Creative ways to kick off the New Year in style.
By: Elaine Worden
New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to be spent standing in the city streets or at a crowded bar, shoulder to shoulder with swarms of strangers, to have a good time. There are plenty of ways to have an exciting, fulfilling New Year’s without leaving the comforts of home.
The night is supposed to be about celebration so don’t spend the day or evening slaving away at the stove. Avoid the hustle and bustle of dining out and take a break by sampling some of the takeout options available.
For a romantic New Year’s Eve for two, try dinner and a movie. Pick up a few movie rentals and a tub of microwave popcorn to snuggle up with until midnight approaches.
Have children? Try sitting down together and making holiday decorations. Just grab some construction paper, markers or crayons and get crafty.
Make some signs that say ‘Happy New Year,’ and ‘2005.’ Glitter glue (which is less messy than mixing glue and glitter by hand), sequins and confetti are all fun elements that can easily be pasted onto construction paper for a touch of sparkle. Or try drawing and coloring pictures of resolutions for the new year instead of just telling other people about them.
Larger gatherings can also be held at home and still be hassle-free. Whether it’s an intimate group of close friends or everybody on the block, mixing some delicious takeout, beverages and ambience can create the perfect party place without leaving the couch.
You can even get exotic by trying takeout from different cultures.
Japanese cuisine devotees can find several options around town to create the perfect feast for friends and family or an intimate dinner for two.
FuJi Hibachi Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, located at 485 Georges Road, offers a holiday sushi and hibachi menu available for takeout with an ample selection of fish and cooking styles.
Sharon Ng, FuJi’s manager, recommends sushi as a good cuisine for takeout.
"It’s good to go because you don’t have to eat it hot," Ms. Ng said.
Sushi, which should be refrigerated, can stay fresh for about three hours, explained the FuJi staff.
For a pairing of vegetables and sushi, they have a 48-piece tray, priced at $29.99, that features California rolls, vegetable rolls (in both small and medium sizes), and inari (vinegared rice and vegetables wrapped in fried tofu). For a tray of 30 pieces with a selection of California rolls, spicy tuna rolls and nigiri (pieces of fish over vinegared rice balls), the cost is $39.99.
FuJi sushi chef Ken Chen painstakingly architects each dish, adding his own culinary artisanship to the meals by mixing aesthetic garnishes and complementing ingredients. A sushi chef for nearly eight years, Mr. Chen and his partner, Jeff Giang, have a knack for whipping up artfully designed presentations.
The restaurant also carries four different types of tuna, including toro tuna.
"It is the best tuna in the world," said Mr. Chen. "It tastes like butter."
FuJi can also make custom platters according to the customer’s budget and the amount of people they plan to feed.
"It’s very flexible," said Ms. Ng.
FuJi’s already has a roster of orders for the holidays rolling in, so be sure to place a large order a day or two ahead of time. Smaller orders can be prepared in less time, and only take about a half-hour to put together.
For those who prefer their seafood to be cooked, check out one of the area’s Super Stop&Shop stores, which sells a plethora of preset platters made to order. There are Stop&Shops located at 24 Summerfield Blvd. (732-329-0398), 4095 Route 1 (732-329-8288) and 3333 Route 27 (732-422-4420).
The Stop&Shop shrimp platter has artistically placed cooked and cleaned shrimp surrounding a bowl of cocktail sauce set in the middle of the tray. One-pound, which serves four to six people, goes for $11.99, and a 2-pound tray, which feeds eight to 10 people, costs $21.99.
Another option is Shop&Stop’s Seafood Finger Sandwich Platter. A selection of 24 finger roll sandwiches filled with lobster salad, crab salad, and grilled salmon costs $37.99.
But New Year’s Eve doesn’t just have to revolve around eating creatures from the sea.
Super Stop&Shop offers a Middle Eastern Appetizer Platter (sold for $5.99 per pound), which has a collection or red roasted pepper hummus, taboule, stuffed grape leaves, original hummus, oil-cured olives, pita bread and bagel chips.
They also sell several trays and platters filled with meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. Get a deli platter with sliced meats and cheeses and make your own sandwiches, or a vegetable tray for a healthy snack to munch on all night.
For those with a sweet tooth, cap off dinner by picking up a Gourmet Cheese Cake Sampler, $16.99, at Stop&Shop or browse the bakery at Pierre’s of South Brunswick (732-329-3219), located at 582 Georges Road, for an assortment of cookies, cakes or pies.
Many area wine and liquor stores are also having holiday specials and sales. Check out the Wine Gallery on 24 Summerfield Blvd. (732-274-0036) or Viking Wine and Liquors (732-274-0900), located at 4095 Route 1 South, to find out what’s on sale and what adult beverages are in stock.
Online menus are available for FuJi’s at www.fujidayton.com, for Super Stop&Shop at www.stopandshop.com and for Pierre’s at www.pierresofsouthbrunswick.com. Each Web site offers a listing of various menu selections, prices, hours and phone numbers to place an order in advance.

