Tis the season to be holiday party hopping. But don’t be that guy and show up empty-handed or with a generic bottle of chilled red you likely intend to drink yourself. Whether you’re tagging along as a plus one or heading to a loved ones home for an intimate dinner, we’ve rounded up ten solid gift ideas that will make your host feel truly appreciated this holiday.
Brightland Olive Oil Duo, $74 USD
Olive oil might just be the very best housewarming gift ever, especially for the sober curious leaning holiday host. Useful even for an ammeter cook, pair it with a lovely loaf of sourdough bread, some tinned fish, cheese, or a bouquet of fresh winter greens for a wonderful festive gift that will be loved by all.
While any high quality olive oil will do, we love California-based brand Brightlands duo which combines an Awake and Alive oil, each perfect for cooking warm dishes as well as salads, bread, and baked goods. Awake is made from early harvest Arbequina olives while Alive is made with early-harvest Arbosana, Koroneiki, and Arbequina olives. Each oil comes packaged in a bottle so gorgoues you’ll want to leave it out on the counter for all to see.
Alison Roman “Sweet Enough”, $35 USD
Everyone’s favourite Bon App host returns with a new cookbook just in time for the holidays. Instead of savoury, Roman has written a cookbook for non-dessert people. For those who prefer a plate of fruit, cheese, and honey instead of a pie or an elaborate cake, “Sweet Enough” has lots of galettes and lazy desserts that are still impressive without all the fuss you might expect in a dessert cookbook.
Flamingo Estate The Three Sisters Candle Set, $174 USD
A candle trio to end all candle trios from LA’s Flamingo Estate. Freakishly popular, these candles were the brand’s first creation as an homage to their wild and wonderful estate, which is covered in aroma heirloom tomato plants, climbing Tuscan rosemary, and Adriatic muscatel sage. Not only are they all herbaceous and lovely, but are also perfect for burning anywhere in the house, even the kitchen (where some scents simply just aren’t a fit), and they throw their 100% natural fragrance far and wide.
Gohar Home Personalized Plate Cover, $84 USD
Laila & Nadia Gohar are masters of entertaining always keeping a quirky thoughtful edge in line with timeless craft. Their surrealist tabletop wares are designed as future heirlooms in New York City by family owned ateliers around the world. The Gohar sisters believe dressing the table is as important as dressing oneself, so of course their collection of home goods make wonderful thoughtful gifts for those who love to entertain. We love this Plate Cover in fine cotton with freshwater chicken feet-shaped pearls which carefully weight over a plate, while also making a lovely placemat or doily. A lovely gift for the host who has everything. Available in Navy, Frost, White, or Brown, and can also be personalized online or at their Soho brick and mortar in Manhattan.
Grape Witches 2023 Natural Wine Advent Calendar, from $550 CAD
This gift is for the thirstiest recepient on your list this holiday. Grape Witches presents their liquid advent calendar in three tiers for varied palettes and tastes. Each calendar includes eleven bottles of natural wine and one sparkling cider, a box of beautiful chocolates, and notes that pop out of the box each day counting down to Christmas. Inside you’ll find two sparkling wines one from Canada, and the other from Spain, as well as three gorgeous whites from around the world including the white Burgundy of the year and a specially prized bottle from the Canary Islands, an all season rosé perfect for joyful slurping, four reds ranging in body from full to light and lifted, and two tride and true orange wines. Select from your preferred funk level ranging from Fresh Classic at $550 to Fancy Freaky at $750. Appologies to our US readers, these calendars are only available in Ontario.
fferrone Frances Bowl, $140 USD
Is there anything more celebratory than a gorgeous bowl of big fat cerignola olives? Why not elevate them as the perfect all-the-time snack in a gorgeous borosilicate bowl from glassware designer Felicia Ferrone. Aptly named Frances, these amazing bowls are ideal for everything wonderful from appetizers to appertifs to dessert and are even oven, microwave, and dishwasher-safe
Our Place Wonder Oven, $225 USD
Perhaps the workhorse of every good kitchen is the convection, so it makes complete sense Our Place’s new viral Wonder Oven has blown up into a must-have holiday gift. This little 6-in-1 air fryer and toaster oven includes a neat steam infusion and is cute enough for the countertop without taking up as much space as I’m sure your air fryer does. This little powerhouse can not only bake, roast, air fry, toast, reheat and broil but also create crispy finishes and moist centres 30% faster than a traditional oven. It’s like a modern-day easy bake oven except it can make more than tiny cookies, it can roast a 4.5-pound chicken or double the capacity of a stand-alone air fryer. This one’s for the chef who loves a kitchen gadget that helps cut down on cook time.
Loewe Home Tomato Leaves Liquid Soap, $102 CAD
The tomato trend might feel a little played out but we’re happy to say it’s here to stay. Part of Loewe’s gorgeous home collection, this luxurious liquid hand soap smells like peak summer reminding us of the first harvest of tomatoes from the vibrant fresh scent of the vines. Inspired by the Ancient Greek and Roman practice of integrating therapeutic botanical essences in bathing rituals, this liquid soap is made with natural ingredients that nourish and hydrate the skin with aloe vera and jojoba oil. Impress your host this holiday with this truly special elevated everyday item.
Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven, $240 to $920 CAD
A fan favourite in every kitchen, there’s no more versatile item than a Le Creuset Dutch Oven. Brise, roast, simmer, sear, bake, and serve in this gorgeous kitchen staple every cook should own. Shaped perfectly for the size of the burner to expose ingredients evenly to the heat source, this enamelled cast iron has been used for almost a century by chefs and passed down through the generations by many. This is the perfect gift for someone who perhaps has just moved recently and is still furnishing their kitchen. We love the festive cerise colour for a little extra cheer at the holidays.
The perfect gift for the homebody on your list thid holiday… or anyone who priortizes a good sleep. They probably listen to Huberman Lab and wear an Oura ring, so why not get them a luxurious pillow to elevate the most sacred part of their routine. Founded by Vancouver based entrepreneur Larissa Hildebrandt in the search of finding the perfect pillow, she instead created the first adjustable pillow featuring a fluffy natural proprietary custom blend of chopped CertiPUR-US® memory foam and premium kapok. Inside a 450-thread count cotton cover, simply remove stuffing to get your desired thickness, suitable for all bodies and sleeping positions.