Toast the New Year

New Year’s Eve calls for the froth and fun of champagne. And while this bubbly beverage is delightful by the flute, it’s just as delicious mixed into a spirited cocktail. Consider going vintage this year with a champagne cocktail, which is believed to be the “first evolved cocktail on record” according to author and historian David Wondrich. The recipe first hit the scene, at least officially, in San Francisco in 1850.

To make a champagne cocktail, soak a sugar cube in a few dashes of bitters before dropping into the base of a champagne flute. Top with champagne, garnish with a citrus peel, and you’re ready to raise a toast. The best part of this cocktail? Watching the sugar cube fizz!

From Shrimp Tray to Good Luck Charm

Borrow a little tradition from the Chinese New Year and infuse shrimp with orange (and a bit of good luck). Starting with a premade shrimp tray from our Deli, place the shrimp and cocktail sauce over a bed of ice mixed with mandarin and navel orange slices. Mandarin oranges symbolize prosperity, luck and abundance. In fact, in Cantonese, the mandarin orange is called “gam,” which shares the same pronunciation as the Cantonese word for “gold.” Navel oranges are often used in the art of feng shui to help ward off bad luck.

Brownie Bite Countdown Clocks

Create adorable (and delicious) clocks with premade brownie bites from our Bakery. Using white icing, pipe the number 12 toward the top. Fill in the other notches with dots or dashes.

Ball Drop Cheese Cubes

There are a variety of cheese platters in our Deli featuring high-quality cheeses and complementary bites like fresh grapes and artisanal crackers. To make it even easier for guests to grab and go, set out colorful toothpicks. Looking for extra flare or have a bit of extra time? Secure pom-poms to the toothpicks, paying homage to the big ball drop.

12 Grapes at 12 O’Clock

The tradition of eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight is said to bring good luck in the coming year. It also symbolizes the hope that each month will bring success and prosperity.

Long Noodles for Long Life

It’s believed that enjoying a dish with long noodles symbolizes prosperity, long life and good luck for the future. So be sure not to break the noodles before or during the cooking process.

Jump-Start the Year

Hoppin’ John, an iconic Southern dish that dates back to the 1800s, is a combination of black-eyed peas, pork, rice and sometimes greens. It’s said to bring luck and prosperity when eaten on New Year’s Day.

Sorbet All the Way

This creation combines cocktail hour with dessert. Add a scoop or two of sorbet to a punch glass or coupe, then top with champagne.

A Holiday Classic

You can’t go wrong with a splash of cranberry juice in champagne. Float fresh cranberries and finish with a sprig of rosemary.

A Taste of the Tropics

Think of this drink as a mimosa with a twist. Add pineapple juice to champagne, and garnish with a pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry.