You’re Invited! Bring Your Own Food

Ah, the holidays. What better time to gather with friends, enjoy a drink and food – which you’ve asked them to bring? What is this recent trend called the potluck that I’m seeing more and more of? Whatever it is, it irks the hell out of me.

Perhaps I’m in the minority here (wouldn’t be the first time) but isn’t it in bad taste to invite someone to a party and then spring on them that it’s a potluck? This happened to S and I recently. We’ve been invited to some pre-holiday drinks at a friend’s place on Friday night. While waiting for dinner to finish cooking yesterday, S mentioned that Friday’s gathering was a potluck.

“What?!” I asked surprised since this was the first I’d heard of it.

“Yep, it totally surprised me too,” S replied. “Of all my friends, they were the last people I’d expect this from.”

I understand we’re in tough economic times and everyone’s trying to watch their spending, but if you can’t afford to have a party, then don’t throw one. Or if you insist, just invite your closest friends and keep the food simple and cost effective. Telling guests that they have to bring a dish? That’s just ridiculous.

Bringing alcohol to a party is one thing since everyone’s drinking preferences are all over the map. But food? That should be provided for your guests, not by your guests.

I wasn’t sure I’d have time to make anything so S and I figured we’d probably end up buying something to take with us. My dinner plans for tonight fell through so I’ll take advantage of the opportunity and make some pasta salad. It’s easy to make and gentle on the wallet – which wouldn’t have been the case had we bought something pre-made.

The concept of a potluck get together is alright when it’s planned that way – if a group of my co-workers decided to throw a lunch and everyone agreed to bring something, that’d be alright. But this after-the-fact announcement? Not cool at all. Had I known it was a potluck, I’d have said no to the invite and stayed home. If I’m going to be making something, I might as well make it for S and I.

Am I wrong here? Surely I’m not the only one that thinks that if you invite your friends over than you should look after all aspects of the get-together?

Or maybe I’m just being a bitch (wouldn’t be the first time)…

Signed,
The Grinch