Ideas for thematic parties for the New Year

The New Year will be… Cuban

In the absence of favorable weather, let's put some sunshine on our plates for New Year's Eve.

This year, head to Cuba, between salsa and rum cocktails.

After a festive aperitif around banana chips, chorizo ​​skewers or even fried calamari, we focus on the traditional dish par excellence of Cuban cuisine: the picadillo.

A minced beef cooked with garlic, onions, white rice and black beans.

A warm recipe that Cubans share without moderation on any occasion, New Year included (according to the adage when there's enough for two, there's enough for three).

Not totally convinced?

More classic and more refined, you can also opt for a Cuban grilled chicken with small vegetables and its chili sauce.

For dessert, we enjoy this coconut flan or a

, a mashed sweet potato with coconut milk, lemon juice and cinnamon.

All washed down with mojitos or Cuba libre.

warm colours, garlands of flowers, exotic fruits and posters of old Cadillacs.

: here too, bright colors, ruffled petticoats, flowers in the hair, hoop earrings and panamas.

: salsa rumba and timba music will be in the spotlight.

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The New Year will be… Brazilian

The recipe for cod with cornmeal and cassava.

Photo Bernhard Winkelmann

Always in search of sun, we change atmosphere, direction Brazil.

Copacabana beach as if you were there… a caipirinha in your hand.

On the menu, a buffet starter made up of an assortment of fried foods, chicken fritters, meat, cod or even cheese and mango rolls with fresh goat cheese.

Then, we hesitate between cod with cornmeal and cassava, sautéed vegetables in a coconut emulsion and the unmissable

, a kind of Brazilian cassoulet made with black beans and pork.

To finish, we fall for a light dessert, a gourmet sorbet with mango, lime or exotic fruits.

The goal?

take our guests on a journey with world cuisine that will seduce their taste buds.

Brazilian flags, yellow and green tablecloth and crockery, garlands of flowers, balloons or even large red feathers like the famous carnival, when it comes to Brazilian decor, we are spoiled for choice.

: mandatory tanned skin, mini-skirt, bright colors, necklaces, bracelets and other colorful jewelry are required.

: samba, tropical music as well as all the notes likely to warm up the atmosphere will be welcome.

The New Year will be… American

A regular source of inspiration for any type of event, the country of Uncle Sam can prove to be a very good theme idea for New Year's Eve.

We borrow his cupcakes, burgers, hot dogs and cheesecakes for a thunderous "

".

Illustrative photo.

Our best homemade burger recipes.

iStock

As you will have understood, on the menu for this New Year's Eve

, we will obviously enjoy a homemade hamburger, this North American specialty with runny cheddar which we are particularly fond of or, more healthy, a veggie bagel, with beets, tofu, cucumber, radish sprouts and fleur de sel.

Of course, we will also remember the famous hot dog recipe and we may fall for one of these crab rolls.

And for dessert, how not to mention the classic but nevertheless delicious

 ?

Made with pumpkin, pecan nuts, caramelized apples or even blueberries and red fruits, they are as essential as they are refined and America would no longer be America without one of them.

You can also bet on a cheesecake, a brownie, a cupcake, donuts or muffins.

The least we can say is that 2018 will start with a full stomach.

All washed down with "cosmo" or milkshakes.

red and blue cups, pennant garlands and why not a prom-style balloon arch?

: from Lady Gaga to Donald Trump via the Statue of Liberty, all combinations are possible.

Your costume is only limited by your imagination.

: from Britney Spears (whose tree is jealous on twitter) to Stevie Wonder via the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Eyed Peas or even Bob Dylan, the evening should move well.

The New Year will be… mountainous

For those who want to avoid the corny pleonasm that wants us to "put on our 31" for the 31st. No, with us this year it will be big sweater, raclette and genepi.

You can very well do without glitter, heels and make-up and have a good New Year's Eve.

A few friends, family, good charcuterie, cheese, potatoes, a plaid and genepi will have the best effect.

For dessert, we put on a refined sorbet or a frosted orange to digest well.

a chimney fire, a cocooning, traditional and mountain table that will make you want to spend the evening at the table…

: a big Christmas jumper and good socks will be essential for the comfort of this evening with a snowy spirit.

: no or very little music: the evening will be devoted to board games: Times up, blind test, Trivial Pursuit and quizzes of all kinds.

The New Year will be… oriental

Discover the recipe for lamb tagine with prunes.

Miele / Photo press

On the program: 1001 nights atmosphere, fairy tales and buffet of mountains and exotic wonders.

To start, as a starter, we harmoniously mix the flavors: hummus toast, beetroot salad and meat or cheese bricks.

Then comes the main course for dinner: a tagine of lamb with prunes for the more adventurous, a sea bass tagine with peas for the daring or a chicken confit Oriental style for the more traditional.

All this accompanied by grilled buckwheat salad with small vegetables, white rice or fragrant couscous.

For dessert, a banana pie and spread will delight children while a fruit salad, gazelle horns, Turkish delight or fresh dates will delight parents' taste buds.

In drink?

A sangria or a rainbow cocktail with grenadine and orgeat syrups.

brown, saffron, ocher and other warm colours, shiny colours, golden fabrics and copper objects.

: slippers, turbans, colored headbands, shiny jewelry and sparkling embroidery.

: oriental and ethnic music, Egyptian, Lebanese or Moroccan songs.

A colorful New Year... or not

How about a colorful theme?

In red, pink, blue or even green, exceptional dishes, costumes, cocktails, everything would be matched… Our example: a black and white evening.

On the menu of a "black and white" New Year's Eve, as a starter we taste raw oysters with caviar.

A delicious and easy to make recipe.

Then, we opt for an iodized veal tartare, a millefeuille of truffles and scallops or a white salad.

To finish, we toast with our citrus berry cocktail, before enjoying a slice of white chocolate and blueberry cheesecake, a dark chocolate sweet and its nougat surprise.

Last delicacy before leaving the table: a fondant chocolate and coconut truffle.

: black and white.

All over.

: same.

Why not just black pants and a white shirt or vice versa.

The only watchword: no colors.

: no, you don't have to listen

to Michael Jackson's

This article has been updated and was originally published on December 27, 2016.

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