Best Gifts To Thank A Party Host Or Hostess: 2023 | LAist

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An illustration of a kitchen towel and pair of serving spoons are crossed to form an "X" against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

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16 Gifts For A Party Host (That Guarantee You'll Be Invited Back!)

If you score a holiday party invite, you don't want to show up empty-handed. Here are 16 gifts sure to make you the party host's favorite guest.

By Bonnie McCarthy

Published Nov 18, 2023 5:00 AM

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The person hosting holiday festivities for family and friends shares their gifts of time and energy. Return the love with a thoughtful item or gesture designed to reciprocate in kind and delight the most entertaining of friends.

1. 'Take It Easy' cookbook by Gaby Dalkin

A woman in a sea-foam green half-zip sweatshirt and blue jeans stands alongside a kitchen counter laden with salads: The cover of the cookbook reads, "Take It Easy: Recipes for Zero Stress Deliciousness." The title is set against a festive blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.

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Give a taste of California with Take It Easy, the latest cookbook from Los Angeles author and founder of the What’s Gaby Cooking website, Gaby Dalkin. $35. Of course, you could buy this online and delivered to your front door. But, if you are looking to shop local, try ordering it through Now Serving, one of our favorite local bookstores, specializing in cookbooks. Bonus: Now Serving is located in Chinatown, giving you a great outlet for some more holiday shopping, and eating.) You'll find more food gift ideas here.

2. Pig bowl

A burnt orange clay bowl the color of burn orange is in the shape of a cute pig, and sits along side a spoon made out of the same clay. The items are sitting on a surface covered with a plaid tablecloth and a green plant is in the background. The image is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Bring on the chips and dips with a party friendly Pig Bowl in Barro Rojo handmade in Oaxaca by Mujeres Del Barro Rojo, $90, and sold by Yalala, a Zapotec and queer-owned retailer in L.A. (Watch the website for pop-up shop schedule leading up to the holidays.) Accessorize this gift with a bag of tortilla chips and some guac or salsa, and you’re golden.

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3. Organic cotton napkins

An image of a cloth napkin: The fabric is a putty color, and it is decorated with varying shades of navy blue accent stripes that form a pyramid with a circle at its top, and a rectangle of blue stripes sits behind it. The photograph is set against decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

A classic gift for the host, these cloth napkins are sustainable and stylish: Set of four 18x18 inch Pyramid Napkins in organic cotton. $52. By Los Angeles-based Block Shop.

4. Poketo x Headspace journal

A photo shows a journal with an orange cover that is flipped open to reveal the pages inside. The pages contain journal writing prompts, followed by space to write in. The photo is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

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Love Your Mind is the new daily mindfulness journal from the collab between two Los Angeles favorites — Poketo, the beloved home and lifestyle boutique, and Headspace, the popular meditation and mindfulness app. It would be a thought-provoking gift for a party host: Filled with inspirational quotes and actionable daily and weekly prompts, the journal is designed to help you write your way toward a more joyful approach to life. $28. You could order online, but consider shopping in person at Poketo's brick-and-mortar destination at 1233 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. And while you're there, consider taking in a classic L.A. holiday activity: Ice skating on Third Street Promenade.

5. Bamboo salad plates

A photograph of four salad plates lined as the four corners of a square: The image on each salad plate is that of a yolk yellow sun, overlooking blue waves. The photograph is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Another Poketo find: Made from sustainable organic bamboo fiber and printed with food-grade ink, a set of four bamboo salad plates that can dish out anything from appetizers to tapas or dessert. $40.

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6. Linen tea towel set

A photograph of a pair of colorful kitchen towels laid out against a white background: One towel has organic shapes that look a bit like stones, in pink, yellow, green and orange hues. The other towel is all about lines, featuring orange, yellow, lime green and white stripes. The gift image is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Wrap a new linen tea towel around a homemade loaf of chocolate chip banana bread or a queso fresco pound cake and use kitchen twine to tie it up with a bow. (Give that to the host, and you're guaranteed to be invited back for another party.) Set of two tea towels, $34.

7. Eco-friendly serving tray and game set

A hand-made wooden tray doubles as a checker set: The squares are green and gold, and half the pieces are painted red, the other half are a natural blond wood. The tray is positioned against a festive, blue holiday background.

The double-duty Checker Serving Tray and Game Set by Wolfum is made of FSC-certified birch (so it's eco-friendly) and comes with color coordinated wood checkers in a handy storage bag. Made in Los Angeles. $80.

8. Crinkle vase

A photograph of a table scene: A coffee cup, a covered bowl, a pitcher containing a wooden utensils and a plate are in the foreground. But the focus of the photograph is the two unusual vases in the background, one containing flowers: The vases are bright white, and ceramic, but are made to look like they are crinkled up paper sacks. The gift image is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Flowers are a perfect gift for the host as long as they are presented in a vase or pot. A busy host won’t have time to search for a container and arrange cut flowers. Make it easy on them and arrive with branches or blooms in a unique vessel that will be around long after the flowers have faded. The Crinkle Vase by Ceramic Japan, $40 to $220 depending upon size, from ARJ Los Angeles at ROW DTLA. (Bonus: If you head to ROW DTLA, you're sure to find plenty of other places to shop and eat.)

