When you love to cook, entertaining usually revolves around food. Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner party or setting out an elaborate buffet, having the right serving pieces is crucial.

After fussing over a variety of rich-flavorful foods for your guests, you want to make sure you serve them in peak condition. You’ll want to keep the hot foods hot, the cold foods chilled, and everything should be presented attractively. There are several different serving pieces that every hostess should have in order to be prepared for any food oriented event.

What Do You Need?

Chafing dishes are incredibly versatile for keeping foods warm all evening. Larger chafing dishes are often oblong with a hinged lid that’s easy to open and close, but you can also find round or oval ones. A small can of fuel or an electric heat source keeps food warm for several hours.

Attractive condiment jars are another staple every hostess should have. These are usually glass or ceramic and hold generous portions of sauces, condiments or syrups so that you don’t have to put messy plastic bottles of ketchup or other condiments on your dining table. Insulated pitchers are perfect for keeping cold drinks icy or hot drinks steamy. By filling large insulated pitchers with beverages you make it easy for guests to refill their own drinks and give yourself more time to socialize.

A few gravy boats in varying sizes are also great for serving salad dressings, sundae toppings, and gravies or au jus. Look for ones with generously sized handles that make it easy for guests to pour without dripping. Investing in a few top quality service pieces from a restaurant supplies store will mean you can serve any food you like with style and keep your guests coming back for more.