If I had to choose just one event to celebrate at the end of the year, it would be Christmas. We prepare for it throughout the entire month of December, and it is something we would not miss for anything in the world. We celebrate it in a fairly formal way, and it is the perfect opportunity to truly go all out. Even though I enjoy setting tables around seasonal themes, the Christmas table has something magical and special about it, almost something solemn.
But New Year’s Eve is a completely different story. I find it increasingly difficult to enjoy this celebration. When you decide to organize it with friends, you always end up thinking you would have been better off staying warm at home, and that there are plenty of other occasions to be together anyway, ones that do not involve going out in minus three degrees while wondering whether it is really safe…! From time to time, I do host a small New Year’s Eve gathering, and in that case, I opt for a simple and stress-free menu. At Christmas, there is never quite enough time to enjoy each other’s company with all the back and forth to the kitchen (even if many of us help), so this is the perfect opportunity to do things differently.
Here are a few tips for enjoying a wonderful evening:
1. Champagne
Impossible to do without it! Champagne is part of our beautiful French culture and is present at almost all of our parties and celebrations. New Year’s Eve is also the perfect occasion for your friends to bring their favorite champagnes, allowing everyone to discover new ones. If you are talented at making cocktails and have a well-stocked bar (like some people I know), this can be very much appreciated by your guests (but I am terribly bad at it, so I leave it to others!). In the countryside, we always make sure there is space for guests to stay over and avoid driving at night. Never let someone leave if they have had more to drink than they should.
2. A simple menu
I do not focus on elaborate dishes, but rather on a variety of small bites, such as toasts, mini savory cakes, good-quality maki, scallop carpaccio served in small glasses, or mini sandwiches inspired by a recipe from a famous pastry chef from Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Choose easy-to-prepare nibbles or buy ready-made options from a caterer, such as mini pizzas with sun-dried tomatoes and onions. A high-quality charcuterie and cheese board can also be a lovely option. For dessert, I buy individual mini pastries or order a sweet platter, so everyone can choose what they prefer.
3. Setting the table
The idea is to go for a less formal decoration than at Christmas, incorporating bold patterns, stripes, and colors with strong contrasts. I steal a few decorations from my Christmas tree (it has too many anyway), add some pine branches, and place large candles among the foliage. For this particular table, I added a faux mini Christmas tree. There are plenty of anemones at Parisian florists at this time of year, which is another charming option. But I like to keep a little of the Christmas spirit. Do not forget to play a jazz playlist to bring the evening to life!
4. The outfit
The rule is simple: be elegant, but above all comfortable! After all these successive festive meals and the stress of work, I just want to relax. To be completely honest, I would rather spend the evening in pajamas… I choose loose, fluid black trousers, a black top, and a very pretty kimono with bold patterns, adorned with flowers and birds, that I recently brought back from Tokyo. Subtle makeup in brown tones, dark red nail polish (we can allow ourselves that since there is nothing left to do in the garden), a few rings, but no watch. No shoes at home, just embroidered velvet Venetian-style slippers…
5. Games to end the evening
In France, we spend a lot of time at the table, so it is important to move around a bit at the end of the evening! In the countryside, we often take a walk through the village after dinner. We bring out board games (such as Times Up, Pictionary, etc.) and have a wonderful time together while waiting for the clock to strike midnight…
And most importantly, enjoy the moment. There is no need to make the evening too perfect. What matters most is being surrounded by people you enjoy and starting the year on a positive note. Relax and have fun, that is all that really counts!
