New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. It’s time to plan where you want to enjoy this special holiday. Looking for a fun New Year’s Eve dinner or maybe a reason not to cook the next day? Once we’ve experienced the thrill of the Space Needle fireworks, and don’t want to be drivers in the destruction derby in the wee hours of the New Year, how do we pass the NYE event?

Not to worry –
Bar Dojo: Four Course Prix Fixe Menu for NYE 2014, with wine pairing and champagne! Make your reservations now for 5, 7 and 9 p.m. seating. Call 425-967-7267!

Buca di Beppo in Lynnwood, is open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Chantrelle: New Year’s Eve –  regular Hours. Dinner menu and dinner specials served 4-9 p.m. New Year’s Day: Regular hours, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

The Loft: Ring in the New Year with Joe Carolus live at the piano from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Cost of $65 per person includes a four-course dinner, champagne toast, party favors and more. Reservations after 9 p.m. highly recommended; call 425-640-5000.

Scott’s Bar & Grill: Special New Year’s Day brunch/lunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m.|Dinner 2 p.m.-10 p.m.

I am sure there are private parties held locally that eliminate the journey into Seattle traffic. Traditions abound.

My guests will tuck into a traditional meal of Pork and Kraut. Yup, my German ancestors instituted this savory celebration, the start to each New Year. Haven’t missed a bite in 50 years! Mom even smuggled a plate to me while in hospital. My first son was born on Dec 31!

A Pennsylvania Dutch tradition says that it’s good luck to eat pork for the New Year because pigs forage forward for their food and don’t look back. Moving forward is definitely better, especially these days.

In the South, people eat black-eyed peas for good luck and greens such as cabbage, collard greens, kale or spinach to bring money. Other cultures eat pickled herring; beef wrapped in cabbage, cornbread, grapes, sticky rice cakes, donut-like fritters or boiled cod to ensure good luck. Boiled cod? I’ll take the pork and kraut ,thank you.

Readers, please feel free to share your own NYE traditions and any NYE hot spots in downtown or around town that I have neglected to mention here.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !

— By Kathy Passage

A specialty gourmet food broker for over 30 years, Kathy Passage has in-depth knowledge on food and the special qualities of ingredients used in the exquisite products she helped bring to market. Kathy brings this unique perspective from the “other side of the plate” to writing about the food and restaurant scene in Edmonds. Reach Kathy at restaurantnews@myedmondsnews.com