What type of gift(s) are “expected” in a dinner party in France? What would be the pleasant gifts for them to receive, given that gift items like wines are prohibted and might not be taken lightly.
In the worst-case scenario, presenting the host of a French dinner party with a bottle of wine is the equivalent of saying, ‘I know you’re too stupid and cl$ssless to serve decent wine of your own accord so I thought I’d save your a$s (and my taste buds) by picking up some of my own.’
Even with a less sensitive host, or one who’s forgiving of ignorant foreigners, your gift will most likely be put to the side for another time. Instead, a wine that pairs nicely with the meal (and that was chosen without your interference) will be served.
If you’re invited over to someone’s house for dinner, arrive up to fifteen minutes late and don’t bring a bottle of wine — it’s like saying your host’s wine isn’t good enough.
Always wait till the host says ‘Bon appétit!’ before digging in. And finally, when you’ve had enough wine, leave your glass full or they’ll keep topping it off. The French can’t bear to see an empty wine glass.
