Plan a Fabulous New Year’s Eve Dinner Party

New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to invite your closest friends over to share good food and good company. An elegant dinner party lets you and your friends review, renew, and rejoice. Karen Brown has the following suggestions for a lovely setting and a delicious menu from her book, “The Dinner Party Cookbook” (Meadowbrook Press).

1. Create a dramatic, elegant black-and-white setting by asking guests to dress up in black and white.

2. Let everyone have a little “toast and boast” time by going around and asking guests to share the most outstanding things that happened to them this year and what they want to happen next year.

3. Use a white tablecloth with black runners.

4. Fill vases with white flowers. Wrap the vases in white tissue paper and trim with black ribbon.

5. Cover small boxes with black paper and fill with branch limbs that are sprayed with white paint.

6. Listen to sophisticated big band music from Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.

7. Try a festive menu with a Mediterranean flair: tomato-basil bruschetta, lobster bisque, risotto, roasted zucchini, and tiramisu.

8. Don’t forget plenty of champagne and maybe cabernet sauvignon at dinner.

“The Dinner Party Cookbook” features 21 special occasion and ethnic dinner themes, including 100 recipes and ideas for invitations, decorations, table settings, music, beverages, and complete menus. It can be found in bookstores everywhere.