The Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel and Spa is giving guests the chance to take the chore out of Hogmanay with a range of events being held on December 31 for families and adults.
Special events at the hotel, situated on the outskirts of Aberdeen, include a family buffet dinner for children aged 2-12, with party games and disco; an adults-only (18 plus) black-tie gala dinner with a six-course tasting menu and ceilidh music from the Reel McCoy; and a Big Hogmanay Bash (ages 12 plus only) with dinner, live entertainment from the Bogus Brothers and dancing, all of which culminate with a spectacular fireworks display to ring in the New Year.
The hotel’s celebrations mean that people don’t need to worry about New Year, making it easy to forget about entertaining during the remainder of the holiday period.
Ardoe sales executive Lauren Craigie has some tips to host the perfect party this festive season:
BE PREPARED: Think as far ahead as possible to prevent disaster. Plan a menu and entertainment for the evening well ahead of time, and try and get all the shopping in early with as much in the freezer as possible to avoid the supermarket rush in between Christmas and New Year.
DRINKS ALL ROUND: It is important to buy a selection of alcoholic drinks for guests – but also encourage visitors to take their favourite tipple with them to ensure everyone is catered for. With new drink drive rules in force, remember to have a good selection of soft drinks on offer – and it is also a good idea to create a mocktail so those on driving duty don’t feel left out.
ORGANISE ENTERTAINMENT: After-dinner entertainment doesn’t necessarily have to mean a ceilidh band in your lounge, but there are some novel ideas to keep guests, both young and old, entertained. These could be games, karaoke or even a treasure hunt – weather permitting.
ENJOY YOURSELF: There is no point in creating the perfect night for your guests if you are left at your wits’ end and begging for people to leave. Ensuring you are well prepared and have some help on the night will allow you to mingle with guests and enjoy the night just as much as everyone else.
These easy to make canapé and
cocktail recipes are sure to be a hit
with guests:
SWEET PEPPER, VENISON, GIN, CHIVE AND RYE BREAD CANAPÉS
SERVES 20
800g roasted tinned peppers
1 loaf of rye bread
50ml gin
Bunch of chives
50g mascarpone
300g venison loin
20ml lemon juice
Lemon zest of half a lemon
Ground juniper berry
Cracked black pepper to taste
Rock salt to taste
In a hot frying pan sear the venison loin until approximately 10 seconds and remove from the pan and transfer to a bowl. Season well with the pepper and salt and add the lemon juice and zest, and set aside in the fridge until required.
Toast the precut rye bread under the grill until brown and crispy. Using a small cutter (5cm) cut out 20 circles and set aside in an air tight container. Using the same cutter cut 20 circles of pepper and keep in the fridge until required. Combine mascarpone with the gin, ground juniper berry and chopped chives using a whisk, put into a piping bag and place in the fridge to firm up until required. Slice the venison very thinly using a sharp knife, then roll into small roulades.
It’s very important to assemble the canapés last minute to ensure the croutons are crisp
WHITE CHRISTMAS
SERVES 2
100ml vodka
50ml Baileys
160ml coconut cream or cream or whole milk (depending on what’s in the fridge…)
Dash vanilla extract
Put the vodka, Baileys and coconut cream into a cocktail shaker and mix well. Strain contents evenly between two glasses and garnish with chocolate wafers. Top with grated nutmeg or cocoa powder.