What did you do/eat on New Years Eve
Discussion
For about 15 years we used to hold a New Years Eve Dinner Party for anything between 10 and 16 people. After a life changing experience in 2004 we decided not to do it any more so other friends in our group started to take turns and we went occasionally.
This year my wife decided it was time we stepped back into the breech so eight of our closest friends were invited and the menu planning began, some earlier tests have been shown here but it finally came together last night.
From previous experience we know that whatever we cook, the following day someone will say what a great meal it was but what did they actually eat as their alcohol consumption caused them temporary memory loss, this time around we gave them a souvenir menu to take home.
NEW YEARS EVE 2011
“THE MENU”
Aperitifs
Champagne, Kir Royale or Bucks Fizz.
Canapés
Ham and Blue Cheese with Onion Relish on Bruschetta
Smoked Salmon and Beetroot with Dill Cream on Blini’s
Tomato and Asparagus with Lemon Pesto on Melba Toast
Starter
Individual Fish Pie with Green Pea Soup
Palate Cleanser
Lemon Sorbet with Limoncello
Main Course
“Pig”, Roast Fillet shot with Chorizo and Sage, Thyme Belly Confit, Black Pudding Crumble and Crackling
Served with a Madeira & Mushroom Jus and Crab Apple Jelly
Accompanied by
Pear Cider, Rosemary and Garlic Fondant Potatoes, Butternut Squash Puree and Green Beans
Desserts
Berry Terrine with Chantilly Cream
White Chocolate Parfait with a Honey Wafer
Meringue Nest with a Toblerone Ganache
Cheese
Sussex Charmer, BroadOak Cheddar, Burwash Rose, Scrumpy Sussex,
Channel Island Brie, Blacksticks Blue and St Agur
Wines/Port
Chateau Tour Balette Bordeaux, 2000
Charles Pierre Pouilly Fuisse, 2006
Muscat Orange and Flora Dessert Wine 2009
Warres Quinta da Cavadinha, Port 1996
The division of labour is fairly simple, my wife does the desserts, which were stunning, sets the table and looks beautiful, I do everything else. It was bloody hard work but really enjoyable and was probably one of the best ever, virtually every plate was cleaned and seconds were requested by the greedy ones.
The final score was 6 bottles of champagne, 7 of red wine, 3 of white wine, 1 of dessert wine, 1 Limoncello and 1 port, my liquer selection also took a beating. The dessert was eaten on schedule before midnight (once we didn’t even get the main on the table until well after midnight) so we could watch the fireworks on the telly and the last guest’s left at 3.30am.
We’ve only just recovered fully and have now got to start thinking about preparing for my wife’s big >0th birthday party in May.
This year my wife decided it was time we stepped back into the breech so eight of our closest friends were invited and the menu planning began, some earlier tests have been shown here but it finally came together last night.
From previous experience we know that whatever we cook, the following day someone will say what a great meal it was but what did they actually eat as their alcohol consumption caused them temporary memory loss, this time around we gave them a souvenir menu to take home.
NEW YEARS EVE 2011
“THE MENU”
Aperitifs
Champagne, Kir Royale or Bucks Fizz.
Canapés
Ham and Blue Cheese with Onion Relish on Bruschetta
Smoked Salmon and Beetroot with Dill Cream on Blini’s
Tomato and Asparagus with Lemon Pesto on Melba Toast
Starter
Individual Fish Pie with Green Pea Soup
Palate Cleanser
Lemon Sorbet with Limoncello
Main Course
“Pig”, Roast Fillet shot with Chorizo and Sage, Thyme Belly Confit, Black Pudding Crumble and Crackling
Served with a Madeira & Mushroom Jus and Crab Apple Jelly
Accompanied by
Pear Cider, Rosemary and Garlic Fondant Potatoes, Butternut Squash Puree and Green Beans
Desserts
Berry Terrine with Chantilly Cream
White Chocolate Parfait with a Honey Wafer
Meringue Nest with a Toblerone Ganache
Cheese
Sussex Charmer, BroadOak Cheddar, Burwash Rose, Scrumpy Sussex,
Channel Island Brie, Blacksticks Blue and St Agur
Wines/Port
Chateau Tour Balette Bordeaux, 2000
Charles Pierre Pouilly Fuisse, 2006
Muscat Orange and Flora Dessert Wine 2009
Warres Quinta da Cavadinha, Port 1996
The division of labour is fairly simple, my wife does the desserts, which were stunning, sets the table and looks beautiful, I do everything else. It was bloody hard work but really enjoyable and was probably one of the best ever, virtually every plate was cleaned and seconds were requested by the greedy ones.
