A bottle of wine is the classic hostess gift—an always appreciated token of gratitude for a great meal and equally great company. This was our go-to until one night some friends brought us a homemade breakfast bread. She handed it to me and said, "for tomorrow morning" with a wink. The next day, as we approached the mess of a kitchen I spied the bread, consumed and was converted.
She was so right. Waking up to a homemade treat amidst a chaotic kitchen of dirty dishes and empty bottles ensures the fun night lingers (at least a few minutes) into the clean up. And with a little extra care in the packaging (and the addition of chocolate chips to the batter) my dressed up banana bread rivaled the best Pinots for the perfect hostess gift. Cheers!