South Philly Review

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Since we rarely go out on New Year’s Eve, Edward and I enjoy inviting friends, family and neighbors to our home for a casual celebration filled with good conversation, fine food and drink. Edward lights the fireplace, jazz is playing on WRTI and the fun begins.

Planning a New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day buffet party should not be a challenge. If you follow my game plan, you will have a relaxed time and enjoy the party.

We set up the bar in the kitchen and let everyone mix a drink or pour a glass of wine or Champagne. Don’t forget sparkling spring water, tonic water and assorted fruit juices. Mulled wine is warming this time of year. All you have to do is pour a few bottles of dry red wine into a pot, add a few cinnamon sticks, cloves, the rind of two large navel oranges and orange wedges and simmer gently. Do not boil the wine as the alcohol will evaporate.

Finger foods should be served cool, warm or at room temperature. This way you and one of your elves are not frantically checking the oven.

I set out assorted cheeses on a large Swedish crystal platter. Choices include a Maytag blue or any other blue cheese, a rich Vermont cheddar, ripe Brie, Camembert, or Taleggio, a big fat log of chevre and several cups of boursin for spreading. Include small slices of French bread, flat breads, Parmesan crisps, small buttery square crouton crisps and assorted plain crackers in baskets.

Charcuterie such as imported salami, prosciutto di Parma, mortadella, several wedges of pate and a big pot of chicken liver mousse marries well with cheese. Place small pots of coarse Dijon, cornichons, olives, almonds and pickled cocktail onions near the cheeses and charcuterie.

Platters of colorful crudite add crunch to the cocktail buffet. I like to include a separate platter of marinated artichokes and mushrooms, roasted peppers and pickled vegetables. This year, I am whipping up a feta spread I saw Chef Cat Cora prepare on The Cooking Channel.

It would not be a party without sliced Nova Scotia salmon. I buy several loaves of party rye, smear each slice with softened butter, top with thinly-sliced Nova Scotia salmon and a tiny sprig of dill. If you like white fish salad, I urge you to go to Spread Bagelry near Rittenhouse Square and buy a few pounds of their in-house-prepared variety. It is the finest in the city and can be spread on party rye, crackers or slices of bread.

Another tasty finger food is cherry tomatoes stuffed with tuna. Trader Joe’s sells tuna packed in olive oil. I always have a dozen cans on hand. Mix it with a little mayonnaise, rinsed capers and finely chopped celery. If your budget allows, you can substitute crabmeat for the tuna, or prepare a bit of both. You can alternate individual endive spears topped with tuna or crabmeat with the cherry tomatoes.

It would not be a party at our home without five pounds of shrimp served with cocktail sauce, laced with lemon juice and horseradish. I have never met anyone who does not love shrimp unless they are allergic to them or a vegetarian. You can purchase it already cooked if time is of the essence.

Take an inventory of paper products several days before the party. Buy more napkins than you think you will need along with an extra box of trash bags. If you go with high quality paper goods, use your stainless steel serving pieces because they are easier to handle than a plastic utensil.

Plastic glassware has come a long way in the past 10 years. Choose the heaviest you can find. If you have a large collection of inexpensive all-purpose wine glasses, bring them out by all means.

Lay in plenty of ice and keep white wine and Champagne in ice buckets. Fill them with cold water and ice before nestling the bottles in. Beer can be kept in the fridge or in a large cooler.

I wish you a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year.

Cat Cora’s Feta Cheese Spread

Ingredients:

1 pound of feta cheese, preferably imported and made from sheep’s milk, cut into cubes
Sprinkling of dried oregano, to taste
4 fat cloves of garlic
Juice of 2 lemons
Olive oil for drizzling

Directions: