The question
When I’m invited to a friend’s house for dinner, do I need to ask what I can bring?
The answer
Strictly speaking, no. That’s why you bring a bottle of wine (or better, two) to dinner parties: as payment to the poor, misguided schlub who’s volunteered to save you from cooking for the night.
But social gatherings are never as simple as that. A few rules of thumb: If you think it will be a struggle for your would-be host to make an entire meal on his/her own, offer to bring something. If you think it will be a struggle for your would-be host to make an entire meal that is edible, you should definitely offer to help then, too. If, on the other hand, your host refuses your offer, stop insisting already – they don’t want your Gummi Worm pandowdy.
And if you’re the host and your friends insist on bringing something – and this is the sort of thing that bothers you – do what a colleague of mine does and tell them you want PUPPIES! That’s right. All caps. One word. Puppies. That should quiet them down for a while.
Follow food writer and restaurant columnist Chris Nuttall-Smith on Twitter: @cnutsmith. Have an entertaining dilemma? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.
