Potluck often gets a bad rap, but a potluck meal can actually be a great way to get together with friends or family without incurring great expense. The costs are divvied up between the host and amongst the guests.
These seven tips will help you make the most of potluck meals:
1. Get organized. Make a list to insure that everyone does not bring the same item or the same type of dish. Four desserts and no side dishes doesn’t create a good balance. Suggest certain items that you still need for guests that don’t know what to bring.
2. Check with guests to avoid any food allergies, and let others know about allergies.
3. Cooking is not required. Let your culinary challenged guests bring beverages, napkins, or other items that are needed, so they won’t feel left out even if they aren’t exactly experienced in the kitchen. Let them know too that fresh dinner rolls from the bakery or a simple relish tray would be great.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for certain items. If a friend makes a special dish that is always a crowd pleaser, don’t hesitate to ask him or her to bring that dish. Your friend will likely be flattered.
5. Be sure to give precise amounts. Let guests know how many people you have invited and that you will need enough of what they are bringing to serve that precise number of people. Even if everyone doesn’t show up, it’s better to have too much than not enough.
6. Advise friends to bring containers for taking home leftovers, or pick some up to have on hand. Glad food storage containers are great and they are affordable. This way, you won’t have to send your own containers with someone and worry about getting them back.
7. Wash the containers your guests brought food in and return them to the appropriate person before the end of the party, so you won’t have to worry about getting dishes back to the right person later. If this is not possible, make sure containers are clearly marked, or make a list of what belongs to whom.