Brunch

A fancy but low key brunch on New Years Day is a great way to welcome the brand new year. Tasteful, understated decorations in icy cool silver tones are a welcome break from the glitziness of the night before. Although sparkling wine is the signature drink of the previous evening, splurge on nice champagne glasses for your brunch (plastic is fine, especially if youve invited a lot of people). Whether you use them for mimosas or just straight juice, a nice glass makes everything taste better. Make your buffet table the focal point by dressing it with a silver tablecloth. A sprinkling of silver stars on the table or a tiara or horn incorporated into a flower arrangement are a nice, subtle reminder of the holiday.For visual interest, put your dishes in bowls and platters of varying heights. Not only will each dish stand out better, youll be able to fit more on the table, and guests will have an easier time reaching dishes simultaneously.