For NYC companies looking for a unique venue for their holiday party, The Preston Barn in Dover Plains offers a phenomenal experience with onsite catering from Old Drovers Inn. Unlike many city venues that outsource catering to distant kitchens, we provide a fully equipped, health-compliant on-site commercial kitchen. With one team handling everything from menu planning to service, you won’t have to coordinate with multiple vendors, just smooth planning and execution.
Why Onsite Catering Matters for Holiday Parties
The advantage of onsite catering is clear: efficiency and personalization. At The Preston Barn, the entire catering operation happens in one place, eliminating the need for food to travel long distances. Our commercial kitchen, equipped with a grill area, cold prep stations, and walk-in coolers, ensures that all meals are fresh, high-quality, and prepared on demand.
Our chef works directly with you to create a customized menu that accommodates dietary restrictions with ease and ensures everyone’s needs are met, without the hassle of coordinating with off-site caterers.
Custom Menus Crafted with Local Ingredients
For your holiday event, enjoy a personalized menu built around fresh, local ingredients. You can start with hors d’oeuvres like beef empanadas with cilantro lime crema, spanakopita, or a cheese display with fresh fruit and crackers. For the main course, choose from delicious options such as flank steak with chimichurri sauce, slow-cooked salmon, or chicken francese.
All entrées come with seasonal vegetables, a chef selected starch to complement your entrees, and penne alla vodka. Our chef can also accommodate special dietary needs, offering full vegetarian or gluten-free entrées such as eggplant parmesan or a ratatouille tart with goat cheese.
Personalized Service Options
Your holiday party includes buffet service as standard, with options to upgrade to plated or family-style service for a different dining experience. Plated service works well for formal dinners with speeches or awards, ensuring a smooth, coordinated flow. Family-style service is perfect for teams that enjoy a more communal, relaxed dining experience, where guests can pass around large serving dishes. For a more casual vibe, the buffet style allows guests to help themselves, with the kitchen keeping the offerings fresh throughout the event.
Logistics and Execution
Our commercial kitchen isn’t just about food quality; it’s about flawless execution. The kitchen’s ability to handle large volumes of food ensures that everything arrives at the right temperature and is plated exactly as the chef intended. From high-volume proteins on the grill to simultaneous prep for salads and desserts, we’ve perfected the logistics.
This level of efficiency is significant for holiday parties, as we often host back-to-back events. Whether it’s a plated dinner for 220 or a buffet for 150, our kitchen ensures everything runs smoothly with no shortcuts.
Transportation and Appeal for NYC Holiday Parties
Located just 80 miles north of New York City in Dover Plains, The Preston Barn offers a peaceful, rustic escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The venue is designed with historic charm, featuring reclaimed Hudson Valley barns with hand-hewn beams, vaulted ceilings, and barn wood floors. Accommodating up to 220 guests, the barn is climate-controlled for comfort year-round, including in the colder months.
With convenient transportation options, getting to The Preston Barn is simple for NYC teams. Many companies opt to charter a bus at an additional cost to ensure everyone arrives together. The drive takes about 1.5 hours, and we also support bus drop-offs and pickups with additional charges. This combination of ease and comfort makes it an ideal escape from the city.
Conclusion
If you’re based in New York City and planning a holiday party for your team, we’d be glad to tour the barn and walk you through how the on-site kitchen and catering work. You’ll meet the coordinator, see the commercial kitchen setup, and get a sense of how your group would move through the space.
Ready to start Holiday party planning? Request our pricing guide or call us at 845-442-3053 to schedule a tour.
FAQs
How does the commercial kitchen handle dietary restrictions for large groups?
The kitchen team works directly with you to accommodate dietary needs. Since everything is prepared on-site, any changes or special requests can be handled directly with the kitchen manager, ensuring a smooth process.
How far is the venue from Manhattan, and what are the transportation options?
The Preston Barn is about 80 miles north of New York City, roughly 1.5 hours by car. For convenience, many companies opt for a chartered bus. We also offer on-site parking and a golf cart shuttle for guests with mobility issues (available for an additional cost)..
What’s included with the venue for a holiday party?
Your booking includes use of the barn, all necessary event furniture, linens, and glassware for up to 220 guests, along with an experienced coordinator. In-house catering by Old Drovers Inn is required for all food and beverage services.