What to Bring If You Get a Last-Minute Invitation to Thanksgiving: A Guide from 24 Chefs & Experts
These hospitality pros share their tips for how to make a gift for the host feel special and personal, even at the eleventh hour.
There’s so much to know about hosting your own Thanksgiving feast, whether it’s what dishes to include, the best way to prepare a turkey, or how to fix a food mishap.
But what if you’re a guest?
There’s a pressure that comes with showing up to someone else’s home for a holiday meal and, for some, the internal panic of, “What should I bring?” sets in, especially if you were invited at the last minute.
Step one, as private chef and “Ciao House” contestant Brittney “Stikxz” Williams told me, would be to ask the host if there’s anything they need or want you to bring.
If they’re vague, or you don’t have the opportunity to ask, we’ve got you covered. I consulted with more than 30 chefs and entertaining professionals to help you decide how best to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner at someone else’s place — here’s what some of them had to say:
Popping corks
Chefs and experts agree that one of the lowest-lift things to bring is booze.
Mason Hereford of Turkey and the Wolf recommends “a bottle of sparkling wine every time!”
Fellow chef Judy Joo of Seoul Bird, and Fresco by Scotto co-owners Rosanna and Elaina Scotto agree.
“A bottle of Champagne is always welcome at my home,” Joo told me. “Let the bubbles flow!”
While Michael White of Paranza says Champagne goes with everything, he also thinks Pinot Noir would be a great pairing for turkey and all the fixings.
Williams says her go-to gifting bottle is Belle Glos Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley 2021 Vintage.
“It’s no more than $45 bucks and drinks perfectly with a wide variety of good eats,” she said. “Not only will it go over well with the host, but the guests will be impressed with the pairing.”
Chef Michele Mazza of Il Mulino New York suggests a rich, robust cabernet sauvignon or a smooth chardonnay, while Amber Mayfield Hewett, founder of To Be Hosted event and media company, and Shannon Bingham, executive chef at Devil Moon BBQ, both recommend picking up a bottle of the orange variety.
Regardless of the color, Shenarri Freeman, executive chef at Ubuntu and Cadence, says “you can never go wrong with a nice bottle of wine.”
Never enough drinks
If you’ve got a little more time and resources on your hands, you can also bring a mulled wine, as Trey Smith, chef and co-owner of Saint-Germain, recommends, or a batch cocktail.
Ashlee Jack, director at Lemon Group Hospitality, loves to make a spiced orange syrup that can then be added to a cocktail or enjoyed with seltzer water, and Christian Gianaris, beverage director at PPX Hospitality Brands, leans into the holiday’s cranberry flavor profile for a spritz.
While Jimmy Ly, executive chef at Madame Vo, says “an alcoholic beverage is usually appreciated,” celebrity chef Anne Burrell doesn’t want people to forget that something booze-free is also a nice touch.
She recommends apple cider since there are so many things a host can do with it, from using it to flavor dishes to giving any kids around something exciting to sip on.
Sweets after the meal
While wine can be an expected and thoughtful contribution, some guests might want to change it up with an after-dinner beverage.
Billy Van Dolsen, beverage director at Sereneco, recommends a port while Joo suggests a digestif.
For something non-alcoholic, Joo recommends bringing some coffee or tea to go along with dessert.
And when it comes to that final course, Gadi Peleg of Breads Bakery says, “I never go anywhere without bringing a babka.”
Angelo Auriana, chef-partner at Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano, says in his Italian culture, showing up to someone’s home with your own main dish or contribution to the spread can be seen as an insult to the host.
“It would be like, ‘I made this lasagna for you because you don’t know how to make it,’” he told me.
So instead, he recommends bringing dessert from your favorite bakery or one you made yourself.
Hereford says bringing dessert instead of a side dish also eliminates any worry about your food fitting with the rest of the host’s menu.
Besides, he adds, “who doesn’t want an additional dessert at a party?”
For Mayfield Hewett, it’s the thought behind the dessert or gift that matters most.
“Being able to share a bit of context for why you love this dessert or the maker will give the contribution a special feel,” she said, while Ly also notes that bringing something from a bakery you love adds a personal touch.
Freeman also suggests “baked goodies that you can slip into your purse or bag” as something simple, thoughtful, and attainable.
On that note, Joo recommends chocolates if you’re going the sweet route, adding that they can be “easily served alongside dessert or with coffee or tea.”
Appetizers and add-ons
Not a dessert person? No problem. Eric Huang, chef-owner or Pecking House, recommends buying a nice loaf of bread or Pillsbury crescent rolls and making your own whipped brown butter to go with them.
“Put it in a mason jar, everyone is going to think you’re a goddamned chef,” he said.
Andrea Xu, founder and CEO of Umamicart, suggests bringing some appetizers like lumpia or shrimp toast with sweet chili sauce.
“I’ve found that bright, complex flavors are always a big hit on Thanksgiving,” Xu said, talking about the day often laden with rich, heavy recipes.
Jack told me she always recommends gifting a host a bottle of rosemary-infused olive oil (homemade or store-bought) for something that feels special.
The morning after
Something considerate and unique could be a gift that’s just for the host to enjoy once the kitchen is clean and the guests are gone.
“Bring something for the next morning,” Brad Wise, chef-owner of Trust Restaurant Group, told me. “Your host will be spending so much time and energy on one meal, they probably aren’t thinking about what to eat the day after Thanksgiving.”
Wise likes to bring a loaf of banana bread, a bag of coffee, or something else for breakfast.
Mayfield Hewett, a hosting expert, says her go-to host gift is a coffee cake for the same reason. She says it can be a great treat for the host with their morning coffee and can double as a night-of dessert if needed.
“I always opt for a nice tea or coffee that can be enjoyed with dessert or over the holiday weekend for the host,” says Samantha Weiss, co-owner of Ayu Bakehouse.
And in making things easier or more enjoyable for the one providing the gathering space, Weiss’ co-owner Kelly Jacques says food storage containers make a great contribution.
“It’s not a chic or sexy gift,” Jacques says, but it helps with cleanup. “I always find that those are welcome.”
Regardless of what you decide to bring, or what’s realistic for you, chef Michael Schulson of Schulson Collective says it will be a win if you make it meaningful.
“For me, it’s always about making it personal to the host or having a personal story to go with the item,” he told me. “Something you grew up eating, something that has meaning. Something you know the host loves.”
A version of this story was originally published on The Messenger in November 2023.