Ring In the New Year the Right Way

About author / Lauren Braun Costello

The competent cook; food stylist; cooking instructor; graduate French Culinary Institute. To die for dish? Maple glazed bacon wrapped roast turkey. Yep, bacon wrapped.

The goal of any party is to have fun. Contrary to the experience of many, that includes the host. New Year's Eve is certainly no exception. A competent host can juggle the details as well as the cocktails. If you plan on throwing a fete on December 31st--or on any other day for that matter---take heed of the following advice. A few simple strategies can make the difference between a fiasco and a fiesta!

Have a Theme
Granted, New Year's Eve is seemingly a theme in itself, but it is ideal to be even more specific in the planning stages. Ask yourself what kind of party you want to have: cocktails or dinner; plated or buffet; seated or standing; formal or casual. Do you want people to eat with forks and knives, or are finger foods more desirable?

Once you target the tone of you party, everything should reflect that choice from the food to the attire. It would be inappropriate, for example, to decide to have a formal, plated sit-down dinner and then serve BBQ ribs and cornbread. By the same token, you would not want to have a casual evening of partygoers milling about in jeans and t-shirts nibbling on pate de foie gras. Too often people get carried away, especially if they do not entertain frequently. Whether it be the food, the drinks, or the decorations, sticking with a theme will rein you in and help you focus in the kind of party you want to have.

Less Really Is More
Contrary to what you may think, there really is no need to go overboard. The more complicated you make things, the more stressed you will be, and it shows. There is nothing more unpleasant for guests than a host in distress (my sincerest apologies go out to any of my guests who have ever had to endure me when stressed!).

Only take on what you can do well. It is far better to sacrifice in quantity than to sacrifice in quality. For instance, if you can make three dishes well but six dishes only so-so, stick with three. If you do not have ample time or resources to do a stellar job, then cut back. In fact, time and resources can inform a party's theme, as much as a theme will direct the time and resources you need.

Respect Your Budget
Nothing can stress a host more than being insecure about what they can afford to do. For example, if your budget is a mere $200 for food and beverage, avoid serving a minimal amount of expensive items like shrimp cocktail and champagne punch. You will be quite stressed when you discover that all the shrimp and champagne have been consumed in the first half hour. Let the budget guide the theme. Perhaps a Mexican-themed party with chips, dips and beer would be better.

Prep Ahead
The best parties are those where the host is actually AT the party! If you prepare as much as possible ahead of time, you can enjoy the guests you have invited to your home. Make foods that can be served either cold or room temperature. If serving hot foods, make as much as possible ahead of time so all you need to do is reheat. This will give you more time to focus on getting ready before the guests arrive, and it will give you lots of time to mingle once the party starts.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask (or Pay) for Help
Most guests are gracious and will ask what they can bring. It is perfectly appropriate for you to take them up on that. Ask one friend to bring flowers, and another friend to bring his favorite bottle of red. This will help you check things off your list without actually having to do them. Plus, your guests will be happy knowing they have brought you something you really need and want.

Also, it is always a good idea to splurge, if you can, on hiring a server to help you serve drinks and clean up, especially for more formal events. This is money very well spent, especially when you are already spending lots of money to throw the party in the first place. The dishes will be done as the party is still going, and the general atmosphere will stay neat and tidy. You will be able to spend time with guests instead of getting them drinks and picking up dirty cocktail napkins. After all, this time of year is about celebrating with the ones you love.

Happy New Year!