Bringing a bottle of wine is always good. And safe. But to take the gesture up a notch, we've got a few summer hostess gifts that will leave a longer impression.
First things first: these are absolutely host and hostess gifts — men and women alike will appreciate them. We're so excited about this list because of its variety in price range and approach to gifting: there's something for the reader, cook, foodie, or baker. There's a way to bring the outdoors in — the gift that continues giving. Most of all, there's a reason to express gratitude for gatherings, something that doesn't happen enough in the colder winter months and in the thick of a long, wet spring.
Grab a Gift:
• 1 Dome Terrarium by Terrain: We love giving gifts that are alive, and these terrariums are the perfect choice: they're small enough to fit into any space, and boast a neutral orb shape that everyone will apperciate.
• 2 Finishing Sea Salts by Williams Sonoma are perfect for the host or hostess who spends time in the kitchen. The salts can be used on meats, vegetables, seafood, and desserts. We particularly love sprinkling different finishing salts on popcorn or ice cream (try it!).
• 3 Olive Wood Salad and Pasta Servers by West Elm: We like this hostess gift because it's handsome and affordable. Made in Germany and fashioned from Olive Wood, using these salad servers takes an everyday salad up a notch into the realm of a beautiful, composed meal.
• 4 Tourne Herringbone Apron by Brook Farm General Store: Put frills aside when you choose this beautiful, utilitarian canvas apron. Meant to appeal to both sexes, it can be worn as a traditional apron or more of a work apron for gardening and building.
• 5 Jam by INNA Jam or Deluxe Foods: Jam is a winning hostess gift -- people love it, and nice jam is something that many folks often don't buy themselves so they appreciate receiving it. INNA Jam's California-based jam company makes incredible seasonal flavors from local fruits. Right now the Polka Raspberry and Albion Strawberry are the way to go. Up in Seattle, Deluxe Foods produces jam using Pacific Northwest fruits and is currently doing a Gingered Rhubarb that will knock you (and your reciepient's) socks off.
• 6 Much like jam, we love bringing books as a hostess gift. Even better: cookbooks. This summer, Cheryl Sterman Rule's Ripe would be a good choice. Photographed by Paulette Philpot, this stunning book focuses on seasonal fruits and vegetables organized by color. Pretty and useful. Win, win.
• 7 Easy as Pie Tea Towel by Studiopatro: Roomy 100% linen tea towels will 100% charm the pie lover in your life. The California company also does a "cake" version as well.
Related: What's Your Choice for a Universal Hostess GIft?
(Images in order of right top on down: Studiopatro, Williams Sonoma, Amazon, West Elm, Brook Farm General Store, Terrain)
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Kind of disappointing to click on the link to the salad and pasta servers and see they're not available...
Anything edible, especially home-made goods, chocolates and champagne. Flowers are always welcome.
When I first looked at the picture of the finishing salts, I thought they were caviar. Really expensive hostess gift...
Please spell check the articles before posting. "apperciate". "receipient". It's one of my biggest pet peeves, especially for a site that so many people refer to on a daily basis and take advice from.
i would agree, these are kind of $$ for a hostess gift. in my house, no token is necessary, but if someone should want to bring something, a small gesture is all that's needed. one of my fav hostess gifts was a small jar of the most amazing french mustard i've ever had. remember, it's the THOUGHT that counts, not the $$!
I like host/hostess gifts that can be consumed: wine, homemade jams, chocolates, even those salts if it must be fancy, I count flowers in that category too. Anything else ventures too much into "real" gift territory.
My favorite gift to give in the summer is homemade pasta sauce. Everybody loves it.
I'm with everyone else in saying it is pretty ridiculous to spend $40 on a hostess gift. I mean, if you come to my house, feel free two blow $40 on some salts for me if you want, but I'm not expecting anything out-pricing a middling bottle of wine, and would honestly find it a bit strange to get something that extravagant.
Also, I can't believe what people actually are able to charge for tea towels. Maybe it is from having done a lot of screen printing in my day, but $24 strikes me as absolutely insane for a basic, one-color print on a simple piece of linen. It would be a MUCH better gift to do DIY screen printing onto a tea towel with a more personal design. Admittedly it is more effort, but it is a lot more fun and rewarding than throwing away $24 on a scrap of linen for drying dishes.
I agree with everyone who thinks these are odd for guests who come for a meal. However, I understand that you might want to offer a more substantial gift if arriving en famille as house guests for any length of time. Personally, I don't expect expensive gifts, but it is nice when guests muck in and offer to help with shopping and cooking.
I love giving and getting fancy cutting boards, olives, cheese knives, etc.