by | Dec 22, 2024 | Fox News
During the holidays, people are more likely than at other times of the year to entertain family and friends at home.
While it’s always nice to host a get-together, it can be daunting – and pricey – to set menus.
One way to keep expenses in check is to limit the beverage offerings.
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Fox News Digital asked hospitality experts for their tips, tricks and hacks to keep spending in check while also keeping holiday spirits high.
Here’s what they shared.
Throwing a holiday party doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive – and part of the fun is creating your food menus and beverage picks for your guests.
When it comes to drinks, less can be more.
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“By keeping your drink options simple and focusing on festive pairings, you can host a fun and memorable event without breaking the bank,” Peter Brattander, vice president of food and beverage at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital.
“You want to keep things simple and focus on your guests rather than playing bartender all night.”
When planning beverages for entertaining at home, it’s all about making thoughtful choices that cater to everyone, Brattander said.
“Limiting your beverage offerings to a few wines, beers and a small selection of spirits is a thoughtful and practical approach to hosting a holiday gathering,” he said.
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“It keeps the focus on family, connection and the meal rather than making the event a cocktail-centric party.”
“By simplifying the drink menu, you reduce stress as a host and can allocate your time and resources to creating a welcoming atmosphere and delicious food.”
Plan your beverage menu to pair it with what you’re serving.
If you are serving multiple courses, such as appetizers, a main and then a dessert, you should serve the dryer wine first, then an off-dry wine and a sweeter wine last, Sharon Fenchak, head winemaker at Biltmore Winery in Asheville, North Carolina, told Fox News Digital.
She said simplifying selections for a holiday get-together is a good move.
“For a holiday gathering, I say that three wines, dry white, off-dry rosé and medium-bodied red; two beers – a low-alcohol beer and a craft beer like an India Pale Ale or a lager; a clear spirit (such as gin or vodka) and a brown spirit (such as whiskey) should please any crowd,” Fenchak told Fox News Digital.
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In addition, a batched signature cocktail could be a fun addition to your menu, Fenchak said.
“A pre-made, batched signature cocktail or mocktail is a great idea to make an event feel special while keeping it simple at the same time,” Fenchak said.
The philosophy for keeping cocktail selections small is the strategy here.
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“I love the idea of keeping things simple yet thoughtful, so start with one or two signature cocktails – something light and refreshing like a margarita is always a good choice,” Olivia Pollock, Evite’s hosting expert based in Los Angeles, told Fox News Digital.
One suggestion is a holiday margarita, such as a cranberry margarita.
Fresh, easy and colorful, it’s a perfect holiday cocktail, Pollock noted.
Then, offer a few basic spirits like vodka, whiskey and rum, plus some easy mixers like tonic, soda or juice.
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“I also keep a large bucket of ice nearby in case someone wants to make champagne on ice or add ice cubes to their wine,” she continued.
“This way, guests can mix their own drinks, but you’re not overwhelming them with too many choices.”
Brattander said offering a post-meal small pour of a digestif or a dessert wine can be a thoughtful finishing touch to make the evening feel complete.
Beyond the alcohol, offer some options for your guests, Brattander said.
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“Don’t forget about designated drivers or those who don’t drink. Tasty non-alcoholic punch or mocktail as a welcome drink can make them feel just as included and set an inclusive warm tone for the evening,” Brattander told Fox News Digital.
Cider is also a festive addition to your holiday beverage line-up.
When it comes to buying drinks for your party, Pollock said, a little planning can go a long way in keeping things budget-friendly.
“Buying in bulk – like larger bottles or cases of wine, beer and spirits – can save you quite a bit, especially for bigger gatherings,” she said.
“Also, keep an eye out for sales and promotions. Many stores offer great discounts, particularly around holidays or seasonal events.”
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by | Dec 22, 2024 | Fox News
A Florida woman was arrested after she allegedly struck a teenager who was crossing the road with her truck, covered her license plate and sped off.
Sarah Wright, 37, was arrested Thursday and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and driving with a suspended license.
