What's something nice to bring the hostess, when one is invited to dinner?

Question

What's something nice to bring the hostess, when one is invited to dinner?

Answer 1

A plant, or flowers, or a great loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, a great dessert....

Answer 2

I usually bring a basket full of wine, cheese and crackers

Answer 3

Don't bring food to be served with the dinner, that is awkward. But, bringing some really nice chocolates that the hostess can have after.... that's delightful!

(Our son-in-law brought chocolates when my daughter first brought him over for dinner. That may be why he is our favorite son-in-law!! :)

Answer 4

flowers, wine or some other kind of consumable. Just know that it is NOT good etiquette to expect whatever you bring to be served with the meal. The hostess has a perfect right to save it for later and not serve it.

Answer 5

Wine or flowers.  Don't bring food unless you have asked.  She most likely has the dinner all planned and it would make it uncomfortable for her if you bring food.  I have always planned my entire meal from appetizers to dessert.  Once someone came with a rather elaborate dessert and I had slaved over a dessert to go with my meal.  It wasn't a pretty sight.  

Answer 6

Wine, flowers, sweets.... diamonds, they're all great suggestions. But what they lack is one very important detail to a memorable evening with friends: A good guest.

We all know (hopefully) what a good host should be: Someone who makes sure that their guests are comfortable. But so many tight middle class Mrs.Buckets (pronounced Bouquet) play the host to make their guests feel as uncomfortable as possible these days and it works both ways. Having one bad guest can ruin a whole evening.

How does one define a good guest? Someone who appreciates the trouble the host has gone through; someone who complements the evening by assessing and conforming to the mood and culture of the dinner; someone who does not bring "bling" - distractions or ostentations that detracts attention from the host. Loud children, mobile phones, 3 carat diamond rings, inappropriate anecdotes, etc :)

The most important thing to bring the host is a good guest, imo.  

Answer 7

Wine, flowers.