Everything You Need for a Colorful and Kooky Friendsgiving

We’re officially entering the holiday party season, and it’s time to prepare for the best one of all: Friendsgiving, which is just Thanksgiving without all the annoying travel or having to deal with extended family.  From dishes to drink charms to tablescapes, I’m here to help you shop for fun conversation pieces that will still be functional for everyday use.

Refresh your beat-up dishes 

I have absolutely nothing against Ikea, but if you’re still using knife-scratched plates you bought there years ago, it’s time for an upgrade. These milky glass plates by Mosser feel elevated enough for a dinner party but not too fancy for everyday use. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, mix and match colors—the jade, pink and white would look lovely together. My next pick is the Colorama collection by Bornn, which offers another mix and match opportunity. Originally meant for camping, these plates are made of porcelain-coated steel and are oven, stovetop and dishwasher safe. Just don’t put them in the microwave! They’re metal! 

Open your heart to mismatched flatware 

There’s something really charming about mismatched cutlery, especially when you’ve curated it yourself. But who has the time for that? Food52 carries a pricey but beautiful silver-plated set that you can customize based on your needs. If you’re not ready to splurge, try a vintage set from Etsy like this collection of midcentury patterned flatware. I’ve also been seeing Sabre flatware everywhere, including on the cover of my most-used cookbook, Salad Freak. The acrylic handles offer a pop of color or texture and they’re dishwasher safe. And don’t forget the knives! I bought these Laguiole switchblade knives after seeing them at a restaurant almost 10 years ago and I love them. 

Step away from the disposable cups 

If you’re reading this and you need new wine glasses, PLEASE buy this tinted set so I can live vicariously through you. I have a serious "too many cups" problem so I’ve forbidden myself from making this purchase. I also really love these soda can-shaped glasses for water, bigger cocktails…or wine, whatever! ( I’m not the boss of you.) Help your guests keep track of their glasses with some charms—and as you know, I will always go the silly route. I bought a set of "hunky" charms for last year’s Friendsgiving and they were a hit. These flamingo wine charms are magnetic, so they won’t slip off when you take a sip. And what’s a great pairing for wine? Cheese! 

Tablescapes for beginners

I don’t have the patience (or frankly the expertise) to walk anyone through building a true tablescape, especially when a quick scroll through Pinterest will show you endless possibilities. I can, however, advise you to arrange your choice of greenery from the Trader Joe’s flower aisle around some candles and maybe a couple of baby pumpkins. If you have a table large enough to accommodate this dramatic candlestick centerpiece or a candelabra, please go for it. For smaller tables (or less ambitious hosts) try a wavy pillar candle or a few of these beautiful Oaxacan floral candlesticks. Don’t be afraid to mix colors, textures and heights.

 What if your platters smiled back at you? 

You may be good on dishes, cutlery and glasses, but what about your serveware? This Fredericks & Mae cutting board is my go-to for my standard dinner party pre-meal offering of cured meats and cheeses. It is also the only cutting board I leave out on display on my counter top because it’s just too pretty to tuck away. This smiling dish is perfect for olives or other small pre-dinner finger foods. I am generally more of a tongs person but cannot resist these wiggly salad hands. If you’re in need of a serving platter, try this asymmetric one from H&M Home or, if you like to serve right out of your cookware, this trivet will protect your table.

Non-boring kitchen linens 

When I hosted Friendsgiving last year, some of my friends were surprised/horrified to learn I did not own potholders or oven mitts. I’d just layer dish towels to handle hot pans, often burning my hands. We are all growing and learning… so I decided it was time to get some mitts. As always, I searched high and low for the most delightfully annoying oven mitts I could find and landed on these from Staff. Look at those faces! Disturbing!

Cloth napkins always felt "too fancy" to me, but I recently got some and have been using them even when I’m not hosting. I love Baggu’s "reusable cloths," which come in a ton of patterns and are easily washable. You may want to get fancy, in which case I recommend exploring embroidered napkins. Fair warning: these require special care. I personally can’t imagine dry cleaning my napkins but support you and your choices.

It’s game time

When you finish dinner, I recommend that you assemble your friends around the coffee table and scream at a card game. Uno Flip is a good, quick, easy-entry game that will make you yell at people you otherwise love. It’s like regular Uno but offers more ways to punish your fellow players. If you’ve got more time, Dutch Blitz will elicit screams and really test the limits of your friendships. Note that you’ll need an expansion pack if you have more than four players.