New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Seven New Year's Eve Entertaining Tips | Host a seamless celebration
Balance your menu. Serve a variety of appetizers— crunchy/creamy, raw/cooked, hot/cold, savory/sweet — but make sure everything would still go together if it was on a plate at the same time.
Have a realistic amount of food. Plan on serving three to five appetizers per person per hour. Let your guests graze through the party by keeping a small buffet set up with platters of meats, cheeses, breads and condiments, vegetables with a dip and various bowls of nuts, olives and chips.
Keep your party well-paced. Keep half an eye on the clock, kitchen and bar to ensure that fresh food and drinks (with and without alcohol) are constantly in circulation, particularly if you're going to count down to midnight together.
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Six Steps to Opening Champagne | Learn how to uncork sparkling wines like a bon vivant
1. Have your champagne well-chilled.
2. Remove the foil cap.
3. Untwist and remove the wire cage around the cork, keeping your thumb on top in case the pressure alone is strong enough to push the cork out.
4. Carefully place a cloth napkin over the cork, so if the cork pops it will go into the napkin, avoiding any injuries.
5. Slowly twist the bottle, not the cap, until you stop hearing a fizz, and then remove it completely. Although it may seem dramatic to let the cork "pop", it results in loss of carbon dioxide, which is what gives champagne its sparkle.
6. Gently pour the champagne down the side of a glass and enjoy!
