If one of life’s simple pleasures is going to a friend’s house for a home-cooked meal, one of life’s great conundrums is figuring out the art of the host gift. If you bring a dessert, should you poll for food allergies ahead of time? Does anyone really need more scented candles? And what about the much-maligned bottle of wine?
I host a pasta dinner nearly every Monday, and for what it’s worth, I’m always happy when someone shows up with a wine we can pour with the meal. I’ve had people bring a really great wheel of brie and I’ve had people bring a plant stand for a kumquat tree in my kitchen whose sad drooping they’d noticed at dinner the week before. Recently, one friend appeared with a calendar of Italian priests. Am I Catholic? No. Is it a newly prized possession, hanging prominently on the wall by the bread basket (it felt apropos)? Of course. The best hostess gifts don’t adhere to any strict guidelines; they’re the ones that show your friends know you, and put a little thought into what to get you when—to quote the cliché—they really shouldn’t have.
Whether your calendar is filling up with holiday parties or you’ve befriended someone with a weekend home Upstate, this time of year is rife with occasions that call for these sort of trinkets. And since there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all option, it’s worth taking a little time to pinpoint a present with a little personality.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Hostess Gifts:
The below is an assortment of the very best hostess gift ideas. If you’re looking for something small and sure to please, an edible treat is a safe bet; if you’re looking for a larger gift, say, for a birthday or a holiday, for your friend who loves to entertain, this is for you too. Herewith, a curated gift selection by type of host—and plenty of pieces you might want to earmark for yourself while you’re at it.
For the Takeaway Pro
You love them not because they can whip up a multi-course meal on demand, but because they know all the best spots to order a multi-course meal on demand. Dress up pizza from the place around the corner with an infused oil, or zhuzh up the dessert course with resin ice cream spoons.
Boston General Store
handmade steel fish clip
Bagged leftovers aren’t boring—they’ve just been missing a delightful fish clip to keep them secure.
Brightland
pizza oil
Brightland’s finishing oil comes infused with herbs and spices like jalapeño, garlic, and basil to turn any dollar slice gourmet.
