Open/ Cfin'amad, 'Dew >> food at 2:00 pm el961 - Ferndale Si Private Party Room available for up to 100 people, perfect for birthdays, memorial lunches, anniversaries and showers. Open late weekdays until 2 A.M. and weekends until 3:30 a.m. Catering 22812 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale (northeast corner of 9 Mile Rd.) m 248-548-5005 Wi-Fi • Get a Como's app www.ComosFerndale.com 1720540 r **j YOTSUBA (-4 Japanese Restaurant & Bar WISHING OUR CUSTOMERS A HAPPY CHANUKAH! WEST BLOOMFIELD 7365 Orchard Lake Rd (Northwestern & Orchard Lake Rd.) (248) 737-8282 www.yotsuba-restaurant.com Open 7 days a week • dine-in, carry out, catering. Italian Dishes 6- Pastas Fresh Seafood Fresh-Cut Steak Salad 6- Flat Pizza and nzore! Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, Sat. and Sun, dinner only. $20 OFF $10 OFF Minimum purchase $60.00 Minimum purchase $30.00 1 coupon per table Excludes holidays With coupon exp 1/15/12 1 coupon per table Excludes holidays With coupon exp 1/15/12 4 Dinner Entrees 2 Dinner Entrees 5600 Crooks Rd. (North of Long Lake Rd.) Troy, MI • 248-813-0700 www.loccino.com Outdoor Patio Dining 32 December 22 • 2011 iN Elegant, quick and easy recipes for New Year's Eve. N ew Year's Eve parties gen- erally begin late. With the main attraction at midnight, most eats often are served after what's considered the usual dinner hour. In fact, many guests will have eaten something in the early evening to quell pangs of hunger but will be ready to ingest — and imbibe — again when a party is called for 10 p.m. On the menu is ideal party fare (not especially heavy or difficult to pre- pare or eat). I call it fork food: One utensil is all that's needed (especially when some may not have enough sit-down room). All of the offerings can be made ahead of time and simply tossed or heated just before serving. Many are just as delicious served at room temperature for utmost effortlessness. Start with appetizers. They need not be complicated. It's all about not a lot of ingredients and minimal preparation. I like to fill in my choic- es with nibbles — finger foods I don't have to fuss over and simply display in my most beautiful serveware. Dinner is uncomplicat- ed. A simple pasta, a quick fish dish and a flavorful vegetable. That, with deli- cious whole grain bread, is all that's needed. End the meal with everyone's favorite: choco- late. It's dense and creamy. Because it's rich, I like to serve mousse in liqueur or shot glasses. Just a few lush spoonfuls are plenty. Pop the cork to your favorite bub- bly, turn down the lights and gather with your best and closest for a memorable — yet, not exhausting — evening as 2011 becomes 2012. Happy New Year! All recipes © Annabel Cohen 2011; annabelonthemenu@gmail.com .