Andrew Zimmern’s Host Gift Recommendations, From $7

Winter can be gloomy, but holiday parties bring cheer. Hosts are the unsung heroes of the season, and they deserve a little bit of love for their efforts. To ensure our gifts are up to snuff, we tapped celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern to share his dos and don’ts.

“The host gift that I wish people would stop bringing — and that I never bring — are fun little word games and decks of cards that people want to play while we’re eating dinner,” Zimmern said. “I don’t like my dinner party being co-opted by what someone else wants to do.” Instead, his go-to host gifts are “homemade jams, jellies, or a jar of honey from our bees — something personal,” said Zimmern. “It’s better than a bottle of wine.”

The holidays can be a busy time, so if you don’t have time to make (or harvest) your own tasty spreads, read on to shop some of our favorite store-bought options. Prices start at just $7.

Andrew Zimmern-Approved Host Gift Ideas

Flamingo Estate California Native Mountain Wildflower Honey

With a bright bouquet of wildflowers, this raw, unfiltered honey makes a thoughtful, memorable host gift. It was harvested in Los Angeles and comes from bees that foraged on flowers found in the Los Angeles mountains, according to the brand. It’s rich in flavor and high in antioxidants — a win for your health and your taste buds.

Oregon Growers Sour Cherry Fruit Pâté Sour Cherry Jam

One of our favorite food gifts for 2025, this fruit pâté is made from Oregon-grown cherries. It has a slight sweetness, with tart undertones that complement funky cheeses on a charcuterie board. Spread it on toast or eat it by the spoonful — it’s that good.

Yunhai Taiwanese Fruit Jam Bundle

For the host who goes above and beyond, bring this luxury 4-pack of small-batch jams. They’re made by hand in Taipei, Taiwan, from local mangos, mulberries, passionfruit, and red guava. With their bright, fresh flavors, they truly stand out (and taste great with morning pastries).

Bonne Maman ‘Love Notes’ Gift Set

Bonne Maman’s fan-favorite Advent calendar may be sold out for the season, but this adorable gift box makes the perfect host gift. It includes six mini 1-ounce jars of jams and spreads: strawberry, raspberry, apricot, honey, cherry, and wild blueberry. They’ll also receive a branded mini spoon and a 10-piece stationery set.

Fortnum & Mason Fruit Jam Trio Gift Set

This trio of preserves is a feast for the eyes, thanks to its stylish packaging. The set includes 3.5-ounce jars of apricot, strawberry, and raspberry jam. The spreads come from the luxurious English brand Fortnum & Mason, so enjoy them on scones and crumpets for the full royal experience. 

Savannah Bee Company Honey Sampler

Nothing beats high-quality honey, and this sampler has three flavorful options from all over the world. It includes lavender honey produced on the border of Spain and Portugal, orange blossom honey from central Florida orange groves in the United States, and acacia honey made in forests ranging from Italy to Ukraine.

Tiptree Black Currant Preserve

This $7 black currant jam is an Amazon fan-favorite, with over 15,200 five-star ratings and over 3,000 people have purchased it in the past month. Adding a burst of flavor to any dessert or appetizer, Tiptree preserves are a surefire crowd-pleaser — even among shoppers who typically “don’t like jelly or preserves.”