8 Caterers For Your Christmas Dinner - Including Halal Ones
Here are 8 great Christmas caters - including halal caters to have the perfect festive dinner
Catering services promise to save us from the hangries so we may continue to socialise with laughter and joy. And because caterers in Singapore aren’t expensive, they’ve become a common fixture at home events.
But is catering a buffet worth the money? Or is home cooking the better deal?
Whether you choose to cater or cook, there are pros and cons to each option.
Here, read on for our Christmas catering vs home cooking guide:
- Catering Pros: Saves time and effort
- Catering Prices in Singapore
- Halal Catering Singapore
- Home Cooking Pros: Save money
Christmas Catering: Saves You Time and Effort
Catering saves you time and effort, so you can focus on your event and your guests. A catering package provides everything you need to feed your guests, including disposable cutlery, garbage bags, serviettes and such. Some caterers can also rent you stools, tables and chairs.
However, because caterers rely on economy of scale, the cost per person goes up for smaller parties than larger ones. This has got nothing to do with the quality of the food – it’s purely because of the need for caterers to make a profit.
Additionally, most caterers charge a delivery fee (around S$50 to S$60 per trip) which, if ever, are only waived for orders exceeding several hundreds of dollars. There are also other surcharges that may be payable, such as if your location lacks direct lift access.
Another common downside with catered food is food wastage, as you cannot return cooked food. Because catering kitchens combine and prepare orders, your food is typically cooked hours prior to your guests’ arrival. This contributes to the problem of wasted food, as certain types of food items just do not keep well.
Here, eight Christmas caterers including Halal caterers this Christmas 2022:
This well-known caterer ticks all the boxes when it comes to serving up the traditional Christmas dinner your family and friends are expecting – with all the fanciness and none of the hard work (on your end, anyway).
Christmas menus range from $29.96 per pax for Christmas tea reception to $94.16 per pax for a four-course dinner.
There are also add-ons available, such as:
Spiced Honey Chicken Glazed Ham ($83.46 – $96.30 for 2kg)
24 Hours Braised Angus Beef Cheek with Baby Potatoes ($181.90 for 3kg)
Baked Whole Norwegian Salmon with Roasted Zucchini and Basil Pesto ($147.66 for 1.6kg to 2kg)
Absolutely divine.
Purple Sage, +65 6396 6990
Get your order in early to clinch some unmissable deals with this caterer, which has always had appetising Christmas menus for all budgets. This year, Lavish has yet to release their Christmas 2022 menu, but historical prices used to range from $18+ to $60+ per head.
Lavish also used to cater to smaller group sizes with their Santa’s Joy Box ($338+), a boxed set that feeds 10 to 12 and includes yummy-sounding Asian-Inspired Chicken Rendang Shepherd’s Pie and Sauteed Spiced Marinated Prawns in Garlic Cream tossed with Capsicum and Onions.
Simple, yet effective, we say.
Lavish Dining, +65 6392 2688
Forget what you think you know about Christmas dinner. Instead, order up a BBQ spread so good you’ll need to roll your guests out the door after.
On Decker Barbecue’s Christmas 2022 menu ($490+ for 8 pax):
Whole smoked turkey
Sourdough, sausage stuffing
Jalapeno cheddar cornbread
Coleslaw
Mac & Cheese
Apple Cobbler with whipped cream
Delectable, if unorthodox, Christmas specials.
In Decker’s words: All of the trimmings, none of the fuss. We like.
Decker Barbecue, howdy@deckerbarbecue.com, +65 6635 8565
For a cocktail party or something more informal, check out The Plattering Co.’s stunning grazing tables and platters.
Comprising beautifully-arranged spreads – they have specially curated three Christmas-specific menus – this unique take on home catering is such a breath of fresh air, especially aesthetically when compared to the ugly-but-functional chafing-tray set-ups we’re used to.
Their Christmas 2022 menu spans:
Joly Christmas Feast with Festive Prime Rib Roast (6 to 8 pax), $368
Jolly Christmas Feast with Guinness Baby Back Ribs (6 to 8 pax), $288
Jolly Christmas Feast with Oven-baked Salmon Platter (5 to 7 pax), $258
Oven-Baked Salmon Platter with Holiday Roasted Vegetables (4 to 6 pax), $155
Guinness Baby Back Ribs Meat Platter with Holiday Roasted Vegetables (5 to 7 pax), $168.00
Their choice of add-ons (Swiss potato rosti, kombu butter portobello, potato gratin, shepherd’s pie) is also astounding.