9. Stationary box set, with wax seals

A photograph offering a top down look at a desktop: In the center is some stationary with pretty pink flowers in the lower right corner, and a fountain pen. Off to the side are some wax seals, waiting to be pressed into duty. There is some potpourri in a small bowl, and some strands of gift ribbon. The gift image is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and additional strands of ribbon.

A set of six foil printed cards and envelopes from Little Well Paper Co. are accompanied by color coordinating wax seals in a sturdy gift box, $28. Made in Burbank.

10. Flask & Field tote

A photograph of a black tote that reads "Flask & Field" at the top, followed by the phrase "Always hungry, never thirst" in Korean. The tote also includes the words Row DTLA — where the the Flast & Field store is located in Los Angeles. The photo is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Slip a bottle of wine or spirits (non-alcoholic works too!) in an army green tote bag from Flask & Field that says “Always hungry, never thirsty” in Korean, $29, also at ROW DTLA. Flask & Field owner Miriam Yoo recommends pairing the tote with a bottle of Los Angeles-made Future Gin, $39, from noted local distributor and natural winemaker Amy Atwood.

11. Extra virgin olive oil & vinegar gift set

A photograph of a gift box set featuring a small jar of vinegar, another of olive oil, a jar of seasoning, and a small whisk. The gift box is on a table alongside a plate of pasta, a vibrant green salad, a bowl of marinated olives, and a small bown of an olive oil-and-vinegar dipping sauce. The photograph is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Small-batch Spark Vinegar, a mini Vitality Extra Virgin Olive Oil and an organic spice blend are packaged with a small whisk in the Aperitivo gift set, $56, from Olivo Amigo (which is based in Irvine, but the owner hails from Spain.) This is the gift of instant vinaigrette, or a dip for fresh-baked bread! Find more food gifts here.

12. Big Impact charcuterie board

A photograph of a wooden cutting board that is shaped like a rectangle, except that one of the corners is sliced off for a decorative effect. A half loaf of bread, some lemon slices, a paring knife and a bunch of parsley sit atop the cutting board. The cutting board sits on an orange-hued kitchen towel. The images is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Hand crafted in downtown Los Angeles, the Big Impact Charcuterie Board, $90, in walnut or hard maple, comes from Would Works, which gives people experiencing extreme poverty or homelessness the opportunity to work. Each board comes with a tag identifying the artisan who created it, and the financial goals they are working to achieve. Customization available.

13. Oak Happy Hour coasters

A photograph of four wooden coasters laid out on a white background: All the coasters are square shaped, with one of the corners sliced off. One of the coasters has a handy bottle opener sunk into it. The image is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Also from Would Works: Elevate happy hour with this combo set of four hand crafted white oak coasters, $45 and up. (There's also a coaster set that features a bottle opener on the bottom of one coaster. Handy! $65.) Customization available.

14. Handcrafted cheese knives

A poster has a blue bird with white and gold markings and the words: With Love from Ukraine

Ethically handcrafted from sustainably harvested mango wood, the Nakshatra Collection, $34, at L.A. designer Justina Blakeney's Jungalow site, features a set of three cheese knives inlaid with brass stars. The set is tied together with an upcycled sari textile cord designed for storage.

15. Botanical Craft cocktail kits

Jars of craft cocktail mixes — you add the alcohol — are stacked upon each other. The pyramid of jars is accented by dried fruit slices, and other aromatics contained within the mixes. The image is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Happy hour DIY. Mix up Apple Chai Tinis, Margaritas, Cardamom Rose Chocolate Martinis, Moon Magics and more with Botanical Craft Cocktail Kits, $24 - $30. From the Southern California-based Practical Magic Apothecary.

16. Golden Coast soy wax candle

A candle sits in a brown glass jar, with a golden metal screw-on lid: A brown craft labels says the scent is, Golden Coast. In the background is a stack of books, a plant, and a decorative lamp. The image is set against a decorative blue background accented with stars, gift boxes and strands of ribbon.

Everyone looks good by candlelight. PF Candle Company's Golden Coast 100% soy wax candle is hand-poured into an amber colored apothecary jar with the brand’s signature kraft label and brass lid. The 7.2 oz standard size burns for 40-50 hours and is the company’s most popular size. $24.

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Credits

Editing and writing
- Rene Lynch, Gift Guide Editor
- Ross Brenneman, Education Editor
- Bonnie McCarthy, Freelance Writer
- Gab Chabrán, Associate Editor, Food and Culture
- Mariana Dale, K-12 Reporter
- Larry Mantle, AirTalk Host
- Christine N. Ziemba, Best Things To Do Reporter
Art
- Erin Hauer, Visual Designer
- Olivia Hughes, Illustrator
Other support
- Sabir Brara, Digital Product Project Manager
- Redmond Carolipio, Copy Editor
- Anne To, Intern, Copy editing
- Chanelle Berlin Johnson, Director Audience Engagement
- Kristine Malicse, Associate Editor, Audience Engagement
- Megan Garvey, Executive Editor

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