Happily to one and all

[winoweenie]

A very happy and safe New Year to alla' youse reprobates. CB and I will do our usual, stay home, pop a bottle of bubbly round 9 pm, eat some goodies and hit the pillows by 10. Never like to mingle with all the amatuer drunks out there tonite. Could ruin my professional rep. [img]http://38.118.142.245/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[Thomas]

Usually do approximately the same, but with a dear couple we have known for years. This year, we can't get together, so wife and I are dining late at a spectacular small restaurant (Le Gigot) in Greenwich Village. Quiet dining, and we will finish early enough to get back into the apartment before the drunken fools start to fill the streets with their annual intestinal emptying.

I do hate this particular night more than any of the year.

[Kcwhippet]

After I get home from the shop tonight, we're just going to sit here and munch out with a few bubblies for lubrication. I'll be making up a batch of Gougere (IK and Bev had these) and some Spanikopita to nibble on. Also going to pick up some things from the Whole Foods Market.

[Innkeeper]

We are staying home too. Have a duckling slow cooking in the oven for dinner tomorrow night with wild rice stuffing and green beans almondine. Tonight will have gillpanned pork chops with the '02 Fleurie. If we are still up at midnight may pop some bubbly. Hope you all have a very Happy New Year.

[wondersofwine]

Ironically, I had Spanakopita for lunch. I will have 10-year tawny port tonight in preference to bubbly. Will also stay off the streets although Raleigh has a nice First Night celebration and the Cape Fear Regional Theater (Fayetteville) has a performance starring local singers and dancers and the winner of the local "American-Idol-" type competition.

[Glass_A_Day]

Happy Happy to you all. The ladyfriend is bringing me to a family party, but it is at the ministers house. I guess I won't get into to much trouble there. Well, I hope... [img]http://38.118.142.245/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[sedhead]

I hope everyone has a great New Year. Remember; one DUI will cost you more than renting a stretch limousine and buying a case of 1998 Haut-Brion.

[hotwine]

I'm a Class B bachelor tonight.... lovely wife is in Houston at her younger sister's, joined by our daughter for a planning session for daughter's May wedding. Would be with 'em but had a charity commitment today. Will pop a Taittinger NV if I can stay awake long enough.

[Drew]

Damn it Jim, we're committed to a party thiry miles from home so my limited drinking will be early...checked out the force shields and the photon torpedos on the car, a ok. Happy New Year to all, live long and prosper. [img]http://38.118.142.245/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Drew

[sedhead]

Old joke:
Bones! Get down to engineering quick! Scotty's been injured!!!
Damn it Jim I'm a doctor not a.... oh, ok I'll be right down.

[Skeeter]

Happy New Year to y'all from my side of the International Date Line! Yes, it's mid-day on the 1st down here...

Had to work last night, sad to say... pouring drinks for some of Aucklamnds more mature, restrained drinkers. Toasted the New Year in an hour after the fact with a glass of Mortons Brut (provided by a co-worker) and a spot of '97 Peter Lehmanns Noble semillon. (Provided by me) [img]http://38.118.142.245/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Then joined a few workmates for a beer and a (brief) boogie at the new, hip, youth-orientated bar in our companies building.

Wasn't kicked out for being old and un-hip, I'm happy to say. [img]http://38.118.142.245/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[quijote]

Happy New Year, all!

The Other Half and I spent the afternoon making (attemptimg to make) sushi while guzzling 2002 Dr. Frank Gewurtztraminer. The sushi may not be perfect, but the afternoon was!

This evening will feature beef stew with black-eyed peas, spinach, ginger, tomato paste, etc. Will open some sorta Spanish red for that, probably.

Later on we may open the prosecco with more sushi, or maybe we'll just cut to the Buller Fine Muscat and Buller Fine Tawny, served alongside gorgonzola, roasted walnuts, and Harry and David pears. No doubt, a great way to usher in the New Year!

