These hostess gift ideas will make them feel so appreciated

Whether you’re heading to a holiday party or invited for a weekend visit, you’ll want to make sure you don’t show up empty-handed. Hostess gifts may be a little old-fashioned, but that’s because they really are a classic move that will never go out of style. Thanking your hostess (or host, of course) for their hospitality and any work they’ve put into making you, their guest, feel welcome, is always considerate. Although the sentiment has never gotten old, the gift itself changes from decade to decade. So, you’ll need some hostess gift ideas, especially with the upcoming holiday season.

These carefully curated gifts will please any hosts, even your hard-to-shop-for-sister-in-law. They’ll be welcome additions to their home, pantry, and every day, plus many of them actually make their next event that much easier to put together. Scroll down for our favorite hostess gift ideas for 2023.

TBH Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

this pinot noir from TBH vineyards is a good hostess gift idea
TBH Vineyards

A bottle of wine is always a good idea when it comes to a hostess gift. This wonderful Pinot Noir is made from 100% estate-grown organic grapes from Small Vines on the Sonoma Coast and is a full-bodied wine with hints of cherries, a floral scent, and a lovely lingering flavor. 

TBH Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($104)—Buy Here! 

Copper Whistling Tea Kettle

HSN

This cute kettle bundled with some of your favorite hot cocoa and gourmet marshmallows make a fun family gift (with a bit of style thrown in).

Copper Whistling Tea Kettle ($37.80)—Buy Here!

Pizza Accessories Kit

Backcountry

Set them up for family pizza night with this set that comes with two pizza peels, a spatula and a rocking cutter.

Pizza Accessories Kit ($65.99)—Buy Here!

Beekman 1802 Goat Milk Caddy Set

Beekman 1802

Goat milk is known for its moisturizing qualities. We love gifting this soap and lotion set especially since its fragrance-free and includes a counter caddy.

Beekman 1802 Goat Milk Caddy Set ($30.80)—Buy Here!

Tipsy Turvy Bar Glass Set

ban.do

Who wouldn't want to toast with these gorgeous glasses? Champagne, sparking cider, or your favorite La Croix—we're using them for everything.

Tipsy Turvy Bar Glass Set ($32.95)—Buy Here!

Bamboo Multi-Level Cheese Board Set

BerfHOFF

Help enhance their next gathering with this pretty cheese board set, complete with 3 cutting and serving tools.

Bamboo Multi-Level Cheese Board Set ($79.99)—Buy Here!

Hoya Heart Succulent

plants.com

This succulent will look darling on a windowsill and it needs very little maintenance (and is therefore the perfect gift, of course).

Hoya Heart Succulent ($39.99)—Buy Here!

Gold Leaf Glassware

Well Told

Glassware with a city map in 22-carat gold leaf is sure to endear your host to you even when your kid locks themselves in the bathroom in the middle of the party. Choose from 22 popular cities.

Gold Leaf Glassware ($23.95)—Buy Here!

Rainbow Agate Coaster Set of 4

Amazon

Protect furniture from glass rings and toddler spills with this lovely coaster set of 4.

Rainbow Agate Coaster Set of 4 ($45.99)—Buy Here!

Superstitchous Blanket

Superstitchous

San Francisco mom Samira Khoshnood created Superstitchous while on maternity leave after the birth of her first child. We love gifting these cozy blankets to pretty much anyone. Especially with a variety of charming prints and sizes, you can't go wrong.

Superstitchous Blanket ($88.00+)—Buy Here!

anecdote candles

anecdote candles

Made of long-lasting soy wax and hand-poured in California, these are a chic-meets-cheeky offering. There are a bunch of different single and bundle options to fit your favorite hostess's personality.

anecdote candles ($14.00+)—Buy Here!

Chocolarder Drinking Chocolate

Bar and Cocoa

What's better than hot cocoa? Drinking chocolate is a blend of cocoa and grated chocolate for a next-level (and super indulgent) gift.

Chocolarder Drinking Chocolate ($25.00)—Buy Here!

Paper Vase Wraps

Lucy Grymes

The perfect gift wrap for that bouquet of flowers you can grab on your way over; use a recycled jar, a can or a simple vase and make it dressy. Coated paper stock in lots of different color choices.

Paper Vase Wraps ($19.00)—Buy Here!

Fig Lemontini Craft Cocktail Kit

Sundance

A botanical blend of fruits, herbs, and spices that only require adding the recommended choice of spirits for the perfect cocktail.

Fig Lemontini Craft Cocktail Kit ($28.00+)—Buy Here!

YETI Rambler 10 oz Wine Tumbler

Amazon

Your hostess can keep her drink of choice cool while she gets everything ready when you gift her a Yeti Tumbler.

