New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and what a great night to celebrate the coming of the new year with those you cherish. Expectations are high for good things to come and everyone loves a party!
For me, memories of New Years Eve past evoke images of slinky black dresses, disco balls, Caviar, and Champagne! Today I lean more toward smaller gatherings with friends but I still want to make the night memorable.
When I think of New Year’s Eve, I think Champagne. So having a Champagne tasting party seemed like the right thing to do!
I like to try and set the tone for my parties with the invitation. If I’m successful I will raise anticipation by providing a hint or two on what my friends might expect. I found a cool new App: Martha Stewart’s Craft Studio. It’s easy, fun and versatile.
For myself, I find having a theme for any get-together makes life easier by keeping me focused, even if it’s not necessarily a “Theme Party”.
Once I received the R.S.V.P.’s, I responded to those that were coming with a note that gave some general guidelines: each guest was to bring a bottle of Champagne from a specific region keeping the price at $20.00 or under a bottle. My thought was that through the tasting wouldn’t it be great to find a ‘bargain’ bubbly for under $20.00. And in keeping with the spirit of the Season, everyone was to bring a ‘Re-Gift’ to exchange in the Yankee Swap.
During the Campagne tasting I served Spicy Stuffed Mushrooms, Cherry Glazed Brie, Strawberry Tiramisu and a Creamy Onion Tart.
After the tasting there will be a lot of Champagne left over. So to keep the party going I set up three Champagne Cocktail Stations. My friends could use their favorite Champagne of the night to mix their own Pomegranate Royals, Bellinis or Mimosas.
Each station had all the ingredients to make the Champagne cocktails including place cards with the recipes written on them.
By the time the tasting was over we were ready for the Yankee Swap. To snazz up the Gift Swap, instead of writing numbers on a piece of paper for the drawing, I made personalized Christmas Ornaments by taking glass ornaments and filling them with artificial snow and evergreen sprigs. I then painted a number on the bottom of each glass ornament and wrapped them in tissue.
When it was time to do the gift swap I passed the tray of wrapped Ornaments around so everyone could pick their number and have a keepsake gift to remember the evening.
I set a Buffet out around 10:30 so we could nibble and mingle until we came together at midnight to watch Ball Drop and raise our glasses to welcome in the New Year.
For the Buffet I laid out Meatloaf Slider’s, Veggie Sliders, Cole Slaw, Spinach and Artichoke Cups, Curry Ketchup and a Garlic Aioli.
Champagnes: Mumm Napa Prestige ~ Anna De Codorniu Brut ~ Henkel Trocken Dry Sec ~ Reondo Prosecco Spago Nero ~ Korbel Extra Dry
We laughed, we ate, we drank and we celebrated all the good things to come. It was a fabulous night.
Happy New Year!