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Potluck Tips from Brooklyn's Baked Boys - some good ideas here
- Thread starter traca
- Start date
mariadnoca
Moderator
I just try to remind folks to bring serving pieces and utensils; I wouldn't want to wash all that.
I'd add when assigning dishes share if they are bringing dessert or w/e for all or if others are bringing like category dishes too, so they do/don't make enough.
"I had one person come over and basically start everything from scratch once." -- welcome to the first time I hosted TG with DDH's family. I still can't get over anyone would do that. And it was more than one person, more than once. I have a tiny kitchen. I was in hell.
Plan for what needs to be heated. If everyone needed a platter or 1 burner on the stove... annnd welcome to first time I hosted TG with DDH's family part II, the "there is not a single dish/platter left in my house undirtied" edition (and many I had to wash first for them).
Beverage assignments: if a family of 4 were to bring drinks for themselves and they just brought a 6-pack that would be unrealistic...first time I hosted TG with DDH's family part III, the mommy I'm thirsty, are we out of wine, or the Maria's hidden bottle to chug in the garage while sobbing edition.
/annnd scene.
My nephew in-law got to experience this first hand 2 years ago while I watched...and went in the kitchen to try to save him, while he did shots in the garage at his house and got faaar more drunk than I did when it happened to me. Oh history, how thou shall repeat thy selves.
I'd add when assigning dishes share if they are bringing dessert or w/e for all or if others are bringing like category dishes too, so they do/don't make enough.
"I had one person come over and basically start everything from scratch once." -- welcome to the first time I hosted TG with DDH's family. I still can't get over anyone would do that. And it was more than one person, more than once. I have a tiny kitchen. I was in hell.
Plan for what needs to be heated. If everyone needed a platter or 1 burner on the stove... annnd welcome to first time I hosted TG with DDH's family part II, the "there is not a single dish/platter left in my house undirtied" edition (and many I had to wash first for them).
Beverage assignments: if a family of 4 were to bring drinks for themselves and they just brought a 6-pack that would be unrealistic...first time I hosted TG with DDH's family part III, the mommy I'm thirsty, are we out of wine, or the Maria's hidden bottle to chug in the garage while sobbing edition.
/annnd scene.
My nephew in-law got to experience this first hand 2 years ago while I watched...and went in the kitchen to try to save him, while he did shots in the garage at his house and got faaar more drunk than I did when it happened to me. Oh history, how thou shall repeat thy selves.
Trouble with bringing your own wine is
that you put it out and everyone else dips into it and before you know it, it's all gone. Happens all the time to us. We bring it, but others do not....they take from those who do. We finally got a pretty wine carrier with a lid. It is a sturdy looking thing, silver with a lined interior. We keep two wine bottles in there, and close it up. It helps that we put our name on the front.
that you put it out and everyone else dips into it and before you know it, it's all gone. Happens all the time to us. We bring it, but others do not....they take from those who do. We finally got a pretty wine carrier with a lid. It is a sturdy looking thing, silver with a lined interior. We keep two wine bottles in there, and close it up. It helps that we put our name on the front.
Good move. I had a party a couple weeks ago. My friend is a wine guru and
treated with a magnum and 3 other bottles. We drank the magnum and one other bottle. During dinner, I saw someone fishing out the other two. It was uncomfortable but I asked them to hold off and wait for my friend to serve. (He was decanting them, etc.) It didn't seem to be a problem.
I haven't quite figured out how to handle the wine situation. Bring bottle(s) to share seems to work okay, but I know some folks don't bring enough wine. If I had deeper pockets, I'd just buy a back up stash, but that's not the case.
At this point, it's a stretch for me to entertain at all. I love it, so I do it anyway. Working out the kinks, will just have to come with practice.
I will say the friend of mine who walked in the door with a case of Corona became my hero! The same night, another guest brought a big bottle of tequila for our Mexican theme. Let's just say...things were festive. smileys/smile.gif Maybe the idea is to think beyond the bottle of wine.
treated with a magnum and 3 other bottles. We drank the magnum and one other bottle. During dinner, I saw someone fishing out the other two. It was uncomfortable but I asked them to hold off and wait for my friend to serve. (He was decanting them, etc.) It didn't seem to be a problem.
