Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 13:10     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?




Cooks have first dibs on their own dishes.






Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 13:04     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
As a host, I always offer the leftovers back to the person who brought the item. If they decline, I offer it to other guests. As a guest, I don’t ask for anything. If leftovers are offered to me (I cooked or others did) I take a reasonable portion if I want them.

In no scenario do I assume all the leftovers are mine. (Nor would I want this anyway.)
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 13:01     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Ah this is so awkward. There are some people who want you to leave the food and will eat it. There are some people who are annoyed if you leave your leftovers. Sometimes it's awkward to suss out what they want me to do.

DH and I love leftovers and we eat them all. We freeze turkey and use it later for turkey soup, turkey pot pies, etc.


You need to have potluck rules in your potluck group. We have a monthly potluck with a group of familes. Our rules are -
- everyone takes turns to host.
- container sizes are predetermined. Yes, to aluminium foil containers that fit the chafing stands.
- people need to bring food that is already at serving temperature in the container that it will be served (usually aluminium foil containers of specific size. Icebaths and chafing stands are provided. People need to put their dishes at the provided stands.
- host provides the basics such as - starch, one entree, one appetizer and drinks.
- all leftovers gets divvied up equally.
- food is served buffet style.
- host discusses with the group and gives options for menu items for each category. Attendees pick what they want to bring. Menu is then finalized.


Ok, who worked in catering? This is amazing.


Thank you for the compliments. . No. No one works for catering but over the years we have figured out what works well.

Potlucks rules are necessary because there are always 1-2 flaky members in a group who will bring a bag of chips or take all the leftovers or generally not do their part - if there are no rules or guidelines for them. We make sure that the potluck rules are very equitable for all and everyone contributes equally so that there is no friction.

Catering is expensive and if you host multiple get-togethers annually then you have to DIY to make it affordable and have SOPs to host efficiently.
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 12:32     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have zero interest in leftovers, so when I host I try to pawn stuff off on everyone else. I will usually just throw a little bit of each dish into containers and stop thinking about it forever. However, if you really want to take the rest of your creamed corn home with you, I'm happy to oblige.


Soooo American.


Not fighting over food? That's okay with me.


Who said anyone is “fighting”? It’s a way to share their togetherness.
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 12:26     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Ah this is so awkward. There are some people who want you to leave the food and will eat it. There are some people who are annoyed if you leave your leftovers. Sometimes it's awkward to suss out what they want me to do.

DH and I love leftovers and we eat them all. We freeze turkey and use it later for turkey soup, turkey pot pies, etc.


You need to have potluck rules in your potluck group. We have a monthly potluck with a group of familes. Our rules are -
- everyone takes turns to host.
- container sizes are predetermined. Yes, to aluminium foil containers that fit the chafing stands.
- people need to bring food that is already at serving temperature in the container that it will be served (usually aluminium foil containers of specific size. Icebaths and chafing stands are provided. People need to put their dishes at the provided stands.
- host provides the basics such as - starch, one entree, one appetizer and drinks.
- all leftovers gets divvied up equally.
- food is served buffet style.
- host discusses with the group and gives options for menu items for each category. Attendees pick what they want to bring. Menu is then finalized.


Ok, who worked in catering? This is amazing.
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 12:25     Subject: Re:Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Anonymous wrote:We assign leftover duties at our house. We have disposable containers in bulk and one person is assigned for each dish. That person will divvy that dish up in x number of portions. At the end of this exercise, we have neatly stacked rows of leftovers. Then someone else is assigned to neatly put it in plastic bags. As guests leave my home, they pick up their serving ware, serving spoons, and one bag of leftovers. What they do with the leftovers is their choice - eat it, give it to the homeless, freeze it, dump it in the trash etc...

Though, most of the times - habitual potluckers like me, usually make extra and keep a portion at home for our own use instead of bringing it all to the potluck.


This is impressive organization. Kudos!
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 12:24     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
I've never heard of people bringing their own containers to take home leftovers. Usually the host will make an announcement for people to help themselves to leftovers and provide paper plates and foil or disposable containers if that is their desire. Otherwise, the guests eat their fill at the meal and leave the rest for the host.
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 10:47     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Anonymous wrote:Ah this is so awkward. There are some people who want you to leave the food and will eat it. There are some people who are annoyed if you leave your leftovers. Sometimes it's awkward to suss out what they want me to do.

DH and I love leftovers and we eat them all. We freeze turkey and use it later for turkey soup, turkey pot pies, etc.


You need to have potluck rules in your potluck group. We have a monthly potluck with a group of familes. Our rules are -
- everyone takes turns to host.
- container sizes are predetermined. Yes, to aluminium foil containers that fit the chafing stands.
- people need to bring food that is already at serving temperature in the container that it will be served (usually aluminium foil containers of specific size. Icebaths and chafing stands are provided. People need to put their dishes at the provided stands.
- host provides the basics such as - starch, one entree, one appetizer and drinks.
- all leftovers gets divvied up equally.
- food is served buffet style.
- host discusses with the group and gives options for menu items for each category. Attendees pick what they want to bring. Menu is then finalized.
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 10:46     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Anonymous wrote:Years ago my MIL discovered that you can buy those white carton Chinese food containers in bulk and she puts those out at all the holidays with a sharpie marker instead of food saver type containers.

She had a large house to host in every year, but she and my FIL were not eating all the stuff left over. Several relatives always brought a dish. I always brought wine and it was always gone by the time I left *touches nose and winks


What is this meant to symbolize?
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 10:43     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Years ago my MIL discovered that you can buy those white carton Chinese food containers in bulk and she puts those out at all the holidays with a sharpie marker instead of food saver type containers.

She had a large house to host in every year, but she and my FIL were not eating all the stuff left over. Several relatives always brought a dish. I always brought wine and it was always gone by the time I left *touches nose and winks
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 10:41     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Anonymous wrote:My gawd, who the F cares? Who are you people fighting family for leftover food?


This was my thought too.
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 10:36     Subject: Re:Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
We assign leftover duties at our house. We have disposable containers in bulk and one person is assigned for each dish. That person will divvy that dish up in x number of portions. At the end of this exercise, we have neatly stacked rows of leftovers. Then someone else is assigned to neatly put it in plastic bags. As guests leave my home, they pick up their serving ware, serving spoons, and one bag of leftovers. What they do with the leftovers is their choice - eat it, give it to the homeless, freeze it, dump it in the trash etc...

Though, most of the times - habitual potluckers like me, usually make extra and keep a portion at home for our own use instead of bringing it all to the potluck.
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 10:28     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Anonymous wrote:My gawd, who the F cares? Who are you people fighting family for leftover food?


America has become poor. LOL
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 10:27     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Typically at a nice potluck I bring a nice serving dish too, for presentation. Not an aluminum foil dish I'd leave. I think hosts should just be clear with guests.

I usually take whatever is left of the dish I brought and I don't take anyone else's.
Anonymous
Post 11/18/2025 10:24     Subject: Can guests take home leftovers if they've cooked the dish?
Ah this is so awkward. There are some people who want you to leave the food and will eat it. There are some people who are annoyed if you leave your leftovers. Sometimes it's awkward to suss out what they want me to do.

DH and I love leftovers and we eat them all. We freeze turkey and use it later for turkey soup, turkey pot pies, etc.