Do it for the ‘gram. #buffetgoals, anyone?
The Plattering Co.,
Feeling stuffed from all the festive feasting and want something that’s tasty yet nutritious? Grain’s your go-to.
Their Christmas buffets and party sets are veggie-heavy while still feeling indulgent.
Christmas Buffet 6-course, drinks: $28.78 per pax, 30 guests min.
Christmas Buffer 7-course, drinks: $41.62 per pax, 30 guests min.
Christmas Buffer 7-course tier 3, drinks: $52.32 per pax, 30 guests min.
Meaty staples like whole turkey and chicken and roast beef are available if you want something even heartier.
Grain, +65 3163 5336
This Halal-certified caterer is a household name not just at Christmas time but throughout the year.
This festive season, they have mini Christmas buffets and larger-sized menus alike to cater to parties of all sizes:
Exclusive Christmas Flair Mini Buffet 8 dishes: $26.99 per pax, min. 20 guests
Exclusive Noel’s Charm Mini Buffet 9 dishes: $32.99 per pax, min. 15 guests
Glistening Glamour Christmas Buffet 11 items: $35 per pax, min. 30 guests
Merry Revelry Christmas Buffet 10 items: $26 per pax, min. 40 guests
Orange Clove, +65 6515 0991
Rasel Catering is the Halal arm of Purple Sage – which has received endorsement from the Health Promotion Board as part of its Healthier Dining Programme, for those watching their waistlines and wellness.
This Christmas 2022, Rasel Catering’s Christmas menus range from $20 to $60 per pax:
Christmas Tea Reception: $20 per pax, min. 100 guests
Joyous Christmas: $25 per pax, min. 50 guests
Gourmet Christmas: $40 per pax, min. 30 guests
Premium Christmas: $60 per pax, min. 30 guests
Dig in to classic dishes such as sous vide beef sirloin, British sticky toffee pudding with vanilla crème and traditional roast whole turkey with chestnut stuffing. We’re drooling already.
Rasel Catering Singapore, +65 6777 7183
Muslim-owned cafe-cum-caterer All Things Delicious has prepared a delectable menu that you can’t resist.
Roast Beef with the works ($179)
Roast organic Kampung chicken with sausage filling ($168 for 2 pieces)
Chef to go Mini Buffet ($128.90)
Mezze Platter ($69.90)
Hearty Atd Christmas Salad Tray ($39)
Curried Lamb & Potato Pies ($39 for a box of 4)
All Things Delicious
Catering costs money, whereas home cooking costs time and effort. All things being equal, how much more are we paying when we book a catering package? Are the monetary savings worth the time and effort of cooking?
To find out, we drew from about 5 different caterers to construct a typical catering menu, consisting of 10 items and for 30 pax (see above for why we chose such a large number). We then found out the ingredient cost of cooking a similar menu for a side-by-side comparison.
For the home-cooked menu, we chose the same dishes or close equivalents. We excluded the cost of pantry staples such as oil, sugar, salt and spices; the large quantity of food cooked would render the individual cost of these items negligible.
We all know that catering is more expensive, but did you expect to see such a large difference? Our results above shows that home cooking can give you as much as 60% savings.
Additionally, we may have been overly generous in our food portions. To determine how many ingredients were needed for each dish, we followed recipes designed for between 3 to 6 pax, then multiplied accordingly.
However, during a 10-course catered buffet, most people would likely take smaller portions per dish. There is more to eat, sure, but your stomach can only take in so much food at one go. Which means that your actual food bill is very likely to be even lower.
And, if you’re wondering why the curry vegetables turned out to be the most expensive item, it’s because coconut milk in large quantities is quite pricey!
However, cooking requires skill, time and equipment. Preparing food and cleaning up after can also be messy. You may also find it difficult to attend to the stove and your guests at the same time.
Given the significant price difference (S$300, in our above example) between catering and home cooking, it is a good idea for cost-conscious Singaporeans to opt for the latter. But before you reach for your apron in resignation, know that cooking doesn’t need to be a chore.
Ask your friends and relatives for help in the kitchen. They can turn up an hour or two early to take over the last leg of of cooking, or contribute to the table by bringing a dish. Even those who can’t cook can help out. Non-cooks and older children can refill the air fryer basket when the timer goes off, give the marinating chicken wings a turn, or help to wash the dirty dishes.
Besides, celebrations are about spending time together, so take the opportunity to invite your nearest and dearest to join you in the kitchen and catch up on the latest gossip.
Part of this article first appeared on SingSaver.
Text: Home & Decor