Ring in the new year with Champagne or one of its bubbly cousins. And don’t stop there — you can top off pretty much any cocktail with Champagne. Tips for champagne party-throwing success: 1. Pick up at least four to six different bottles — each one pours about five average-size glasses or up to 12 […]

The name of this classic French dessert means “crunch in the mouth.” Wagshal’s creates a phenomenal croquembouche, ordering is easy. Our French dessert consists of a cone of profiteroles that are filled with pastry cream (think eclair). It is covered with threads of sugared caramel. Each croquembouche is decorated with a 2012 chocolate plaque applied at the bottom. […]

Home Bar Basics A home bar doesn’t have to be a headache: Invest in basic equipment, stock up on essential liquors, and you can have a spread that will impress amateurs — and even make professionals nod in quiet approval. Storing Liquor Liquor will keep for a long time, particularly in a cool place away […]

Cocktail Party Planning Tips How much food should I serve? New Year’s can be a little tricky given the length of the party and the consumption of alcohol that is often associated with the night. In addition, given the celebratory nature of the occasion, most want the fête to have some sort of extravagance. For […]

History The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child […]

Here’s to a season filled with good cheer and all the best in the coming year. Best wishes, Bill Fuchs and Your Friends at Wagshal’s

The texture of a Yorkshire pudding is nothing like a pudding in the modern sense of the word. Not a custard, it’s more like a cross between a soufflé and a cheese puff (without the cheese). The batter is like a very thin pancake batter, which you pour into a hot casserole dish over drippings […]

Test Drive: Roasting Pans Our top picks will improve your odds for ”Oohs!” and ”Aahs!” at this year’s holiday table. The biggest meals of the year—Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve and Easter, to name a few—always seem to revolve around a roasted something—a turkey, a rib roast, a leg of lamb—and using a good-quality roasting pan is essential for great results. […]

Roast Chicken with Dried Fruit and Almonds Makes 8 servings INGREDIENTS 7 tablespoons olive oil, divided 3 pounds onions, thinly sliced 1 pound pitted prunes, halved 12 ounces pitted dates, halved 10 ounces dried apricot halves (about 2 cups) 3 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 (4- to 4 1/2-pound) chickens, rinsed, patted dry 1 teaspoon turmeric, divided 1 1/2 cups (or more) water 1/2 cup blanched slivered almonds, toasted PREPARATION Heat 6 […]

Komish Broit (aka Jewish Cookies)  Recipe via Ele Büsing, makes 32 INGREDIENTS For the cookies:  3 large eggs 1 cup sugar 1 cup oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups sifted flour 1 cup ground almonds 1/4 cup desiccated unsweetened coconut 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt To roll:  1/3 […]