Written by our holiday season chef collaborator, Camille Arcese.
New Year’s Eve is the perfect occasion to celebrate the great moments of the past year and toast to the year ahead. Walking through my local Farm Boy the other day got me so excited to prepare for New Year’s Eve. I went to grab two things and ended up spending almost an hour perusing and coming up with ideas for all the deliciousness we could serve. There was no shortage of inspiration, and I’m excited to share some party hosting tips that will help you host New Year’s Eve like a pro!
1. FLOW
Take a look at your space and decide where people will sit or mingle, where the food will live, and where the drink station will be. No matter the space you’re working with at home, this will set the physical flow of the evening. One of the most important party hosting tips is setting the space for the event itself.
2. FOOD
Decide what type of food you’d like to serve. For example, are you choosing a party with small bites and festive drinks, or a sit-down meal? Then, select a mixture of warm/hot and room temperature/cold items. Pay attention to items that can be partially or completely prepared in advance and add them to your party prep checklist. Determine what you have in regards to serving platters and serving utensils. (Pro Tip: label them in advance with a marker and some painter’s tape to avoid the last-minute scramble.)
Then, think about how you want to arrange your food zone. When it comes to holiday food, there is also a flow to be had. I like my plates at one end and napkins and utensils at the other. There’s nothing more annoying than trying to load your plate while bending to pick up food because you had to tuck your napkin and fork under your arm to free up a hand.
Farm Boy Products for Holiday Entertaining
Perogies
Available in a variety of flavours, they’re perfectly sized for a spread of festive drinks and appetizers. I like to serve them crispy: Simply coat in a little neutral oil and bake in a 400°F oven for about 7-9 minutes per side until golden. Serve with my Vegan Roasted Red Pepper and Harissa Dip.
Crispy Wontons
Also available in a variety of flavours, these wontons are an easy choice for holiday entertaining. Apart from their yummy flavour and crispy texture, they bake in only 5 minutes or less. That’s a win!
Wild Caught Calamari
Tender and mildly sweet, these lightly battered calamari are a convenient choice for holiday party food. I also love these dipped in my Vegan Roasted Red Pepper and Harissa Dip. Delicious!
Vegan Chicken-Less Nuggets:
Party hosting tip: Make sure everyone has something to eat. These nuggets are a great item to serve for our plant-based friends.
Pacific White Shrimp Ring with Cocktail Sauce
I love that these shrimp are large and meaty – a nice treat for a holiday celebration. Simply thaw and serve and knock it off your party prep checklist.
Stone-Baked Flatbread
Available in several gourmet flavours to suit all tastebuds. These are so easy to bake, slice, and serve.
Festive Snacks for a Holiday Party
Olives
Delicious and easy, set out some bowls of olives for guests to munch on.
Cheese & Cured Meats
Prepare a beautiful holiday charcuterie board with Farm Boy cheese and artisanal cured meats. Some of my favourites are the Triple Cream Brie, Cranberry Cinnamon Goat’s Milk Cheese (a festive sweet and savoury combo), Rosette de Lyon Salami, and Serrano Ham.
Vegan Roasted Red Pepper and Harissa Dip
A change-up from your typical rich and creamy classics, this dip is veggie-based and full of flavour thanks to Farm Boy™ Harissa Seasoning Blend and Farm Boy™ Pickled Roasted Red Peppers. Not only do I serve this with crudité, pita chips, and other baked appetizers, I also use it as a condiment in sandwiches! I made this recipe plant-based to accommodate most palates by using Farm Boy™ Vegan Mayonnaise, but it works just as well with regular or light mayonnaise.
Mini Toads-in-A-Hole with Jammy Balsamic Onions
A simple, budget-friendly, crowd-favourite bite that shows off the flavour of Farm Boy™ Artisan Sausages! These are made from a thin, eggy Yorkshire pudding batter that’s poured over bits of your favourite artisan sausage flavour and baked in the oven. The batter puffs up high in the oven, then quickly deflates to give it that signature rich and tender texture. The perfect topping for these are red onions that are caramelized and cooked down with some brown sugar and Farm Boy™ Balsamic Vinegar until they’re nice and jammy. You’ll definitely want to bookmark this recipe when holiday party planning!
Double Baked Pita Crackers
A yummy, nut-free option for a holiday charcuterie board.
An Easy No-Cook Holiday Appetizer Idea
Mediterranean Canapés
As easy to assemble as they are to enjoy, this festive appetizer is also vegan/vegetarian-friendly!
- Spread Farm Boy™ Naan Bites with a dollop each of your favourite flavour of Farm Boy™ Hummus, avoiding the edges.
- Top with a small spoonful of Farm Boy™ Muffuletta.
- Garnish with crumbles of Farm Boy™ Barrel Aged Feta or Farm Boy™ Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative.
- Serve and enjoy!
3. DRINKS
When it comes to holiday party planning, a combo of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks options is a must – and Farm Boy makes it easy! They have plenty of yummy juices and sparkling beverages from which to choose, including their Pomegranate and Blood Orange Sparkling Beverages – my personal favourites. Keep reading for a fabulous champagne cocktail idea below. (For more festive holiday mocktails, check out another Farm Boy blog, Entertaining 101: Holiday Mocktails.)
Pear Champagne Cocktail
- Using a champagne flute or couple glass, pour 1 oz Farm Boy™ No Sugar Added Pear Juice.
- Top with champagne, prosecco, or sparkling wine.
- Garnish with a slice of fresh Anjou pear and a small sprig of thyme.
4. VIBE
I can’t stress this enough: music is essential to setting the “feeling” guests will have in your space. There are so many amazing playlists available online with different themes and tempos. Choose a couple that you enjoy and keep them handy or make your own. I like something chill and relaxed for when guests arrive, as well as for dinner. Then, I switch to something more up-tempo and danceable for the rest of the night. And don’t forget about lighting! Dim your lights and add some candlelight to create a moody, relaxing atmosphere. You’ll notice the different tone it sets, trust me!
5. DÉCOR
Let your decorating reflect your personal style. When it comes to planning a holiday party, I keep things simple. Natural elements, like greenery and festive florals can be added to surfaces, and soft candles are my go-to choices.
And there you have it – a quick party prep checklist of everything to consider to host a beautiful New Year’s Eve celebration. Head to your nearest Farm Boy today to grab all you need for a delicious evening and a wonderful, safe new year!
