What is it with Americans and pot-lucks?

[Anonymous]

In our group of young professionals potlucks are still pretty much the norm. DH & I almost always host (we're the only ones who have graduated from apartments to a house) and if we had to provide all the food every time our group gets together it wouldn't happen very often.

[Anonymous]

I think it's an American thing too. I hate them and I'm American. If someone wants me to come to their house make the damn dinner and I'll bring a nice bottle of wine. I do think it's okay for young people who don't have the money to host a dinner.

[Anonymous]

Potluck a are great. My friends get that we are all working full time and each have lots of kids. We love getting together and want to make it easy for each other. We genuinely care for each other and would rather get together than not. If this means bringing food to make it happen, then all the better.

[Anonymous]

The countries I've lived don't do it, which are:

Germany
Switzerland
Austria
India
UAE
Saudi
Brazil


So, which ones do potluck like Americans? Only place I've ever encountered it is here.

I have lived in Germany, and we had potlucks in the summer, especially when it involved barbecues. I was around a bunch of grad students and postdocs, though, so maybe we were just all poor and cheap.

[Anonymous]

Confession: I only eat what I make at a potluck, with a possible exception of a taste or two of crackers. Some joker always brings crackers.

I eat a meal in advance, help myself to soda and water and otherwise get the eating part of the event over ASAP.

I'm a control freak, dangerously allergic (really allergic, like 9-1-1 call allergic, not gluten-makes-me bloat "allergic") and for fun, have an eating-disordered past. Plus, if I don't know you, how do I know how clean your kitchen is?

I hate potlucks. Make them stop.

The allergy concern is legit, but the rest of it (how clean your kitchen is, really?) is just you having serious issues. Go to therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody ever brings anything good. Ever.

I do. Always.

Okay, what do you bring?

Lots of yummy appetizers: bacon wrapped filet bites, spinach dip that is to die for, mini puff pastries with fillings, baked brie wrapped in phillo with an apricot glaze, homemade tzaziki dip w/rosemary pita bread...yummy stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The countries I've lived don't do it, which are:

Germany
Switzerland
Austria
India
UAE
Saudi
Brazil


So, which ones do potluck like Americans? Only place I've ever encountered it is here.

I have lived in Germany, and we had potlucks in the summer, especially when it involved barbecues. I was around a bunch of grad students and postdocs, though, so maybe we were just all poor and cheap.

Germans tend to be cheap, i am no surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody ever brings anything good. Ever.

Too bad your friends can't cook (or you are too picky). I've picked up many great recipes at pot lucks.

[Anonymous]

We do a combination of hosting 100% and doing pot luck.

I have a friend that is a trained pastry chef, so I am not even going to try to do dessert when he comes over... And he had to get a real job, so he loves to bring dessert.

I have a group of friends that we get together every week practically and only two of us really feel comfortable having people over, so we do potluck.

For my Italian side of the family everybody has to bring something and they all own restaurants, so it's more of a competitive sport.

[Anonymous]

OP, how many kids do you have, and do you work full time? I have 2 (5 and 2) and work a truly full time job. I like to entertain and we have a nice yard, better than our friends, when we get together its usually here. We're having them tomorrow... I just spent the last 2 hours prepping a very simple menu (for 15 people including kids) and getting the backyard ready, another hour shoppping after working all week, and i have another hour tomorrow of prep. I'm happy to do it once i. A while but exhausted... This is why we only see our friends 2x yr. i prefer to host properly and i dont even mind the spend, but really, I'd be willing to do it more if we did potluck - and we all have fun hanging out while the kids play, so whats the harm?

[Anonymous]

I love pot lucks, but only see them at work these days. But man can my coworkers cook! I've gotten some amazing recipes from them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Potluck a are great. My friends get that we are all working full time and each have lots of kids. We love getting together and want to make it easy for each other. We genuinely care for each other and would rather get together than not. If this means bringing food to make it happen, then all the better.

+100. We host non-potlucks too, depending on the type of party, but in our neighborhood we do potlucks all the time just because it's so easy for everyone to bring one thing (plus we are surrounded by awesome cooks and all love discovering and scoring each others' recipes). The few non-cooks in the neighborhood bring the drinks or the chips or the veggie/fruit platter, and that's great too because every potluck needs those things. What a weird thing to get pissed off about! Learn to be sociable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please move home, OP.

I have to leave the country because I don't like potlucks?

Oh my! I would probably have my citizenship revoked if the original pp finds out that I hate potlucks AND Oreos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how many kids do you have, and do you work full time? I have 2 (5 and 2) and work a truly full time job. I like to entertain and we have a nice yard, better than our friends, when we get together its usually here. We're having them tomorrow... I just spent the last 2 hours prepping a very simple menu (for 15 people including kids) and getting the backyard ready, another hour shoppping after working all week, and i have another hour tomorrow of prep. I'm happy to do it once i. A while but exhausted... This is why we only see our friends 2x yr. i prefer to host properly and i dont even mind the spend, but really, I'd be willing to do it more if we did potluck - and we all have fun hanging out while the kids play, so whats the harm?

We usually just order out when I am tired or don't have time to cook. Something fancier than pizza but not too expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please move home, OP.

I have to leave the country because I don't like potlucks?

Oh my! I would probably have my citizenship revoked if the original pp finds out that I hate potlucks AND Oreos.

THAT'S IT! Out you go!


I don't mind potlucks. I go to one or two/year, and always with people I know. I've never gotten sick and neither has anyone else. They don't bother me.

I always ask if I can bring something if we're going somewhere for supper.