5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.

New Year's Eve is all about giving the ol' razzle dazzle: Sparkling garb, sparkling balls dropping, sparkling wine.

For the latter, many opt to toast to the New Year - and the subjective lyrics of "Auld Lang Syne" - with capital-C Champagne.

Daniel Lobsenz, the sommelier at Poste Moderne Brasserie in Washington DC, is one such appreciator of the razzle and dazzle of a bottle of bubbly - but it's a love-hate relationship, especially because Champagne tastes so darn exquisite.

Five Reasons To Not Like Champagne: Daniel Lobsenz
FULL POST

Kate Krader (@kkrader on Twitter) is Food & Wine's restaurant editor. When she tells us where to find our culinary heart's desire, we listen up.

Maybe you’re part of that now infamous 1 percent. Or maybe you just feel that New Year’s Eve, like your prom, is going to be the single best time of your life. Here are some amazing opportunities for you to shine bright, including a truly epic NYE party.
FULL POST

Sink your teeth into today's top stories from around the globe.

• Congratulations Boston, you are America's drunkest city. We tip our glass to you, sir. - The Daily Beast

• Memories of Paul Steffen and the best truckstop in Italy. - Gadling

• The dearly departed in St. Petersburg were skimped on the Champagne wishes but full of caviar dreams: Police found 175 kilograms of black and red caviar stashed in a city morgue. - Moscow Times

• You can now view Chicago restaurant inspection results online. - Chicago Tribune

• Skip the Champagne rain this New Year's and raise a pint to 2012. - The Oregonian

So, the New Year's Eve shindig hosting has fallen to you. Your guests will likely expect Champagne or some analogue thereof. Now is not the time to defy expectation. Here are a few tips for getting a banging bottle of bubbly without breaking the bank.

Bubbles, bubbles - no toil, no trouble

- If you wanna go big with the Dom Perignon or vintage Veuve, do that for the first glass. Raise a toast, make a fuss - then switch to the less expensive (but just as delicious stuff).

- Less expensive, you say? Oui. It needn't be capital-C Champagne, which to be labeled as such, must come from the Champagne region of France.

There's some smashing stuff out there to be sure - and a side effect of climate change may be that Champagne grapes are yielding their tastiest, earliest crops in ages. Master sommelier Richard Betts swears by Champagne Krug as the "pinnacle" and says "Their entry-level Krug M.V. Cuvée is rich, round, complex and a great partner to food, family and friends."
FULL POST

While you're frying up some eggs and bacon, we're cooking up something else: a way to celebrate today's food holiday.

Shake and bake, baby - December 30 is National Baking Soda Day.

While this holiday may not exactly make you want to stick a spoon in the baking soda jar, don't forget that this little white powdery miracle is what makes all of your favorite baked treats come to life.

Baking soda is a leavening agent, meaning it releases carbon dioxide and has a nifty way of poofing up batter, especially in treats like cakes and pancakes. It also enhances the texture of fried foods and gives them a little uplift.
FULL POST

Pssst! Got a sec to chat?

We are utterly thrilled when readers want to hang out and talk – whether it's amongst themselves or in response to pieces we've posted. We want Eatocracy to be a cozy, spirited online home for those who find their way here.

Consider the daily Coffee Klatsch post as your VIP lounge – the primary comments thread for readers who'd like to chat about topics not related to the articles we're running. That way, everyone knows where to find each other, and each post's comments section remains on topic.
FULL POST