The Host Notes 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
This season, I’m drawn to simple gifts and gestures that make people feel seen — a soft blanket, a good cup of tea, the gift of being present. Here are a few things I’m loving for holiday hosts, the cook in your life, and for sharing cozy, quiet moments.
Gifts for the Host
1. Boos 15″x15″ Round Maple Board
The perfect high quality, small wood board for serving appetizers. Imagine receiving this, fully piled with all the beautiful cheeses, meats, fruit spread, crackers as a hostess gift? That guest is getting a repeat invite for sure.
2. Scalloped Marble Wine Chiller
I love the design of the scalloped edge and the quality of the marble. We use it for keeping water – sparkling and still – as well as a crisp white wine cool for serving in the warmer months.
Quality, French-made cheese knives, just like the ones in your favorite restaurant. I love these as an affordable alternative to the original wood, bone, and horn versions. Their plastic handles are elegantly designed but lighter in weight with a really nice blade.
4. Caldo Linen + Cotton Napkins
These are a great, linen-cotton napkin option – soft, affordable, and the best starter cloth napkin in the game. Durable, easy to wash – need I say more?
Every gathering needs some tunes. The battery life on this portable speaker is twelve full hours. It’s compact, sounds great, and can’t be beat for overall quality.
6. Natural Beeswax Taper Candles
These long-burning beeswax candles smell subtly like honey when lit, which I love. The smaller size adds some variety when mixed in with taller candles and their smokeless, dripless wax makes them mess-free.
Gifts for the Cook
The follow up to ‘Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat,’ and just fundamentally good cooking knowledge. Samin has a way of taking complex techniques and making them achievable. And everything I’ve made from her has been 10/10 delicious.
By far the most durable, comfortable, and smartly-designed apron I own. Pockets are perfectly placed, there’s even a spot for your kitchen towel to hang out – what’s not to love about this?
This ladle rests gently on the rim of your pot, eliminating the need for a spoon rest, and has a silicone-insulated handle that’s always safe to touch. It’s the only ladle I’ll use and one friends are forever asking about.
These non-stick mats make clean up a breeze and save on wasteful parchment paper. Love!
This platter is from Made In – the company we trust with all of our dinnerware needs. It has been dropped from counter-height and somehow survived, and it’s also pretty. Worth a splurge.
The hand mixer that has broken my relationship with my stand mixer, it’s really that good. Also, it has a flashlight built in. Why? I’m not sure but for some reason it’s awesome. Make midnight baking an adventure.
Gifts for Cozy Comfort
I’ve had this kettle in a few colors over the years and love the way the design adds a bit of functional art to the stove top. There’s nothing like a whistling pot to slow things down in the best way.
A lot of candles are too fragrant for my liking and I’m particular about florals or impersonations of baked goods in candle form. This one by P.F. Candle Co. hits all the cozy notes.
Conversational games are my love language. Also puzzles. An activity that invites or leaves room for meaningful conversation is a nice change up to the long days of cooking, eating, and drinking with friends and family.
4. Marimekko Unikko Mug (My most-used coffee cup)
If you’re a tiny cup lover like I am, this sweet little mug will quickly become the first you reach for. Plus, the design sparks early morning Scandinavian joy, doesn’t it?
Don’t underestimate the cozy power of a plushy blanket. This one is particularly lux, just large enough to wrap around yourself completely and become one with the sofa for a little while.
6. Spoonful of Comfort Delivery
Winter is hard. A lot of us are experiencing a lot of grief and healing this season and these comfort boxes are a thoughtful way to help a friend through the long winter.
Gifts Under $30
For the ‘very good butter’ lover in all of us. There’s something playful and careless, if not overtly absurd, about having a stick of butter hanging on the tree.
I’m very particular about mugs and finding an insulated one with a lid I love is a challenge. The design of this one best resembles what I love in a classic ceramic and keeps me from my chaotic car coffee (note: no lid) ways.
3. How About Now: Poems by Kate Baer
Kate Baer has a way of unpacking both grief and beautiful moments in a raw and insightful way. I love this book of poems for travel because it’s compact and I can read it repeatedly and discover new thoughts each time.
4. Darn Tough Wool Blend Socks
These are the best socks I own in terms of comfort, warmth, and durability. I’ve had one pair for nearly a decade and they’re almost like new. Love them.
Loose tea isn’t something I have time to fuss with most days but this single-cup diffuser is low-hassle and makes it easy to enjoy the best quality tea even when I’m in a rush.
You may have noticed the window-clinging bird feeder in my little cooking corner. This brings me more joy than I could have expected – and I’ve even discovered birds I hadn’t noticed before. It’s the little things.
For Snohomish Locals
A little local goes a long way. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite Snohomish makers and experiences—perfect for gifting, giving back, or enjoying with friends and family. Swipe through and follow them for upcoming events and promotions. Here are the details for these giftable offerings:
1. Learn to Cook with Culinary Immigration
Chef Victoria Balas is here to host you in her kitchen and teach you about the origin of the menu as well as how to make and serve it. Give a class or gift certificate to your kitchen-curious friends this season.
2. The Best Coffee in Snohomish
‘People matter most’ at Snohomish Coffee Co. and it shows in the products and kindness they serve up. Snag gift cards, minimalist style merch, and be sure to try their house made Brown Sugar Cinnamon Syrup and other holiday flavors!
3. Donate to the Local Food Bank (or Charitable Cause of Your Choice)
Generosity is the gift that keeps on giving (especially this time of year). Did you know direct donations can be made in honor of someone on your gift list – how sweet is that?
4. Art Experiences at Burkhead Art Center
BAC now offers Art Experiences where you can gather your friends and create art together. Classes are now booking for January and beyond, gift certificates available as well! Give the gift of creativity.
5. Gourmet Foods from A Bit of Taste – Snohomish Olive Oil Company
I’ve been long-obsessed with the assortment of quality olive oils, vinegars, and gourmet foods at A Bit of Taste – Snohomish Olive Oil Company. They have pre-made gift bundles or you can build your own!
6. Sourdough Classes with Dubuque Bakery
Dubuque Bakery is launching sourdough baking classes in January! Check out their events page and catch Katya and her BreadMobile at Snohomish Co-Op Thursdays through May for fresh loaves and beautiful pastries.
