dinner party invite- what to bring?

[cramorra]

We are invited for the first time to the house of a really nice work colleague for dinner- nice family daddy, mummy, two kids
Normally no question here- bottle of my nicer reds, few sweets for the kiddies and flowers- sorted...
However they are Indians (from Kalkutta, me thinks), do not drink alcohol but are Hindu not Muslim and are part vegetarians (if I understand correctly they are allowed a few days a week to eat meat, the rest not - luckily we are invited on one of these;))
What does the big multinational PH community recommend???

[PaulHogan]

I'd go with flowers and a big box of Indian sweets

[iAlex]

Home made mango chutney.

[N Dentressangle]

Chocolates and / or flowers will do you just fine.

[sgrimshaw]

.... don't forget your own booze

[cramorra]

iAlex said:

Home made mango chutney.

... bit late for that - isn't it
or does it not need to mature - quick recipy would be appreciated....

[grumbledoak]

I'd go with wine, as is our custom, and flowers for the wife.

I wouldn't try to take anything 'Indian', that's like taking ice to the Eskimos; you'll only take the wrong kind of ice.

[iAlex]

cramorra said:

iAlex said:

Home made mango chutney.

... bit late for that - isn't it
or does it not need to mature - quick recipy would be appreciated....

Oh God, don't ask for a recipe, a business friend of my fathers regularly invites us round and it goes down quite well (Mum makes it!) as I think they appreciate that you have made an effort to fit in etc.

Sorry I can't be more help!

[Truckosaurus]

cramorra said:

(if I understand correctly they are allowed a few days a week to eat meat, the rest not - luckily we are invited on one of these)

Having worked with several Indian Indians (as opposed to British Indians) they don't avoid meat for religious reasons or even financial, it's just not something they eat everyday. It just seems strange to us as even european 'peasant' food like stews are designed to make even small amounts of meat part of every meal.

[Cactussed]

Beef jerky.