Weekends are always valuable, and dedicating time for social gatherings is especially precious in the month of December between connecting with friends, work holiday parties, and extended family get-togethers. This week we’re sharing our new favorite holiday gathering trend: hosting a holiday brunch. We’re also discussing the etiquette and faux pas of hostess gifts so you can be best prepared.
THE BAGEL BAR
Last week our Interior Impressions team celebrated the holidays a little early as an excuse brunch on a Monday. We developed the easiest, most delicious and versatile brunch menu ever: a festive bagel bar. This menu allows every guest to tailor their meal to their tastes and preferences. To accommodate all taste buds we provided a large spread of bagel styles and toppings for sweet and savory creations. Plain, blueberry and everything bagel flavors are the foundation for any type of bagel creation. Use a variety of bagel sizes (mini and thin) so guests can try more than one option too. The best part of the bagel bar is that it requires little to no cooking depending on your topping selections. For our team brunch all we cooked was crispy bacon and toasted the bagels. How much easier does it get?!
THE TOPPINGS
On the savory menu, we added a twist to BLTs. We provided prosciutto, hard salami and crispy bacon for protein, alfalfa sprouts in place of lettuce, and colorful heirloom cherry tomatoes. Plain or vegetable cream cheese is a great base and chives polish it off on top. Add Greek marinated feta cheese and kalamata olives with tomatoes and prosciutto for a salty Mediterranean flare.
Sweet spreads turn this brunch into dessert real fast – which is a good thing! Peanut butter, orange fig jam, and hazelnut spread are all fantastic options. Sprinkle fresh berries and dark chocolate or coconut shavings on top and drizzle with honey for a decadent brunch. Mix the best of both sweet and savory worlds with a soft cheese like brie or goat cheese to spread, apple or pear slices, chopped walnuts, balsamic glaze and honey. YUM!
THE MIMOSAS
Of course there is a mimosa bar at our holiday brunch gathering! Instead of traditional orange juice, we opted for cranberry and pink grapefruit juices. Pop fresh berries to the bottom for a pleasant surprise at the end of your drink and garnish with fuzzy sage for a festive flare.
HOSTESS GIFTS
Hostess gifts don’t have to be stressful or presumptuous, they should solely be a kind gesture. When a host(ess) is treating you to food, drink and entertainment, it is thoughtful to show gratitude with a gift. It doesn’t have to be a big ordeal, and we have some great ideas to help you find the perfect hostess gift and navigate this custom.
Candles are almost always a good option for hostess gifts. They exude coziness and is something most people always enjoy receiving as a gift rather than buying themselves. The stipulation with gifting candles is choosing the right scent. It is better to select a more subtle scent than an overpowering one, as many people have sensitivities to strong smells that can cause headaches. We love supporting local candle makers like Sota Cracklers and Illume Candles. Bonus points if the candle comes in a cute container that can be repurposed for a vase or shelf decor once it has flickered its last flame.
Does the host have a sweet tooth and love the Chai Spiced Maple Sugar Cookies from Half Baked Harvest you brought last year? (YUM!) Prepare a basket or tin filled with their favorite baked goods and share the recipe on a cute card. This gift is budget friendly and thoughtful. When giving a gift of any type of food or beverage (i.e. wine, beer, spirits), do not expect the host to put it out to be served at that same event. Give the gift privately so they can hide it away to enjoy later for themselves. This rule especially goes for beverages. If you bring the host a bottle of wine, don’t pop it open yourself and pour. Let the host serve it if they wish or stash is away for a snowy day.
Choose gifts that suit the host. I have this Homemade-ish tea towel from Carver Junk Company in my shopping cart to give to my friend who loves to cater in food because she rather enjoy time with her guests instead of being hidden away in the kitchen. She’s a great hostess! Wrap a festive tea towel around a bottle of specialty cooking oil and tie with a ribbon for a paperless wrapping. For the host who loves creating a charcuterie board masterpiece, a personalized cheese board is a delightful surprise. Moral of the story, think about the host of the gathering and give a gift that won’t end up in next year’s White Elephant gift pile.
Some of the best gifts come in small packages, so they say. We adore this Elago leather AirPods Case that keeps those little buggers from getting lost at the bottom of your purse or backpack. For the techie friend or the hyper-organized, this is a great gift to give Airpods a home. Receiving gifts that you wouldn’t normally purchase on your own is always a fun surprise. If you don’t know the host well, a vase of seasonal flowers or a potted plant are always a nice gesture. Be prepared to explain to the host how to care for the plant if they retort with, “I hope I don’t kill it!” Fiddle leaf figs are such a fun and trendy plant to add to homes these days and are relatively easy to care for.
We hope your holiday season is filled with loved ones and making new friends. Incorporate a new brunch tradition with your dear friends or neighbors, and remember to think of the host as you make your rounds.
Happy holidays everybody,
Interior Impressions
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