Dear Foodist: I'm hosting a big holiday dinner for family and friends for the first time. Is a toast mandatory?
Dear Toasted: In my book, definitely. It may confound my food-obsessed friends to learn that my favorite part of a holiday meal is rarely the country ham, scalloped potatoes, or coconut cake(s).
It's the toast: that fleeting moment when everyone is gathered around the table and the host stands to say a few welcoming words of appreciation. Call me old-fashioned, but I live to hear everyone's glasses come together in one harmonious clink. Here are some Foodist rules to help make your glass-raising memorable.
Traditionally, the host should be the first to make a toast. If he or she hasn't done it by the time dessert is served, a guest should step up to the plate.
You're not Winston Churchill. Keep it short and simple.
Giving a toast after you've had a few cocktails is okay, but if crude jokes are the first thing to cross your mind, let someone else do the talking. And remember: It's a toast, not a roast.
Water is a perfectly acceptable replacement for wine or spirits. Just make sure everyone's glass is filled with something.
When clinking glasses with tablemates, make sure you look them in the eye.
--Andrew Knowlton