SAVOUR MANITOBA | WINTER 23 33
1 Inform your host of any allergies or
special diets ahead of time so they
can have options for you. (If you are
severely allergic, let the host know
that you'd like to bring something safe
for you to eat. I'm sure the host would
understand that you prefer their home
to an emergency room visit.)
2 It is still polite to bring a gift.
The most common gift is wine.
Unless otherwise advised, bring one
bottle of wine to replace what you
drink and another one — perhaps
more expensive — for the host as
a gift. (Placing the gift in a bag will
indicate to the busy host which one
can be served and which one should
be enjoyed later.)
If the host is an oenophile and you
have no budget for or knowledge of
wine, it may be easier to choose a
different gift. Wine lovers like other
things, and Manitoba has a lot of
unique local gifts to offer.
3 When bringing flowers, try to
choose those with a vase so that no
one has to dash off to cut stems under
water as the hors d'oeuvres burn in
the oven. Also, choose flowers that
are pet-friendly if your guest has a
furry one.
4 If you are bringing a potluck dish,
bring it on a plate that can be thrown
away or recycled or in a vessel that
the host can keep. The goal is to enjoy
time with your host, not hover around
the kitchen sink.
5 The host has gone to a lot of work
to entertain the guests — so try to
have fun!
FIVE TIPS FOR GUESTS:
Wine lovers like other
things, and Manitoba
has a lot of unique local
gifts to offer.
