What is it with Americans and pot-lucks?

[Anonymous]

I like to try different foods, and then get the recipes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Another +1. We rarely host so-called formal dinners, but often have one or more families over and we prepare or purchase all food, but often someone will bring wine or a dessert.

We also throw one major party a year on Labor Day weekend and invite upwards of fifty friends and neighbors. It's a casual backyard affair that usually lasts all afternoon and evening. For that we ask that each family consider bringing a side dish or dessert. We provide all the main course and drinks, as well as a side and dessert ourselves. Almost everyone comes each year and everyone seems to have a great time at such a large event which we couldn't afford to do out of pocket if we provided everything. Plus, DH and I both work full-time so there's no way I could even prepare that much food.

There are many ways to entertain, and depending on the circumstances, they both work for us and our circle of friends.

[Anonymous]

We're having a party today. Around 80 people. We ask people to feel free to bring a side or dessert, but no obligation. And frankly, my friends are all cool enough they would bring something even if I didn't ask. We cover beer, soda, burgers and dogs, along with plenty of apps and sides, but the extra is nice to have.

[Anonymous]

If you're the host of an on-going social function, like a weekly book club or Bible study, then I think it's fair that preparing the food shouldn't be all on your every week just because you're kind enough to open your home to the group. You may be the only one with a living room able to comfortably seat every one, but others can take ownership of the activity by taking turns with the food, facilitating discussion, etc.

But if you're throwing a dinner party, then you are responsible for the food and beverages. Most people will bring a bottle of wine or offer to bring a dessert, but the host of a dinner party or a brunch needs to have prepared enough food to feed all the guests - any contributions by guests are just a bonus and it should be fine for them to show up without a dish. Otherwise, call your get together something else - a dinner party means you're making dinner and throwing a party. You are, not your guests.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy a good potluck but it does require some organization as people are more likely to bring salads and desserts than main courses. So if you can get a sub-set of the group to volunteer for main dishes, then everyone else can just wing it and you can lobby the better cooks of the group to bring their usual favs.

Another great natural potluck - BBQs! The hosts usually have plenty but if you want to bring some potato salad, some more burgers or hot dogs, I find it almost never goes to waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're having a party today. Around 80 people. We ask people to feel free to bring a side or dessert, but no obligation. And frankly, my friends are all cool enough they would bring something even if I didn't ask. We cover beer, soda, burgers and dogs, along with plenty of apps and sides, but the extra is nice to have.

+1

We have a house & yard that is more conducive to entertaining than most of our friends, so they appreciate that we have parties throughout the summer. Even when I tell them to bring nothing, they still show up with stuff. Some friends like showing off new recipes; others show off that they live close to Wegman's. It is all 100% appreciated! My only rule is that if you brought it, you take it with you when you leave! (I don't need an entire cheesecake with one sliver taken from it for just me & DH.)

[Anonymous]

OP, my parents (not American-born) think like you, and that has always been my bias when hosting, though I have ALWAYS loved attending others' potlucks and bringing something.

Interestingly, I have other family and friends, more recent immigrants, who do potlucks regularly because it allows for more frequent get-togethers without it being too much work for anyone person.

[Anonymous]

It's a Protestant thing. We Catholics are not so much into the potluck thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to try different foods, and then get the recipes!

+1!

[Anonymous]

When I host, I do everything and only expect people to show up. I look at hosting as an opportunity to catch up with friends and treat my guests to a night off from cooking and cleaning. If I go to someone else's, I appreciate the same. If it's potluck, I only go if it's someone I really like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another great natural potluck - BBQs! The hosts usually have plenty but if you want to bring some potato salad, some more burgers or hot dogs, I find it almost never goes to waste.

Exactly what I predicted upthread. Same old burgers and hot dogs, cheap, bland, reliable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another great natural potluck - BBQs! The hosts usually have plenty but if you want to bring some potato salad, some more burgers or hot dogs, I find it almost never goes to waste.

Exactly what I predicted upthread. Same old burgers and hot dogs, cheap, bland, reliable.

You sound really high maintenance and difficult to please. The point of any party is to get together and have fun, not judge all your supposed friends or look down on the food they serve. So unkind and antisocial. Just because you like to act superior doesn't mean you actually are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a Protestant thing. We Catholics are not so much into the potluck thing.

Are you kidding?

Potlucks are very common in Catholic circles. You are crazy-talking!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another great natural potluck - BBQs! The hosts usually have plenty but if you want to bring some potato salad, some more burgers or hot dogs, I find it almost never goes to waste.

Exactly what I predicted upthread. Same old burgers and hot dogs, cheap, bland, reliable.

You sound really high maintenance and difficult to please. The point of any party is to get together and have fun, not judge all your supposed friends or look down on the food they serve. So unkind and antisocial. Just because you like to act superior doesn't mean you actually are.

I am quite social and a very good, inventive cook. I put love and thought into food for my family and friends and when I see "burger and hot dog" situation without any attempt to make the food just a little different, it makes me sad. Try some Sriracha on your hot dogs already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another great natural potluck - BBQs! The hosts usually have plenty but if you want to bring some potato salad, some more burgers or hot dogs, I find it almost never goes to waste.

Exactly what I predicted upthread. Same old burgers and hot dogs, cheap, bland, reliable.

cheap?! I buy all of my beef in bulk and it is all grass fed and then dry aged by the butcher. I bet you have never even had a burger made out of dry aged beef. I'm literally locally famous for my burgers. I've had people ask me if they can pay me to make burgers for their freezer stash (I do a special seasoning as well).