My wife and I were recently invited to a potluck dinner/appetizers at our neighbors house. Some people love the idea of going to a friend's house and trying dishes made by all of the different guests. Others are horrified to go to these events wondering what exactly the green stuff is in the white casserole dish. The dessert table always seems safe with cookies, tarts, and assortments of different pies. I'm always worried when I get invited to these shindigs what exactly I should bring to the party. Should I be bringing food and a bottle of wine? Does it have to be a homemade dish or is it appropriate to go to the local bakery? So, how much should you spend when you get invited to a potluck dinner? So, here are a few Ted rules after giving this a bunch of thought (and sleeping off whatever lemonade cocktail was in that pitcher at the bar).
- Make sure whatever you bring is recognizable- O.K.-here's the deal. Nobody wants to come to one of these parties wondering whether it's chicken or tuna in the off white rice in the bowl. Anytime you have to use the stirring utensil to mix the food around in the bowl to guess what it is creates a sure sign that you've failed to bring the right thing to the potluck party. This isn't a Secret Santa party and nobody wants a surprise that will repeat on them later in the event. Please be certain people can quickly assess what's in the dish.
- Come up with your trademark dish- As long as your trademark dish isn't a box of Entenmann's chocolate chip cookies in a box, you should be good for the long haul in your neighborhood. A good friend of mine had a signature spinach and artichoke dip that was plunked right in the middle of a bread bowl and served with a bevy of vegetables which was always a party hit. It could be as simple as a special Antipasto dish or perhaps you have a family recipe that has been around for generations. Once your neighbors rave about your dish, they'll want you back for the same stuff over and over again.
- Cost is relative to the number of guests- Remember, the whole idea of having a potluck dinner is so you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars going out to dinner. Make sure the amount of servings you make is still enough for all of the guests to try a bite, but most nights it shouldn't cost you more than $30 to make your dish. Even if you do have to go out and pick up something for the party, you can still grab something delicious for a reasonable price. If you do feel like bringing something for the host, you can pick up a bottle of wine or a small gift for $10 to $15 which will work just fine.
- Bring your serving bowl and appropriate utensil- Nobody likes having to use a plastic spoon to ladle out a bowl of chili or a helping of the fruit salad. If you know your dish, then you should also know the best way to present and serve it. This won't even cost you any money as you may be able to take your serving bowl home at the end of the night or pick it up the next day.
- Solo Cups- How could I not make mention of Solo Cups. Not only do I like the cult hit "Red Solo Cup" by Toby Keith, no host can ever have enough of these cups at a potluck party. Unless your parties are in the high rent district, Solo Cups can be another cost effective thing to make a potluck party great.
Usually when I leave these parties I feel relieved because I always manage to spot at least one thing that looks worse than what I brought to the party. The other night there was some pineapple mango dish that I wasn't quite sure if it was an over-sized bowl of salsa or meant for some fruit for dessert. Either way, it was something I couldn't quickly recognize, and I simply don't eat what I can't explain. Neither should you . . .
Let us know your potluck stories and ideas - Comment Now
Written by:
Ted Jenkin, CFP®, AAMS®, AWMA®, CRPC®, CMFC®, CRPS®
Co-CEO and Founder of oXYGen Financial, Inc - The Leaders in Gen X & Y Financial Advice
Visit to www.oxygenfinancial.net to request a free consultation with the leading financial experts for people in their 20's, 30's, and 40's in the country.
Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NFP Advisor Services, LLC (NFPAS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Oxygen Financial is not affiliated with NFPAS. NFPAS does not provide tax or legal advice. This site is published for residents of the United States only. Registered Representatives and Investment Advisor Representatives of NFP Advisor Services, LLC (NFPAS) may only conduct business with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered. Therefore, a response to a request for information may be delayed. Not all products and services referenced on this site are available in every state and through every representative or advisor listed. For additional information, please contact NFPAS Compliance Department at 512-697-6000. PLEASE NOTE: The information being provided is strictly as a courtesy. When you link to any of the web sites provided here, you are leaving this web site. NFP Advisor Services, LLC makes no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these web sites. Nor is NFP Advisor Services, LLC liable for any direct or indirect technical or system issues or any consequences arising out of your access to or your use of third-party technologies, web sites, information and programs made available through this web site. When you access one of these web sites, you are leaving our web site and assume total responsibility and risk for your use of the web sites you are linking to.
