Welcome! I’m so glad that you’re here.
Gift of Hospitality came about when I realized the value of having guests into my home. Gathering people for a simple meal, or even just a cup of coffee, brings me so much joy.
I also realized that hosting doesn’t mean 5-course dinners and fancy china. It can be as simple as a cookout, a potluck, or a dinner pulled from the slow cooker as guests arrive.
Truthfully, hospitality is simply an attitude of generosity. By showing hospitality, you’re saying that I’ll share this food I made with you, help yourself to my coffee, or have a seat on my couch while I fire up the grill for dinner.
When I host, food is the centerpiece. But the friendships that are built and the connected feeling that we get when we dine with others? Those are the things you won’t get from fancy food or fancy dinnerware—real, human connection and camaraderie. Dinner just happens to often be the vehicle to getting there!
Here on Gift of Hospitality, you’ll find plenty of recipes that I make for guests and for my family. I often share recipe pairings so you’re not stuck wondering what to serve with Chicken Souvlaki (one of my favorites for cookouts!). I also share tips for entertaining, hosting, and making your guests feel welcome.
I’ve served many of the recipes here to guests. But many recipes I’ve made just for my husband Longe and myself. Showing hospitality in your own home is just as important (maybe even more) than showing hospitality to guests. When you are generous to the ones closest to you, your family feels loved and even more connected. Then, as a family, you’re able to share hospitality with others. Win-win.
More about me
Cooking for people is one of my greatest joys, and cooking for my husband Longe is no exception. We live in Chicago, and thankfully Longe loves to host just as much as I do.
Longe is enormously proud of the popularity of Pili Pili (African Hot Sauce) on the site. The recipe is from the Congo, where he grew up, and it’s straight from his grandmother Koko.
My favorite recipe on the site is Cuban Black Beans and Rice, which makes it into a number of dinners at our house.
I’m an enthusiastic home cook, trained by my mom (who still cooks dinner every night), cookbooks, and tv cooking shows.
I’ve worked in corporate marketing for over 10 years, most of them in food marketing. I’m grateful that my path has led me here, where I do freelance writing and marketing.
I’m living free from the misguided notion that hosting guests needs to be Pinterest perfect or Instagram worthy, and I hope you will, too.
You can follow along for recipes, ideas, and inspiration via Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.
Popular Posts
What is the Gift of Hospitality?
Arroz Moro (Cuban Black Beans & Rice)
What I Actually Make for Guests
Chicken Souvlaki (Greek Chicken Kabobs)
Lemon Lentil Soup (vegetarian)
Popular Hospitality Posts
How to Host More Often with Less Effort
10 Tips for Taking a Meal to Someone Who Just Had a Baby
My Go-To Easy Dinner Party Menus
How to Throw a Dinner Party on a Budget
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