AVOID HOST TRAUMATIC STRESS

Show your appreciation to the host with these unexpected gifts

You can blame it on 2020 since many of us barely remember dinner parties. But we at The Inevitable Gentleman noticed an unpleasant trend forming long before. Entertaining in one’s home is a lot of work, and as such deserves a sign of appreciation for the host(s). In other words - don’t show up empty-handed.

For me, this custom was drilled into my head from a young age watching my Italian mother never arriving to anyone’s house without a wrapped gift, a bottle of liquor, or a baked good. And while wine, candles and flowers are tried and true choices, they aren’t exactly original. While you don’t have to spend a lot on a gift, expand your horizons and go for a more personalized token of appreciation. Some of my favorites include:

If candles or flowers are your fallback, try a topiary instead. You’ll still be gifting something fresh and fragrant, but it will last a lot longer than a bouquet of buds. Terrain offers an aromatic, lemon cypress variety in a distressed pot.

If you are expected to contribute a dish, consider a slate board from Williams Sonoma, which provides a dramatic and unique backdrop for cheeses and meats and fruit and crackers. Want to go the extra mile? Cut up all the components you’ll need ahead of time and when you arrive, assemble the charcuterie platter in the host's kitchen. This not only adds another dish to the party, but the slate board stays behind as a thoughtful remembrance of your kindness that can be reused for future parties.

O.K., so if you must bring alcohol, skip the wine and be bold. Pick up a bottle of something you don’t usually drink. Pair it with a coffee table book on cocktails. There are hundreds out there but look for one that provides not only recipes, but also the history of each drink, too. The New Craft of the Cocktail by Dale DeGroff, features beautiful, full-color photographs and liquor recommendations.