Have a Green Holiday

The stress of the economy has certainly put a damper on holiday revelry but it doesn’t mean that you should forgo the season’s festivities all together. While parties may seem frivolous as the country tightens its purse strings, the reasons why you entertain family, friends and colleagues this time of year are not.

All you need to do is get back to basics and become more thoughtful about how you spend your hard earned cash. We turned to Claudine Revere of Relish Caterers for some entertaining tips that are easy on the pocketbook as well as the planet.

Reuse What You Already Have
Before you rush out to buy new serving trays and specialty dishes, check to see what you already have in your pantry. You can create a crudité platter using a variety of mismatched, left-over glassware including a martini glass, a bud vase and a water glass. It’s a fresh way to present the typical platter and solves the problem of showcasing different sized vegetables.

Turn Fruits and Vegetables into Tableware
Winter vegetables come in rich colors and make great table decorations. Not only are they readily available at the local farmer’s market but, they are inexpensive, edible and compostable! Another insider trick from our chef Arvin Dhansew is to use acorn squashes as soup bowls or condiment bowls. Just cut the bottoms off to make them lay flat on the table and use an ice cream scoop to empty them out. A piece of melon can make a wonderful serving plate for your hors d’oeuvres. Cranberries have a gorgeous holiday color and can be used as winter accents to any dish. And, sticks of cinnamon look great around a punch bowl filled with eggnog.

Skip the Flowers
Cut floral arrangements may be beautiful but they can be an extravagant element to your party. A stylish (and sustainable) alternative is to find fallen branches and pine cones from your backyard for your décor. Pine cones can be painted in any color and used from year to year. Potted herbs such as rosemary are another fragrant option for decorating your buffet table. And, you can cook with it as well!

With clients ranging from Fox News to Instyle Magazine to American Express, Relish Caterers (220 East 22nd Street, New York, 212-228-1672.) is committed to sustainable practices for all of their events.