12 Dinner Party Basics for Contemporary Hosts
Curating a home often starts in the kitchen. After all, it’s where some of the most important social experiences take place, so the absolute best is needed to make every meal, every friendly gathering, an event to remember. Start with the basics, but then build a collection of kitchen and serving essentials to amaze guests and become the ultimate dinner party host. Here are 12 dinner party basics for every contemporary host to get you started.
Staub Round Cocotte
A cocotte is one of the kitchen’s most versatile cooking essentials. Made from thick, durable cast iron and coated with enamel, the Staub Round Cocotte will be a centerpiece for generations of shared soups, casseroles, stews, roasts, and so much more.
Why It’s On Our List:
- It’s the perfect all-around cooking dish
- It makes a great bridal shower or wedding present
- It comes in a large variety of sizes for every meal type and family size
Staub Roasting Pan
The perfect companion to the Staub Cocotte is the Staub Roasting Pan. Pulling from almost 300 years of experience, the Staub family of designs utilizes cast iron to create a cooking surface perfect for roasting and caramelizing all your favorite dishes.
Why It’s On Our List:
- It’s extra durable and perfect for a large variety of recipes
- Each piece is one of a kind
- The Staub Roasting Pan is dishwasher safe
Simple Arch Cutting Board
This charming cutting board from Hawkins New York embraces simplicity as much as the natural grain of the maple wood. The soft-turned curves of the Simple Arch Cutting Board create a welcoming feel while the two size options allow the user to create breathtaking charcuterie and cheese boards.
Why It’s On Our List:
- It’s modern yet comfortable
- The high-quality wood is easy to take care of and effortlessly elegant
- Perfect for serving fruit, charcuterie, vegetables and dip, or bread
Tank Whiskey Decanter
Tom Dixon’s Tank Whiskey Decanter is elegant and stately, with a wide bottom and a bespoke feel. Each Tank Whiskey Decanter is made from mouth-blown glass and features gorgeous copper details elevating the way spirits are served.
Why It’s On Our List:
- The attention to detail
- The simplicity paired with awe-inspiring form and endless function
- It’s ability to fit in with other barware or be paired as a set with the Tank Whiskey Glass Set of 2.
Dearborn Large Bowl
These beautiful bowls from Fferrone Design are masterfully crafted by glassblowers who create the charming fluting design themselves without molds. Each Dearborn Large Bowl serves a multitude of purposes in the kitchen, from holding chips and dip, to serving olives or even ice cream.
Why It’s On Our List:
- They’re handcrafted
- They’re made with Boroscilicate glass which can withstand both cold and hot uses
- They’re so endlessly charming that you’ll want them out simply as décor
Convivio Steak Knife - Tortoise Handle
The minds and craftsmen behind Coltellerie Berti always deliver. For nearly 130 years, beautiful knives like the Convivio Steak Knife have been handmade in Italy by masters of the art who see the process through from start to finish. The steak knife is a must for any kitchen, so why not purchase the best?
Why It’s On Our List:
- The quality of the craftsmanship means these knives will stay in the family for generations
- The charming and retro tortoise handle as well as other handle finish options
- They come in a set of 6, already prepared for a party
Sky Wine Carafe
Whether you’re a connoisseur or simply want to serve good wine, a wine carafe is a must for the home bar. Let the wine breathe in the Sky Wine Carafe’s unique, fluid shape and set your mind at ease as the stainless steel coaster catches any drips. The Sky Wine Carafe is made from smooth glass that looks as luxurious as it feels.
Why It’s On Our List:
- It’s handcrafted in Portugal
- Its subtle form that looks pleasant everywhere
- The perfect diameter of the large bottom that maximizes the decanting effect
Bernadotte Low Tumbler Glass - 6pcs
Equipped with subtle fluting to create a mirage of movement, the Bernadotte Low Tumbler Glasses are set apart from other dishes with this enchanting detail that is sure to charm. The Bernadotte Low Tumbler Glass can be used for juice at breakfast and then cocktails in the evening.
Why It’s On Our List:
- They’re crafted from lead-free crystal
- Designer Sigvard Bernadotte infused the design with both functionalist and Art Deco inspirations
- The glasses come in a set of 6 to properly equip the kitchen
Flight Collins Glass - Set of 2
One of Fferrone Design’s most versatile glasses, the Flight Collins Glass, serves many purposes. From juice, to water, to beer, and more, the Flight Collins Glass is the perfect all-around piece to keep the drinks flowing and the party going.
Why It’s On Our List:
- Beautiful fluting details
- The retro aesthetic inspired by the towers of Marina City, Chicago
- The Borosilicate Glass that can withstand both cold and hot uses
Flow Plate
Beautifully imperfect, the Flow Plate from Ferm Living is crafted with traditional techniques and offers a dreamy bespoke feel. Finished with a semi-matte glaze, the Flow Plate is the perfect day-to-day plate for stylish meals.
Why It’s On Our List:
- The unique shape that varies from dish to dish
- The wonderfully unpredictable color and patterning of the glaze
- The two size options
Emma Serving Tray
Every fully stocked kitchen needs a reliable serving tray. Whether you’re carrying glasses or desserts, serving fruits and veggies, or simply need a place to set your glass, the Emma Serving Tray is the perfect hostess companion.
Why It’s On Our List:
- The delicate gray paired with smooth bamboo handles
- The easy-to-clean laminate surface
- The simple look that oozes luxury and Nordic hygge aesthetics simultaneously
Moon Cutlery - Polished Steel Sets
Crafted by masters in the Sao Martinho de Sande village in Portugal, the Cutipol Moon Cutlery effortlessly fuses elegance with utility. The beautifully shaped Moon Cutlery is crafted from hand-brushed stainless steel that is made brilliantly expressive by its delicate taper.
Why It’s On Our List:
- The simplicity of design paired with endless usefulness
- Cutipol’s long history of high-quality utensils
