Hosting Essentials

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174 products

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Everything you need to host beautifully - and a plan to make it easy.

Hosting Essentials for Every Gathering

Whether it's a Diwali open house, a birthday dinner, a kitty party or Sunday lunch with the family, good hosting comes down to two things: having the right pieces ready, and a plan. This collection gathers our most-used hosting serveware in one place - serving bowls and platters, serving spoons and tongs, cheese boards, dessert bowls with cloches, party stands, drinkware and table accents - all in the same palette of whites, pastels and gold. Below, you'll find a simple planner to help you use them.

Your Hosting Checklist

You'll Need What to Look For Explore
Serving bowls Lidded bowls keep dal and gravies warm Serving Bowls
Platters and snack plates For starters, rice and sweets Plates & Platters
Serving spoons and ladles One for every dish Serving Spoons
Tongs Rotis, salads, tikkas and ice Tongs
Starter and party stands Taco stands, skewer boards, snack cones Snack Bowls & Plates
Cheese board Knives for every cheese Cheese Knives
Dessert serveware Bowls, cloches and dessert spoons Bowls
Drinkware Jug and glass sets, dispensers Drinkware Sets
Table accents Napkin rings, runners, candles Napkin Rings

Plan Your Menu, Then Your Serveware

The easiest way to avoid a last-minute scramble is to match every dish to its serving piece before the day. Write your menu down, then fill in this table:

Dish Type Serve In Serve With
Dal, kadhi, gravies Lidded serving bowl Ladle or kadchi
Rice, biryani, pulao Platter or large bowl Wide serving spoon or spatula
Dry sabzi Serving bowl Serving spoon
Rotis, naan, parathas Lined bread basket Roti tong
Salad, raita Glass or ceramic bowl Salad tong or small ladle
Starters and tikkas Skewer board or platter Tongs or cocktail picks
Chutneys and dips Small dip bowls Mini spoons
Desserts Dessert bowls or cloche Dessert spoons
Drinks Jug, carafe or dispenser Glasses, ice tong

How Much to Plan Per Guest

  • Plates: one dinner plate per guest, plus a quarter plate for starters or dessert.
  • Katoris: two per guest for a thali-style meal.
  • Glasses: two per guest - one for water, one for a welcome drink or juice.
  • Serving spoons: one per dish, plus two spares.
  • Napkins: one per guest, plus a few extra for spills.
  • Water: keep a full jug on the table for every four to six guests.

Setting Up a Buffet

  • Stack plates at the start of the line, with napkins and cutlery at the end so guests' hands stay free.
  • Serve in order: starters, rice and breads, dal and gravies, dry dishes, salads and raita, then dessert on a separate table.
  • Label each dish with a gold buffet name stand - mark veg and non-veg, spice levels and allergens.
  • Rest every spoon on a small plate or spoon stand.
  • Set drinks apart so the buffet line keeps moving - a butler tray table makes a neat drinks station.

Hosting Favourites

A few pieces that make hosting easier: the White Ceramic Serving Bowl with Glass Lid for curries, the Taco & Sandwich Holder Stand and the Wooden Skewer Board with 60 Picks for starters, the Gold Snack Tray with Heart Bowls for dry fruits, the Heart Snack Cone with Gold Stand for fries and dips, the Dessert Bowl with Glass Cloche for a plated sweet, and the Water Dispenser with 4 Glasses for infused water.

Plan by Party Type

  • Dinner party: lidded serving bowls, a dal ladle, a roti tong, napkin rings and a carafe.
  • Cocktail evening: a cheese board, skewer board, floral cocktail glasses and an ice tong.
  • Kids' birthday: taco stands, snack cones and unbreakable gold steel glasses.
  • Festive open house: a gold snack tray, a tiered stand for mithai and a water dispenser.
  • High tea: a teapot and cups, dessert plates with cloches and sugar tongs.
  • Puja lunch: a gold thali set, katoris and a white tablecloth.

The Day-Before Countdown

  • The day before: wash and dry serveware, iron the tablecloth, label each serving bowl with its dish on a sticky note.
  • Morning of: set the table, arrange flowers, chill water and drinks.
  • One hour before: light candles, set out starters, fill the dispenser.
  • When guests arrive: welcome drink in hand, starters out, and you're free to be with your guests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to host a dinner party at home?

Serving bowls with lids, platters, a serving spoon for each dish, tongs, a jug and glasses, and napkins or napkin rings.

How many serving spoons do I need for guests?

One per dish on the table plus two spares.

How should I set up a buffet at home?

Plates first, then dishes in the order people eat them, with cutlery and napkins at the end and drinks at a separate station.

What is best for serving starters?

Our Taco & Sandwich Holder Stand, Wooden Skewer Board and Heart Snack Cone with Gold Stand are designed for starters and finger food.

Do these pieces match each other?

Yes - everything shares the Whites & Pastels palette of white, pastels and gold.

Explore More at Whites & Pastels