Holiday parties aren't just fun, they're big business for caterers and restaurateurs.

They're also a challenge if you're the person in charge of the company party, because you've got to come up with a menu that appeals to a majority of employees while staying within the budget. You must find a happy medium between a menu that's boringly predictable or one that's too unusual.

A caterer's menu sounds great on paper, but deciphering "menu-ese" can be tricky. The "jumbo shrimp" may seem wimpy when they arrive at your buffet table. The "fresh spring salad" could be mainly iceberg lettuce. The chicken or halibut may have an overpowering seasoning or strange-tasting sauce.

This is why some caterers host tasting events where prospective clients can come and sample potential dishes. The Deseret Morning News attended two of these events to see what goes on, and to check out ideas for all party-givers, whether they're hosting a catered corporate affair or a do-it-yourself potluck with friends.

It was mid-October, but the Joseph Smith Memorial Building's catering services had the Empire Room decked out like a winter wonderland for its Christmas Tasting event. The lavish buffet had warming trays full of food to sample, with a display plate showing how each food item would be served individually.

The guests were clients who had already booked parties, and they were looking, sampling and deciding on a menu. The clients could also check out various table decorations.

This is where the secretary of a construction company examines the phyllo pouch hors d'oeurve and wonders if the delicate pastry will crumble in her employees' hands. And the dentist's wife tries to decide which dessert will appeal to her husband's staff.

It's not just the food but the total atmosphere that matters, said Adrian Escalante of Daily Dose Language Systems. He and his wife, Susan Escalante, took photos of both food and decor to help them decide on the appropriate look and cuisine for their company Christmas party. They said they wanted to give some of their out-of-state guests a warm "Utah Christmas" feeling and chose the Joseph Smith Memorial Building partly because of its location next to Temple Square.

For the past two years, Cuisine Unlimited has turned its kitchen and warehouse into an open house for the Salt Lake Chamber Business After Hours and other potential customers. Guests wander through rooms with different holiday party themes such as an "Over the River and Through the Woods" Thanksgiving with a babbling brook running beneath a wooden bridge, to a sophisticated New Year's bash with a live band. Party planners can taste the food and check out the displays and decor.