A bottle of wine is a good dinner party host gift for a whole, well, host of reasons: It’s easy to pick up on your way, it’s likely to get consumed that night, it will last if it doesn’t, and it’s infinitely regiftable.
But what if the host doesn’t drink? Or if you just want to be the guest who shows up with something a little more creative?
Over the past year, I’ve swapped my usual bottle of bubbly rosé for one of two more practical host gifts: a luxe hand soap designed for home cooks or a super-handy and sleek, rechargeable USB lighter. Curious to see what my colleagues were bringing to the table, I asked around, and their ideas were just as creative as I’d hoped.
Below, find the coolest and most thoughtful gifts Bon Appétit staffers bring to a dinner party.
Something bubbly
Test Kitchen editor Kendra Vaculin is a big fan of taking sparkling water to a dinner party. It’s great on its own and as a mixer—and, as Kendra says, it immediately makes any gathering feel “9%–12% more chic.” Senior commerce editor Noah Kaufman puts his own twist on sparkles by using his beverage carbonator to make “strong sparkling cocktails,” which are always a hit with his friends. These top-tested soda makers both allow you to carbonate water, juice, wine, and yes, even cocktails.
A zero-proof bottle
Not everyone drinks alcohol, and even those who do imbibe don’t necessarily want to do it all the time. Be the thoughtful guest who shows up with a bottle of something that’s just as fun and nuanced as a pét-nat but won’t leave you feeling sluggish the next day. “Anytime I’ve brought some Ghia Le Fizz along to a picnic, dinner party, or afternoon drinks, I’ve unanimously converted everyone to become a super fan,” says editorial operations manager Kate Kassin. “It glistens in a coupe with its deep ruby hue and boasts a juicy, tangy, dry, bubbly profile.”
Dessert—and a dish
Transporting dessert to a dinner party can be tricky. You want something that looks nice and is secure enough to ensure that your homemade goods still look good when they arrive. But you also don’t want to risk leaving your favorite pie pan or cake plate, especially if you don’t know the host well or if getting it back would be a hassle. BA editor in chief Jamila Robinson’s solution? An affordable, but nice-enough-to-be-giftable dessert dish. “If I’m asked to bring dessert, I make a tart in a nine-inch ceramic dish from Sur La Table, which I leave with the host,” she says.
The very best ice cream
If you’ve been put on ice cream duty, make it special and pick up a couple pints of McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, a Santa Barbara, California, brand that prioritizes using ingredients like grass-grazed milk and organic, cage-free eggs. The beauty of pints (versus a tub) is that you can show up with a variety of fun flavors; just be sure to get at least one vanilla, since it goes with most desserts. But buyer beware: “You might just never want to eat any other ice cream brand again,” Kate says. “No other ice cream compares.” If you can’t find McConnell’s locally, they ship!
Really good bread
Whether homemade or picked up from a local bakery, a fresh loaf of bread is (almost) always a safe bet—and it’s a go-to dinner party contribution for many BA staffers. To make your fresh-baked boule feel even more gifty, take a nod from Jamila and present it in a reusable bread bag the host can keep.
A luxe kitchen hand soap
If your host aspires to have a home that smells like a fancy hotel, treat them to a bottle of Naomi After-Cooking Hand Scrub. Developed especially for cooks, this luxe soap exfoliates, moisturizes, and even neutralizes garlic and onion smells. Since discovering it a few months ago, I keep a bottle at my kitchen sink and always have one on hand as a host gift. I can’t get enough of the bergamot, sandalwood, and black pepper scent, but there’s also an equally luxe unscented option.
A festive garnish
Home cooks will always welcome a bottle of good olive oil, which is why it’s senior commerce editor Olivia Tarantino’s go-to host gift. For something a little more festive, consider a fun finishing oil like Brightland’s lemon-infused Lucid (and you might as well order two because you’re going to want one for yourself). Or try Kate’s go-to garnish gift: Big Night’s Crunchy, Roasty Glitter. It’s a flavor-packed, put-it-on-everything savory topping that comes in a cute little jar that’s great for gifting.
A Microplane
Content director Hali Bey Ramdene’s two-part host gift—“a Microplane and some very nice citrus”—feels both utilitarian and festive. And both are very likely to get used that night since so many salads, savory mains, and sweet desserts get even better with a little fresh citrus zest or sprinkle of Parmesan. Even if the host already has a Microplane, there’s a very good chance they’re due for a new one.
A cool way to light candles
As a frequent dinner party host who puts a lot of thought into ambient lighting, there are few things more frustrating than learning at the very last minute that I don’t have any matches, and the one lighter I have for the sole purpose of lighting candles is out of lighter fluid. Fortunately, I no longer have this problem because of two of the best host gifts I’ve ever received. The first was a sexy, smoked glass match cloche that blends into my dining room decor and lets me see when I’m running low on matches. The second was a sleek and super-handy rechargeable USB lighter that charges quickly and tucks into my kitchen junk drawer.
A thoughtful homemade treat
We work at a food magazine, which means most of us do a lot of cooking. It’s always fun when we can share our creations with friends, whether we’re experimenting with new recipes or making tried-and-true favorites. But you don’t necessarily need to show up with something that’s meant to be consumed during the dinner. “I love to bring breakfast,” says cooking and SEO editor Joe Sevier, who will often make a quick bread or breakfast casserole and tell the host, “This is for you for tomorrow. Hide it.” And if that doesn’t warm your heart, Joe also brought homemade dog treats to the last two dinner parties he attended, and it doesn’t get much cuter—or more thoughtful—than that.
