GUIDE TO DINING
a blank slate media / litmor publications special section • december 22, 21, 2018 2017
32 NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 21, 2018
Ring in the New Year with festive party ideas A
lthough New Year's Eve parties tend to be similar from year to year, hosts can explore the many ways to make their celebrations stand out from those of years past. This handy guide provides ideas to your get creative juices owing.
¡ Keep musical tastes in mind. A fun party usually includes an array of familiar songs and music that appeals to the masses. When compiling a party playlist, choose songs guests are sure to know and love. Mix these in with a few of your favorites. You can even ask guests to provide the names of three favorite songs when they RSVP.
¡ Establish a color palette. Many people equate New Year's Eve with the gold and silver hues of champagne. However, you can use any festive color for your party. Use the same colors on everything from invitations to dinnerware to take-home favors.
¡ Dim the lights. Bright lights can make guests feel intimidated and awkward. Set the mood by turning off overhead lights, opting for ambient lighting instead. For a fun effect, string holiday lights around the room or use a portable disco ball to spread sparkling colors on the oor and ceiling. Candles are another option for intimate affairs, but should be avoided as a safety measure if you're having a large crowd.
¡ Encourage guest input. Guests understand the cost of hosting and the amount of planning necessary to throw a festive party, and many will likely reach out to ask what they can do or bring. Figure out in advance which aspects of the party you want your guests to take care of so you have a ready answer when the inquiries start rolling in.
¡ Set out New Year's ďŹ ll-in-the-blank cards. Encourage guest participation with an entertaining idea. Print out small cards that guests have to
complete. Phrases like, "The bad habit I want to quit is ___" or "____ was the silliest thing I did last year," can be fun to do and share. Guests can take turns guessing whose card is being read.
martinis or vanilla cake-avored vodka mixers, may be the right avor for your affair. As the host, you should remember to provide non-alcoholic alternatives as well.
¡ Have the party catered. Unless you want to spend the evening in and out of the kitchen, invest in catering. Guests of a late party won't expect a three course meal. However, platters of sandwiches, appetizers and other little munchies will ďŹ t the bill. Remember, caterers may book up fast this time of year, so be sure to reserve service well in advance of your party.
¡ Consider more substantial food after midnight. Encourage guests to eat more and drink less once the clock has struck midnight. Casseroles and other baked dishes are easy to make in advance and have on hand. A breakfast buffet of pancakes, toast and omelets also will ďŹ ll guests up with something more substantial than chips and dips.
¡ Create a specialty drink. In addition to toasting champagne or sparkling wine, serve a specialty drink creation. This can be a beverage that ties into your color scheme or the theme of the party. Dessert drinks, such as chocolate
New Year's Eve parties are a great way to reect on the last year and look forward to a new one, and hosts can take steps to make their parties memorable for all the right reasons.
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 21, 2018 • NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE
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34 NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 21, 2018
New Year's Eve activities for adults and children N
ew Year's Eve is one of the most festive nights of the year, when friends and families gather to count down the waning moments of the year as they anticipate the fun times ahead in the year to come. While adults tend to look forward to New Year's Eve festivities more than children, there are ways parents can ring in the New Year with their kids.
Year's Eve. Celebrants can bring a taste of this beloved tradition into their own homes come New Year's Eve by creating a pinata that looks exactly like the ball in Time's Square. Fill the ball with treats and games for youngsters, who can take chances trying to break the pinata once the clock strikes midnight or earlier if they aren't likely to still be awake by the time the new year begins.
• Invite kids into the kitchen. New Year's Eve festivities often include food, so why not invite youngsters into the kitchen to cook alongside you? Kids may not be interested in preparing the main course, but let youngsters get involved when baking the night's more delectable treats, like cookies and cakes. Little ones can choose their favorite treats and then help Mom and Dad prepare those treats for guests coming over to join in the festivities. Decorate cakes and cookies with a New Year's Eve theme.
• Make predictions for the year to come. Another fun and wholesome New Year's Eve activity parents can enjoy with their children is making predictions for the year to come. Ask young sports fans to predict which teams will win championships in their respective leagues while encouraging other youngsters to share their predictions on awards shows or other popular social events for the coming year. Younger kids might not be able to make such specific predictions, so ask them to write down what they hope to see happen in the new year.
• Pick funny resolutions out of a hat. New Year's resolutions are a big part of the holiday, and families who want to add some fun to this tradition can sit down and write their own funny resolutions. Keep the resolutions you write down to yourself, place each person's ideas in a hat and then pick them out before the kids go to bed or right after the clock strikes midnight, whichever happens to come first. • Make a New Year's pinata. Many people love to watch the ball drop from Time's Square in New York City on New
• Ring in the new year under the stars. Families who live in warm climates might want to forgo television countdowns in favor of spending the final hours of the year under the stars. A New Year's Eve camping trip is a great way for families to bond and spend time together at the end of what is often a hectic time of year. Instead of hoisting champagne or sparkling cider at the stroke of midnight, share some s'mores and hot chocolate around the campfire as everyone gazes up at the stars.
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 21, 2018 • NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE
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40 NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 21, 2018
What are the differences between sparkling wines?
A
s midnight approaches on New Year’s Eve, revelers anxiously anticipate toasting the arrival of a new year with a glass of something bubbly. Once the cork is popped and the drinks are poured, the party can truly begin. Although revelers may assume any fizzy beverage they are served is champagne, by the true definition of the word, they actually may be drinking something else — one of many varieties of sparkling wine.
True champagne Authentic champagne is named after Champagne, France, the region where the grapes used to make it are grown, fermented and bottled. According to European law, the only labels that are allowed to include the name “Champagne” must be bottled within 100 miles of this region, which is close to Paris. The taste of champagne is unique thanks to the soil in which the grapes are grown. It is a mineral-rich soil and
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imparts that flavor into the beverage. Champagne is made from a unique base of grapes that include Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes. Experts with Wine Country also say that roughly 90 percent of all blended champagnes use a ratio of 2⁄3 red and 1⁄3 Chardonnay mixes. Another component that sets champagne apart is the process by which it is made. It is strictly controlled by the Appellation d’Origine Controlée. This certification dictates how a producer may grow the grapes and how the grapes can be harvested and processed. Champagne is produced by méthode champenoise, a process that is said to have been invented by a monk named Dom Perignon. This procedure involves double fermentation in bottles and creates an earthy, yeasty flavor. Sparkling wines Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wines are champagne.
Other notable types of sparkling wine include Italian Prosecco and Spanish Cava. Sparking wine is produced in regions of France as well as in the United States and Canada. But sparkling wine can be made just about anywhere grapes are grown. Sparkling wines are often doublefermented in steel containers instead of bottles. People are drawn to other sparkling wines besides champagne for various reasons. For some, cost is a heavy consideration, as authentic champagne can be considerably more expensive than sparkling wine. In addition, some people find less expensive champagnes are not as palate-pleasing as sparkling wines. Few things are more universally associated with celebrations than a bottle of bubbly. Subtle differences set sparkling wines apart from champagne, but personal preference is oftentimes the deciding factor when choosing which beverage to choose for a special occasion.
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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 21, 2018 • NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE
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42 NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, December 21, 2018
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