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Taking a side dish or dessert to your Thanksgiving meal may be your usual contribution. But, in addition to bringing an aspect of the meal, it’s a good idea to spring for a host gift. After all, your host has to deal with a lot more than just cooking: They have to set up the table decorations, clean their house in preparation for your arrival, and do the dishes after you leave (though, of course, you should jump in and help there too). When you consider all this, they really deserve a little keepsake—a bottle of wine or a candle at the very least, but maybe more.
Of course, your holiday season may still be weird—or smaller—this year, thanks to lingering coronavirus concerns. Maybe you’re cooking with a small crowd locally, Zooming with your family, coordinating recipes with friends from a distance, or just ordering takeout at home with your roommate. Whatever your plans are, consider a hostess gift for whoever usually runs the TG ship—especially if you’re lucky enough to be dining with them this year. If you’re far away, a thoughtful gift will surely ease the disappointment of spending the holiday apart.
A casserole tote
This tote is heavy-duty enough to hold a cast-iron pan or a Dutch oven. It’ll come in handy for anyone meeting friends or family for an outdoor meal this Thanksgiving (and you’ll surely pull it out again during a holiday party or picnic season).
A food subscription
There’s no reason to be a Thanksgiving purist. You should feel empowered to break up with any traditional foods you don’t love, without guilt (even if you’ll get the side eye from an aunt for subbing marshmallowy mashed sweet potatoes for roasted ones covered in a sweet-and-sour sauce). In that vein, why not gift a Japanese snack box, a charcuterie subscription, or a fancy olive oil instead of pie?
A new apron
Is this a unique gift for a cook? Certainly not. But aprons are a classic choice for anyone who loves tinkering in the kitchen for a reason—you can almost never have enough of them (and they all wear out eventually). There are so many excellent aprons out there—but rarely are they as fun as these printed numbers from La DoubleJ.
Booze, obviously
The subtly herbaceous gin below is excellent in one of our favorite fall cocktails, a Negroni riff called Remember the Alimony. We recommend serving it at Thanksgiving, or any autumnal dinner party. Or, choose one of these whiskies we love—they’re great on their own or in a cocktail. If your Thanksgiving crew is doing a cocktail, consider coming with the bottle to make it happen, plus one extra for the host to enjoy after the celebration is over.
For wine lovers, consider a bottle of wine, of course. “A bottle of really good Champagne is such a lovely gift—and while you could drink bubbles throughout the Thanksgiving meal, you could also urge your host to save it for a quieter occasion. Bérêche makes many of my favorite Champagnes—refreshing, polished, always delicious,” says digital director Maggie Hoffman.
Maggie also recommends this fun, juicy red from the great California producer Arnot-Roberts and a couple of seriously delicious Beaujolais. For an exceptional after-dinner drink, opt for the G.D. Vajra Barolo Chinato.
To take your wine gift to the next level, include a decanter or a set of new wine glasses.
New napkins or tea towels
Inevitably, someone will find a way to stain one of the “good” napkins at Thanksgiving. So send your host a nice replacement set! These flax and honey linens are a forgiving shade for stains and will become the favored set for the rest of the holiday season. Or, opt for some of our all-time favorite reusable cocktail napkins. A new set of tea towels are welcome in literally any kitchen.
Cheese and accoutrements
If you’ve been put in charge of appetizers this year, show up with a gift box of the very best cheeses. Again, it’s a good idea to include a little extra cheese just for the host. Or bring a cheese board, serving tray, or cheese knife set alongside the cheese as a hostess gift.
Elegant cookware
Beyond looking beautiful on the table, this versatile clay vessel is excellent for hot pots, rice dishes, casseroles, soups and stews, and beyond. Or, opt for a set of mini cocottes. Almost no one would buy these for themselves, but they’re surprisingly handy—and elegant—for cooking and serving French onion soup, baked egg dishes, and single-serving sides.
An actually chic sheet pan
From the makers of the peak millennial-chic Dutch oven comes an equally adorable nonstick sheet pan. Because it’s made from aluminized steel and reinforced with steel rods, we found it to be sturdier than most sheet pans on the market. That cobalt ceramic coating means it’s naturally nonstick, doesn’t scratch easily, and washes clean nicely. Just don’t use it for something you want extra crispy, like slightly charred vegetables—your Nordic Ware aluminum is always best for that.
More tabletop gifts
Coasters are the perfect gift for any frequent dinner party host—and a gravy boat is a natural choice for anyone hosting Thanksgiving. While a full set of cutlery is hard to choose for someone else, a set of serving utensils is a much safer bet.
Need more gift ideas? Check out more gift guides, including the best housewarming gifts, the best stocking stuffers for cooks, and the best birthday gifts.
