Transform your New Year’s Eve into an elegant Edwardian affair worthy of the Crawley family. Host a lavish dinner party featuring easy Crown Rack of Lamb or more involved Beef Wellington as the showstopping main course, accompanied by Yorkshire pudding and Charlotte Russe for dessert. Set your dining table with crystal glasses, fine china, and silver candlesticks.
For authentic Downton beverages, serve champagne cocktails garnished with sugar cubes and bitters. The Crawleys would often enjoy port wine and sherry after dinner in the drawing room. Mrs. Patmore would insist on classic canapés like smoked salmon pinwheels or cucumber sandwiches for pre-dinner nibbles.
Embrace Scottish Hogmanay traditions in honour of Shrimpie-Lord Flintshire’s heritage – first footing is essential, where the first person to cross your threshold after midnight should be a dark-haired male bearing gifts of whisky, shortbread, and coal for good luck. If you don’t have time to make the traditional black bun (fruit cake) you can easily substitute Scottish Whisky Fruit Tart and join hands for Auld Lang Syne.
Create ambiance with period-appropriate decorations: fresh flowers, candelabras, and vintage noisemakers. Ladies, don your finest beaded gowns and gentlemen, break out those tailcoats. Ring bells at midnight and open the manor’s front door to let the old year out and new year in.
Other Downton Worthy Dishes
Titanic Dishes
If you are looking for historically accurate ideas for a special New Years’ dinner you can’t go wrong with any recipe that was served on the ill-fated Titanic.
Royal Family and Other Favourites
If Titanic isn’t your speed? Get inspiration from the Royal Family and my other favourite recipes.
Hogmanay
In Scotland, they traditionally make a big deal out of Christmas, but all celebrate in New Years’ tradition which they call Hogmanay.
Drinks
Check out my post on Downton-themed cocktails and other ideas.