less, toward either hosts setting up a buffet of colourful veggies, salads and hot and hearty dishes like cedar-planked salmon or tender roast beef, or taking on serving themselves with an array of appetizers like crab cakes, risotto balls, or red pepper coulee-topped portabello mushroom tortilla cake. While delicious dishes are key, it’s also about the looks, she says. “Beautiful and unusual presentation, and lots of care taken is a must. They want it to be a step above what they could and would do.”

While Red Tree, which just opened its second venue in Kensington a year ago, has on taken jobs of all sizes from small dinner parties and out-of-town wedding receptions to elaborate corporate flings in the core with guest counts over 600, cocktail parties dish up at least half of all business.

And Calgarians are willing to spend for it. “People have the money to support it; there’s just more of a disposable income here now,” says Hopkins, adding it’s nothing for event bills to run $100 a person with a full staff and rentals or $40 for a self-serve buffet. Even those opting to take away fare prepared by Red Tree chefs don’t flinch at $15 to $20 to feed each party guest in the current market. This month, a client is flying Hopkins and her business partner, Aaron Creurer to Grande Prairie for the sole purpose of catering a dinner party for 30.

Sweetening up the deal
While savoury offerings are a must-have at cocktail shindigs, gourmet desserts are also all the rage at Calgary culinary events. If you are part of the local party scene, you’ll likely eventually meet the sweet creations of Nectar Desserts and company owner and executive chef Rebekah Pearse. “Dessert is special,” says Pearse. “Unlike regular foods, we use it to treat ourselves, celebrate important occasions, to thank, and to reward.”

What makes Nectar Desserts special is its use of fairly sourced chocolate, vanilla beans and coffee and organic and local produce. Hosts can choose from dessert buffets to cocktail-style sweets. Packages are available in Tier One, Tier Two and Tier Three selections.

For example, Tier Three is “a dessert wonderland, where dessert is the main event and you are looking to impress.” Desserts can include cookies, squares, profiterole towers, seasonal tarts, mousse cups and more. You can further customize your event with an ice cream bar, four-layer cakes, flambe or S’more stations.

Entertaining your options
Party entertainment choices can be as diverse as the crowd you’re aiming to please. For an artistic Christmas party crowd, you might opt for a flamboyant flamenco dancer and guitarist performance, while a classic magician might better suit a conservative corporate affair.

One newer popular Calgary party company is The Photobooth Co.— who rents out digital photobooths for private parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs, corporate events, fundraisers, graduations, corporate branding etc. Each party guest can leave the fest with a colour or black and white photostrip.

The company charges $1,500 for four hours of use which includes delivery and removal of booth, unlimited photostrips, customized logo on photostrips and on-site attendants for four hours. Additional hours will cost $100. A CD of all photos taken can be purchased for $150. “Everyone is super excited about the idea and can’t believe they can actually rent a photobooth,” says Robin Audenart, events manager, The Photobooth Co. “It really brings something to the party that is different and that gives your guests something fun to do.  As well, the guests go home with a customized photostrip to remember the event.” CL