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The boss is having a few of my DH's dept over for dinner tonight. What should I take? He has included kids (his are grown), so it's informal.

Any recommendations for a nice bottle of wine?
Any other suggestions?

If they drink, wine is always good -- for they can chose to serve it or save it for themselves.

As to wine, go to a local wine retailer (Not Sam's or Costco or a huger retailer an independent wine shop) and ask what's the best bottle in the price you can afford.

The thing is whatever you bring needs to be something that doesn't "fluster" the hostess -- flowers that need to be put in a vase for example takes her away from last minute preparations to find a vase, etc.

And not food that she'll feel obligated to serve.

Note cards are always a nice hostess gift as are candles.

Martha

Don't bring anything, unless you know for sure the hosts' taste, preferences, etc.
I have often thought the best way to present a hostess gift is the day after; I know it's very traditional -- perhaps old school --to do so, but it makes a lasting impression.

How do you figure out what the hosts like? Just observe what things they have in their house or chat with the hostess to get an idea.

Your thank you gift can be simply a floral arrangement delivered from the florist, the very next morning, with a gracious note. Nothing extravagant.

In the winter we were generously entertained by a couple we had met on a cruise. We had never seen their home.

Since they had a boat I took them each an L.L. Bean bag, with their name embroidered on it. These were very nautical and what I considered appropriate. Woe to me, they were not. The decor of this big fancy boat was more what I would consider jungle, with a faux leopard bed spread etc.

For the first dinner at their, as yet unseen home, I took a nice bottle of wine and did what Linderhof suggested, consulted a wine shop. Alas they do not drink wine! I should have realized this as we ate dinner with them 25 nights on the cruise!

Much better to have waited to take them something after returning home (which of course we also did)

The one success was the candied ginger I made and took the host. That I knew he loved from the ship and from buying him a pound in the wonderful market in Barcelona. BTW, buy it. It is a pain to make!

Thanks all for your very helpful advice. We'll being going by the liquor store on the way out, so I'll ask DH to stop if he thinks it might be appropriate. He originally says we don't have to bring anything; but you know how men are! I have snickerdoodles cooling. I might just take them and keep them in the car or something. We can always nibble on them on the way home. (hour away)

I know you've already been, but would an extra-gorgeous potted mum be appropriate for next time? Who doesn't have room for another lovely plant (that's just me. Of course there is always the allergy aspect to be considered.

cjo- that would have been a great idea. They were saying how deer and other critters have destroyed their flowers/plants where they live.