The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. at the intersection of Gage Avenue and Noah Street in Deltona, Florida, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim, a 16-year-old boy, was riding his scooter home from Pine Ridge High School when he was struck by a black Chevrolet Silverado as he was using the crosswalk, the sheriff’s office said.
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The teenager fell to the ground, resulting in a serious laceration to the back of his head as well as an arm injury, but he remained alert and conscious after the incident.
A witness reported that she was checking her mailbox nearby when she heard the crash. She told investigators that the suspect, later identified as Wright, exited her truck after the crash and checked on the boy before she went back to her vehicle and covered her license plate with paper and tape.
But the witness still managed to see the first character of her tag. A neighborhood Ring camera also captured the truck fleeing the scene.
The victim and the witness were also able to provide a detailed description of the suspect.
Officials were then able to locate a suspect vehicle captured on a nearby License Plate Reader camera within minutes.
Wright was found in Flagler County and taken into custody with assistance from Florida Highway Patrol and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
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She was booked into the Flagler County Jail on a $3,500 bond.
The teenage victim required staples for the laceration and treatment for his arm injury, but he is expected to make a full recovery.
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by | Dec 22, 2024 | Fox News
Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in what appeared to be “friendly fire”, the U.S. military said.
The pilots were found alive after they ejected from their aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries.
The incident demonstrates the pervasive dangers in the Red Sea corridor amid ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis, even as U.S. and European military coalitions patrol the area.
The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time, but the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was.
The military said the aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, according to Central Command. On Dec. 15, Central Command said the Truman had entered the Mideast, but did not specify that the carrier and its battle group were in the Red Sea.
“The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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by | Dec 21, 2024 | Fox News
Another body was found in the popular Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas, where other deceased individuals were found recently.
The latest body found joins the growing mystery after at least 6 additional bodies were found throughout the year in the lake in 2024. On Friday, police were called to investigate reports of a dead person in the water near 1st Street Bridge and the 300 block of Cesar Chavez.
The Austin Police Department (APD) said that they do not suspect foul play as the body showed no signs of trauma, but are investigating the incident.
Despite APD attempting to quell community fears, questions and speculation have run rampant. Police have attributed most of the deaths to accidental drowning due to the lake’s proximity to nightclubs and bars.
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The most recent body was found on December 1. The victim was recently identified as 73-year-old Thi Lang Nguyen. Austin police said that there is nothing connected to the other deaths this year.
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In September, a man was behaving erratically near East Cesar Chavez and Nueces Streets. He then went into the water and did not resurface. He was later pulled out and pronounced dead.
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Back in February, a woman’s body was found in the water about 20 feet from the north shore and in April, a fisherman spotted another person floating in the water.
In July, a man was suffering from blunt force trauma on the trail near Rainey Street. The man was pronounced dead a short time later.
In September, a body was found along a trail near the lake off Pleasant Valley Road.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the APD for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
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by | Dec 21, 2024 | Fox News
At least five people were injured, and a suspect was killed, after a man drove his pickup truck through the glass doors of a J.C. Penney in a mall in Texas, police said.
The incident happened on Saturday evening, just days before Christmas, at the Killeen Mall in Killeen, Texas – which is about 70 miles north of Austin.
In a press conference on Saturday evening, Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Bryan Washko said that the truck was driven “several hundred yards” through the entrance of the J.C. Penney store.
Startled shoppers were injured as the driver was “actively running people over” and a fifth went to the hospital on their own, Sergeant Washko said. Those injured ranged from 6 to 75 years old, he said.
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The incident unfolded as authorities noticed that the suspect, who has not been identified, was seen “driving erratically,” and police attempted to pull him over.
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Instead of stopping, the driver got off the highway, drove to the parking lot of the Killeen Mall and smashed his car through the doors of the J.C. Penney, Sergeant Washko said.
The man driving the truck was fatally shot by law enforcement, authorities said.
“There were officers from D.P.S., the Killeen Police Department and three other agencies that engaged in gunfire to eliminate this threat to the community,” Sergeant Washko said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Killeen Police Department for comment.
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