Was the host just going to toss it? When we host, I usually offer people to take home what brought because we really don't want all all the leftovers and I don't want to waste food. Our get togethers are also super informal because we've all been friends for decades.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask the host what they prefer.
What I don't understand is when other people (the guests) descend upon leftover food and take it home without invitation from the host. To me, that's super rude!

It seems super rude to me, too. The host has dibs. Then the person who brought it gets to decide to offer it to other guests or take it home.

Dibs on food that has been sitting out? If it’s been out more than 2 hours, it’s going straight to the trash. In fact if a bunch of people have been serving themselves with it, it goes right in the trash after the event.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask the host what they prefer.
What I don't understand is when other people (the guests) descend upon leftover food and take it home without invitation from the host. To me, that's super rude!

It seems super rude to me, too. The host has dibs. Then the person who brought it gets to decide to offer it to other guests or take it home.

I don't know... if you are asking people to bring food to your party, you are hosting a potluck. The etiquette for a potluck is that everyone takes their items home. You can't have it both ways.

OP did not ask them to bring food; they offered or asked what they could bring. She had planned to provide all the food. That is not a potluck.

OP did not tell them no. So this is a potluck. “Just bring yourselves” is what you say if you provide all the food.

It depends. Clearly, it doesn't make sense to for multiple people to leave large amounts of remaining food at the home of someone who is single and living alone. So in that instance, I would offer to take it home. Otherwise, I would probably leave it.

Anonymous wrote:

Ha!! This episode was on last night.

Typically you bring it back because 1) its in your own dish or 2) less for the host to clean.

I would feel really weird taking food back.

Anonymous wrote:I usually want people to take home anything they brought. Otherwise I will likely throw it away.

Then tell them that, but never ever take back something you brought. Do you expect people to take back unopened bottles of wine?

What, no? The food you bring is for the host. If you want the container back, you ask what to put the food in.

I usually want people to take home anything they brought. Otherwise I will likely throw it away.

We do in our friend group. Leaving all of the leftovers feels like a burden for the host. It's a lot to pack, clean up or clean out.

I never assume i can take it back. I sometimes ask. As a host, depending on the amounts, i love when people take food home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask the host what they prefer.
What I don't understand is when other people (the guests) descend upon leftover food and take it home without invitation from the host. To me, that's super rude!

It seems super rude to me, too. The host has dibs. Then the person who brought it gets to decide to offer it to other guests or take it home.

I don't know... if you are asking people to bring food to your party, you are hosting a potluck. The etiquette for a potluck is that everyone takes their items home. You can't have it both ways.

OP did not ask them to bring food; they offered or asked what they could bring. She had planned to provide all the food. That is not a potluck.

No you do not take it. You don't think of taking it.