Ditto the bottle of wine. If asked, something that goes with dinner. Otherwise, something I think the host will enjoy at a future date.
Wine, candy, flowers, something.
I have usually brought a bottle of wine, but about 10 years ago I discovered how easy it is to make chocolate truffles and I usually bring a dozen or so. They are delicious, festive, and obviously home made and a delightful gift.
Bottle of wine as a gift, ask if they need us to pick up anything on our way there (bag of ice, etc.).
I almost always bring a hostess gift when invited to dinner parties. Typically flowers, although sometimes something different depending on circumstances.
If it’s just a casual dinner at a family members house, I generally do not. (Occasionally there will be an exception, like I found something the person would like - that’s not really a hostess gift though - more of a ‘hey I thought of you and got this’ idea).
Exactly this - with no expectation that it will actually be used on the night, but simply to thank the host for their hospitality.
Usually I take a bottle of wine, or some nice beer. Sometimes I take cheesecake or chocolate.
I usually find out what the hosts favorite booze is and bring a large bottle of that.
It depends. For an informal type of function, I may bring something (and it could well be the specific item that the hosts have asked me to bring).
For a more formal dinner party, I don’t take anything. The hosts are throwing the party. They know exactly what they’re going to serve. Bringing along ‘extras’ just seems gauche.
Usually a bottle of wine. And as many people said already, there’s no expectation that it will be served with dinner. It’s a gift for the host(s) to enjoy later.
Always bring a bottle of wine. It’s not a gesture that your food/drink isn’t good enough, it’s meant as a thank you for providing dinner. Also, my circle of friends likes to drink a lot.
Forgot: I also am often inclined to bring a nice bottle of Scotch. This happens if: A: I know the host likes Scotch and B:I’m too lazy to go out and get wine. (I almost always have a nice bottle of Scotch on the shelf, but don’t keep wine in the house.)
Flowers for sure and dessert if the hostess permits. I hate to show up empty handed.
Flowers, wine, something to say thank you. I never come empty handed.
Usually flowers.
We always bring something. If it’s casual, we ask what we can bring. Usually we’re told dessert or wine or something. If not, we generally bring wine, a bottle of the hosts preferred liquor, or flowers. But in our circle it’s usually casual and everyone brings a little something.
This. I am part of a quarterly “salon” that gathers at people’s houses. I’m the odd man out, and live in a crummy little apartment, and so cannot host. I always ask if I can do anything to help pay my share. (And the hosts are always very polite and tell me not to.)
Once, I was invited to a Passover Dinner – I was the token goy – but I had an informer who told me that the hosts were fond of Mahler, so I gave them an LP.
My answer to the poll would have been “Sometimes” or “It Depends.”
I’ve pretty much been brought up with the idea that it is rude not to bring a bottle of wine, so Christ knows how it’d work out if I ever ate at yours.
Depends on the occasion. For an informal dinner with friends, usually not, but sometimes a bottle of wine. For more formal occasions, some flowers or a bottle of wine. For out-of-country visits or if we’re invited by foreigners, I like to bring some specialty food or drink from my own country.
I voted before reading the OP all the way through. To my mind taking food to a dinner party is different than a gift. The way I was taught, taking an unsolicited side dish or dessert implies that the hosts were gonna screw it up. But I was also taught that you don’t go planning to spend time in a person’s home empty handed.
Whenever it’s possible I try and have it be something geared to the hosts specifically, but resort to chocolates in a lot of cases. Or if I know they’re coffee drinkers, a pound of coffee from a local place.