The Iowa Scottish Pipes and Drums, shown here at a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Royal Mile, plan to ring (or blast) in the new year at 6 p.m. at the bar on New Year’s Eve. That’s midnight in the U.K. (Photo: Full Court Press)
By Jane Burns
Copy Editor and Staff Writer
Like many good ideas, this one started with a problem: staying awake.
Not on the job. Not behind the wheel. But in the dining room of my friends Doug Wells and Kathy Richardson, where we’ve gathered for decades to ring in the new year. This time, though, we were bleary-eyed, counting the minutes until midnight so we could clink glasses and go home to bed.
Midnight just isn’t what it used to be. It wasn’t always so late, was it?
So the following year, my friends and I came up with a better idea. Since some of us had traveled together to Ireland, we decided to celebrate on Dublin time. No plane tickets required, just a different menu, a toast at 6 p.m. and the satisfaction of heading home whenever we pleased.
Turns out, this idea wasn’t new. Since 2016, Hessen Haus and the Royal Mile have been ringing in each new year not just at midnight CST but also at midnight at the time of the country that inspired their establishments. For Hessen Haus, that means celebrating at 5 p.m. (midnight in Germany); for the Royal Mile, it’s 6 p.m. (midnight in the U.K.).
“The ball drop in Times Square moves celebrations up to 11 p.m. [in Des Moines], and the Science Center does Noon New Year’s Eve. That made us think maybe we could play with the timeline as well,” said Steevo Andrews, who manages marketing for the Full Court Press restaurant group.
Last year, she said, crowds filled both places by 4:30 p.m. and celebrated with a champagne toast when the clocks struck midnight back in the Old World. At the Royal Mile, there’s even a brief performance by the Iowa Scottish Pipes and Drums.
“There are so many people who come to our restaurants and want to celebrate but don’t feel the need to be out until midnight,” Andrews said. “It’s a great alternative celebration, or a first stop for those wanting to stay out later.”
For my group, our first international New Year’s Eve was Irish-themed, with Guinness, of course, plus Irish stew, soda bread, and a bottle of Writers’ Tears whiskey that felt especially on point. I brought Dubliner cheese and some Clare’s Irish Shortbread from World Market. We skipped calling our friends in Ireland, figuring they had already turned in. (Who knows — maybe they had celebrated early, too, with the Russians or Chinese.)
The next year, we celebrated the Italian new year at 5 p.m., with Prosecco, pasta and meatballs. I brought cheese again, an Italian-inspired Wisconsin favorite called Sartori’s Black Pepper BellaVitano, and for dessert we shared a not-too-sweet panettone.
Last year, we celebrated with Spain, again at 5 p.m., and feasted on paella and marvelous wines. In keeping with my role as the Official Bringer of the Cheese, I brought Manchego and Drunken Goat, a goat’s milk cheese soaked in red wine.
The point is, you don’t have to make it to midnight to celebrate well. We’ll even work out the math and geography for you:
India, 12:30 p.m. — It’s midnight in Mumbai. Kick off the new year really early by hitting an Indian lunch buffet for lunch. (And yes, the time difference between India and Iowa is 11½ hours.)
Greece, 4 p.m. — Plenty of options, from homemade moussaka to an early dinner at the Olympic Flame or any other Greek or Mediterranean restaurant around town.
Paris, 5 p.m. — Assemble a spread of magnifique fromage with magnifique bread, magnifique wine and, of course, a bottle of champagne from Champagne. Or make it easy and book a table at Django.
Scandinavia, 6 p.m. — Have some Swedish meatballs. Hit up a member of a local Sons of Norway for some lefse. Better yet, take a road trip to Elk Horn beforehand and pick up some Danish kringle to start the new year with a sugar rush.
Rio de Janeiro, 9 p.m. — Kick back with a caipirinha. For bonus points, make it with pomegranate and tap into the Brazilian New Year’s tradition of pomegranates for prosperity (like Hoppin’ John in the American South).
Maritime Provinces, 10 p.m. — If you can almost get to midnight but not quite, don’t worry: Have some Prince Edward Island mussels. Really, any seafood would do — scallops, lobster rolls, chowder — since it’s so abundant in Canada’s Atlantic provinces.
Hmm … I think I already have an idea for 2027. I’m pretty sure we can make it to 10. And after all, the world is our oyster.
