🕒 8 min read

New Year festivities are decidedly different this year. Whether you’re going full-out or choosing a more subdued night in, one thing’s for certain: the revelries are all happening at home, whether it’s your address or someone else’s. One thing hasn’t changed, thankfully: fab food and drinks are imperative.

But as this year – and next – is still brimming with uncertainty, you don’t want to dole out a whack of dough for dinner and drinks like the old days. Luckily, you’ve got options. Pretty impressive ones, in fact, all for less than a hundo.

So put on your best fit (or stay in your sweats - no one will know the difference), favourite playlist or movie, and order takeout or delivery to usher in the new year, which has to be a massive improvement on this one. It just has to.

Don’t sweat it

Raise your hand if you’re done with 2020.  And cooking. And all the dishes that go with it. Eastbound Brewery’s New Year’s Eve Snack Pack ($75) does all the heavy lifting, so that you don’t have to.  

The extensive charcuterie package includes housemade terrine, pickles, compote, queso, dip and all the fixins to ensure you barely have to lift a finger. Because let’s face it – that’s about all the energy you can muster right now.

Pre-order by December 26th for delivery Dec 30th, or available for pick up Dec 30th or 31st. If unable to deliver on the 30th your package will return to the brewery and will be available for pickup afterwards. 

Birds and bubs

Is there a more dynamic duo than fried chicken and champers? Doubt it. And greasy comfort food that you eat with your hands while slugging back bougie bubble? It’s the kind of send off a year like this calls for.

Beast Bodega’s Bubble Box #1 “Ain’t No Thang” ($85) is a veritable indoor picnic for two – just add blanket: An elevated version of the fast food classic – fried chicken, macaroni salad, coleslaw, fries – complete with metal lunch box and haute sauce.

Preordering is available until Monday December 28 at 10pm. Pickups are from 2pm-7pm on Thursday December 31.

Ancient history

Tomas Reyes and Desiree Jama, owners of Enchilados Taqueria, bring together two incredible cuisines under one roof: Mayan and Incan. As both gastronomies are wildly under appreciated and scarce on city menus, the New Year’s Eve Build Your Own Taco Kit ($65-$75) is your opportunity to try and explore the various flavours and nuances of these ancient cultures.

Each party pack contains 1 kilo of meat (your choice of carnitas, pastor, beef barbacoa), 20 tortillas (enchilados style), fresh toppings, salsa, and two litres of homemade horchata.

It’s enough to feed the whole squad, but no judgment if it all disappears before anyone else has a go.

Last day to order is December 30. 

Hit single 

A meal kit for one is practically unheard of. And let’s face it, a lot of folks will be alone this year.  

Leave it to Favorites Thai BBQ to come up New Years Eve Meal Kit for One ($49) - an mouth-watering multi-course meal featuring scallop curry, coconut-braised mushroom salad, and coconut panna cotta with black rice pudding without much effort/knife skills/chance of failure. 

No substitutions available. New Years Eve Pickups 3:00pm-9:30pm December 30th. Order Cut-Off December 29th At 8:00pm.

Go rogue

Superpoint is known for their New York-style pizza and old-school pastas and sandos, however they like to break the mold every now and again (see summer ’20: gigantic shawarmas!). Hence, their New Year’s Eve Off Menu Feast for Two ($69) boasting aromatic winter warm-ups, such as chicken tari, pakoras and yellow curry, and brandy chai. 

Chefs usually have a boatload of spectacular dishes in their arsenal that don’t make it onto the menu because they don’t fit into the confines of the restaurant’s menu. It’s the stuff they’re really into, that makes them feel good, that they can’t wait to share with others.  

Word to the wise: Get. In. On. It. 

Vegetarian option available. Details for pickup times TBA.

Fancy that 

Viaggio’s modern take on classic Italian is just what this szn calls for. Ditto for a cozy night in.

Even better, there’s no having to come up with menus and deal with last-minute shopping, thanks to their refined New Years Eve Meal Kits. Choose from Duck Agrodolce Dinner For Two ($85), Bavette Steak Dinner For Two ($80), and Vegetarian Meal For Two ($70) to elegantly close out the end of a raucous decade.

Each set includes salad or app, main, and dessert. Orders must be in by Tuesday December 29.

Cold with a chance of sprinkles 

If there was ever a year that called for copious amounts of ice cream, it’s 2020.

NYE Ice Cream Sundae Kit ($55) by Booyah Inc. is an ice cream bar - the home edition - complete with ice cream, cones, cookies, sauces, sprinkles, party blowers… the whole shebang.

It feels like a party without having to do any prep (or get off the couch) and gives you license to indulge in one last hurrah before the pressure of new year resolutions and eating healthier sets in. 

The shop is open for pick-up and delivery Thursday December 31 1-5pm. Order the box between December 24-28 to receive 10 per cent off.

Dinner and a show

Save Hospitality’s Big Night In ($19.95 per household) is a virtual concert with an all-Canadian lineup including Broken Social Scene, Shantel May, Moscow Apartment, Ruby Waters, taking place December 31 8-11pm EST.

It’s a great way to support and give back to performing arts and the hospitality industry: $5 from each ticket sale goes to the restaurant of your choosing (with an option to donate additional funds in any amount), and all proceeds will be donated directly to performing artists, hospitality workers, and independent restaurants, in addition to beneficiaries including Bartender's Benevolent Fund, CAMH, Canadian Food Centre Canada, and The Full Plate.  

Since the tickets are reasonably priced, you’ve got enough left over to order in dinner and drinks from your favourite restaurant (or try something new) to tuck into while the show’s on. Way to start the year on a high note.

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Note: Items, ingredients, prices, hours of operation, and availability all subject to change. Prices do not include taxes and gratuity.

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