Anna Paskow brings intention to everything she touches, from building a brand to hosting people she loves around her table. As the co-founder of Tchotchke, Anna helped shape a modern Judaica company born from a deeply personal need. When she and her husband Adam couldn’t find ritual objects that reflected their style and the life they were building, Adam began designing his own. Those early designs sparked the founding of Tchotchke in 2022, grounded in creativity, warmth, and the spirit of לדור ודור, from generation to generation.

A brand strategist by trade, Anna applies the same thoughtful lens to hosting at home. Her gatherings are unfussy yet intentional, anchored in clear themes, familiar food, and small interactive details that invite people to feel instantly at ease. Whether it’s a doodle-friendly table or a signature drink waiting by the kitchen, Anna’s approach proves that meaning lives in the moments we design with care.

Q: When planning a gathering in your home, where do you start?

A: I always start with the big-picture idea that fits the occasion or season, then drill down into the details. That’s the part I enjoy the most. It’s where I get to be the most playful and creative.

That sense of play shows up again and again in Anna’s approach. Nothing is random, but nothing feels rigid either.

Q: Favorite ways to break the ice or entertain guests?

A: I love greeting people with a signature drink and some snacks right when they walk in. I usually set everything up by the kitchen since that’s where everyone ends up talking anyway.

If you’ve ever hosted, you know this is real wisdom. People don’t gather in the living room. They gather where the food is.

Q: If you had a limited budget for a small dinner party, what would you focus on for the tablescape?

A: I love laying craft paper down on the table with markers so guests can doodle throughout the night. Add a few mason jars filled with mixed flowers from the local bodega or Trader Joe’s, and it’s perfectly effortless.

This is peak low-effort, high-impact hosting. It’s interactive, inexpensive, and immediately disarming.

Q: What makes a gathering truly memorable?

A: If guests leave feeling connected and uplifted. Like they had real conversations, good food, and a little unexpected fun along the way.

Anna’s definition of success has nothing to do with matching plates or complicated menus. It’s all about how people feel when they walk out the door.

Q: Tips for someone overwhelmed by hosting at home?

A: Start small. Six people max. And when it comes to the food, stick to dishes you already know and love and outsource what you can.

This is the kind of advice that makes hosting feel possible again.

Q: Your signature recipe to serve when hosting?

A: Ina Garten’s Creamy Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Thyme is always a hit. And never underestimate the power of a classic Lipton Onion Dip as an appetizer. It disappears every time.

Equal parts iconic and practical. Exactly how Anna hosts.

Q: Go-to soundtrack for a dinner party?

A: Indie Dinner Party Mix by Spotify. And right now, anything with Olivia Dean.

The music, like the menu, sets the mood without overpowering the room.

Q: Your favorite party trick?

A: My grandmother taught me a pretty impressive card trick 25 years ago. I’ve never forgotten it and it’s always a crowd-pleaser.

Proof that the best party tricks are personal, not performative.

Q: Most memorable party you’ve hosted or attended?

A: I just hosted my 40th, and it was basically a time-travel trip back to the 90s. Dance party, themed outfits, throwback playlists, the works. The secret sauce was a clear theme and a little joyful over-communication to get everyone fully onboard.

Theme clarity and over-communication might be the most underrated hosting advice of all time.

Q: Favorite products or brands to use when hosting?

A: Goldie Home Linens. Breads Bakery baked goods. Tchotchke candlesticks and wine glasses, duh. Farmer’s market flowers.

A mix of elevated staples and everyday favorites. Nothing precious. Everything intentional.

Partytrick makes it easier to plan gatherings that feel like you, from guest lists to inspiration to those small details that make a big difference. Create your free Partytrick account and start hosting your way.

Follow Anna and Adam Paskow on Instagram @tchotchke_co and explore shoptchotchke.com to see how they’re reimagining modern Judaica with creativity, warmth, and meaning.

And if this conversation has you dreaming up your own gathering, Partytrick makes it easy to bring that vision to life. Create a free Partytrick account to access curated templates, thoughtful tools, and inspiration that keeps all your plans in one place, so you can focus on what actually matters: bringing people together.