Office Christmas & Hannukah Party Foods & Food Ideas

Calling all cubicles: It’s time to put the gourmet into your annual company holiday party. Celebrate with specialty sweet and savory treats as suggested by Adam Erace, owner of Green Aisle Grocer in Philadelphia. Having a Secret Santa exchange? These make great specialty food Christmas gifts as well.

Whimsy & Spice Marshmallows

These artisanal marshmallows from Brooklyn, N.Y., are large, soft and not too sweet. Flavors span traditional to creative, including Rose Vanilla, Cardamom and Maple. Throw in a tin of high-end hot-chocolate mix from Dagoba, Lake Champlain Chocolates or Caffe D’Amore for a memorable Secret Santa gift.

MSRP: $6/dozen marshmallows; whimsyandspice.com 

BLiS

This smoky, amber maple syrup from Michigan is aged in bourbon barrels for unmatched richness and depth. It not only adds élan to French toast and pancakes, but also makes a great addition to cocktails at an office pop-up bar. Erace suggests the Pine Barren: gin, juniper soda, muddled rosemary and BLiS. 

MSRP: Starting at $12.95; blisgourmet.com

Brooklyn Brine Pickles

These small-batch, artisan-made pickles are a smart addition to platters and between cocktails. Set out a few different varieties (say, Whiskey Sour cukes, Chipotle Carrots and Lavender Asparagus) for a pickle bar guests will love.

MSRP: $12.99; brooklynbrineco.com

Puddle Duck Cheese

“One of our favorite local cheeses we carry is Puddle Duck, a lush, fudgy, bloomy-rind from Hillacres Pride in Lancaster County,” Erace says. “After half an hour at room temperature, it softens up beautifully, a perfect to dip crackers and fruit. Think brie with balls.” 

MSRP: $7/5 oz.; hillacrespride.com

Wine & Beer

“For holiday parties, I stock up on inexpensive, easy-drinking southern Italians bottles that mingle well with different types foods and drinkers,” Erace shares. “Though the cold weather typically calls for something bold and voluptuous, I err on the lighter side with ‘session’ wines, like down-to-earth Nero d'Avola from Sicily and crisp, flinty Falanghina from Campania, a great red-white duo you can pick up for under $20.”

“For beer, go heavier on something light, effervescent and agreeable (say, Saison Dupont or Stoudts Scarlet Lady ESB), plus a few bottles of a holiday/winter brew like Harpoon's spicy Winter Warmer or Flying Fish's Grand Cru Winter Reserve. For myself, I keep a bottle of Troegs dastardly Mad Elf, brewed with cherries and spices, always on hand.”—Nicole Denis

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