Welcome to the newest version of Come On Over, Food52 editorial director Julie Vadnal’s e-newsletter that is all about internet hosting gatherings massive and small—with out dropping your cool. Bought firm? Join right here for her emails.
I secretly love Dry January. It’s a pleasant reset after the booze-filled holidays, and although it hurts to confess it, not ingesting makes my weekly runs in Brooklyn Bridge Park really feel a lot simpler. That mentioned, it appears weird to ask individuals over and never share a bottle of wine with them, proper? Even then, round this time of 12 months, I’ve discovered I ought to all the time have NA choices available. Right here’s how I preserve the evening spirit-free however nonetheless a blast.
Photograph by Julia Gartland
You don’t want to scrimp on glassware simply since you’re serving NA cocktails. Even a Phony Negroni deserves a classy sipper, like these cute sardine tumblers.
Photograph by Julia Gartland
Making my very own seltzer at residence has been a money-saving recreation changer, and this carbonator seems trendy on my countertop. I all the time preserve a chilly bottle within the fridge for visitors (and me).
Nobody mentioned CBD was off the desk, proper? As an app, supply up these Apple Ume Ginger gummies on a tray—they’re made with Gravenstein apples from a historic orchard in Mendocino, then blended with floral ume plum syrup. That is what I name excessive model.
Alcohol can assist do the work of getting individuals chatting, so on this case, I prefer to have a number of questions in my again pocket. My nine-year-old niece just lately requested me to call my favourite meal of 2024, and it was such a enjoyable query to reply that I’m utilizing it on everybody now.
21 Dinner Celebration Dialog Starters for Awkward Silences
20+ Methods for Avoiding (& Pivoting) Awkward Conversations
You gotta get your vices in someway, proper? This chocolate pudding has a secret: bitters, which improve the flavour with a slight kick. Including a number of splashes will make everybody really feel drunk…with pleasure.
Photograph by MJ Kroeger
As a substitute of an amaro, serve up a pot of espresso to sign the top of the evening. I’ve discovered that asking “Would anybody like one final espresso?” is a superb line to make use of whenever you’re not ingesting and should go for a run within the morning, trace, trace.
What are your finest Dry January internet hosting concepts? Let me know within the feedback!
