The Best Hostess Gift Idea Is a Set of Serving Utensils

So yeah, I need more serving utensils. But every year, as soon as the holiday entertaining season is over, I forget this fact and go back to buying myself all kinds of other nonsensical impulse purchases like closet organizers and some magic purple Instagram lipstick — but never a damn spoon. Why? Because it’s just one of those things that everybody needs, but nobody ever buys for themselves — too utilitarian to count as self-care. And this is where you can be the hero we all need. Please, the next time you’re invited over to someone’s house for a meal, you can and should bring serving utensils as a hostess gift.

Unlike that nice bottle of wine that the host feels obligated to share with the group but actually wants to hoard, the serving utensils can be put to use right away without diminishing in value. Is it a potluck? Even better! Bring your dish along with some cute designer spoon and tell the host it’s theirs to keep. And yes, cute designer utensils, it turns out, are everywhere. Check out these incredible brass spoons, or this cabbage-core glazed stoneware set that’s perfect for salads. You can go vintage, with some colorful melamine, or go a little rococo with actual friggin’ silver. Even some basic tongs can make a statement in the right color. Hear this: Gifting flowers is fine, but they die; good tongs are forever.

At a time when there isn’t much to be certain of beyond climate change and Pete Davidson’s dating prowess, you can be 10,000 percent sure that whoever invited you to that dinner party a) is unprepared for the night’s utensil needs and b) will think of you every time they’re looking for something to scoop Brussels sprouts out of a casserole dish. (They may even remember to invite you for the next one.) And when it’s your turn to throw the shindig, you better hope your guests do the same.