Welcome to the latest edition of Come On Over, Food52 editorial director Julie Vadnal’s newsletter that’s all about hosting gatherings big and small—without losing your cool. Got company? Sign up here for her emails.
I secretly love Dry January. It’s a nice reset after the booze-filled holidays, and though it hurts to admit it, not drinking makes my weekly runs in Brooklyn Bridge Park feel so much easier. That said, it seems bizarre to invite people over and not share a bottle of wine with them, right? Even then, around this time of year, I’ve learned I should always have NA options on hand. Here’s how I keep the night spirit-free but still a blast.
Photo by Julia Gartland
You don’t need to skimp on glassware just because you’re serving NA cocktails. Even a Phony Negroni deserves a chic sipper, like these cute sardine tumblers.
Photo by Julia Gartland
Making my own seltzer at home has been a money-saving game changer, and this carbonator looks stylish on my countertop. I always keep a cold bottle in the fridge for guests (and me).
No one said CBD was off the table, right? As an app, offer 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’s what I call high style.
Alcohol can help do the work of getting people chatting, so in this case, I like to have a few questions in my back pocket. My nine-year-old niece recently asked me to name my favorite meal of 2024, and it was such a fun question to answer that I’m using it on everyone now.
21 Dinner Party Conversation Starters for Awkward Silences
20+ Strategies for Avoiding (& Pivoting) Awkward Conversations
You gotta get your vices in somehow, right? This chocolate pudding has a secret: bitters, which enhance the flavor with a slight kick. Adding a few splashes will make everyone feel drunk…with joy.
Photo by MJ Kroeger
Instead of an amaro, serve up a pot of coffee to signal the end of the night. I’ve learned that asking “Would anyone like one last coffee?” is a great line to use when you’re not drinking and have to go for a run in the morning, hint, hint.
What are your best Dry January hosting ideas? Let me know in the comments!
