It bugs me when people bring lame things to a potluck

[Anonymous]

I'm a guy and have to bring dessert for a pot luck this week. I was going to get a pie from a nice pie shop. Do you think that's OK?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't the folks that are bringing the lame dishes being taken care of by social norms? So they stop getting invited if they bring dishes with less thought or effort that went into it.

Because some people value company more than food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the potlucks I attend are at work and anything I bring from home has to commute with me through 5 blocks on foot, a bus ride and a Metro ride (for which I may or may not get a seat). We have only one car, so I can't drive in for the day. I have an infant and a 2-year-old, and am an exclusive pumper whose husband works until 10:30 every night. At least 75% of the people in our office are childless/empty nesters who drive everywhere. Bottom line I'm not going to feel guilty about bringing a bad of chips or a box of plastic forks.

When my friends and I have potlucks, everyone picks up a pizza on the way over. Come hang with us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a guy and have to bring dessert for a pot luck this week. I was going to get a pie from a nice pie shop. Do you think that's OK?

Yes, sounds great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes people have better things to do than cook for a party they didn't plan.

Then they should not attend. Don't accept and then fail to live up to the obligation to contribute in a quality way.

When people invite me to a potluck, I usually figure that they're inviting me because they want to see me, not because they want some particular thing at the potluck that meets their standards and their plan is for me to bring it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't the folks that are bringing the lame dishes being taken care of by social norms? So they stop getting invited if they bring dishes with less thought or effort that went into it.

Because some people value company more than food.

But it's like going out for meals with folks who are good company but never pay for their meals even though they are able to. Gets old after awhile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP,
Did you host a potluck, or is this stemming from potlucks you've attended?

I don't pay attention to who brings what, unless I want the recipe for something.

OP here. Yeah, I hosted a potluck this weekend and everyone brought lame things for the most part. But I've noticed the same thing with most other potlucks I've been to.

OP, the solution is for you to stop hosting potlucks and start hosting events where you (the host) provide the food and drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a guy and have to bring dessert for a pot luck this week. I was going to get a pie from a nice pie shop. Do you think that's OK?

As long as you don't do an "American Pie" with it, it's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a guy and have to bring dessert for a pot luck this week. I was going to get a pie from a nice pie shop. Do you think that's OK?

Yes, sounds great.

Unless it is a small gathering, 8 or less, I'd avoid a pie. Go to the bakery and get something pre-cut or can be cut by guests in to small pieces. Part of the fun of a potluck is trying a little bit of everything, kind of hard with pie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a guy and have to bring dessert for a pot luck this week. I was going to get a pie from a nice pie shop. Do you think that's OK?

As long as you don't do an "American Pie" with it, it's fine.

Had not entered my mind. Until you mentioned it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a guy and have to bring dessert for a pot luck this week. I was going to get a pie from a nice pie shop. Do you think that's OK?

Yes, sounds great.

Unless it is a small gathering, 8 or less, I'd avoid a pie. Go to the bakery and get something pre-cut or can be cut by guests in to small pieces. Part of the fun of a potluck is trying a little bit of everything, kind of hard with pie.

But, if you have 30 people, and 10 are told to bring desert, I think my pie goes a long way. People aren't going to try 10 deserts.

[Anonymous]

If you are a man and you make your own pie and it is decent, chicks will go wild.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are a man and you make your own pie and it is decent, chicks will go wild.

Hmmm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a guy and have to bring dessert for a pot luck this week. I was going to get a pie from a nice pie shop. Do you think that's OK?

Yes. The standards are much lower for guys. You could show up with a bag of ice and a football and you'd be golden.

[Anonymous]

Three pages and I'm the only one with reservations about the food other people prepare?

Cleanliness of other people's kitchens, do they lick their fingers inbetween, worse, and so on?

I'm not a clean freak but it does skeeve me quite a bit.