Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would put out a plate of cheese, fruit, crackers and nuts. Offer a glass of wine. If they don’t eat it, over a place in the frig for tomorrow.

This sounds very nice. If you happen to live near a Wegmans, they have nice little appetizer plates like this, if you don't have such things on hand.

Last time I had last minute guests in a similar situation I grabbed a wegmans cheese tray thing like you mentioned, some water crackers and also one of their cannoli chips and ricotta dip trays for something slightly sweet

Definitely offer alcoholic beverages and a snack or app. Even wine, beer, chips & dip would be fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Staying in a hotel as in just arrived within the last few hours, or have stayed overnight and already had a meal or two somewhere?

Just arrived last few hours

I would certainly have some appetizer kind of stuff and drinks.

Tea, coffee, cookies, water, juice, nuts, cheese, wine, beer, scotch, cocktails?

Some of my relatives would absolutely want a couple drinks before we went out to dinner to get in a celebratory mood. Then they would have another drink or two with dinner.

Anonymous wrote:I would put out a plate of cheese, fruit, crackers and nuts. Offer a glass of wine. If they don’t eat it, over a place in the frig for tomorrow.

This sounds very nice. If you happen to live near a Wegmans, they have nice little appetizer plates like this, if you don't have such things on hand.

If dinner is in a couple of hours I wouldn't plan food. I would offer water or coffee or wine/beer. And maybe offer fruit but not put it out automatically. But if I went to someone's home before dinner I wouldn't expect food at the house.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Staying in a hotel as in just arrived within the last few hours, or have stayed overnight and already had a meal or two somewhere?

Just arrived last few hours

Oh, it's a real kindness then to do something to fill in the corners. There are a thousand combinations of possibilities, but think something savory, something a little sweet, hydration, and all easy to put in hand.

So -- cheese and crackers, grapes or other fruit, wine, water. Or banana bread, or cookies, plus a bowl of nuts and some sparkling water. That kind of thing.

You don't have to get it "right" in some ultimate way. But it's a real kindness to get something out there.

Anonymous wrote:Staying in a hotel as in just arrived within the last few hours, or have stayed overnight and already had a meal or two somewhere?

Just arrived last few hours

They're coming to your home from the hotel to hang out for a couple of hours? Water, soda, drinks, whatever.

They';re coming straight from the airport? What 12:05 said.

I would put out a plate of cheese, fruit, crackers and nuts. Offer a glass of wine. If they don’t eat it, over a place in the frig for tomorrow.

Staying in a hotel as in just arrived within the last few hours, or have stayed overnight and already had a meal or two somewhere?

You have 2 out of town relatives that are staying in a hotel but you are going to take to dinner in a restaurant an hour or two later? Am I obligated to put out snacks and if so what?