Ever wondered what to do on New Year’s day? Partying it up the night before is hard to one up! The best cure for the hangover you’ll likely have and post-celebration blues, is an eclectic New Year’s day brunch spread. Gather with friends, family or loved ones and bond over good food & bubbly! If this doesn’t sound like perfection to you, scroll down to see how it all came together. I have a feeling you’ll be changing your mind after you see our eclectic brunch spread. 😉
Today’s inspirational read, is in collaboration with the lovely ladies at Sapphire & Lace. They were so gracious to offer their space to Caitlin, of Ginger & Grae, and I to create this brunch spread. Make sure to give them a little love on social by clicking my link here! These ladies have the most adorable little cottage around. Cheers to women who support one another and build each other up!
An Eclectic New Years Day
Brunch Spread
To Munch on:
– Almond Butter Toast Bar
The main focus of the menu, was the almond butter toast bar. I wanted to keep the menu meat-free but knew some source of protein would be needed to keep guests full, hence where the idea came from!
// What you’ll need for this:
– a variety of almond/nut butters (You can find a great selection of these at Trader Joe’s. We served classic almond butter, carrot cake butter and Trader Joe’s infamous Speculoos Cookie Butter)
– an artisan loaf of bread ( We went with sourdough, but croissants or baguettes would taste great and add to the presentation of the set up nicely! And hey, why not give your guests variety for extra hostess points? 😉 )
– serving ware for toppings, butters and bread (We put the sourdough on a slate board, the toppings in glass terrarium’s, and butters in dipping bowls, all within a rattan tray)
– additional toppings such as cinnamon, sea salt and agave syrup
– Citrus Salad with Mint
To add a fruit element, we served a citrus salad garnished with honey and fresh mint.
// What you’ll need for this:
– honey
– fresh mint
– grapefruit & naval oranges (3-4 oranges each, pending how many guests you’ll be serving)
How to Style the Drinks + Bar Cart Area:
Step One: Let’s talk cocktails
For a refreshing cocktail that’s bound to be a hit, serve a grapefruit mimosa! Not only is the presentation factor really high, but it’ll likely be just what you & your guests need after a night of celebration.
// What you’ll need for this:
– grapefruit juice & wassail for variety of choice (serve the juice in this, for a pretty setup)
– fresh rosemary to garnish
– champagne
Step Two: How to add subtle New Years decor
We’ve all seen it before.. New Years day decor that comes off more tacky than anything, due to the over abundance of glitter and shiny elements. I had a vision in mind of creating a brunch spread that spoke for itself and rather, had subtle festive features mixed with eclectic, 60’s vibes. Did I pull it off? Well, you be the judge!
To achieve that vision, touches such as a silver tinsel backdrop and a gold & black letter board are what I went for. The trick is to even it out and not add an overabundance of decor. Keep the setup fresh, clean and minimal. My philosophy with decor is to always have a focal point that your eyes immediately go to. For this bubbly bar, that was the silver tinsel backdrop. Don’t overwhelm your guests with what to focus on when they enter the room but rather, let every piece compliment one another!
