Dinner gift for boss of my boss of my boss (etc)

[Anonymous]

DW and I are invited to a large-ish dinner at the house of a high level government official (think in charge of 10K+ people). I'm not sure of the exact relationship, but probably he is something like my boss' boss' boss' boss. We were invited after an exchange where I happened to deal with him directly, which is very unusual in my position.

Any recommendations for what to bring as a dinner/hostess gift, if anything? I think he may keep Kosher, so wine seems risky.

[Anonymous]

Go to kosher mart in rockville, or shaloms in silver spring, and get a nice bottle of kosher wine. (He might notice and appreciate?) those two are the only two stores IMHO that have good selections!

[Anonymous]

Flowers? Although how many people are invited for dinner? If it's a large dinner (more than 10 people, say), I think you could skip the gift.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing it's more than 10, but I don't know the number for sure. Flowers might be the right way to go.

As for the Kosher wine, I don't think I could do that -- if he isn't Kosher, it would look really silly, since a) I don't keep Kosher and b) I don't know of anyone who doesn't keep Kosher who actually likes Kosher wine.

[Anonymous]

Have flowers delivered the next day as a thank you. Much better than handing them to the host at the door.

[Anonymous]

Just send a hand written thank you note after.

[Anonymous]

Ethics rules, anyone? Call your ethics office. You may not be allowed to give this person a gift, and even if you are, there may be a dollar limit on it.

[Anonymous]

How about a nice, small box of chocolates?

[Anonymous]

Many of the good chocolate companies have Kosher boxes. I would buy a nice box of chocolate truffles.

[Anonymous]

Send a hand written thank you note the next day. You will be noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send a hand written thank you note the next day. You will be noticed.

This! I would be very concerned about ethics rules if you sent flowers the next day. And bringing flowers is rude unless they are in a vase.

[Anonymous]

Ethics rules, anyone? Call your ethics office. You may not be allowed to give this person a gift, and even if you are, there may be a dollar limit on it.

So I guess a Patek Philippe is out of the question?

[Anonymous]

Thanks all! (OP) This isn't actually government, but I hadn't thought about giving gifts as a potential infringement. A hand written thank you note sounds perfect, ethics problem free and for this person exactly what they would want.