If you’ve made plans to go over to a friend’s house for brunch, lunch, or dinner, it is always appropriate to bring a small hostess (or host) gift. A nice hostess gift is something attractive, useful, and modest. You would never want to embarrass your host by presenting her with something inappropriate or too expensive for the situation. The traditional hostess gift is, of course, a bottle of wine to be opened and shared at the party or kept by the host to enjoy later. If there is something special to celebrate, a bottle of champagne will also do. Don’t get stuck in the wine rut though. There are plenty of other great ideas for hostess gifts.
Chocolate and Candy
Every woman (and almost every man) loves chocolate. The lovely thing about chocolate is that even though it is generally store bought, it can be a personal gift. This is because if you get it at a candy shop, you can pick out the pretty box it comes in, and you can pick out each type of candy to be placed in the package. So if your friend does not like coconut, you can tell her to rest assured that there is not a shred of the stuff in the box. If you don’t have the time to get to a traditional candy store, shopping malls and upscale supermarkets carry prepackaged boxes of gourmet chocolates, such as Godiva, Lindt, and organic varieties such as Green and Black’s. If chocolate doesn’t strike your fancy, you can also choose cute candies such as jellied fruit slices, nougats, and marzipan. There are many possibilities.
Homemade Baskets
An idea which is lovely yet economical is a homemade gift basket. Small baskets can be purchased at the craft store and filled with goodies such as gourmet coffee, tea, or fruit. Keep the basket a modest size, and try to fill it with items of the same category. For example, don’t put cheese together with coffee. Top the basket off with a little note and a pretty ribbon, and you have a beautiful hostess gift.
Baked Goods
If you have the time to spend in your kitchen, it is always thoughtful to bring baked goods as a hostess gift. Homemade cookies, muffins, breads and brownies are delicious and look pretty on a tray or in a basket. If you are going to a dinner party, you have the option of bringing a plate of muffins or scones for the hosts to enjoy the next morning for breakfast. If you like this idea, but just do not have the time to bake, you can stop at a bakery and pick up some freshly baked goods as well.
Candles
If you’ve used up all your food ideas, another direction to go would be candles. A beautiful larger-sized candle, either in a jar or accompanied with a small candle plate, is a wonderful hostess gift. These can be purchased anywhere, but gourmet markets and specialty shops are likely to have the higher quality variety. Keep your eye out for natural ingredients such as soy, and be sure to choose a pleasing scent.
Animals and Babies
No, I’m not suggesting you bring the above-mentioned to the home of your hostess. If, however, your hostess has a new baby, small children, or is really into her pets, it is a nice idea to bring a little something along for them as well. For pets, you can bring gourmet or organic pet treats, and for children, a small stuffed animal or other toy will be met with delight. If the get-together was arranged for the purpose of a baby shower or child’s birthday, there is no need to bring an extra gift beyond whatever you have brought for the baby.
Now that you are armed with some great ideas for hostess gifts, go shopping, and enjoy the party. And don’t forget, if you are the one throwing the party, you may receive some lovely gifts yourself!
