Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah this is so awkward. There are some people who want you to leave the food and will eat it. There are some people who are annoyed if you leave your leftovers. Sometimes it's awkward to suss out what they want me to do.

DH and I love leftovers and we eat them all. We freeze turkey and use it later for turkey soup, turkey pot pies, etc.

You need to have potluck rules in your potluck group. We have a monthly potluck with a group of familes. Our rules are -
- everyone takes turns to host.
- container sizes are predetermined. Yes, to aluminium foil containers that fit the chafing stands.
- people need to bring food that is already at serving temperature in the container that it will be served (usually aluminium foil containers of specific size. Icebaths and chafing stands are provided. People need to put their dishes at the provided stands.
- host provides the basics such as - starch, one entree, one appetizer and drinks.
- all leftovers gets divvied up equally.
- food is served buffet style.
- host discusses with the group and gives options for menu items for each category. Attendees pick what they want to bring. Menu is then finalized.

Ok, who worked in catering? This is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have zero interest in leftovers, so when I host I try to pawn stuff off on everyone else. I will usually just throw a little bit of each dish into containers and stop thinking about it forever. However, if you really want to take the rest of your creamed corn home with you, I'm happy to oblige.

Soooo American.

Not fighting over food? That's okay with me.

Who said anyone is “fighting”? It’s a way to share their togetherness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah this is so awkward. There are some people who want you to leave the food and will eat it. There are some people who are annoyed if you leave your leftovers. Sometimes it's awkward to suss out what they want me to do.

DH and I love leftovers and we eat them all. We freeze turkey and use it later for turkey soup, turkey pot pies, etc.

You need to have potluck rules in your potluck group. We have a monthly potluck with a group of familes. Our rules are -
- everyone takes turns to host.
- container sizes are predetermined. Yes, to aluminium foil containers that fit the chafing stands.
- people need to bring food that is already at serving temperature in the container that it will be served (usually aluminium foil containers of specific size. Icebaths and chafing stands are provided. People need to put their dishes at the provided stands.
- host provides the basics such as - starch, one entree, one appetizer and drinks.
- all leftovers gets divvied up equally.
- food is served buffet style.
- host discusses with the group and gives options for menu items for each category. Attendees pick what they want to bring. Menu is then finalized.

Ok, who worked in catering? This is amazing.

Thank you for the compliments. . No. No one works for catering but over the years we have figured out what works well.

Potlucks rules are necessary because there are always 1-2 flaky members in a group who will bring a bag of chips or take all the leftovers or generally not do their part - if there are no rules or guidelines for them. We make sure that the potluck rules are very equitable for all and everyone contributes equally so that there is no friction.

Catering is expensive and if you host multiple get-togethers annually then you have to DIY to make it affordable and have SOPs to host efficiently.

[Anonymous]

As a host, I always offer the leftovers back to the person who brought the item. If they decline, I offer it to other guests. As a guest, I don’t ask for anything. If leftovers are offered to me (I cooked or others did) I take a reasonable portion if I want them.

In no scenario do I assume all the leftovers are mine. (Nor would I want this anyway.)

[Anonymous]

Cooks have first dibs on their own dishes.

[Anonymous]

To answer your title question, no. Stop trying to take home food! To answer the question in the body of the post about if it's potluck, I don't know - bc I would never attend a potluck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have zero interest in leftovers, so when I host I try to pawn stuff off on everyone else. I will usually just throw a little bit of each dish into containers and stop thinking about it forever. However, if you really want to take the rest of your creamed corn home with you, I'm happy to oblige.

Soooo American.

I think because these people never ever cook a real meal so it's such a treat and novelty they want to fight tooth and nail over the left overs. Forget cooking away for a few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have zero interest in leftovers, so when I host I try to pawn stuff off on everyone else. I will usually just throw a little bit of each dish into containers and stop thinking about it forever. However, if you really want to take the rest of your creamed corn home with you, I'm happy to oblige.

Soooo American.

I think because these people never ever cook a real meal so it's such a treat and novelty they want to fight tooth and nail over the left overs. Forget cooking away for a few months.

cooking ^ again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Years ago my MIL discovered that you can buy those white carton Chinese food containers in bulk and she puts those out at all the holidays with a sharpie marker instead of food saver type containers.

She had a large house to host in every year, but she and my FIL were not eating all the stuff left over. Several relatives always brought a dish. I always brought wine and it was always gone by the time I left *touches nose and winks

What is this meant to symbolize?

She goes up the chimney at the end of the dinner I guess

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To answer your title question, no. Stop trying to take home food! To answer the question in the body of the post about if it's potluck, I don't know - bc I would never attend a potluck.

You sound terrible. I happily give away food. I don’t care at all…if you leave it I will eat it, if you take it good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer your title question, no. Stop trying to take home food! To answer the question in the body of the post about if it's potluck, I don't know - bc I would never attend a potluck.

You sound terrible. I happily give away food. I don’t care at all…if you leave it I will eat it, if you take it good!

Why wouldn't you attend a potluck? Are you not confident in your ability to cook?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer your title question, no. Stop trying to take home food! To answer the question in the body of the post about if it's potluck, I don't know - bc I would never attend a potluck.

You sound terrible. I happily give away food. I don’t care at all…if you leave it I will eat it, if you take it good!

Why wouldn't you attend a potluck? Are you not confident in your ability to cook?

I wouldn't attend a potluck because I don't have confidence in other people's cleanliness or food safety.. I've seen way too many people's cats walking on kitchen counters, way too many people walk out of public bathrooms without washing their hands, etc.

[Anonymous]

Usually, people take home what they bring, and if the host offers, then they take home other things, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have zero interest in leftovers, so when I host I try to pawn stuff off on everyone else. I will usually just throw a little bit of each dish into containers and stop thinking about it forever. However, if you really want to take the rest of your creamed corn home with you, I'm happy to oblige.

Soooo American.

Not fighting over food? That's okay with me.

Who said anyone is “fighting”? It’s a way to share their togetherness.

Arguing over who deserves the leftovers or otherwise feeling resentful about them? That's not togetherness I need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have zero interest in leftovers, so when I host I try to pawn stuff off on everyone else. I will usually just throw a little bit of each dish into containers and stop thinking about it forever. However, if you really want to take the rest of your creamed corn home with you, I'm happy to oblige.

Soooo American.

I think because these people never ever cook a real meal so it's such a treat and novelty they want to fight tooth and nail over the left overs. Forget cooking away for a few months.

IDK. After Thanksgiving Day, I don't want to see, smell, or be in any way responsible for that food again . . . maybe save for a pice of pumpkin pie.