Whether you’re hosting a cozy dinner party for four or an over-the-top caviar-and-Champagne bash, there’s no shortage of logistics that go into entertaining. Expectations run high this time of year, and after the grocery run and last-minute vacuum, the key to pulling off a successful gathering lies in having the right tools. For some seasoned hosts, that looks like servingware to make it easy for guests to help themselves to hors d’oeuvres and dips; for others, it’s pieces that keep the wine flowing.
I spoke to chefs, food stylists, and veteran home entertainers to get their recommendations for a range of tools, serveware, and other items that you’ll be happy to have on hand for the festive season, as well as every impromptu cocktail party and birthday party from here on out.
These candles may look like any old tapers, but Untitled Secret founder Patrick Janelle says they’ve made his post-party clean-up exponentially easier.
Made of nylon that never burns down or drips, these candles are designed to be refilled with Lucid’s candle liquid after about five hours of burn time. They also come with a silicone piece at the base of the candle to ensure that the candles fit in whatever candlestick holders you have. “Anyone who has had to whittle down the base of candles or add extra padding can understand how useful this feature is,” says Janelle. “I personally love black candles for nighttime gatherings…they impart a sexier vibe.”
Chef and TV host Sophia Roe finds these minimalist, stackable plates from London-based Danish designer Stine Keinicke “perfect for when you need to spread food creatively throughout a space or when you don’t have a large table or set place to display food.” Ideal for serving fruit, olives, desserts, and raw crudités alike, these stainless steel pieces get extra points from Roe for being both dishwasher friendly and durable.
When spoiling your guests with a tin of beluga or osetra caviar, having the right serving utensils is a must. “Metal from everyday spoons will give your caviar an off-flavor,” says recipe developer and lifestyle expert Peter Som. He opts for a sleek boxed set of mother-of-pearl spoons made by the experts at Petrossian, which has been in the fancy fish business for over a century. “When you’re spending your bucks on the good stuff you don’t want anything getting in the way of your caviar — except maybe some crème fraîche and blinis,” says Som.
Forget the big serving bowl — cookbook author and writer of the Consumed newsletter Roya Shariat uses this cheerful cutting board to both prepare and serve charcuterie, labneh toasts, and what she calls “flat salads.” One such salad: “I took some heirloom tomatoes, sliced and salted them, and let them drain for a bit,” she says. “I then arranged them on the board with pistachios, salt, pepper, olive oil, and balsamic, and then tore up some mozzarella for the top.”
For chef and food stylist Romilly Newman, there’s no better centerpiece than a mail-order, flaming Christmas pudding from London’s iconic department store Fortnum & Mason. “The key is to warm your alcohol separately, light it, and then pour on top of the pudding for the real show,” she says. “Besides this being an absolute joy to watch, and a sure way to add sparkle to your table, I actually love the taste of Christmas pudding. It’s dense, warm, gooey, and dotted with dried fruit.”
[Editor’s note: Fortnum & Mason lists all prices in pounds sterling, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in U.S. dollars.]
When the menu calls for fruit, bite-sized desserts, or hors d’oeuvres, author and TV host Ali Rosen reaches for this simple tiered stand from Yamazaki. “It’s chic without costing an arm and a leg, and it adds height to any tablescape,” she says. “The most important bonus for New Yorkers is it unscrews so you can store it completely flat.”
To easily evoke an “old world, elegant feel,” embroidery brand Abbode owner Abigail Price always has “a pop of silver” on her tablescape. “We all know butter is having a moment, so I love spooning a huge mound into one of these silver cups,” she says. “I sprinkle some flaky salt on top so my guests can dip crusty bread or radishes into them.” Price also stacks a few in a tower filled with fruits and dips.
I prefer not to have guests rummaging through my (chaotic) fridge to top up their drinks, so these vacuum-sealed wine chillers from Vinglacé are on heavy rotation when I host. I’ve found that they keep Champagne crisp for up to three hours, which is also about how long my social battery lasts. Unlike similar products, they don’t leave a sweaty ring of condensation behind — plus, they make great personalized gifts. (Jacques Torres is also a fan.)
Creative director Kate Berry uses this ceramic oversized clam shell from Matilda Goad to keep her guests’ wine glasses full. “It’s a great bar centerpiece,” she says. “No need for other decor like flowers.” Even when filled with ice, the shell can hold between three to five bottles of wine. Berry owns the white shell, but there’s also a pink option for some tabletop color.
Instead of plating individual slices of cake or pie and worrying over whether everyone has an equally attractive piece, Newman often opts for family-style desserts served out of this elegant, raised platter from Astier de Villatte. “I’ll make a heaping mound of chocolate mousse with a Chantilly cream and leave a large spoon for people to help themselves,” she says.
I’m not saying I regularly have leftover Champagne in my apartment after a party, but on the occasion that I do, these Le Creuset stoppers do a surprisingly good job of keeping an open bottle crisp and bubbly for about five days. Having a few of these on hand has also made opening a bottle of bubbly on a weeknight (or making a single French 75 after a rough day) less wasteful. Easy to secure on the bottle and open, these crown sealers have also been useful for extending the life of carbonated nonalcoholic drinks, like my beloved Ghia Le Fizz or fancy Italian sparkling lemonade.
A Tiny Apt author Christene Barberich prefers to use these playful tea towels from Ours in place of fussy cloth napkins. “The lack of preciousness in a tea or dish towel just really appeals to me,” she says, adding that she especially loves the graphics and saturated colors in this quilted set. “Since I’m partial to cocktail/snack gatherings over sit-down dinners (way easier in a smaller home like mine), these would be so nice with a vintage glass relish plate and a big lovely cheese board,” she says.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
