What do you keep on hand for surprise visitors?

[Anonymous]

Curious what sorts of food/drinks others keep stocked in case a neighbor stops by unexpectedly? I’ve never been good about doing this — I just buy things when we are planning a dinner or party. But there have been a couple recent instances (usually mid-afternoon) where it would have been nice if I could offer something and the cupboards were bare other than ingredients for meals. It isn’t a time I usually eat, and don’t know what might be appropriate in these cases.

[Anonymous]

This has literally never crossed my mind. So, nothing.

[Anonymous]

"neighbor stops by unexpectedly"

Doesn't happen in my life.

[Anonymous]

A camera at the door and a deadbolt, lol.

[Anonymous]

I do not think about this.

But if a neighbor stopped by right now I would have the following for a mid-afternoon snack:

- some wines
- chilled sparkling water, soda, iced tea
- coffees and teas
- lots of different crackers and chips
- cucumbers, carrots, hummus
- some cheese (pepper jack, provolone)
- cream cheese and pepper jelly, which honestly, is so good
- almonds
- wasabi peas
- I could make chocolate chip cookies (I have some pre made and break and bake dough)
- could cut up a pineapple or slice some apples

Usually I have more fruit, frozen apps, and baked goods or chocolates but we're going to Costco today so we've let the stock slip below normal variety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A camera at the door and a deadbolt, lol.

This

[Anonymous]

I would hate this, but if I absolutely had to entertain surprise guests, they could have the same stuff I snack on: cheese and crackers, apples, grapes, baby carrots, snap peas, pretzels, hummus, cashews.

Coffee, tea, iced tea, water.

[Anonymous]

Never happens. We have a social cul de sac but we ALWAYS use the group chat to see if anyone wants to hang out. The only reason we show up unannounced is emergencies.

[Anonymous]

I would like to keep a selection of beer and bourbon on hand but DH will drink anything we have in the house so I can’t.

[Anonymous]

If a neighbor stops by unexpectedly they get offered a glass of water.

[Anonymous]

What! This is shocking. I feel my neighbors stop by all the time. I always offer something to drink, of course, like water or tea/coffee wine (depending on the time of day) and some fruit. That lasts for a while. Then Maybe some cheese/crackers or chips if they stay for an hour.

[Anonymous]

I always keep one unopened chips and salsa in the pantry and cans of sparkling water.

[Anonymous]

I dont open the door, so this is not a problem for me lol.

Like literally, I never have unexpected visitors. I find that really disrespectful.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. I used to, pre-pandemic, because some of my volunteering involved planning meetings at my house, but all that stopped with the lockdown, and for some reason, people around me don't have that instinct of popping over as they once did. All I can offer you, OP, is a cup of tea, fruit and some biscuits, if you're lucky! Oh, and I guess there's my husband's chips and dips. You'd be welcome to anything you want, of course.

[Anonymous]

Let’s rephrase OP’s question so that it’s a last minute invite “hey, since you’re bringing Larla home from carpool come on in and visit for a bit”.

On more than one occasion I’ve texted a neighbor friend at 4pm on a beautiful day and said “meet me on my patio at 5pm for a drink”.

I try to keep at least a box or two of crackers unopened. We always have cheese I can quickly slice up and we always have some sort of fresh veg and hummus. The basics to nibble on with a glass of wine or sparkling water.