[Bucko]

The wife is already in the magical kindom of snoring, the chocolate lab curled up beside her, providing good backup.

I'm sipping on some sissy white NZ SB, but am getting ready to open up a nice Rhone to ring the New Year in.

May all of your wishes and resolutions become larger than life.

Bucko

[hotwine]

Never made it to the Taittinger.... had a VdP de Vaucluse with black-eyed peas (boiled with S&P & Tabasco), nodded off watching Razorbacks and Mizzou duke it out, crawled off to bed before midnight. Happy '04 to all fellow miscreants.

[dananne]

Anne was coming off a minor outpatient procedure, so we spent a quiet night in with some vittles from the Whole Foods Market. Around 8, we opened a bottle of '93 Pol Roger Brut Rose. She was told by the Doc not to drink anything except water and fruit juice, but she (I think correctly) reasoned that they didn't specify whether the fruit juice could be fermented. Finished the Roger and was asleep by 11. Woke briefly and hour later when the dogs erupted because of the fireworks, but quickly dozed back off.

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe evening!

[winoweenie]

The pot of Black-eyed peas is bubbling away and the cornbread is resting comforably while I wait for CB to awaken. Opened one of 2 bottles of 82 Moet & Chandon Brut Rose last nite before hitting the sheets at 10:10 and the other will die this AM with hand-dipped stromberries in Chocolatte, "Breakfast of Champions". May this be the worst year you ever have and the Best you've ever experienced. ww [img]http://38.118.142.245/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[tandkvd]

Ahh yes, New Years Day. We'll be having our usual meal, and one of my favorites. Black eyed peas, stewed potatos, collards (and vinager), ham and corn bread. They are all on cooking now.

I'm going to take Foodies sugestion and open a bottle of Reisling, on acount of the collards and vinager. Also may open a bottle of Prosecco.

Last night we struggled to stay up for the new year. Had the family over for some punch and finger foods.

This is the punch we had at the Christmas party at my wifes work.

1 package cherry Kool- Aid
1 package strawberry Kool-Aid
6 oz. frozen OJ
6 oz. frozen lemonade
2 qt. water
2 cups sugar
2 qt. ice
1 1/2 cups vodka
1 1/2 cups white rum (we used dark rum)
2 liters ginger ale
1 bottle champagne (the recipe called for cheap pink champagne)

1. Mix Kool-Aid, juice, lemonade, sugar, and water.

2. Add booze and ice cubes and let cool.

3. Add champange and ginger ale before serving.

4. Adjust punch to party mood with more vodka.

After the punch we never got around to opening the bubbly!

[Drew]

Well trooper that I am, we left the party last night at 1:30am wide awake and sober. I enjoyed watching the sober wives drag their drunken hubbies into their vehicles for the ride home...very amusing. Was up at 9am Eileen called into work do to manpower shortage...now I know why I retired from the agency, @#!!&%#!. Just prepared a wonderful saffron, green onion, black olive risotto laced with Parmigianno Reggiano that I'll be enjoying later with some big shrimps. Another Holiday with the cat, oh well.

Drew

[Thomas]

A quiet dinner at Le Gigot, on Manhattan's Cornelia Street, known for some good eateries.

Started with an on-the-house fish puree and salmon roe on crust of bread; then oysters on the half shell, accompanied by a glass of house sparkler (didn't ask the name, but it was serviceable); followed by saffron-laced bouillabase (sp) accompanied by a house Moulin a Vent (great pairing); followed by apple tart with Illy cafe; followed by a walk to th apartment in Greenwich Village, trying to figure our the genders of the many weird-looking people vomiting on the sidewalks.

We got into bed by 11:45, just in time to forget about the throngs crazy enough to crowd into Times Square. Was awakened at 5 AM 'cause the standard poodle needed to go out!

[tandkvd]

You were right again Foodie. The Riesling was great with the meal. It was a 2002 Moselland Arsvitis. My 83 year old mother-in-law even had a glass, and liked it!