Chic Eats: 5 Trends in Catering for 2025

This time of year, inside us all live two wolves. One craves a fresh start, striving for vitality, and a sweeping away of the cobwebs. The other just wants to be a cozy, lazy bum. 2025 catering trends reflect this balance too. Whether it’s offering dishes that celebrate health and vitality or indulgent comfort foods that embrace relaxation, these menus invite us to embrace life at our peak—whatever that might mean for each of us.

Wellness in Entertaining.

Party coordinators are reporting a trend that strips back the maximalism of recent years, with a new spotlight on simple, whole foods, featuring fresh ingredients that go heavy on quality and light on excess. Superfoods and plant based plates are also taking center stage, with time-tested Mediterranean fare known for its universal appeal and link to longevity. Nutrient rich options known as Functional Foods send guests home healthier than when they arrived, and an artistic lens toward non-alcoholic “mocktails” elevate the humble Kiddie Cocktail to a mixologist crafted libation. Hangovers are so 2024.

Earth, we’ve got your back.

What with extreme weather, microplastics, and factory farming being front page news, it’s no wonder sustainable entertaining is in peak demand. More than ever clients request seasonal and locally sourced food and dinnerware to minimize their celebration’s carbon impact. Reusable tableware, borrowed festive décor, and minimal disposables are on trend, as are repurposing leftovers into donated meals to charitable organizations, party favors for guests and staff, or rolling them into the next event’s menu as a complimentary side or amuse bouche. At All Occasions Catering, we practice sustainability by donating food scraps to a local hobby farm, where everyday leftovers are transformed into nutrient-rich compost or animal feed. Clients also rave over partnerships with area purveyors committed to ethical farming, fishing, and employment practices for a feel-good, holistic approach that feeds the environment, community, and the local economy. Oh, and the party guests. 

Like eating a hug.

That feel-good vibe extends to the cashmere loungewear of catering, the ever-popular Comfort Food. While this of course translates to limitless sauces, cheeses, and calories, Comfort also means indulging in nostalgic recipes that transport us back and tell us a story about a region, an era in time, or ourselves. Recreating grandma’s repertoire, one’s cultural and religious traditions, or offering a meal that encapsulates the city you grew up in, creates connection between the guests, and the staff presenting it. Celebrate your unique history and position on the planet, and create communion with your menu.

All hands on deck.

Blur the lines of the caterer-cateree relationship by introducing an interactive element to your event. Introduce the team at food stations where guest-facing chefs collaborate in real time with the diner, with custom rolled sushi, pasta flights, or a fresh-shucked oyster bar. Allowing the chef and service team to act as each table’s concierge, checking in throughout the meal and making adjustments to suit their personalities, adds a memorable touch and friendlier flair. Table-side grilling, modern-day fondue, and family style service engage the guest for a more harmonious experience. Nothing breaks the ice better than saying “anyone mind if I finish off the ziti?”

Artful aesthetics.

Food presentation isn’t exactly a new thing; chefs have been aiming for beauty all along. But 2025 will take their efforts to new heights, in some cases literally. Grazing tables are picking up steam, a cornucopia effect of voluminous layers to nosh, in a lush color palette and varying textures. Charcuterie is beginner grade by comparison. Displayed in an imaginative, geometric layout, cheeses, proteins, jams and pickled treats adorn the tablescape, incorporating risers and sauces in artisanally crafted bowls. Pair with bread art and a mimosa bar, and you’ve got an all-the-rage mixer guests will be raving about. 

Contact your All Occasions Catering consultant today to explore these and any of your own innovative ideas.