Put a Spin on Spring Holiday Traditions

Make staying-at-home special with family-size meals for takeout or delivery.

While you can’t provide a dine-in experience this spring, you can offer memorable holiday meals.

Operators should consider taking kitchen creations to the household table with a family-size holiday dinner—appetizers, entrées, beverages and desserts—that can serve up to eight people. It’s smart right now to choose menu items that are easy to produce and have a good margin, but don’t overlook easy flourishes. The impression a restaurant makes during the holidays will keep people coming back later.

Here are suggestions to make it happen:

Offer a Brunch Menu

Make quiche and frittatas in individual or family sizes and offer traditional and seasonal ingredients, with a budget-conscious option

Offer a build-your-own breakfast sandwiches bar that includes bread, rolls, meats, eggs, cheese and all the fixings

Suggest upscale ingredients to enhance the celebration. Some ideas include ramps, fiddlehead ferns, wild mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes and spring asparagus

Supply Just the Starters

Offer dips (hummus, baba ghanoush and guacamole) with high-impact garnishes such as pomegranate arils, roasted garlic cloves, chopped nuts, fresh herbs, pickled root veggies (okra, carrots or tomatoes)

Dress up handhelds (empanadas, meat pies, tacos, flatbreads, kebabs) with holiday ingredients like ham, lamb, leeks or Brussels sprouts

Provide a deconstructed salad with easy-to-assemble instructions that includes fresh fruits, diced vegetables, cheese cubes, nuts, seeds, greens and a signature dressing

Offer a variety of single-serve canned or bottled beverages or mixers

Sparkling water and juices add a touch of spring freshness

Think of the Add-ons

Offer fresh-baked rolls

Suggest a fresh fruit bowl or platter for a colorful, sweet spring treat

Provide the juices and sparkling waters to make mimosas or other cocktails

Plan Family-Size Meal Kits

Ham, scalloped potatoes and spring veggies

Pork crown roast, asparagus, fingerling potatoes and croissants

Braised lamb, spring carrots, beets and sweet onions

Prime rib roast, roasted potatoes and glazed carrots

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli

Biscuit-topped chicken pot pie

Steak fajitas with peppers and onions, avocado and pico de gallo

Offer portions in half-size and full-size foil pans

Use sauces and/or gravies to keep products moist, when possible

Have a checklist for disposables—not every customer will need napkins, utensils and straws, so ask before including to save costs

Add simple reheating or assembly instructions for at-home service

Think Beyond the Meal

Include a coloring book and crayons for children

Join forces with a local florist for one-stop meals and table flowers

Create a care package program to send a small meal a neighbor or loved one

Include an offer to encouraging people to return

Promote on social media by suggesting your customers share pictures of their holiday dinner service

Plan for Pickup/Delivery

Set an order cut-off time to help forecast inventory and staffing needs

Schedule pickups at a designated time to avoid customers from all arriving at once

Practice safe non-contact pickup or delivery practices

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