The final score was 6 bottles of champagne, 7 of red wine, 3 of white wine, 1 of dessert wine, 1 Limoncello and 1 port, my liquer selection also took a beating. The dessert was eaten on schedule before midnight (once we didn’t even get the main on the table until well after midnight) so we could watch the fireworks on the telly and the last guest’s left at 3.30am.
We’ve only just recovered fully and have now got to start thinking about preparing for my wife’s big >0th birthday party in May.
Looks very nice
my new years eve was a significantly less formal affair. I smoked a turkey and then roasted some sweet potatos in the hot coals of a bonfire. we all sat around the fire drinking mulled cider and then finished off by roasting marshmallows. unfortunately we had to go inside before the new year rolled in as it started raining but it was still a bit of fun.
here are some pics of the turkey before and after (Also in the bbq thread)
my new years eve was a significantly less formal affair. I smoked a turkey and then roasted some sweet potatos in the hot coals of a bonfire. we all sat around the fire drinking mulled cider and then finished off by roasting marshmallows. unfortunately we had to go inside before the new year rolled in as it started raining but it was still a bit of fun.
here are some pics of the turkey before and after (Also in the bbq thread)
Street food in the Djemaa el Fna square in Marrakech.
You can have a meal of bean stew with bread and tea for less than £1 there.
However I decided to splurge on 8 mixed shish skewers, sides of grilled peppers and aubergines, saffron couscous and pastilla (a sweet meat pie in flaky filo pastry), a vat of freshly-squeezed orange juice to accompany, plus orange flower scented tea to finish.
£12 all in.
You can have a meal of bean stew with bread and tea for less than £1 there.
However I decided to splurge on 8 mixed shish skewers, sides of grilled peppers and aubergines, saffron couscous and pastilla (a sweet meat pie in flaky filo pastry), a vat of freshly-squeezed orange juice to accompany, plus orange flower scented tea to finish.
£12 all in.
Mobile Chicane said:
Street food in the Djemaa el Fna square in Marrakech.
You can have a meal of bean stew with bread and tea for less than £1 there.
However I decided to splurge on 8 mixed shish skewers, sides of grilled peppers and aubergines, saffron couscous and pastilla (a sweet meat pie in flaky filo pastry), a vat of freshly-squeezed orange juice to accompany, plus orange flower scented tea to finish.
£12 all in.
I only spent a few days in Marrakech a couple of years ago but fell in love with the hustle an bustle. Did you haggle for your food? I found that an odd experience, but it was worth it to get a fair few skewers of meat for under 2 quid.You can have a meal of bean stew with bread and tea for less than £1 there.
However I decided to splurge on 8 mixed shish skewers, sides of grilled peppers and aubergines, saffron couscous and pastilla (a sweet meat pie in flaky filo pastry), a vat of freshly-squeezed orange juice to accompany, plus orange flower scented tea to finish.
£12 all in.
I had a chicken donner as my last takeaway of 2011 and then grazed on some snacks at a friends house, pringles, krispy kremes etc.
Tee Rev that looks fantastic, as does the turkey Pete - nice one!
I went to the salt beef bagel place on Brick Lane (I think from Googling it was Beigel Shop, but could well have been Brick Lane Bakery) at (according to what I can gather from text messages) 2am, then apparently stumbled into "Chicken Hut" in Bethnal Green about 3am and had a "large chi doner" (bits of chicken with chips, salad and a Coke). Best kebab I've had in a lonnnngggg time. All washed down with G+Ts upon arrival back at the party.
Then followed up by a McDonald's breakfast wrap and double sausage egg McMuffin in the morning.
I went to the salt beef bagel place on Brick Lane (I think from Googling it was Beigel Shop, but could well have been Brick Lane Bakery) at (according to what I can gather from text messages) 2am, then apparently stumbled into "Chicken Hut" in Bethnal Green about 3am and had a "large chi doner" (bits of chicken with chips, salad and a Coke). Best kebab I've had in a lonnnngggg time. All washed down with G+Ts upon arrival back at the party.
