Good gift to bring to someone's house?

[EmilyZA]

We're invited to a party next week and I wanted to bring something to the couple. I'm one of those people who just doesn't like to go to someone's house empty-handed! I was going to make something but I won't have the time. Didn't want to bring a bottle of wine b/c everyone does that. Any unique ideas?

[hockeybrat]

Flowers?

(I usually bring wine) :o

[gantry_g]

Maybe some really good chocolates? Like Lake Champlain or Godiva or something?

[sublime311]

~~ A box or tin of homemade cookies
~~ A bottle of another spirit (vodka, rum, etc)
~~ A unique wine bottle stopper

[citygirl22]

* Yummy pastries/cake - the kind that make your mouth water when you walk past the shop! :)
* some local specialty from your area/your local store
* little basket with cheese, grapes, and crackers (can easily make one yourself!)
* something small for the home - cute pothandlers/towels/funny kitchen sign/etc.

But I agree, wine is the default choice!

[amew]

A basket with gourmet coffee and bagels or pastries. Write a note saying they deserve breakfast in bed the next morning after all their hard work entertaining you.

Potted basil or rosemary (especially for someone who enjoys cooking). Or buy three little terra cotta pots and three small herb plants and make them a mini kitchen herb garden. You can buy those cute copper markers to write the name of the herb on.

A "bouquet" of new wooden spoons, spatulas, and/or whisks tied with a pretty bow (someone did this for my parents when they were hosting a party once and my mom was thrilled).

Take a polaroid camera with you to the party and take a a few pictures throughout the night. Leave them for the host at the end of the evening with a note saying how much you enjoyed yourself and how you wanted to leave them with some memories of a wonderful evening. Or take pictures with a digital camera, print them up the next morning, put them in a cute brag book and drop them buy the hosts' home the day after the party.

His and hers aprons for the host couple

A candle, coasters, tea towels, monogrammed cocktail napkins, a set of spreaders, a wine coaster, a favorite kitchen gadget, drink stirrers or cocktail picks, a bottle stopper, a wine drip catcher, pretty soap, etc.

Any sort of gourmet food item -- chocolates, candies, fruit & cheese basket, etc.

Alcohol other than your typical wine -- liquor, port, champagne, etc. Now that all the nice champagne companies have started selling individual serving-size bottles, I have been buying four different single-serving champagnes and packaging them together as a champagne sampler. It was a huge hit when I did it for a Christmas party.