New Years Day is actually my birthday, so my wife, even before we were married, (some 35 years ago, how time flies) organized a 'birthday' party in my honour at her parents place, which is in a superb location where their front yard is located on a Sydney waterway. So, for 35 years + unless we were overseas, we have a party on New Years Day afternoon at the same location, and share a meal as the sun sets over the river.
It's not much of a wild party, but an excuse to catch up with loved family, friends and neighbours at least once a year.
As friends married and had kids, they would bring them too,so we have been able to see them as babies, then watch them grow up. The core group of friends we started with still turn up, some now with different partners, but that's life.
The menu has not really changed from the start. My wife is a very good cook particularly deserts. We start with nibbles, dip and great cheeses, then for the meal, she makes the day before, a beef lasagna (with fresh pasta mde by her), salami and good tomatoes, couple of salads (these have varied over the years) and I contribute a cauliflower chili pasta dish (which is also easy as you can make the sauce the day before).
For 'puddy-puds' my wife makes a great 'pav' (Pavlova- arguably Australia's national dish), Dutch apple pie, cheesecake and a trifle if my brother-in-law gets his way.
For my birthday 'gifts' the attendees bring good beer (often the temp here is in the 90-100F+ and you can be thirsty) and fine wine, to be consumed (mostly) on the day.
We eat and drink, very well.
And I nearly forgot- I get a birthday cake as well!
This year there were some changes, due somewhat to you guys and girls here. My brother-in-law insisted I do some St Louis ribs (he even went to Costco himself -best place in Oz for US style cut ribs-and paid for them himself-unheard of behaviour). we live two hours from Sydney, so I brought the WSM-mini up. He managed to buy three of the biggest racks I have ever seen, so getting them done in the mini was 'fun', but they did turn out well, and will now be added to the menu. So the advise 'you-all' give here on the VWBB must be pretty good, so thank you!
And I reheated the lasagnas in the Weber Summit Silver C4 I restored for my father-in-law.
To all here, (a special shout-out to Barb and Rich) thank you, and have a great 2016.
