Hostess

City Paper's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide

by Campbell States

Indulge your inner Francophile with this set of four cheese plates. Quickie wrapping alert: Just add a bow to the cheese-wheel-shaped box and you're good to go.

In collaboration with the National Palace Museum of Taiwan, Italian designer Stefano Giovannoni seeks to reinvent everyday household objects by infusing modern design with an ancient Eastern aesthetic sensibility. High-minded theory aside, these things are just freaking adorable.

Show up with this 1-pound box of yummy and you'll be dodging invites next year. These dark chocolates are filled with hazelnut, vanilla, cafe, honey almond, anis, rum, pistachio, raspberry and orange cinnamon.

Sadako Sasaki survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, only to become hospitalized 10 years later with leukemia. On her deathbed, she folded 1,000 paper cranes for peace. Legend Import, a group of Japanese artists in Canada, continues this tradition with these origami creations on traditional Japanese washi paper.

Laced with gold glitter, saffron and bayberry oil, this collection of bath oil, soap and a scented candle will bless the recipient with prosperity and power. The friendly staff at Harry's Occult can help you design the perfect set, granting your host anything from good health to success in a court case.

Is it a bad hair day or a plant? The Juncus Spirales is easy to care for and more fun (and durable) than a poinsettia.