How To: Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Farm Boy

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 yummy ideas 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/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.

2. FOOD

Decide what type of food you’d like to serve (e.g. small yummy bites or a sit-down meal) and choose a mixture of warm/hot and room temperature/cold items. Pay attention to items that can be partially or completely prepared in advance. Check what you have in terms of serving platters and serving utensils. (I like to 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. 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 Frozen Goodies I Recommend for Hosting NYE

1. Perogies: Available in 4 flavours, they’re perfectly sized for a small bites feast. 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.
2. Crispy Wontons: Available in 3 flavours, including Buffalo Chicken and Black Bean & Monterey Jack. Apart from their yummy flavour and crispy texture, they bake in only 5 minutes or less. That’s a win!
3. Wild Caught Calamari: I also love these dipped in my Vegan Roasted Red Pepper and Harissa Dip – so good.
4. Vegan Chicken-Less Nuggets: A great item to serve for our plant-based friends.
5. Pacific White Shrimp Ring with Sauce: I love that these shrimp are large and meaty – a nice treat for a celebration.
6. Stone-Baked Flatbread: Available in several flavours, including Chicken Tikka, and Mushroom and Black Truffle. These are so easy to bake, slice, and serve.
   
   

Snacks I Recommend for a NYE Spread

1. Farm Boy Cerignola Giant Olives & Farm Boy Jumbo Kalamata Olives
2. Farm Boy cheeses and cold cuts for a beautiful charcuterie board. Some of my faves include their Triple Cream Brie, Cranberry Cinnamon Goat’s Milk Cheese (yum! Love a good sweet and savoury combo), Rosette De Lyon Salami (sliced or unsliced), and Sliced Serrano Ham. 
3. 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 the Farm Boy Harissa Seasoning Blend used 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 their regular or light mayonnaises.
4. An assortment of fresh veggies for crudité.
5. My Mini Toads-in-A-Hole with Jammy Balsamic Onions : A simple, budget-friendly, crowd-favourite bite that shows off the flavour of Farm Boy’s fresh 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!
6. Double Baked Pita Crackers: A yummy, nut-free option for a charcuterie board.

An Easy No-Cook Appetizer Idea

Mediterranean Canapés: The easiest small bite to assemble and they’re vegan/vegetarian-friendly, too!

1. Add a dollop of your favourite Farm Boy Hummus flavour to each Farm Boy Naan Bite and spread, avoiding the edges.
2. Top with a small spoonful of Farm Boy Muffuletta Spread.
3. Garnish with crumbles of Farm Boy Vegan Feta Cheese Alternative.
4. Serve at room temp.

3. DRINKS 

A combo of alcoholic and non-alcoholic 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.

Pear Champagne Cocktail

1. Add 1 oz Farm Boy Pear No Sugar Added Juice to a flute or coupe glass.
2. Top with champagne or sparkling wine.
3. 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 for when guests arrive and for dinner, then 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. Personally, I keep things simple: greenery, florals, and candles are my go-to’s.

And there you have it – a quick 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!