First time hanging out with neighbors...invited to cookout. What should I bring?

[Anonymous]

Oh, for heaven's sake. A six-pack of seasonal beer is always welcome at a BBQ. If for some reason the host doesn't consume or drink alcohol, I'm sure they're well able to put it to the side and get rid of it later.

Something like homemade cookies or brownies that don't require any refrigeration are also a safe bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drives me nuts when people randomly show up with food they expect me to serve

You must be a lovely hostess.

I am.

Fully planned, well executed meals. Fully stocked bar. Wine matched to the food.

Don't really need a dish cooked in a manner I don't know, of unknown quality, that may or may not compliment my menu.

*complement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't necessarily bring beer. How do you know alcohol is welcome? And beer bothers a lot of well intentioned liberals.

Wait, what? I'm a liberal who suggested beer earlier...

And I'm a progressive who finds it troubling.

WTF?

How about a local produced beer, a beer made an environmentally sensitive brewery like New Belgium (owned by an ESOP, BTW) etc? You do not have to drink corporate beer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drives me nuts when people randomly show up with food they expect me to serve

You must be a lovely hostess.

I am.

Fully planned, well executed meals. Fully stocked bar. Wine matched to the food.

Don't really need a dish cooked in a manner I don't know, of unknown quality, that may or may not compliment my menu.

What wine matches hotdogs and hamburgers?

Franzia, Chillable Red.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drives me nuts when people randomly show up with food they expect me to serve

You must be a lovely hostess.

I am.

Fully planned, well executed meals. Fully stocked bar. Wine matched to the food.

Don't really need a dish cooked in a manner I don't know, of unknown quality, that may or may not compliment my menu.

Talk about being uptight!

[Anonymous]

If you are going to buy something from the store get it at whole foods or a good bakery. It's embarrassing when someone brings the Safeway special pie. We bought $70 worth of bakery cookies and cake pops from whole foods. Guess which one was eaten right away and which was left untouched?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are going to buy something from the store get it at whole foods or a good bakery. It's embarrassing when someone brings the Safeway special pie. We bought $70 worth of bakery cookies and cake pops from whole foods. Guess which one was eaten right away and which was left untouched?

If kids are at the party I would assume the Safeway cupcakes are eaten first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are going to buy something from the store get it at whole foods or a good bakery. It's embarrassing when someone brings the Safeway special pie. We bought $70 worth of bakery cookies and cake pops from whole foods. Guess which one was eaten right away and which was left untouched?

If kids are at the party I would assume the Safeway cupcakes are eaten first.

Whole Foods baked goods are the worst. They look pretty but taste like cardboard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are going to buy something from the store get it at whole foods or a good bakery. It's embarrassing when someone brings the Safeway special pie. We bought $70 worth of bakery cookies and cake pops from whole foods. Guess which one was eaten right away and which was left untouched?

If kids are at the party I would assume the Safeway cupcakes are eaten first.

Whole Foods baked goods are the worst. They look pretty but taste like cardboard.

I once bought a pie from Whole Foods and it was moldy between the crust and the filling. And not just a little mold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are going to buy something from the store get it at whole foods or a good bakery. It's embarrassing when someone brings the Safeway special pie. We bought $70 worth of bakery cookies and cake pops from whole foods. Guess which one was eaten right away and which was left untouched?

If kids are at the party I would assume the Safeway cupcakes are eaten first.

Whole Foods baked goods are the worst. They look pretty but taste like cardboard.

I once bought a pie from Whole Foods and it was moldy between the crust and the filling. And not just a little mold.

And their cakes and cookies are terrible. The frosting makes me gag. I do not understand how their stuff is so bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drives me nuts when people randomly show up with food they expect me to serve

I've never put out food Ive received, and no one has been offended. It's not that big of a deal.

Really? So if someone brings dessert or an app you just put it away? That's weird. And I do get annoyed when people bring food without asking what's needed. If I spend time making a nice big salad and someone else brings salad without me knowing- I end up tossing all the leftovers. Buuuut i would always serve it. Seems really weird not to.

This fascinates me.

So do you just say thank you, tck it in the fridge and pull it out and hand it back to them as they are leaving?

How awkward!

If that is the case, you are delusional if you think your guests are not offended by this.

They just happen to be too gracious and polite to react to your face to your absolute rudeness. But there is no way they aren't offended and giving an earfull to their spouse on the drive home, or at the very least laughing about the absurdity of your behavior.

+1, and even if she doesn't hand it back to them at the end. I also believe the guest should ask what they can bring, but not serving what someone brings along to a BBQ (formal dinner is another thing) is just plain weird and rude. Anybody would be puzzled and offended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't necessarily bring beer. How do you know alcohol is welcome? And beer bothers a lot of well intentioned liberals.

Wait, what? I'm a liberal who suggested beer earlier...

And I'm a progressive who finds it troubling.

Can you provide more information on why Beer is "troubling" to you?

Yes, please explain! I'm a progressive from Europe and this is so strange! Does wine trouble you, too?

[Anonymous]

Oh my -- folks are so weird. It was only a bbq. How did it go OP? What did you end up bringing? I agree with bringing beer, wine, maybe some non-alcoholic drinks for the kids and some nice waters. And, if you know how many children might be there...you might be able to find a fun game or games to bring along or party favors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd either bring berries - which even if she has some, they usually go fast and so won't mind having extra - or homemade cookies that people can snack on and won't conflict with the dessert she has likely planned.

And no one should ever turn down more alcohol! Beer is great of course. Chilled white wine. Or a champagne punch.

Alcohol should be given unchilled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drives me nuts when people randomly show up with food they expect me to serve

You must be a lovely hostess.

Seriously . . . geesh.