What Gift to Take to a Dinner Party

What to gift when invited to a dinner party is a question that people encounter regularly. A few options such as flowers, Middle Eastern sweets, and Chocolate can come handy on many occasions.

One of the difficult question to answer when invited to a dinner party is: What gift should I take with me? Flowers, Middle Eastern sweets, and Chocolate are some of the good choices, but each is a better choice in different situations.

You are invited to a dinner party. That's great. You will have fun. However, something really annoys you: What to take with you? You know you cannot show up empty handed, but it is not easy to figure out what to take with you as a gift.
Maybe you have no clue, and maybe a few ideas come to you mind but don't know which is the best? The answer usually heavily depends on the situation, more specifically on the mood of the party and on who invited you. Is it a formal dinner party or just a casual gathering? Is the person inviting you a family member, an old friend, or someone you are invited to for the first time?
Your best choice depends on your answer to these questions first.

Below are a few suggestions and the occasion they fit best.

Middle Eastern Sweets
Middle Eastern sweets can be a great gift in both casual and formal parties, as well as if you invited to people you know well or people newly introduced to. A box of assorted Middle Eastern sweets spans a large number of types and varieties of pastries that usually satisfy most tastes.

If the party is during a holiday, a box of Mamoul, which are nut filled Middle Eastern cookies is a better choice. However, for almost all other occasions, a box of assorted Baklava which is a variety of nuts filled pastry is a better choice.
The advantage of bringing with you a box of Arabic sweets will most likely make you stand out as many people might not be very familiar with all the types and varieties a box of assorted Baklava contains.

Flowers
Flowers can be a great gift to a dinner party if there is a celebration occasion. For example, if you are invited over dinner to celebrate someone's graduation or somebody's promotion, a bouquet of flowers is a great choice. On the other hand, flowers would not be a great idea if you are invited to a casual party or to some old friends of yours with no specific occasion. If you decide on bringing with you a bouquet of flowers, stay away from red roses. Gift these to your wife or girlfriend on Valentine. Instead, a nice bouquet of colorful flowers will be great.

Chocolate
A box of Chocolate, like Middle Eastern sweets, is a good fit in most occasions. Some people like milk chocolates and some prefer dark chocolates. A box of mixed, both milk and dark chocolates guarantees that you will satisfy both groups.
Boxes of chocolate are usually widely available in most supermarkets as well as in dedicated chocolate stores, so it should be relatively easy to buy.

It is worth to note that you don't always need to take a gift with you. If you are invited to friends for a casual dinner and you get invited to their residence often, you don't always have to bring something with you. However, even in this case, it would be nice to bring something with you every once in a while.

Besides the gift, make sure you are not late to the party. That would not be appreciated, whatever gift you bring with you. Moreover, don't get there very early. This can be as annoying as arriving late.

In summary, depending on your occasion you are invited to, flowes, a box of Middle Eastern sweets, or a box of chocolate can make a great gift.