Gentry’s Christine VanDeVelde reflects upon the perfect gift for the gracious hostess

I am the least likely person to exhibit "Bah, Humbug!" symptoms during the holidays. Simply put, I love every bit of Christmas. And while throughout the year my taste runs decidedly in the direction of Bauhaus and the color black, in December you will find my living room decked in Snow Village houses from Department 56, my tree trimmed with glass Santas and Shiny Brite reflectors by Christopher Radko, and my buche de Noel generously studded with those little plastic Rudolph reindeer. (I am not, however, among the 50 per cent of Americans who wear holiday--themed clothing during the season.)

So, why, when I consider "hostess gifts" do I feel like P. G. Wodehouse when he famously observed that "Christmas will soon be at our throats"? Well, let's be frank. Any hostess who has done more than casual entertaining probably has a shelf somewhere full of items they've received that are thoughtless – in other words, useless, tasteless, or just plain unacceptable.

It takes time to make an interesting, appropriate choice, let alone something that will delight, because a good hostess gift should be sensitive to the interests and style of the recipient. You don't bring a Disney ornament to someone whose home is filled with English antiques and you don't take a batch of chocolate fudge to someone on the South Beach Diet.

To help you navigate your Christmas list of hostess gifts more smoothly and since all of us can use a little inspiration, I've chosen here one or two gifts from a few favorite places, every one of which anyone would be happy to receive.

Gifts of food are an honored holiday tradition. Remember the Ghost of Christmas Present appeared in Scrooge's dining room on "a throne of turkeys, great joints of meat, and fruits of every description." Great joints of meat aside, I recommend these fresher--than--fresh croissants from Williams Sonoma. You place them on a tray overnight to rise, bake them for 20 minutes and have warm, flakey croissants for breakfast! A box of 15, plain or chocolate, is available for $40 at www.williams--sonoma.com. I'm ordering some for my own Christmas morning.

At this time of year, I want my sweets to look as decked out as my house and I found some to fit the bill. Ruby et Violette of New York City has an entire line of holiday-themed goodies. Oreos, Twinkies and Moon pies are dipped in chocolate, rolled in red and green sprinkles, and hand--decorated with wreaths and snowmen. And children will go wild for their marshmallow sticks – homemade confections candy--coated in holiday colors, wrapped in cellophane and stuffed to brimming in a big bucket! For adults and chocoholics, there are tins of luscious chocolate chunk cookies in more than 50 flavors, including dried cherry, caramel and brandied peach. Kids Creations are $5 to $45 and cookie tins are $43 for a 2--pound tin, with 5% of all sales going to Mt. Sinai Hospital's Traumatic Brain Injury Unit. Find them at www.rubyetviolette.com.

If you need something more sophisticated, we have two suggestions that require only quick jaunts into town. First, stop by Tracy Hass' The Dressed Room in Menlo Park where she has stocked lots of Diptyque candles – a source of addiction for some. The line's newest scent, "Essence of John Galliano", is a blend of iris, birch wood and vanilla musk, priced at $50, and a must--have that any hostess will love. For a more traditional gift, try the red Tuberose candle or the green Fig at $45 each. At Neiman Marcus in Palo Alto, you will find "Elton Rocks", an elegant potpourri of crystal--like rocks that are actually Egyptian resin imbued with scent. Available in four different scents and colors, my favorite is #4 – black orchid, licorice, amber and fig. Available at $32, with 20% of sales contributed to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Since so many parties during the holidays are child--centered, it's never too early for young ones to learn you shouldn't arrive empty--handed when you're a guest. Books are always a good choice for these occasions. We recommend Robert Sabuda's amazing interpretation of The Night Before Christmas, a 3--dimensional pop--up book that is magic! And John Bemelmans Marciano has followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Madeline creator Ludwig Bemelmans, and created the laugh--out--loud story of a squirrel living in a New York City park, Harold's Tail. Available for $24.95 and $15.99, respectively, at Linden Tree Bookstore in Los Altos.

And, finally, who wouldn't be delighted with anything that comes in the signature blue box of Tiffany and Co.? What I would like best is the porcelain version of the famous Tiffany box in their traditional holiday print of red ribbons, berries, greenery and bows. These charming, classic pieces come in two sizes – 2 ¼-- inch square at $75 and 4--inch square at $125. Or, wow your hostess with a big blue box, holding the latest coffee table tome from Tiffany Design Director John Loring. Tiffany In Fashion: A Study of American Fashion and Fashion Photography (1933-2003) recaps 70 years of America's role in fashion, showcasing the world's greatest photographers, celebrities like Suzy Parker and Jane Fonda, and plenty of pearls, emeralds and diamonds. Available at Tiffany and Co., Stanford Shopping Center, at $60, in the blue box, of course.

And if none of these items have inspired you, I recommend the advice of Miss Manners who suggests a few items which almost always work ---- "something from among those things of which one cannot ever have enough… Bottles of wine, diamonds, and homemade cookies." And, remember, if it's all just too much, in these horribly busy times, sometimes the most endearing gift is simply a heartfelt note. Happy Holidays!

Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 Christine VanDeVelde. All rights reserved.