I bring a salad of some sort, and hubby brings wine!

home made hot out of the oven bread rolls and real butter already curled into portions

Thanks for the suggestions! @Ruth BT your small nibbles platter sounds particularly appetising – great idea.

I'd ask the host if they'd like me to bring a salad or desert. If they'd like one of those, I'd take that - but I'd always take a bottle of wine or some craft beer, whether or not I'm bringing food.

Speak to your hosts. I really dislike people turning up with more food after I have planned and supplied the menu. Always bring drinks of some sort. Two bottles would be appreciated.

I would always bring drinks and depending on what the hosts wants happy to bring BBQ things, salad and/or desert or if they are really adamant flowers or a quirky gift.....

I had a mates BBQ once, I called ahead & asked if he wanted anything. By the time I got there he had nothing! No meat either. He was expecting people to just bring stuff. So we ended up eating pizza. I had already gone past a bottle shop & would have gotten some meat or sausages if needed.

On other occassions I've seen particularly amongst Aussies, they tend to bring their own beer that they will drink. Whether they share it or not I saw one guy take the rest of the carton home with him while there was still people at the gathering.

Always take a drink - take a salad or whatever the host has asked for. If asked not to bring any food take a small gift i.e. flowers/choccies

Drinks are always a must, if meat is covered, then a salad or dessert.

No one seems to mention non-alcoholic drink, in this age of don't drink and drive ! Also a platter of cheeses and biscuits, don't forget gluten free biscuits, some excellent ones in the supermarkets. Dot N.Z.

@dorothee Hall, I generally just drink tap water as a non-alcoholic drink as I find soft drinks terrible But good point, maybe next time I'll bring a refreshing non-alcoholic fruit punch (with the option of adding champagne ;-) )

I always ask the host if they would like me to bring a salad or dessert as I never know what others are bringing and don't wan to double up too much on anything, then we also always bring both a bottle of wine and half doz light beer as well as a bottle of soda as either myself or hubby will be the designated driver we take it in turns, if the host says not to bring anything but some BYO drinks I take the host a small gift of chocolates or nuts something just for him/her or both even a nice bottle of champagne the host/s can have later, obviously the gift has to be tailored to the hosts preference.

I always offer - not 'can I bring anything'? but - 'can I bring a sweet, or do the cheese platter?' I find if you are specific the hostess is more likely to say yes please. Then - some bubbles or wine or whatever your specific tipple (Note: don't bring the bottle of Grange - save the special stuff when it's you and the hosts - a bbq means open slather on the esky and then your great bottle may just get chugged!) and always take a small hostess gift of flowers. And always the next day thank you call

I always take wine and also ask is there something I can bring? people will often say our fave protein, or a salad please ....or nothing. Depends how much they earn!