Potluck people come in….I need insight on your reasons

[Anonymous]

If we didn’t have potlucks we’d all be home ordering in or having sandwiches. Missing our friends. Shabby hospitality with everyone pitching in is perfection to me.

[Anonymous]

I'm close to 50 now and some of the fondest memories from my childhood are of potlucks. A big bunch of us kids all running around and playing. Our parents chatting in a cluster over there. Then we'd all line up for the food and I'd keep asking - what's that? What's that? It was very good exposure to new foods for me.

This was with a bunch of my parents' friends, all with close-in-age children. They all were FRIENDS, so no one would screw the others by bringing a bag of rolls from the store. Everyone brought good dishes, and some people were begged to bring "their" dish to every potluck.

Then we all grew up and in the years immediately following college - think group homes - and when friends started out in their own homes and with their own newly growing families, potlucks were still common. Sometimes the hosts would say - no, not this time. Other times they'd say "yes, bring your XX! And make sure to save for me - it's always gone in the first few minutes."

I just have such fond memories of those casual, fun events where I got to see what others were good at making. There were events where the hosts provided everything, yes, but I really remember the potlucks better because of the vibe. They were just so much fun.

[Anonymous]

my husband used to host monthly potlucks, for years. whoever could come, came, we tried new food, people were proud to share their offerings, it was casual and very fun.

we would never have have been able to host dinners once a month for 20ish people! potlucks are SO much less work, and they give a group a people a chance to be together much more frequently. EVeryone who attended has lots of warm feelings towards each other still. I keep wishing we would start doing it again, but since having kids it feels like a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is definitely a time and place for potlucks. If we're hosting a dinner or a specific event, we're not going to do a potluck. If guests bring a bottle of wine or a store-bought dessert, that's great but not expected. We'll do everything else.

If we're providing the "location," like a casual neighborhood gathering or casual Fourth of July picnic, we'll do a potluck. I don't want lack of time to prevent people from getting together so potlucks are perfect for casual, fun, just hanging out.

+1 I used to want to do everything myself but that made it hard for me to host as frequently as I wanted to because of the amount of work and expense. We have the space to host and I'm happy to open up my home but I can't always do all the work. Even if people are bringing things I try to limit it to apps or dessert or a bottle of wine. I'll still do a fun cocktail and a main with sides and a salad.

With close friends I don't mind attending a potluck. I love to cook so it gives me a chance to bring a more complicated dish or dessert that I often can't do with a large dinner party I'm hosting because I have too many different things I have to get done. With a potluck I can focus on one dish and making that really well. I don't enjoy large group potlucks like school events, etc because I feel like too many people take the easy route and make little to no effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm close to 50 now and some of the fondest memories from my childhood are of potlucks. A big bunch of us kids all running around and playing. Our parents chatting in a cluster over there. Then we'd all line up for the food and I'd keep asking - what's that? What's that? It was very good exposure to new foods for me.

This was with a bunch of my parents' friends, all with close-in-age children. They all were FRIENDS, so no one would screw the others by bringing a bag of rolls from the store. Everyone brought good dishes, and some people were begged to bring "their" dish to every potluck.

Then we all grew up and in the years immediately following college - think group homes - and when friends started out in their own homes and with their own newly growing families, potlucks were still common. Sometimes the hosts would say - no, not this time. Other times they'd say "yes, bring your XX! And make sure to save for me - it's always gone in the first few minutes."

I just have such fond memories of those casual, fun events where I got to see what others were good at making. There were events where the hosts provided everything, yes, but I really remember the potlucks better because of the vibe. They were just so much fun.

Same! It reminds me of being a kid. Those were the best parties. My favorite was a 55 years birthday potluck - everyone brought their best dish and dressed up. Everyone danced. It was beautiful.

I like smaller shared meals as well. It can be fancy or casual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my husband used to host monthly potlucks, for years. whoever could come, came, we tried new food, people were proud to share their offerings, it was casual and very fun.

we would never have have been able to host dinners once a month for 20ish people! potlucks are SO much less work, and they give a group a people a chance to be together much more frequently. EVeryone who attended has lots of warm feelings towards each other still. I keep wishing we would start doing it again, but since having kids it feels like a lot.

This. I agree with PPs who don't like the massive potlucks you get at the end of a sports season with a large team and people you don't know but casually getting together and everyone shares the load so that it isn't too much of a burden on one family, I love it.

[Anonymous]

I don't mind potlucks! Unless they are at work, and then I don't go because I don't believe in having the staff cater the office party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we didn’t have potlucks we’d all be home ordering in or having sandwiches. Missing our friends. Shabby hospitality with everyone pitching in is perfection to me.

+1

I'm split, because it depends on the situation. Me and my family rotate (about 3-4 times per year) hosting. So, if it is my turn to host, it is my turn to host - not inconvenience everyone else. If it is not a holiday, but a get together, then maybe potluck is in order. Casual is fine.

[Anonymous]

I always feel like these types of threads attract more potluck haters. I enjoy hosting parties, I frequently host 'crappy dinner parties,' although before I read this thread I would have referred to those just as, hanging out with good friends, and I love attending potlucks. I don't really host potlucks in my home- but I am a regular attendee at pool, swim team, and church potlucks. I enjoy the mix of foods. I don't care one bit if some people bring a 10 pack of tacos from taco bell, b/c I know the kids will gobble them down. I usually go to some level of effort for potlucks because I enjoy it- but if I am pressed for time I am not above getting a bucket of fried chicken from KFC- and it is always one of the first things to go. Our pool has regular potlucks- given that they tend to be well attended I would say they are popular. I much prefer a potluck to 'chip in for pizza.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always feel like these types of threads attract more potluck haters. I enjoy hosting parties, I frequently host 'crappy dinner parties,' although before I read this thread I would have referred to those just as, hanging out with good friends, and I love attending potlucks. I don't really host potlucks in my home- but I am a regular attendee at pool, swim team, and church potlucks. I enjoy the mix of foods. I don't care one bit if some people bring a 10 pack of tacos from taco bell, b/c I know the kids will gobble them down. I usually go to some level of effort for potlucks because I enjoy it- but if I am pressed for time I am not above getting a bucket of fried chicken from KFC- and it is always one of the first things to go. Our pool has regular potlucks- given that they tend to be well attended I would say they are popular. I much prefer a potluck to 'chip in for pizza.'

Interesting that you feel this way. The Pro Potluck people definitely outweigh the haters. I’m actually surprised that more people don’t Hate them.

[Anonymous]

we have a group of 4 couples who do things together often. if someone wants to have a get together, we are all happy to bring a dish so that the full burden is not all on one person. we usually do host provides main and one brings salad, one brings veg and one brings dessert.

we eat then play cards or something. fun and easy way to entertain!

[Anonymous]

The only time I do this is for family, after I’ve had a good run of full-hosting. It’s usually some type of favor, like even though it’s my cousin’s turn to host a low-key holiday, I take it on but all local family contributes. I don’t do this for friends. Ever.