Party Planning
When we first opened in 1997, we only made meals for parties. While we do a bit of everything these days, helping people host great get-togethers is still at the very heart of COOK. If you’re planning a party, you’ve come to the right place.
Below you’ll find how we can help with the food, depending on what you have planned. If you want some advice tailored specifically to you, scroll down and fill in the form at the bottom of the page and we’ll be in touch.
Fundamentals
Whatever you have planned, there are four things you should check…
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Numbers. Confirm the day before, so you have a really clear idea of who’s coming.
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Dietary Requirements. This is essential. Check for allergies, whether guests are vegetarian or vegan, and specific likes and dislikes.
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Drinks. If you’ve got children, non-drinkers and drivers coming, make sure they’re catered for.
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Glasses, cutlery and crockery. You can always ask guests or friendly neighbours to help if you’ve not got enough.
Drinks Parties
Canapés are your best friends here. Ours all cook at the same oven temperature, so you can roll out trays of little bites to keep the party swinging. The canapé calculator: pre-dinner drinks = four per person per hour; drinks only = six per person per hour.
Our pâtés are great to make your own canapés. And try cutting up traybakes for sweet canapés later in the evening.
Buffets
A delicious spread is the easiest way to cater for a crowd, especially if it’s a rolling party with people eating as and when they want. Check out our range of party food.
Just remember to clearly label dishes with allergens and other details, if any of your guests have specific dietary requirements.
The Perfect Spread
For a great spread, we'd suggest that for every 8 people you select...
Bowls on Knees
A lovely, informal way to feed a crowd, especially in the colder months, is with hearty bowl food. We’ve got a range of Grand Meals for 8 that will help. Also, you can just buy the number of portions of any meals in sauce that you’d like to serve. Just defrost them in the fridge overnight, then heat them up in a big saucepan or casserole dish on the hob. Just keep stirring so they don’t stick and add a splash of water if they start to get too thick. Then serve with rice, mash garlic bread, nachos, couscous or whatever you like. Oh, and don’t forget pudding!
Dinner Parties
A special, sit-down meal with friends is one of life’s great pleasures. We’ve got loads of starters, mains, and puddings for you to create your perfect dinner party.
Curry Nights
Pick a selection of meals from our Thai or Indian menu, and let people mix-and-match and make their perfect curry. Go for a range of hotter and milder curries, and some with meat or seafood, and some veggie. Serve with all the extras, like rice, naan, pappadums, Thai crackers, chutneys, plus bowls of coriander and wedges of lime. A sure-fire hit!
30% Community Kitchen Discount
Don’t forget, if you’re planning a party to benefit your community – like a PTA event, charity fundraiser, sports club social or community get-together – we offer 30% off for this kind of event. Get the details here.
