joan

Looking for any info on this interesting idea: attending a home cooked dinner in someone's home. For those who have been, we are just two - are there other guests there also? It seems you don't pay the host directly, but did you tip or bring a host gift? Interested in Rome and Paris....and there's even some in Arles, another stop we're making...

Thanks in advance.

https://www.vizeat.com/pages/how-it-...FUE7gQodMAkKoQ

Christina

Interesting, now the "sharing" economy has spread to meals, not surprising.

The selection you make tells you how many potential guests there are and the price. You are confusing this with being friends or a guest in someone's home, this is a business and you pay a fee for the dinner. You don't bring a gift, just like you wouldn't bring a host gift to a place you rented on AirBnB. I can't imagine the idea of a tip, for what? These people are running a business and deciding their own fee for the service.

You can choose options with a max of 2 guests, if that's what you want.

I did something similar in Paris but it was a guy who regularly does this with a big group, so there you had the chance of meeting many other people.

joan

Christina, do you have a link or more info on "a guy who regularly does this"? We'd like to meet other travelers/guests. I get that they're being paid, but it's more personal than a visit to a restaurant, don't you think? My husband and I own a restaurant in the US and I'd love the chance to chat with a cook, amateur or professional, from the other side of the world.

LOL funny you should mention about NOT bringing a hostess gift for the AirBnB landlord. I've corresponded with a lovely host in Provence who just had a baby and I am planning to bring her a small baby gift. Imagine that!

joan

Topping to see if there's anyone who's done this...

MaineGG

I haven't done this, but here's the link for Jim Haynes who does the dinners:

http://www.jim-haynes.com/

Google him for lots more information from various sources.

jangita

I, too, generally bring a small gift to the hosts at rentals.

nukesafe

We have rented a private room in our home through Airbnb for almost six years now, and not one of the hundreds of guests who have stayed with us has ever brought us a gift. They almost invariably rate our place as five star, but I would think it really weird if even our many repeat guests brought us a gift.

mama_mia

I have done something similar in Italy--Home Food. I did bring flowers to the hostess. Definitely do not tip.

I often do B&Bs but do not bring gifts nor tip. If the B&B owner did some extraordinary act of kindness beyond the normally expected service, I might provide a small thank you gift or note.

Probably the best thing you could do for a business is take the time to write a nice review.

janisj

>>I, too, generally bring a small gift to the hosts at rentals.<<

Sorry but that is naff.

What are the going to do w/ tchotchkes . . . ?

They aren't your friend nor are they 'hosting' you. They are running a business, they don't want to deal w/ 'stuff' their customers think they want.

fuzzbucket

Bringing gifts or not - back to the OP's original question...

I looked into being a host two years ago, but decided against it.
The menus items then were very "strongly suggested" - you weren't allowed to change anything unless someone had an allergy.
The program has been "tweaked" a little, but then it seemed too artificial, like putting on a show for tourists who hoped to meet a "real Parisian", no matter where he came from.
There's not much time during the proposed 2 hour meal for a lot of conversation, unless you are the only guests.

I would much prefer to stay in a legal Bed and Breakfast, with a host family who is there throughout the day. To me, that would be a more authentic experience.
http://www.hotesqualiteparis.fr/en/

joan

Just back from San Francisco (love that town!). Thanks for all the responses. Thanks MaineGG, for the Jim Haynes link. Unfortunately we will not be in Paris on a Sunday - otherwise how can one go wrong with a Louisiana native born son?

We are going to book a Paris Vizeat. If we love it, then we will have time to book a Rome one a couple of weeks later. I will let you all know what we think We will not bring a gift, but I think two hours is plenty of time for meal and conversation, so I'd have to disagree with you fuzzbucket. However I did get the same feeling of some "putting on a show" so I will choose carefully from the many offerings, to find one with a good menu and good vibe.

I'm getting hungry for Paris!

JaniceBV

I did a VizEat dinner in Paris in January this year and it was such a great experience! To answer your question @joan, most (maybe even all) hosts are amateurs! We brought a bottle of wine (this is what French people usually do) and it has been very appreciated Otherwise, it was like having dinner at friends' place, we talked about so many different topics, and had a really nice evening! This was a unique opportunity to meet "locals" and learn more about French life. It is something I would recommend to any visitor to Paris.

Cheers!

PS: https://fr.vizeat.com/r/events/2210 this is the profile of our wonderful host!

joan

Thanks Janice! Were there other folks besides you/yours? Odile looks charming! I see she also offers a cooking class, but I assume you did one of her dinners. Which one did you choose?