‘Tis the season for the visit…whether you are dropping by for a party, a meal or a gift exchange, there  is one key point of “visiting” that can not be overlooked - the hostess gift.

Truthfully speaking, before meeting Tony I never knew or understood this concept .  Then again before meeting Tony most of my “visits” included a beer bong so keep that in perspective.  But now that I am expected to act like a grown up (gee that leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth) I now get to attend lovely parties, dinners and gatherings.

With those invitations comes a duty - a duty to thank your host(ess) for opening their home, their pantry and (hopefully) their bar to you - enter the hostess gift.  A few things to remember - a hostess gift is to be exactly that.. a gift for the hostess.  You shall not expect the hostess to use or serve your gift while you are there (if you bring a pie… it is for the hostess to enjoy at her leisure at another time.)  In many circles it is considered rude to bring a food item to a meal unless the food item was requested (in David speak…it’s rude to bring a casserole to a dinner party and expect MaryLu to stop what she is doing and find a place for the casserole at the table.)  And the gift need not be extravagant or expensive..just a token to say thank you.

Tony has a number of great hostess gift ideas in the store.  His most popular in simply tying a colorful spreader to a package of napkins - a great gift for under $10.  Many times we’ll pair that with a bottle of wine or box of chocolates - always a crowd pleaser.  A lovely cookbook, a couple of gourmet items or a small serving piece are all great hostess gifts.

So stop in and stock up soon.  It’s always good to keep a few hostess gifts on hand for those last minute invitations that, alas, do not include a go at the beer bong.