Holiday Gift Guide 2021: The Best Serving Platters For The Host With The Most

Christmas is just a few short weeks away, and even if you’ve only managed to pick up a few things for yourself amidst the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales (guilty), there’s still time to find thoughtful gifts for your friends and family. This gift guide is filled with ideas for your favorite host or hostess who throws amazing get-togethers during the holiday season and beyond. From handmade ceramic plates and bowls to a cutting board that doubles as a serving platter, these are the best gifts for the host with the most.

1. Jono Pandolfi 3-Piece Round Serving Platter Set

Jono Pandolfi’s handmade dinnerware graces the tables of some of the top restaurants in the country, with a client list that includes Eleven Madison Park, the Nomad Hotel (New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles), Agern, Jean-Georges restaurants and Celebrity Edge cruise lines. The studio has leaned into direct-to-consumer sales during the pandemic, so home cooks can also enjoy using these exceptional pieces. I have a few of their bestselling Coupe Pasta Bowls and always feel very fancy when using them.

A Round Serving Platter with a 13-inch diameter is the main piece of this dark brown and white set. It’s big enough to serve a whole chicken, with a curved surface that will keep any juices on the plate and away from your dining table. A 2.5-inch Coupe Condiment Bowl and a 3.75-inch Coupe Fry Bowl round out the set, which are the perfect size for olives, condiments—whatever you need.

Buy: Jono Pandolfi 3-Piece Round Serving Platter Set, $145

2. Our Place Walnut Cutting Board

This versatile cutting board has a trench around the edges which can hold more than 2/3 cup of juice—a feature that comes in handy when you’re slicing a freshly seared steak. The other side of the board is completely flat and makes a great serving platter. It’s the perfect space-saving solution, offering everyday use as a cutting board plus a serving platter that is always at the ready and within reach. The Our Place Walnut Cutting Board is made of American black walnut wood and measures 17 by 12 inches.

Buy: Our Place Walnut Cutting Board, $95

3. Heath Ceramics Rim Serving Platter in Cranberry

This limited edition matte cranberry platter comes from a Sausalito, California-based maker with an outpost at the San Francisco Ferry Building. It’s part of Heath Ceramics’s 2021 Winter Seasonal collection and makes a beautiful addition to a dinner spread during the holidays and throughout the year. The platter has a 14.75-inch diameter and is dishwasher-safe.

Buy: Heath Ceramics Rim Serving Platter in Cranberry, $135

4. Cravings by Chrissy Teigen The Show-Off Glass Serving Dome

From homemade desserts to crudités, this glass dome makes anything look fancy. It’s part of a kitchenware collection that’s inspired by and named after Chrissy Teigen’s new cookbook, Cravings: All Together. If you’re eating outside, the dome offers the added benefit of keeping uninvited guests (aka bugs) away from your food. The wood base measures 12 inches across, and the dome is made of hand-blown recycled glass.

Buy: Cravings by Chrissy Teigen The Show-Off Glass Serving Dome, $48

5. Five Two Stoneware Serving Bowl & Platter

Featuring a fluted edge and neutral hue, this serving bowl and platter from Five Two is well suited for everyday use and special occasions. They’re part of Food52’s product line, which features products that are designed with input from the Food52 community. More than 11,000 Food52 fans voted on their ideal qualities for a dinnerware collection, and it resulted in this chip-resistant stoneware that’s dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

Buy: Five Two Stoneware Serving Bowl & Platter, $45 each

6. Williams Sonoma Sculptural Snowman Lazy Susan

This festive lazy Susan with a snowman at the center is perfect for holding snacks, dips and sweet treats. It’s functional and decorative, and gives the host an opportunity to finish cooking the main meal as guests file in without anyone getting hangry. The handcrafted ceramic bowls are removable for easy cleanup, and the ceramic base can be used on its own to create a festive display.

Buy: Williams Sonoma Sculptural Snowman Lazy Susan, $99.95

7. West Elm Sway Platter

I love the modern, playful design of this stoneware platter. Often the most delicious, indulgent foods that we enjoy during the holiday season are predominantly brown or white, so having a vibrant platter adds a welcome splash of color. The Sway Platter measures 15.8 by 9.8 inches and is dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

Buy: West Elm Sway Platter, $31.15

8. Gogo Jewelry Banana Leaf Serving Platter

This piece is designed by Gogo Ferguson, an artisan who has been designing nature-inspired pieces from her home on Cumberland Island, Georgia, for more than 30 years. This platter is inspired by a banana tree near her home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It’s made of a copper, nickel and zinc blend known as alpaca.

Buy: Gogo Jewelry Banana Leaf Serving Platter, $375