I haven't quite figured out how to handle the wine situation. Bring bottle(s) to share seems to work okay, but I know some folks don't bring enough wine. If I had deeper pockets, I'd just buy a back up stash, but that's not the case.
At this point, it's a stretch for me to entertain at all. I love it, so I do it anyway. Working out the kinks, will just have to come with practice.
I will say the friend of mine who walked in the door with a case of Corona became my hero! The same night, another guest brought a big bottle of tequila for our Mexican theme. Let's just say...things were festive. smileys/smile.gif Maybe the idea is to think beyond the bottle of wine.
I always have some on hand--a $3.99 Pinot Grigio and a $4.99 Cotes de Rhone, both from Trader Joe's
so there is backup in case what people bring doesn't go far enough. I usually end up with more than I started with. I guess I have generous friends, or maybe they are frightened by the idea of falling back on my "house" wines.
If I bring wine to a party it is usually a little nicer and I don't necessarily expect that I will be the one drinking it. As long as I get a glass or two of something decent I'm happy.
so there is backup in case what people bring doesn't go far enough. I usually end up with more than I started with. I guess I have generous friends, or maybe they are frightened by the idea of falling back on my "house" wines.
If I bring wine to a party it is usually a little nicer and I don't necessarily expect that I will be the one drinking it. As long as I get a glass or two of something decent I'm happy.
steve2-in-la
Well-known member
So if I understand this correctly, you bring the WORST wine possible, so no one wants to drink it?
That certainly explains alot. Personally, I bring a couple of bottles of some of my finest, make sure I get a glass, then pass it around. Good kharma, neh?
That certainly explains alot. Personally, I bring a couple of bottles of some of my finest, make sure I get a glass, then pass it around. Good kharma, neh?
steve2-in-la
Well-known member
Brilliant.
mariadnoca
Moderator
I always bring at least 2 bottles b/c g-d forbid there should be no more wine...
Along the way I've learned to bring pretty much standard $10ish a bottle catering level type wine, and maybe one decent bottle that I hold back till I'm ready to drink if there are wine vultures there. I let them all get a glass full of the other stuff first, then I have a bit of a chance to get at least once glass of the better stuff for me. I only bring good wine if it's a small group, as I've never had good luck bringing good wine to a group event.
Also, when we have TG or gatherings like that we just ask everyone to bring a bottle and that helps to not run out.
Along the way I've learned to bring pretty much standard $10ish a bottle catering level type wine, and maybe one decent bottle that I hold back till I'm ready to drink if there are wine vultures there. I let them all get a glass full of the other stuff first, then I have a bit of a chance to get at least once glass of the better stuff for me. I only bring good wine if it's a small group, as I've never had good luck bringing good wine to a group event.
Also, when we have TG or gatherings like that we just ask everyone to bring a bottle and that helps to not run out.
No, if I am HOSTING, I provide affordable drinkable table wine as a starter and as backup
If it scares some of my wine-snob guests into doubling down on the good stuff, so be it. I'm no stranger to pity. My only point is that you don't have to break the bank to have something on hand. (You just have to try all the cheap stuff at T.J.'s at one point or another--not a problem for me.)
If I am attending a party I usually go up a grade or two, say $5.99 or $6.99. I am usually asked to bring food anyway.
Heck, I bring homemade bread too so to hell with 'em!
If it scares some of my wine-snob guests into doubling down on the good stuff, so be it. I'm no stranger to pity. My only point is that you don't have to break the bank to have something on hand. (You just have to try all the cheap stuff at T.J.'s at one point or another--not a problem for me.)
If I am attending a party I usually go up a grade or two, say $5.99 or $6.99. I am usually asked to bring food anyway.
Heck, I bring homemade bread too so to hell with 'em!