YETI Rambler 10 oz Wine Tumbler ($46.00)—Buy Here!

Classic Cowgirl Cheese Collection

Goldbelly

A perfect trio of cheese from one of the country's best cheesemakers. Includes a decadent triple cream Mt Tam, funky and buttery Red Hawk, and versatile aged Wagon Wheel.

Classic Cowgirl Cheese Collection ($89.95)—Buy Here!

PureWine Purifier Wands

PureWine

Filter out sulfites with this simple wine filter and say goodbye to wine headaches. Simply add one to each glass you pour and in 3 minutes, you'll have a clean-tasting filtered glass of your favorite grapes.

PureWine Purifier Wands ($11.99+)—Buy Here!

Bloom Tamarind Wood Bowl

CB2

Filled with lemons or a large salad, this bowl is a stunner they'll love displaying.

Bloom Tamarind Wood Bowl ($99.95)—Buy Here!

 

—Kate Loweth, Amber Guetebier, Gabby Cullen, & Kate Cartia

 

All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

All images courtesy of retailers.

 

Introducing food is one of the most exciting milestones in your child’s first year of life. But have you ever actually tasted store-bought baby food? Go ahead. Give it a try. Jar or pouch not tasting so fresh and healthy? After discovering that most baby food available today is highly processed and either overly sweet or too bland, Chicago mom of two Shibani Baluja started making her own food full of hearty, nutritious veggies, and light on fruits. Read on for the scoop on Shibani’s company, lil’gourmets and why it’s a win-win for both kids and busy parents.

Special offer: Try lil’gourmets for just $3 a meal by using code REDTRI3 with the purchase of two or more boxes. And to learn more visit lilgourmets.com.

The Scoop

After consulting with pediatricians, chefs and nutritionists, Shibani launched lil’gourmets to make her fresh and delicious meals conveniently available to parents of babies and toddlers. Instead of using mostly apples and bananas to cover up the taste of vegetables, Shibani opted to rely on spices to enhance the flavors of those vegetables. The result was spoonfuls of bold and earthy veggie goodness, naturally low in sugar but big on taste.

Why You’ll Both Love the Meals
The meals are all 70-95% vegetables and beans and come in four flavorful varieties:

  • Organic Sweet Potato Curry: Made with 100% organic sweet potatoes, coconut milk, spinach, a squeeze of lemon and lime juice, and a blend of  spices
  • Organic Moroccan Butternut Squash: Made with 100% organic butternut squash, carrots, chickpeas, a squeeze of tamarind and lemon, and a blend of spices
  • Organic Coconut Cauliflower Mash: Made with 100% organic cauliflower, carrots, peas, coconut milk, a squeeze of tamarind and lime, and a blend of spices
  • Organic Cinnamon Beets & Apples: Made with 100% organic beets, a bit of apple, a squeeze of lemon, and a hint of cinnamon and ginger

These chef-inspired flavors can help develop a young child’s curiosity and palate, while the minimal processing allows your baby to absorb the essential nutrients in the veggies to boost growing brains and bodies. Each 3.5 oz lil’gourmets cup exposes your little one to new tastes, textures, colors, and aromas, and can be served directly from the fridge or placed in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.

A single serving packs enough nutritional punch to stand as a meal for baby, or to offer as a side dish for a hungry toddler or preschooler. Try Cinnamon Beets & Apples on the side of beef or substitute for an applesauce snack; let your toddler dip their grilled chicken in Sweet Potato Curry or Moroccan Butternut Squash; or pair Coconut Cauliflower Mash with a fish or grain, like quinoa or pita bread, or even sprinkle with ground cashews for a nutty flavor. Talk to your baby and let your child see how you think about, prepare, and enjoy food and family mealtime will take on a whole new dimension.

 

Benefits Beyond a Delicious and Healthy Meal
The lil’gourmets servings are all packaged in clear cups so your baby will get lots of spoon-feeding and fine motor skills practice, plus plenty of chances to recognize satiety cues and relish parent/caretaker bonding. And, all that time you spend together with your baby in a highchair sharing a meal? Setting a positive relationship with food by providing healthy and hearty meals will help your kiddo blossom into a healthy and happy eater.

It's Convenient

The lil’gourmets model couldn’t be easier. The meals—ala-carte or subscription—are delivered refrigerated to your door, saving you time and energy to do all the other things you love doing. Just order a box of the organic veggie meals, store them in your fridge and your little one will enjoy fresh and flavorful foods every day. What’s more, lil’gourmets meals are made with only organic ingredients, just 3-5 grams of sugar per serving, and everything is non-GMO, vegan, preservative-free, and gluten-free. So you also save yourself any worry over what you're putting in your baby’s bowl.

