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New Year, New Menu: A ‘Chopped’ Kind of New Year’s Eve

By Jordan Magaziner Steinfeld, Staff writer | January 5, 2016

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(From left) Gary Cohen, Lisa Cohen, Stephanie Kramer, Catherine Holste, Brent Swaim, Joe Duman, Susan Duman and Adam Kramer rang in 2016 in a delicious, unique way. Their meal was modeled around the popular TV show “Chopped” format. (Not pictured): Laurie Swaim, Randy Holste.

Every New Year’s Eve, Brent and Laurie Swaim ring in the New Year with friends at their Bellaire home. Traditionally, dinner consists of a potluck in which their group of friends bring a different dish. This year, they decided to start 2016 off in a new way – in “Chopped” fashion.

The end results from the "Chopped" challenge included lobster roll crostini, Mac bacon and gruyere cheese, stuffed mushrooms caps with Cheerio topping, deviled eggs and lobster and pesto bruschetta.

Following the format of the popular TV cooking competition show “Chopped,” the Cohens, Dumans, Holstes, Kramers and Swaims divided up into two teams to come up with a delicious, unique meal. They started off with unusual ingredients – lobster meat, baguettes, Cheerios, bacon, pasta and assorted veggies – and had to use their creativity to come up with a tasty appetizer, main course and side dish.

The end results included lobster roll crostini, Mac bacon and gruyere cheese, stuffed mushrooms caps with Cheerio topping, deviled eggs and lobster and pesto bruschetta.

Cheers to a fun way to start off 2016!