What do you keep on hand for surprise visitors?

[Anonymous]

I started a thread like this pre-covid and got some great responses. Key is having some unopened things so the person who cycles through keeping a new chip/salsa is right on. Of course stock all the beverages.

The advice I got and follow is to keep a TJ's frozen spinach artichoke dip in the freezer. (I keep several because we like to eat them too). Some fancy rosemary or firehouse crackers on cycle and I have something good and interesting to serve.

On the sweet side, we always have s'mores items and we have an indoor and outdoor fireplace. We can fire those up in a pinch. They don't expire. I even like them microwaved.

Fruits and vegetables and dips are difficult to always keep current, but a plate of trader joes canned dolmades, some olives, rosemary marcona almonds and dried figs from Wegmans would not be amiss.

[Anonymous]

I always have on hand crackers, nuts, chips, jarred salsa, and usually (but not always) in the fridge have on hand cheese, hummus and some veggie like cucumbers or carrots. We also always have a variety of drinks and chilled bottle of wine.

If someone popped in after dropping off my kid, I'd offer seltzer, cup of tea or glass of wine, and put out some nuts and pretzels.

[Anonymous]

Seltzer- people always seem to like seltzer. They could have coffee too, but I don't have any milk. Pretzels. Cashews. Halloween candy for now, until I eat it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

You sound like my neighbor. I ran over yesterday morning and rang their bell at 7:45 a.m. because both of their cars were about to be trapped in their driveway all day as the contractors started to put down asphalt in our alley. They wouldn't answer the door, so they spent the day at home. Maybe sometime you should think about why you assume the worst in everyone else.

[Anonymous]

I get on well with my neighbors but never feel any obligation to feed them.
My tween us currently playing with the 8 and 5yo behind us. I chatted with the mom for a few mins then came home. No food or drink expected.

[Anonymous]

I just went shopping, so it would be easier right now.

But yesterday? I don't keep things on hand but I do have plenty of coffee and tea. I could pop popcorn and I do have some frozen cookie dough balls from a fundraiser I could throw in the oven. Smoothies? I would laugh and get creative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

You sound like my neighbor. I ran over yesterday morning and rang their bell at 7:45 a.m. because both of their cars were about to be trapped in their driveway all day as the contractors started to put down asphalt in our alley. They wouldn't answer the door, so they spent the day at home. Maybe sometime you should think about why you assume the worst in everyone else.

Seriously-you can look and see who it is, right? If it’s a neighbor unexpected it’s probably not just “feed me.”

[Anonymous]

Small dishes are key here.
I usually have a few of the following I can quickly put into small bowls.

1. Pistachios or cashews
2. Olives
3. A small bit of cheese with a few crackers
4. a raw veggie, sliced (cucumber, colored pepper, baby carrots)
3. Fruit

For kids, the standard spread is: apple slices, cheese sticks, baby carrots, goldfish/graham crackers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

You sound like my neighbor. I ran over yesterday morning and rang their bell at 7:45 a.m. because both of their cars were about to be trapped in their driveway all day as the contractors started to put down asphalt in our alley. They wouldn't answer the door, so they spent the day at home. Maybe sometime you should think about why you assume the worst in everyone else.

Couldn’t you just text them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

You sound like my neighbor. I ran over yesterday morning and rang their bell at 7:45 a.m. because both of their cars were about to be trapped in their driveway all day as the contractors started to put down asphalt in our alley. They wouldn't answer the door, so they spent the day at home. Maybe sometime you should think about why you assume the worst in everyone else.

Couldn’t you just text them?

No, I don't have their number. We don't socialize, but that doesn't mean that I want something crappy to happen to them. I also return misdelivered mail and packages, along with errant Chinese food deliveries. Ignore the doorbell at your peril.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started a thread like this pre-covid and got some great responses. Key is having some unopened things so the person who cycles through keeping a new chip/salsa is right on. Of course stock all the beverages.

The advice I got and follow is to keep a TJ's frozen spinach artichoke dip in the freezer. (I keep several because we like to eat them too). Some fancy rosemary or firehouse crackers on cycle and I have something good and interesting to serve.

On the sweet side, we always have s'mores items and we have an indoor and outdoor fireplace. We can fire those up in a pinch. They don't expire. I even like them microwaved.

Fruits and vegetables and dips are difficult to always keep current, but a plate of trader joes canned dolmades, some olives, rosemary marcona almonds and dried figs from Wegmans would not be amiss.

This sounds good to me. I don’t really show up on people’s doorsteps and I would certainly not be rude. But a seltzer and a carrot stick and cream cheese/pepper jelly and bland crackers is not appealing to me at all. If you came to my house, you’d have truffle potato chips and chocolate covered grahams and Prosecco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started a thread like this pre-covid and got some great responses. Key is having some unopened things so the person who cycles through keeping a new chip/salsa is right on. Of course stock all the beverages.

The advice I got and follow is to keep a TJ's frozen spinach artichoke dip in the freezer. (I keep several because we like to eat them too). Some fancy rosemary or firehouse crackers on cycle and I have something good and interesting to serve.

On the sweet side, we always have s'mores items and we have an indoor and outdoor fireplace. We can fire those up in a pinch. They don't expire. I even like them microwaved.

Fruits and vegetables and dips are difficult to always keep current, but a plate of trader joes canned dolmades, some olives, rosemary marcona almonds and dried figs from Wegmans would not be amiss.

This sounds good to me. I don’t really show up on people’s doorsteps and I would certainly not be rude. But a seltzer and a carrot stick and cream cheese/pepper jelly and bland crackers is not appealing to me at all. If you came to my house, you’d have truffle potato chips and chocolate covered grahams and Prosecco.

...and your suggestions sound good to me!
We should drop in on each other!

[Anonymous]

My friend who was from Alabama used to stop by. I'd be shocked--not always presentable. Gosh, I hated it. We wanted to see him but even 20 minutes of warning would be nice so we could clean up toddler toys and put on more than lounger clothing.

Eventually, he stopped and now he is too old to get around. In theory, I like the idea but it also stressed me out not to have advance notice.

Crackers, cheese, nuts, sparkling water

[Anonymous]

Cream cheese and pepper jelly on ritz crackers is delish and takes me back to my youth!

[Anonymous]

We are friendly with our neighbors, so this can definitely happen! I always have a bottle of wine, sparkling water, flavored seltzers in the fridge. A variety of shelf stable snacks - nuts, dried fruit, olives. Crackers, cheese, veggies, hummus.