Want to give it a taste? Try lil’gourmets for just $3 a meal by using code REDTRI3 at lilgourmets.com with the purchase of two or more boxes. And to learn more or see the list of local grocers they are sold at, visit lilgourmets.com.

—Whitney Harris

 

We know birthday parties and pizza go hand in hand, but wouldn’t it be nice to eat something other than cheese or pepperoni pie at your next bash? If you’re ready break the party mold and try something deliciously different, we’ve rounded up six sure-fire kid pleasers from local Seattle favorites.

photo: Wendy S. via Yelp

Blazing Bagels
With over 33 bagel flavors and 12 kinds of cream cheese, Blazing Bagels’ flavor combinations are endless. Try their bagel ball tray (think donut hole in bagel form) or the mini bagel dog bites: a reinvention of the quintessential kid food, perfectly portioned for pint-sized party peeps. Round out your carb-tastic meal with fruit, meat and cheese platters.

Good to know: Blazing Bagels has Eastside and Seattle locations. Place your order at the location nearest you.

Online: blazingbagels.com

photo: Yulanda W. via Yelp

Fu Man Dumpling House
Treat the party to some delicious doughy goodness with homemade dumplings from Fu Man Dumpling House in Seattle’s Bitter Lake neighborhood. The pork and vegetable dumplings are made fresh at this family-owned establishment, and if you show up at the right time, you can watch the kitchen make them from scratch. Order take out or grab a bag of frozen dumplings to prep at home. Round out your meal with other traditional Chinese cuisine like chow mein or fried rice.

Good to know: Fu Man Dumpling House is a small operation, so call ahead to place your order.

14314 Greenwood Ave. N.
Seattle, Wa 98133
206-364-0681

Online: yelp.com/biz/fu-man-dumpling-house-seattle

photo: jdurham via morgueFile

Maya’s Restaurant
You can’t go wrong with Mexican food. Ole! Serve up a spread of rice, beans, tacos, enchiladas, and favorite kid staple: the quesadilla. Maya’s Restaurant is your go-to for south of the border tastes, cooking up party food for the greater Seattle area for over 30 years. Whether you’re hosting a neighborhood bash or a small gathering of besties, Maya’s provides freshly prepared, temperature perfect food when you want it. From traditional fare to healthy vegetarian options, Maya’s Restaurant offers a wide variety of options to fit every taste and budget.

Good to know: Maya’s delivers orders for 20 or more people.

9447 Rainier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98118
206-725-5510

Online: mayasrestaurant.co
Email: catering@mayasrestaurant.com

photo: Pampeana Empanadas

Pampeana Empanadas
Pampeana’s stuffs pastry dough with creative fillings, both savory and sweet, and then bakes the pillowly goodness until toasty warm and super scrumptious. Accompany your empanada order with their house-made chimichurri, tamarind ginger sauce, or aji sauce to enhance the flavor factor. Place your order and pick up fresh baked empanadas at the U-District or West Seattle Farmers Markets on weekends or snag frozen empanadas at their Tacoma kitchen mid-week.

Good to know: Pampeana’s sauces are available for purchase or make at home with the recipes provided online.

253-973-6589
Online: pampeanaempanadas.com

photo: Curtis L. via Yelp

Vios Café
How about some Greek food? Opa! Seattle’s Vios Café serves up Mediterranean food perfect for petite party-goers. From chicken souvlaki (what child doesn’t like eating food on a skewer?) to delectable house-made dips served with warm pita bread, Café Vios makes entertaining food with definite yum factor. Order platters from the pre-set catering menu or create your own spread from their extensive menu. Depending on the size of your order, food is available for pick-up or delivery.

Good to know: Vios Café has two Seattle locations; contact the Capitol Hill restaurant for catering orders.

903 19th Ave. E.
Seattle, Wa 98112
206-329-3236
Online: vioscafe.com

Yellow Dot Café
Sandwiches and fruit are guaranteed kid pleasers and the Yellow Dot Café serves up some of the best tasting deli food in the Seattle area. Fresh seasonal fruit platters feature berries and melon cut just to size for little fingers to enjoy. Fill sandwich platters with delicious flavors like turkey pesto, ham and swiss, and hummus and veggie, sure to convert the most stalwart PB&J fan. Yellow Dot Café offers boxed meals or family-style platters.

Good to know: If you’re a party-planning procrastinator, Yellow Dot Café only needs a 24-hour notice to prep your order.

South Lake Union location
301 Westlake Ave. N.
Seattle, Wa 98109
206-381-9200

Fremont location
701 N. 34th St.
Seattle, Wa 98103
206-588-0659

Online: yellowdotcafe.com
Email: catering@yellowdotcafe.com

What other food would you add to our list? Tell us in the Comments!

— Abbey McGee