Best Hostess Gifts?

I typically don't expect gifts when people come to my home...

What have I received that I loved?

Candles

One person brought a casserole and baked it in a Pampered Chef dish. That was my "gift" - I still use it!!

What have a brought? A bread basket with kitchen towels (I needed to bring the bread)...she loved it.

I'm in the wine camp. Personally, I love to give a local wine, from my small town made locally which seems to make it even more personal and thought out.

Nothing that requires them to do anything when you arrive! That's why I don't give flowers - because they have to find a vase and display them! I also don't do chilled wine that they think I expect them to serve that night.

Small bottles of good olive oil (not those giant ones filled with olives though!), an assortment of sample packs of coffee and tea, any small serving piece like a little cheese board/knife or trivet set, wine & wine charms for glasses, an after dinner liqueur like Amaretto, home made spiced nuts or peanut brittle (you can make a bunch and divvy it up for multiple gifts), fudge or truffles, bottle stoppers (as suggested below) are cute and there's a new thing called a cork-cicle which you freeze and then put in an opened bottle to keep it cold without watering it down. I often make cranberry bread or other similar bread in those small foil loaf pans, then wrap in plastic (with or without the foil pan) and tie up with ribbon and a tag that says "Thanks for your hospitality, from X and Y".

I tend not to give holiday themed things because they can only use them for a few weeks a year.

Good question - I'll enjoy seeing what else people come up with.

Wine...I can never get enough wine gifts. I drink what I like and re-gift the rest.

Someone once brought me really funny cocktail napkins (one of those despairing 50's housewife cartoons with a bubble that read something like "she could no longer pretend that he wasn't an idiot" LOL) with fun swizzle sticks. Oh another good gift was a set of those little spreader knives with a jar of locally made hot pepper jelly, which is great served over a soft goat or cream cheese.

Honestly, I've never gotten a bad hostess gift and love that someone thought to bring me a little something unexpected. I agree that as long as it doesn't require work in the middle of a party (putting flowers in a vase or getting something in the fridge) then just about anything is good.

Oh for Christmas...a nice ornament for the tree is always welcome!

Wine.

Updated

Wine.

candles. I love burning candles in the Fall and Winter.

I love flowers too and the vases they come in. I try to re-purpose vases or use them for a bouquet I would take to someone else.

what about a basket with mixed chocolates in it? like a candy bowl with pre-packaged chocolates? Or even home-made ones?

I think a cheap, but GOOD bottle of wine, or some of the Sparkling non-alcoholic drinks are good too and are reasonably priced. Watch for sales at the liquor store for other items you think your host would like (if they drink alcohol); if not, go for the many varieties of the festive non-alcoholic drinks as well. You should be able to find cute bags or holders for these too to make them festive. Even a cute bottle stopper with a holiday design would be a good idea. Holiday candles with matches is a great idea, too; you could also do some of cinnamon scented pine cones. A holiday ornament or a small decor item might be good as well; it's memorable for the host and you could really individualize it. That's such a nice thing for you to do!

I don't drink wine and my husband doesn't either. So a wine gift would be something we'd end up putting out for the guests, when actually the idea of a hostess gift is that it's something the hostess and host enjoy on their own later....Go beyond the wine idea because everyone gives that.

I have been given really good coffee and that was welcome since guests know we are coffee lovers. We also liked a gift of assorted very nice cookies (like you get at a good bakery, not in a box from a shelf). I would avoid giving mixes unless you know the hosts are very likely to use them.

Please, no fat scented candles either unless you know for SURE that your hosts love them-- especially scented ones that would give some folks a headache! But I do love the idea of nice unscented taper candles for the holidays like peppermint-striped ones I've been given in the past.

We did get one candle gift we still love. Our friend was really into making his own candles and made a pair of terrific clear candles in wine glasses that had a frosted winter tree design on them, so the light shines through the design. They cost him next to nothing to make, I know, but are invaluable to us because he put his time into them. If you aren't into making stuff, that's just fine! Seek out something a bit unusual like that.

Candles!
I LOVE candles!
Something vanilla or apple spice scented are perfect!

Wine chiller
Wine glass charms
A beautiful serving platter (check Marshall's)
Wine carafe
Champagne they can enjoy New Years Eve!
Dessert plates--something classic OR funky
Candle holders

I bring something made locally in my town. Wine, baked goods, candles/soaps, flowers, honey etc. gift cards are also good.

Depends on the time of year. I typically gift my sister when I go to visit, though we stay in a hotel and do a lot of the babysitting and cooking while we are there.

If it's the summer, it's always something pool related. They have a great pool and we spend a lot of time there. If it's more chilly outside, I'll go get them a $20 bottle of wine, since they normally spend less than $10. I know nothing about wine so I ask for recommendations.

She once gave me a bread box which was awesome while we used it. My mom will give us something that's decorative normally, which I also love.

So it really depends on the person and time of year.

Nice bottle of wine. Our friends know we collect great wines. I'm not talking high dollar either... We have great wines from $10 a bottle to $100+. We like variety so we can share with guests at the appropriate times.

Flowers or potted plant. I don't have a problem with getting a vase out for flowers, that does not constitute " work" for me. I love fresh flowers and I have multiple vase options handy.

That said.... I've never received any hostess gift that was not appreciated.

I love getting tasty consumables-

a loaf of olive bread.
a jar of marinade/ spice rub/ simmer sauce.
fancy salsa.
tapenade.
BBQ.
flavored butter (herb, brown sugar, cayenne, etc).
a few hard sausages (salami for your boy in the army).

I can't stand a gift of stuff- I've got a closet full of mikasa candy dishes, candlesticks, candlestick holders, baskets, serving trays, cheese knives and cutting boards, tea towels, herb teas, soup in a jar, and scented sachets for your drawers. I pass these on to the charity shop, or to the church for their white elephant sale.

Best,
F. B.

wine's probably the most popular. i drink so rarely that it doesn't do me much good, but then i can put it out for guests.
my personal favorite is candles, or flowers that are already in a vase and i don't have to fuss with 'em.
khairete
S.

Laugh if you will....

I ALWAYS bring a big package of toilet paper, the Costco size, the super soft, 3 ply!! (and a card with a very personal note).
I walk in with a smile on my face and the words, "I brought you something everyone can use when they visit!" It usually gets a laugh and the hostess talks about it all evening. It is often the "best" gift ever because everyone gets to enjoy it.
And the card, I take a few minutes to say what that individual means to me, how they have influenced my life, how I learned something from them etc.
Fun and serious.