Gift Suggestions For The Host?

[herenthere]

My partner and I are invited often to dinner parties...
We always try and take a small gift to the friends hosting the party..
Any fresh suggestions other than the tired old bottle of wine, flowers, a nice loaf of bread?

Thanks
Shaun

 

[metta]

Well, I would try and make it fit the couple. Find something that they might be interested in. For example, if they like board games, maybe a simple trivia card game, a gift card to their favorite restaurant or bookstore, etc. It would really depend on their interests. For people that love coffee, some fresh fair traded organic beans. Maybe an unusual hors d'oeuvre.

 

[Nonimus]

Nah, stick to the wine - not only is it simply 'expected' but just think about how much time its saves you arsing around trying to find out what they're interested in!

 

[pjlikesporn]

As a frequent host of dinner parties, let me first say that I never tire of receiving wine. I love to drink wine, and I enjoy seeing what other people find for me--especially people who really know my tastes in wine. When I receive a nice pinot noir or a zin, it makes me feel like my guests really thought about me.

If they bring a bottle of scotch, I'll go down on them.

But if you must bring non-alcoholic gifts into my home, then here are a few suggestions.
1) Any new-fangled cooking-item/utensil--a corkscrew, a non-stick spatula, small mixing bowls so they feel like TV chefs. Any host of dinner parties would love this.

2) Dried fruits, nuts, jams, and imported olive oil or vinegar. It's nice to give decorative items for the home, but only if you know your host's taste well enough. If you are less familiar and don't want to give them a gift that they will be forced to display, these consumables work nicely.

3) A book you think the host would enjoy reading--or for that matter a cookbook you think your host would find useful.

4) Candles or candlesticks.

 

[herenthere]

People give bread as a gift? :S

Umm how about something decorative for their home? Like an ornament or a photo frame or something.

Marvtha turned me onto that...If you go the day old bread outlet and look for the rack that says: "for the birds" you can get bread...5 for a dollar
She also suggested the cardboard tubes for tampax...said they make great toothbrush extentions to reach that molar that is in her throat...

Every so often, if I feel flush, I will go to a nice bakery and buy a really nice fancy loaf of bread....

 

[Nonimus]

Marvtha turned me onto that...If you go the day old bread outlet and look for the rack that says: "for the birds" you can get bread...5 for a dollar
She also suggested the cardboard tubes for tampax...said they make great toothbrush extentions to reach that molar that is in her throat...

Every so often, if I feel flush, I will go to a nice bakery and buy a really nice fancy loaf of bread....

She does have excellent taste when it come to social functions and the provision thereof.

 

[dpnice]

As a frequent host of dinner parties----------or for that matter a cookbook you think your host would find useful.

I would be wary about giving a cookbook as a gift as it might just be misinterpreted.

I must say that wine/champagne/flowers/chocolates are the only real choices as they are acceptable to everyone, easily found and bought and show the right amount of appreciation.

Clever gifts do show that you have made an exceptional effort but in my opinion are never welcome. Who wants a new mixing bowl? What if all the guests brought something similar and no one bought the wine? What would you all drink?

Stick to traditional gifts and you can't go wrong.

 

[gaddou]

an homemade gift: ie jam, vinagar or oils or even some pot-pourri if you think thy would like it but usually you do not bring gift to dinner youare invited more so wine. if you bring wine it mightinterpreted like the host does not know what to serve and if they accept it you should never opeved a bottle that you have brought unless you are drunks.

 

[rotary]

A small can of specialty coffee might be nice.

 

[Brijan]

I would stick to the wine, bread, etc. idea.
Something consumable/expiring is best, you aren't trying to decorate their house.

 

[pjlikesporn]

an homemade gift: ie jam, vinagar or oils or even some pot-pourri if you think thy would like it but usually you do not bring gift to dinner youare invited more so wine. if you bring wine it mightinterpreted like the host does not know what to serve and if they accept it you should never opeved a bottle that you have brought unless you are drunks.

Whenever I give wine, I always spell out the nature of the gift: "This wine is for you for whenever--feel free to serve it tonight if it goes with the dinner--but you certainly don't have to."

 

[justsimon]

Wine and flowers are always good.

 

[unclaimedblessing]

Many bakeries sell pretty boxes of marzipan candy, each piece made and colored to look like different fruits.
They usually are packaged 6 to twelve in an attractive box.
There are also beautiful candles (scented or unscented, with or without holders)
Candies or cookies in attractive keepsake tins or baskets can be nice too.

 

[ComNavFdgPk]

How about a blowjob...or a nice fuck??

 

[tx_doc]

Please never bring me something to redecorate my place. My place could soon begin looking like someone else's idea of what they want my home to look like instead of what I want to look it to look like.
I love a bottle of wine or something like a dessert. It's always a good thing.

 

[slobone]

Some little luxury people normally don't buy for themselves. Like scented bath oil, or a beautiful little bud vase, or a small inlaid wood box. Gourmet food items are nice too -- sweet almond oil, a small jar of fancy shmancy honey, or some rare olive oil. Don't spend too much -- it's only dinner, after all.

 

[RationalLunacy]

Live geese for the back yard are always pleasant.

 

[slobone]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot -- fresh foie gras.

 

[Swellegant]

I don't drink or serve wine at my parties, but the other standards, flowers or candy or some gourmet treat are always appreciated. But I don't entertain all that much, so it's never been a big deal. I am actually surprised when someone brings a house gift.

A friend of mine always brought small marble hearts with him wherever he went to give to his host. I think he bought them by the gross from a distributor somewhere in China. People invited him just to get the marble heart. I have a couple of them here, a pink one and a green one, just pretty little things to keep in a bowl or use as paperweights.

Taking a leaf from his book, I always like to bring the same thing, and my schtick is a small piece of servingware, something odd or just pretty that might look nice on a shelf or can be hidden away. A bud-vase with a flower from the garden, or a funky mid-century ceramic dish, or a bit of very old silver. Most of my friends to whom I've given such things display them proudly (or maybe they just bring them out when I'm coming over... my friends are nice that way), but I never give anything so big it takes up undue room in the cabinets.

 

[slobone]

^^^ That's a good point. Never give anything so big that your friends feel obligated to take it out of storage and put it on display the next time you come over. Or anything so expensive that they feel like they have to reciprocate when they visit you.