It’s that time of year again: the end of the year. It’s a time to celebrate all the good that happened over the last year. And naturally, it’s a time to party.
Perhaps you aren’t so into the New Years Eve party. Yes, sometimes it sounds nicer to stay home and have a party of two or maybe even a party of one.
Never fear,the Table Set gents are here to make sure your New Years party plans festive and fun!
Nathan talks about how his parents used New Years every year to have a reunion with their “Goose Crew” college friends. We ❤ the 80s.
Remember the magic of NYE when you were a kid? The one time per year when you had to stay up ’til midnight? Playing games with all the other kids?
Even grown ups need a way to pass the time before midnight. Last year Andy partook in a drinking game that involved goofy illustration. This Cher-odactyl was born from that game.
And speaking of drinking, would it be New Years without bubbly? You don’t have to spend a fortune to have something enjoyable.
Nathan’s picks:
NV Gaston Chiquet Brut Tradition
NV German Gilabert Brut Nature Reserva Brut Cava
Sommariva Prosecco Superiore di Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG Brut, Veneto, Italy
NV Francois Pinon Vouvray Non-Dose Brut, Loire, France
NV Cristalino Cava Brut (*value*)
Straight up bubbly isn’t your only holiday spritzer options. Greg talks about the classic champagne cocktail. Or play it up even more with liqueur-stained sugar cubes using colorful like Campari, Chambord, Blue Curaçao, and Midori.
Andy will tell you the simple joys of the champagne float. That’s right, ice cream in bubbly. Simple, festive, fun and tasty!
Or skip the sparkling wine all together. How about a cider? Nathan loves the Bonny Doon 2010 ¿Querry?, an apple/pear/quince hard sparkling cider.
Wherever drinking is involve, make sure someone is sober for designated driving. For a fun non-alcoholic option, how about “sparkling wine” soda? Or perhaps you can just stay the night.
Wouldn’t it be easier if nobody had to drive at all? How about a NYE slumber party right into New Years Day brunch?
Brunch is why we like NYD better than NYE. Seriously, you remember how much The Table Set loves brunch, right?
Nathan likes to ring in the New Year with the traditional good luck black eyed peas and collard greens. Meanwhile Andy will be having pizza for breakfast. Breakfast pizza! Put an egg on it!
Allie December 30, 2011 at 8:12 am
Love the NYE party ideas (though I’m with Andy– definitely not my favorite holiday).
Question: Any chance any of you have ideas on parties for the awards shows that will be coming up in January and February? I ask because it seems like the buzz for the Academy Awards is already starting, even before the New Year. I usually like to get some friends together for the Oscars, but this year I’d like to do something beyond critiquing dresses (like Cate Blanchett’s macaroni-art dress last year– yikes!) and sipping crazy cocktails. Perhaps you gentlemen could share some ideas in the future? Thanks!
Have a safe, happy, healthy new year!
David January 1, 2012 at 4:55 pm
It seems like our holidays either focus on birth (Christmas, Independence Day and the birth of the United States, Valentine’s Day, weddings and baby showers) or death (Hallowe’en, Easter, Memorial Day, Day of the Dead, wakes and funerals). I can understand Andy’s ambivalence to NYE as it combines both birth of a newborn year and death of the passing year. And perhaps we add too much expectation to one day. I’ve done the crowd crushing NYE disco party, jumping to pounding beat and trying to drink cheap, warm champagne. I agree with Nathan that it is more satisfying to Save that day for friends and celebrate comfortably with people who matter. I have attended burning bowl ceremonies and agree with Nathan that they are powerful-having your own burning bowl ceremony using a firepit and flash paper sounds like it would be an equally rich event. Christmas is for family; New Year’s is for friends. And Nathan’s suggestions of bubbly looked really interesting. I have replaced French Champagne for Italian Proseco as my bubbly of choice. I like surrounding Proseco with antipasto platters, almond biscotti, vegetables a la grecque, figs and pastas. I loved Greg’s creative sugar cube ideas for bubbly. That was so cool. I really enjoy listening to you talk about great food and sharing it with friends. And I eagerly anticipate each of your podcasts. Thanks, guys, for all you do!
Danguole January 4, 2012 at 10:40 am
I’ve done the champagne float for brunch! Adding a scoop of blood orange sorbet in addition to the ice cream makes it divinely mimosa-like. Cheers!