Starter Pack: Serveware

You’re an adult, which means two things: One, covering your ears, closing your eyes, and stomping on the floor is not an effective way to skirt responsibilities or get out of a tricky situation. Two, a paper plate is no longer considered a serving dish. Get yourself some proper serveware in time for the holiday season—not only will your table be prettier, but hosting will also become easier. Everything will have its place at the table. Not sure where to begin? Here are a few key pieces to start your collection.

Pick up a few platters. We love the Modern Farmhouse Turkey Collection. It’s perfect for your Thanksgiving setup, but here’s a helpful hint: You can use the platters for anything and everything, all year long.

Bonus points: This glass server from Dailyware® looks like your average cake plate, but it is so not. Unbelievably (believe it though!), it is six things in one. Use it as a cake dome and lid, a punch bowl, a server for covered crudités with dip, an hors d'oeuvres plate with dip server, a salad bowl with vegetables underneath, and a simple pie or cake plate. Mind. Blown.

You know how we said being an adult means two things? It’s actually three. The third is that you have to eat salad now. If you like salad, this is good news for you. If you don’t, serving it in a great-looking bowl may be just the thing to get you there.

If there was an hors d'oeuvre Olympics (and who can we talk to about starting that?), cheese would win the gold medal in just about every event. It’s the perfect no-cook, no-prep appetizer, and everyone loves it (and vegan cheese has come a long way!). Get a board and a set of knives, which are made to cut through hard, soft, and creamy cheeses. We recommend serving all three for best results.

The thing about vegetable bowls is that you can put anything in them. They do work really well for veggies, though. Get a few of them and use them for side dishes. You’re going to want to have a bunch of them on hand, especially when it comes to big holiday meals!

Sometimes you just need more room. When you’re hosting, you know how true that can be. That’s where a great two-tiered server comes into play, allowing you to serve vertically. Use it for desserts or hors d'oeuvres.

For main dishes or sides, a platter with handles is a must. It makes carrying your food from the kitchen to your dining area super easy. Get a simple one that goes with everything. You’ll use it anytime you’re hosting, and then some!

Pitchers are great for sangria and margaritas, but it’s also a good idea to put a pitcher of water out on the table when you’re having people over. It makes it so guests don’t have to get up to refill their glasses, and it looks really elegant.

For coffee, tea, wine, or appetizers, this tray is a great way to transport anything. Use it to serve, as well as provide an extra layer underneath your food to protect your coffee table from nicks and stains.

Get some serving utensils to go along with all of your new plates and platters. For some things, like guacamole and hummus, a regular spoon will do, but for larger entrees and side dishes you’re going to want spoons, forks, and knives, especially for serving.