Then followed up by a McDonald's breakfast wrap and double sausage egg McMuffin in the morning.
Looks great.
We have been hosting NYE diner parties for a good few years now, but usually with only 4-6 of us.
I tend to be in charge of guest entertainment (ensuring everyone’s glass stays full, yabbering, a little waiting and washing up) and the fiancée does the hard work in the kitchen. This year the she chose to go Arabic.
Amuse Bouche
Red Pepper puree (lahida fulful ahmar)
Marinated Olives.
Starter
Roquefort filo parcels (Briouat yaban)
Pea and Mint soup (Qishda al-yulban)
Main
Leg of boned lamb in an orange compote (Fajd al-jaruf bi-l-asal wa-l-burtuqal)
Pumpkin, apricot and rice (Tutum printzov)
Dessert
Almond filo snake (M’hencha)
There were also a few palette cleansers being one serving of Vodka ice and one of Orange ice – sort of slush puppies for grown ups
The four of us successfully battled 3 bottles of champagne and half a bottle of Blood Orange liqueur, a poor show compared to last year when we managed a bottle each, a bottle of Port and quite a lot of damage to a lot of shorts.
We have been hosting NYE diner parties for a good few years now, but usually with only 4-6 of us.
I tend to be in charge of guest entertainment (ensuring everyone’s glass stays full, yabbering, a little waiting and washing up) and the fiancée does the hard work in the kitchen. This year the she chose to go Arabic.
Amuse Bouche
Red Pepper puree (lahida fulful ahmar)
Marinated Olives.
Starter
Roquefort filo parcels (Briouat yaban)
Pea and Mint soup (Qishda al-yulban)
Main
Leg of boned lamb in an orange compote (Fajd al-jaruf bi-l-asal wa-l-burtuqal)
Pumpkin, apricot and rice (Tutum printzov)
Dessert
Almond filo snake (M’hencha)
There were also a few palette cleansers being one serving of Vodka ice and one of Orange ice – sort of slush puppies for grown ups
The four of us successfully battled 3 bottles of champagne and half a bottle of Blood Orange liqueur, a poor show compared to last year when we managed a bottle each, a bottle of Port and quite a lot of damage to a lot of shorts.
Mobile Chicane said:
Street food in the Djemaa el Fna square in Marrakech.
You can have a meal of bean stew with bread and tea for less than £1 there.
However I decided to splurge on 8 mixed shish skewers, sides of grilled peppers and aubergines, saffron couscous and pastilla (a sweet meat pie in flaky filo pastry), a vat of freshly-squeezed orange juice to accompany, plus orange flower scented tea to finish.
£12 all in.
Marrakes is a great choice of places to go. On all the travel programmes that you see on TV these days the square looks like it's hardly changed at all since I was there 40 years ago buying "antiques".You can have a meal of bean stew with bread and tea for less than £1 there.
However I decided to splurge on 8 mixed shish skewers, sides of grilled peppers and aubergines, saffron couscous and pastilla (a sweet meat pie in flaky filo pastry), a vat of freshly-squeezed orange juice to accompany, plus orange flower scented tea to finish.
£12 all in.
We used to sleep in our van on a totally disgusting campsite and in those days we could get a pipe of kif and enough brilliant street food for three of us for around a quid and the free entertainment in the square was thrown in.
My wife's not particularly keen but Morocco is somewhere I'm definitely planning to visit again sometime just to see places I remember. like Fez because it's so old and Marrakesh because it's just amazing, this time round I'd have to try the windsurfing out in Essaouira as well.
Ate at Walluc;
http://www.walluc.com/english/index.html
Had bruscheeta with tomatoes, fondue and a chocolate thing that I forget - that was after quite a lot of wine...
It was 30 quid for the food and we got a couple of free glasses of champagne and a post meal shot of something thrown in.
It's a really nice place - I'd recommend it for anyone nearby.
http://www.walluc.com/english/index.html
Had bruscheeta with tomatoes, fondue and a chocolate thing that I forget - that was after quite a lot of wine...
It was 30 quid for the food and we got a couple of free glasses of champagne and a post meal shot of something thrown in.
It's a really nice place - I'd recommend it for anyone nearby.
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