“A great wine pairing dinner is more than just the wine — it’s the whole experience.”
Whether I’m hosting a casual pairing party or cooking something new to match a bottle I’ve been excited about, I’m always hunting for supplies that make it easier, prettier, and more delicious.
That means beautiful-but-affordable party supplies that look great on the table without the fuss. Kitchen tools and specialty ingredients that help me pull off a dish with confidence. And wine accessories that genuinely improve how you open, serve, and enjoy every pour.
This is my curated list of the things I actually use and recommend — everything you need to host, cook, and sip better.
| Categories (click to jump to section) |
| Wine Accessories |
| Dining & Party Supplies |
| Kitchen Tools |
| Specialty Ingredients |
Wine Accessories
The right tools make every bottle better. From a good opener that actually works to aerators, decanters, and stoppers that protect a wine you’re not finishing tonight — these are the accessories I reach for again and again. Whether you’re buying for yourself or gifting a fellow wine lover, this is a great place to start.
See more details and examples:
❖ Clever wine tools – little finds to extend and expand your wine experience.
Dining & Party Supplies
Disposable doesn’t have to mean forgettable. I’ve tested a lot of plates, cups, and linens over the years of hosting pairing dinners, and the right ones genuinely elevate the table without adding a pile of dishes at the end of the night. These are my picks for supplies that look intentional, hold up through a full meal, and keep your focus on the food and wine — not the cleanup.
Disposable Plates
See more details and examples:
❖ The Best Disposable Plates That Actually Look Good on a Dinner Table
Disposable Bowls and Cups
See more details and examples:
❖ Elegant Paper and Plastic Cups — Yes, They Exist
❖ Sweet, Simple Endings: Disposable Dessert Dishes for a Polished Finish
Utensils & Napkins
See more details and examples:
❖ Event-Worthy Disposable Utensils and Napkins
Trays & Serving Tools
See more details and examples:
❖ Five Trays I Use All the Time for Parties
❖ Ten must-have serving tools for appetizers, platters and small plates.
Kitchen Tools
Good cooking is a lot easier with the right gear. These are the tools I’ve added to my kitchen over time because they actually solve a problem — speeding up prep, improving technique, or just making a recipe more approachable. Nothing gimmicky, just the things that earn their drawer space.
Plating Tools
See more details and examples:
❖ Plating Prep Checklist: list of tools I keep on hand for quick, clean plating
Kitchen Gadgets and Appliances
See more details and examples:
❖ Small Appliances Worth the Counter Space for a Serious Home Cook
❖ My molecular gastronomy tool kit – aka cool kitchen science kit
❖ Kitchen Tool Checklist – what I take for parties outside my home
❖ My favorite bakeware and molds for unique, elegant dishes
Specialty Ingredients
Some recipes call for ingredients that your average grocery store just doesn’t carry. This is my go-to list for hard-to-find staples — things like agar agar, specialty flours, and other pantry items that open up a whole new range of dishes. If you’ve ever abandoned a recipe because you couldn’t find an ingredient, this section is for you.
See more details and examples:
❖ Favorite Gluten-Free Mixes for Cooking and Baking
❖ Magic Ingredients that let you do cool molecular tricks like spheres, foams and gels
❖ Specialty Vinegars Worth Stocking: From Sherry to Aged Balsamic
❖ Exotic Spices and Salts That Will Change How Your Food Tastes
❖ Gluten-Free pasta that tastes and feels like the real deal
❖ Flavored salts & oils that change everything