Dinner host gift suggestions

[Thisismynewname123]

What do you take as a gift when you're going to someone for dinner? I'm so bored of always taking a bottle of wine, broken up with the occasional flowers or boxes of biscuits or chocolates

I have a friend who always brings thoughtful gifts.
Exotic chutney, home made sloe gin in a pretty bottle or some beautifully packaged macaroons. Last week she bought me a rooted rose for the garden.

Good olive oil or balsamic vinegar, posh chocolate, bottle of port, I'd never give a cookery book.

Posh selection of teas?

Or a small hamper from Fortnum’s etc

I love getting flowers (those posh white Lillies) and a bottle of fizz!!

Set of wind chimes for their garden, the gift that keeps on giving - and giving - and giving

I'd be quite offended by a cookery book unless it was a good friend who knew that it was something I particularly wanted.

Flowers - yes please. And nice wine, chocolates, biscuits. Unusual hand wash or a candle would also be lovely.

Fizz and flowers are classic for a reason. But if you do want to branch out, stick to consumables; candles, hand wash, etc in a brand you know they like from previous visits, or posh food stuffs (crackers & chutney, biscuits, chocolates, etc).

Things like coasters, cookbooks, etc need to be very tailored to the individual. So only go there if you know their taste incredibly well.

I hate getting flowers - I know lots of other people who feel the same (I know other people love them - I'm just pointing out they're not a universally loved gift).

Plants for the garden (if they have one) as a good swap for fresh flowers

Posh things people don’t always buy themselves but use - fancy tea or coffee etc

Truffle honey, it’s incredible with cheese.

Had a friend who was a real wine buff, took him some really nice olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Normally take wine. I make seriously good marmalade and damson jam/jelly so often take that (it’s expected by family/close friends, there have been complaints by family if I don’t ).

I occasionally take bay tree plants, I have a really good bay tree that produces seedlings. I also occasionally take tomato or chilli plants that are our spares, depending on how well I know people.

The important thing is to try to make the gift thoughtful, I once gave a friend a really cheap tiny white “jade” elephant that I’d bought in an Asian market, she collects elephants, she still talks about it. I also gave her a nice bottle of wine!

Like others I love being given flowers, plants or orchids.

Otherwise, agree consumables are great - love the fancy chutney and crackers suggestions.

Another idea is a posh hand soap that at least can get used.

Wine and flowers are suffice.
Why the lady bountiful stuff?
They've invited you to dinner. Why the gifts?

Something to be shared on the night like chocolates, wine or petit fours

the item is never to be shared on the night , basic etiquette. Wine taken is not to be drunk nor chocolates eaten.

Best gifts I’ve had
Home made marmalade
Flowers from their allotment
Home made fire lighters, pine cones and wax
Home made a Elderflower cordial
Diptyque candle
Aesop hand lotion
Neom diffuser
Fresh eggs

Honestly I don't think you can go wrong with a bottle of wine/nice flowers/biscuits etc. Almost guaranteed to be a winner as long as you know which wine they drink.

What Langrish said.
There are so many wines to choose from, no need to always give the same boring one.

@strathmore
Basic etiquette does not dictate that. If the host has carefully selected chosen wines or wine brought not chilled etc then possibly yes you don't serve. Otherwise wine remains on side and can be offered when appropriate. Appalling manners to shuffle it off away from gift bearer. Gifts of chocolate etc should of course be offered after meal and again not siphoned off to be regifted as seems to happen. Etiquette demands one thing only: that we think of others before ourselves.
As for the neom diffuser? Wow, that's £100. Very generous dinner party host gift.