Bring the Merry! Holiday Gifts for Hosts

Whether it’s a casual braai or an elaborate dinner party, it is good form to show your appreciation with a gift. They cook like celebrity chefs and host parties like professional party planners – so show your hosts some love with these stylish and scrumptious gift ideas, and get the lowdown on basic gifting etiquette. You no longer need to worry about the ‘rules’ of host and hostess gifts.

1. Keep it personal. The size or price of the gift is not important. What counts is focusing on what your hosts actually like. Consider their taste and lifestyle when choosing the present.
2. Keep it simple. It really isn’t necessary to break the bank. In fact, a gift that is too elaborate may embarrass your hosts. Instead, maximise a simple gift by pairing it with a little homemade treat.
3. Keep it practical. Bear in mind that your hosts will be really busy – most people don’t want to rush around finding vases and arranging flowers just when their guests are arriving. If you are giving them flowers, consider gifting them in a gorgeous vase.
4. Keep it cool. When you give a gift of food or drink, do not expect it to be served at the occasion. Standard etiquette is that this gift is for your hosts to savour later in their own time. However, if they do share your offering at the event, be sure to help yourself last.
5. Keep it sweet. Even if you’ve given your hosts a gift at the time, always send a thank-you note as soon as possible after the event. Just a simple expression of gratitude is all that is needed.

Presents with Presence

Here are some great gift ideas for hosts, with our special recommendations for how to make each gift truly special.

SAY CHEERS!
Don’t just bring along a bottle of good wine for your hosts to add to their collection: pop the bottle into a Le Creuset Wine Cooler Carrier or Wine Cooler Sleeve, or give it together with a corkscrew and you’re bound to be top of the guest list for their next party too.

NUTS ABOUT IT
Not everyone has a sweet tooth. If you know that savoury treats are your hosts’ favourite, give them a Mini Cocotte or Ramekins filled with their favourite nuts – like roasted almonds or cashews – or shaved biltong.

POT SPOT
Plant up a colourful Le Creuset herb planter with on-trend succulents (see our DIY guide) to really spoil your hosts.

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS
Pick some seasonal flowers from your garden and give them in a gorgeous colour-coded Le Creuset vase or stoneware jug.

PRETTY SPECIAL
Spoil your hosts with a set of Sorbet footed ice-cream bowls and a batch of yummy homemade ice cream they can keep in the freezer for later. At this time of the year, you can do no better than our No-Churn Christmas Praline Ice Cream.

SWEET SOMETHINGS
Whip up a batch of flavoured honey nougat and give it to your hosts in a candy-coloured Le Creuset Sorbet Collecion square dish.

SMART COOKIES
Bake a batch of our easy star-shaped spicy ginger biscuits and gift them in one of our beautiful storage jars or on a lovely plate or platter.

JUST JAMMIN’!
Our homemade bacon jam is something special! Present it in our heart-shaped ramekin with a lid and your hosts will feel the love!

IT’S A KEEPER
Spoil gourmet cooks with a Salt Keeper filled with pretty pink Himalayan salt crystals.

For more Le Creuset culinary inspiration, visit our recipe website. Shop online at www.lecreuset.co.za where we offer countrywide free delivery or visit your nearest Le Creuset Boutique Store. Did you like this post? Sign up to our newsletter and we’ll send you more news and promotions!