Gift Ideas for Someone Who Likes to Host Parties?

a white rectangle platter
a nice set of silver serving spoons, pie server
a cheese board w/glass dome
those catered-type of white casserole dishes w/the flame underneath
small stemless wine glasses
wood cut out that says "HOME". They are painted.

I love those chalkboard serving platters that you can write what type of cheeses or meats you are serving on them. So cool, I'd like one myself.

Wine glass charms are good. There's also a wine chiller I've seen - it's a long glass (I think) piece, shaped like an icicle with a typical wine bottle stopper on top. You put it in the freezer, then remove the cork and insert the chiller in the bottle, which keeps it cold when it's out during a party. It's for keeping a chilled white wine chilled, or for quick-chilling a red wine ever so slightly.

A set of olive oil dipping dishes and different herbed oils? I've seen 2-sectioned dishes, one large and one small, for olives and their pits. Useful.

A wine chiller bucket for the above wine?

A nice bread basket with a tile for oven warming - put the tile in the oven with the hot foods, then put it in the bottom of the basket to keep the rolls warm.

Someone gave M. a set of little dishes with a small section in each - the dishes are different colors. Each party guest can put cut veggies or snack pieces in the main part of the dish, and then put a little dip or hummus in the small section. It lets each person walk around with their plate and "double dip" their veggies in their own supply of dip without double dipping in the community bowl! The different colors allow you to put your dish down for a second and still find it later - same idea as wine charms.

Cocktail napkins with a funny saying appropriate to her and her parties, or J. with something elegant - depends on her taste.

Coasters?

Small votive or tea light candles for decorating the table?

If you J. poke around a gourmet store or even some fancy liquor stores, you may find some good ideas.

I think a basket of accessories sounds really nice so go with your gut.

They have really cute and fun small hors deourves plates that are fun for parties and large range of prices. I got my mom a set with a Paris theme after her trip there, but there's Christmas and all sorts of them.

Cheese platters (as others have mentioned) are good and add the cheese picks (dry erase type) where you can label them and then erase and reuse.

Wine bottle charms (its kind of like a beaded jewel dress for the bottle), fun napkins for entertaining, fun coasters.

Check out Pier 1 - they have a lot of this kind of thing.

Cheese markers and a cheese platter or dome. You could also include a nice cheese serving and cutting tools and accompany the whole piece with a book on cheese and wine pairings.

If she is a big hostess, she may also enjoy some kind of cooking class or a table staging class. We live near a Central Market (HEB) and they offer all sorts of fun cooking classes and you could find a caterer or party planner who hosts the staging classes.

How about one of these multipurpose cake domes. I LOVE mine. Here's an example:
http://www.amazon.com/6-in-1-Cake-Plate/dp/B000UD2MT4/ref...

I've seen them on the shelf at Belk recently. I always give this at bridal showers.

http://www.personalizationmall.com/

http://www.personalcreations.com/?REF=PCRSRCHgoogkwd_test...

http://www.giftsforyounow.com/

Check out their entertainment, glasses, wine chillers, bar accessories. Bbq accessories, There are other online personalization company's she will love it..

Even paper goods like monogrammed napkins, cups.

I love the fun door mats for each season.

What about personalized stationary/notepaper? I like to buy this for people who don't 'need' anything b/c its not something you are likely to buy yourself.
Or maybe a nice wine presentation bag for when you take your wine to a BYOB place. I J. bought a few for gifts and there are a lot of really cool ones out there.

Nice serving spoons
large bowls, platters

There are amazing wine related products:

http://www.wineenthusiast.com/

Also nice would be assorted cheese, crackers, guest towels for the powder room, cocktails napkins, flour sack towels, guest soaps, coasters, olives, spreads, you know-hostessy stuff!

To go with wine you could include wine glass charms, wine bottle stoppers, a good corkscrew, a wine aerator, chocolate, cheeses, crackers and dried fruit.

Make sure you know what kind of wines she prefers. Wine is a nice gift, but if someone gets M. a bottle of Cabernet or Chardonnay it's going to sit in my wine rack and not be enjoyed. I like Merlots, Moscato, Vignoles...the sweeter stuff.

A cordless electric wine opener is a nice gift to put in the basket.

how about nice chocolates.. chec out maison bouche online images and see their awesome pics on their candy wrappers. they have some really pretty ones, unusual flavors and recently, added some Christmas graphics..

also check out this link
http://homesteadbuttery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Va...

they have these really cool candybars. I can't find the name of them, but look at the packaging , then search the net for the makers. I have tasted the chocolate before and it's yummy... plus, each one has a poem inside

oh and I was recently at William's Sonoma, they have chocolate tin soldiers that are about 6 or 7 inches tall. that would look cute in a basket..
they had some other yummy things too..

also, add a pretty/cool ornament.. they have so many good ones..
do you have a "paper source" store near you... omg......... CUTE CUTE!! ideas..check them out as well..

oh and if you go to cost plus, they have these mini grocery carts (very life-like) that you can use in lieu of a basket. .one, year I did an Italian themed one and another a baking..
you know cost plus has wines that come in smallers sizes made J. for the baskets...

If she lieks to host parties she should be really easy to give to. How about a beautiful crystal pedestal cake plate or a crystal pitcher & glasses? or a set for soemthing - a lovely cheese & cracker tray with all kinds of gourment cheese and crackers? If she likes wine make the baseket as you suggest with wine glass markers (those little ring-thingees that identify your glass of wine vs. m ine), of a cork extractor, decanter, hand patined glasses, etc.. find out if she has a particular china pattern - or holiday pattern and get her a pretty serviing dish in that pattern. She's someone who is probably easier to buy for - but your BF, being a guy unfamiliar with the female perspective on hosting, is clueless. As I would be buying for an older man who plays golf.... ;o)

Bottles of wine, some pretty (or unique) wine glasses and those glass markers (things that go around the base of the glass to distinguish whose glass it is ... can't remember the exact name for these).

A nice corkscrew set (assuming she doesn't have one, but maybe one that's nicer than she has?), a set of appetizer plates or a cheese board or serving platter.

find some nice cheese and chocolate to compliment the wine.

I agree with you on handing someone a gift card rather than a gift but sometimes they really would like the gift card. Example: if you get one for a spa or salon that she likes but doesn't go to often (like I don't like to treat myself to) or someplace you know they want to go and you'd like to treat but maybe aren't going yourself.

Now for ideas...the other ladies already have you covered because I am at a loss.

How about something like a dinner party game? Google "Loaded Questions". I'm sure there are other games like this.

I completely agree with you on the gift card.

I think a few bottles of wine would be very nice.

You may also want to consider...
some type of serving dish or tray, cheese board, etc
food warming tray
a food basket containing items that she could serve to guests or enjoy herself
chocolates
coasters

I, too, like to avoid gift cards if possible, so... You don't mention what kinds of parties she likes to host. If she usually has a buffet, I'd get some of the trendy mini plates, bowls and cups for individual appetizers. Also, some cute (or funny, depending on her style) cocktail napkins, place cards for labeling each of the dishes on the buffet, and some candles. If she's more of a dessert party gal, some fun baking accessories. If you know her well enough to know her tastes, you could buy some table linens - napkins, table runner, etc. There are also some classy disposable plates and silverware, to eliminate clean-up afterwards. Hope these help... enjoy your Christmas!