You're invited to dinner. What do you bring?

A bottle of wine is a given, and I will ask the host if they would like me to get anything.

But what about a host gift? Do you take food, flowers, their kids to the babysitter? What?

A bottle of wine is a given, and I will ask the host if they would like me to get anything.

But what about a host gift? Do you take food, flowers, their kids to the babysitter? What?

Beer...and if your in Wisconsin LOTS of beer.

Joking aside we have a lot of out of town friends, so we try to take them something unique to our area. For example our "go to" hostess gift of late has been a small box of Woodford Reserve Bourbon Ball chocolates.

A bottle of wine is a given, and I will ask the host if they would like me to get anything.

But what about a host gift? Do you take food, flowers, their kids to the babysitter? What?

I would think that it depends on the relationship that you have with the person that invited you.

i would think, some nice kitchen towels, or candles. i would strongly lean towards candles, you really can't go wrong with them. As for flowers, i would think a nice small centerpiece if you are taking flowers.

if you know their tastes, then you could bring a dessert/candy/treat that you know they would enjoy.

but....from a mother of four...... you had me at "take their kids to the babysitter....

I prefer to bring nothing and then, over dessert, coffee or such, issue an invitation to them to come my home shortly and have them bring nothing to my house. I much prefer to entertain with my own choice of centerpiece, wine, candles, etc. I also like to write a good old-fashioned thank you note with a reminder for the return invite to my home.

If someone brings wine to my house, it goes into my wine cooler for a later time as I spend careful time choosing appropriate wine/beverages to go with my menu. Of course, if, someone brings wine to my home, then I feel obligated to bring wine or beverage should they invite me to their home.

When I am hosting an intimate dinner party for one to five guests. If I am hosting a large party, things get more casual. Once the number reaches twenty or above, I welcome help with food and/or beverage.

I bring a host gift when I go on holiday and stay overnight and then of course I take them out to eat one evening.

Gayle, i agree with you about wanting to host with your own things. The gifts i suggested were to be used at a later date. I always feel that if i take something, i do not want to offend the hostess/host. If i take a dessert, am i suggesting that i dont like the desserts that she prepares? Will i obligate her to serve what i brought? what i have done is give them a small gift at a later time. a thank you card is always good as well.

i almost always take a loaf of homemade bread and tell the host or hostess to enjoy it for breakfast . . . then there's no pressure to serve it for dinner . . . and i always send a thank you note (and have my husband sign it too!).

I prefer to bring nothing and then, over dessert, coffee or such, issue an invitation to them to come my home shortly and have them bring nothing to my house. I much prefer to entertain with my own choice of centerpiece, wine, candles, etc. I also like to write a good old-fashioned thank you note with a reminder for the return invite to my home.

If someone brings wine to my house, it goes into my wine cooler for a later time as I spend careful time choosing appropriate wine/beverages to go with my menu. Of course, if, someone brings wine to my home, then I feel obligated to bring wine or beverage should they invite me to their home.

When I am hosting an intimate dinner party for one to five guests. If I am hosting a large party, things get more casual. Once the number reaches twenty or above, I welcome help with food and/or beverage.

I bring a host gift when I go on holiday and stay overnight and then of course I take them out to eat one evening.

I'm very much the same as Gayle's comments. Wine is about the only thing I ever bring ( or want to receive) if going to a dinner, but I assume it is for the host for later- not for serving unless the host wants to.

Deb

As was said before, I think it would depend upon your relationship with the host (ess.) Here's a couple fun ideas:

1) Perhaps they really enjoy a particular signature dish of yours. A well-done recipe card accompanied by a sachet of the spice blend, starter yeast, or whatever would be nice.

2) A novelty amuse-bouche or rare food-item can provide an interesting conversation piece for the evening. Especially for foodies. At one of Gayle's lovely gatherings, I brought a durian and a Chinese vegetable cleaver. We all had fun tasting the fruit and I broke it down in her back yard on newspaper, sitting on my heels, hacking away at the bizarre looking (and tasting) food. For me, at least, it brought an element of interest to the night, metaphorically expressing some of the joys of the foodie lifestyle.

3) A lesser-known aperitif or digestif spirit. You wouldn't encroach on their wine selections, the gift would outlast the evening (a future reminder of good times,) and would add to the party by inspiring the aesthetic associated with elegant dinner parties. Smoking jacket in the den for brandies, anyone? The Hagans brought a special bourbon to one party. The Gissens offered an Aged Rum at another- still to this day a personal favorite of mine. As you can tell, these gifts left a lasting memory for me as a guest, making the hostess look even better, yet not upstaging her.

4) What about a coffee-table book? Something they will see everyday and- by virtue- think of your appreciation for their gracious efforts?

If seasonally possible, an arrangement of fresh flowers from the garden is always well received.