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What do you bring to a dinner party?
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Anonymous
| Or to dinner with friends? I alway want to bring a bottle of wine but DH argues that it's pointless since many of our friends have wine cellars (...). Thx! |
Anonymous
| Usually wine, but I sometimes bring breakfast pastries (we live near Praline in Bethesda which has exceptionally good pastries) so that it is something they can enjoy the next day and not have to deal with during the dinner. |
Anonymous
| If not wine, a nice box of chocolates they can enjoy later. |
Anonymous
| My stand-by is a box of excellent chocolates, but I love the breakfast pastry idea! |
Anonymous
| If I were my mom, I'd bring a homemade fruit tart, chocolate or lemon mousse. If they are very good friends, I spend time preparing chocolate truffles. |
Anonymous
| Unless the host/hostess specifies some other contribution, always wine. We don't have any friends with wine cellars. Pretty much everyone we know is happy with Two Buck Chuck, and so they're thrilled with something from a little further down the aisle. |
Anonymous
| a box of clementines |
Anonymous
| Since we don't have friends with wine cellars in the DC area, we bring Argentina's best malbec. |
Anonymous
| Yes, I bring the best malbec too and my best spirit to enjoy the night. |
Anonymous
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You should never bring wine to a dinner party. To do so is to insult the cellar of your host.
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Anonymous
| Go ahead! Insult my cellar! But say one word about my attic, and you're out on your rear. |
Anonymous
I'm so glad somebody else was thinking the same thing I was. I would never dream of bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party- that is part of the host/hostess's pride of having a dinner party - it would be like showing up at mom's house on Thanksgiving with a turkey I cooked. A delectable dessert (fine chocolates, gourmet pastries) or even a delightful appetizer would be a better idea. We've also brought a beautiful flower arrangement for the dinner table (not too big so people cant' see over it) or to place in the foyer. |
Anonymous
| I think bringing winer as a hostess gift has also gotten very tired (trite) so I try and come up with something else. It can be seasonal (i.e. pretty ornament at Christmas time) or for their kids (box of gourmet iced cookies). Some of the non-seasonal ideas are a box of sampler jams, boxed tea, Seda France Japanese Quince candles or room spray (best smell ever) that come in an adorable pagoda style box, box of gift cards (Lulu & Merie makes an adorable set), basket of apples or strawberries that you picked that day at a local orchard, etc... |
Anonymous
You wouldn't bring wine, but you would bring dessert or an appetizer? Even though the host is much more likely to have made the food him/herself and simply to have bought the wine? Bring the wine; just don't make it seem like you expect the host to serve it. Like chocolates, it can be something they enjoy another time. |
Anonymous
I bring a good bottle of wine but make it clear to the hosts that it's for them to enjoy on their own. If the friends are very close and we're the only couple or family they're having, I ask if I can bring something. My desserts are usually welcome. 
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