Tips to help make your annual holiday party a hit meeting & event guide.

Stuck trying to think of ideas for making this ear's holiday party different than last year's? The team of catering experts at Wolfgang Puck Catering & Events share the following seasonal entertaining tips. Headquartered in Los Angeles with operations in Chicago, St. Louis, Las Vegas, and Seattle, the Wolfgang Puck team regularly works to create festive feasts for businesses and organizations of all sizes. The list they have compiled below can help spice up that obligatory office holiday party:

* With the short attention span most people have during the holidays--jam-packed schedules filled with holiday commitments, travel and children out of school--allow your staff to enjoy the last day in the office before the holiday break with an appreciation brunch celebration. Offer breakfast stations: omelets, traditional or elegant with smoked salmon, red onions, chives, creme fraiche and osetra caviar; crepes with seasonal sweet or savory ingredients such as Roasted Chestnuts and Nutella; and buffets of seasonal fruits and breakfast pastries.

* Engage your guests with an interactive holiday party--create a cooking demonstration area and hire a great chef or two. Create a relaxed yet seasonal environment by having the chef demonstrate roasting chestnuts, making pumpkin ravioli with hazelnut brown butter sage sauce, bake your own gingerbread computer instead of the usual house, or learn how to make decadent Valrhona chocolate truffles. When the aromas fill the air and the flavors hit the palate, the holiday spirit comes alive.

* Afternoon Miniatures--instead of the traditional evening holiday dinner, mix things up a little with bite-size delights of miniature cheeseburgers, mini grilled cheese served with tomato soup and basil creme in demitasse cups, and gingerbread beignets filled with sour cherries, or ginger creme brulee.

* Simple can be sublime where decor is concerned ... a pretty silver bowl with apples, or a holiday platter stacked high with decorated cookies and chocolate coins add color and excitement to a room. Allow a few extra minutes to plan, adding well-chosen decorative elements to the table or dining area to greet your guests with a wonderful first impression.

* Freshen-up cocktail party--hire a great bartender to present a class in Mixology--the science of mixing drinks. Make sure the bartender provides fresh seasonal ingredients, like fresh mint, pomegranate, and huckleberries--don't settle for the same old sugar syrup pre-packaged mixers. Serve assorted ciders, eggnogs and real hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows, or freeze red and green ice cubes from fresh pomegranate and mint which will enhance the favor of your drinks...

* White Christmas--tray pass Champagne, sparkling apple cider, still and sparking waters. Create abundant buffets of cheesecake lollipops, peppermint ice cream cones on tiered cone platters, a white chocolate fountain with the perfect dipping-sized fruits and confections in white bowls or platters, miniature apple or nut tartlets, and warm strawberries with baked meringue and vanilla ice cream.

* Client Appreciation--invite ten clients with mutual interests to a contemporary holiday lunch in your conference room or home. Plan a menu around luxurious hors d'oeuvre--caviar on blinis or toast, potato latkes with apple cinnamon puree, smoked salmon pizza. Gather at the table for pumpkin-squash soup with rosemary, skewers of marshmallow and cranberries, followed by a wonderful maple-roasted turkey with mote gravy and black bean and corn stuffing. Complete the evening with a decadent winter dessert duet of chocolate huckleberry souffle cake and sour cherry beggar's purse with champagne ice cream. Pair different wines with each course--ask your favorite wine shop for suggestions. Order to go from WPC&E or create your own menu from www.wolfgangpuckcatering.com

* Traditional Holiday Dinner--invite your colleagues to enjoy a "moving experience"--ask your guests to change seats in between courses--break up the usual office cliques.

* As keepsakes or party favors--fill a Live! Love! Eat! box from WPC&E with our famous warm chocolate truffle cake batter in a tube ready to be baked, ramekins for baking the cakes, and of course the recipe for future use. Let your guests take home sweet thoughts!

* Plan early--Advance preparation allows you to relax and enjoy your guests. Reserve a date on your co-workers' calendars before it becomes impossible to get consensus. Booking your caterer early allows plenty of time to plan and create a truly memorable, custom event--instead of one more thing to check off our lists.

* Relax and have fun? A happy host sets the mood for the party. Most importantly, take Wolfgang's advice and "live, love, eat".

Clare Davis is Marketing Manager with Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events. For more information, please contact 323/491-1250.