Hosting a pot-luck party

If you're looking for an informal dinner party idea, why not host a potluck? Here are some tips and ideas for throwing a pot-luck party.

Most of us enjoy entertaining and feel there’s no better combination than good friends and good food. Many of us enjoy throwing dinner parties as well, but don’t enjoy the work involved, especially when you consider what one has to go through for a formal dinner. Even not so formal affairs require much in the way of preparation, not to mention cost. What if your tastes are informal and you want to have a gathering that doesn’t break the bank?

One way to throw an enjoyable, casual affair is to host a potluck party. The benefits to a “bring your own dish party” are plenty. The biggest is the hostess doesn’t have to spend the day, as well as the entire evening, preparing food. Anyone who’s ever hosted a dinner party knows it’s hard to enjoy one's self when all the guests are laughing it up in the living room and you’re stuck in the kitchen marinating chicken wings. This doesn’t mean that, by hosting a potluck, the hostess will have nothing to do but open her door and greet people, but because she’s not cooking a twelve course meal, the preparations involved will be minimal. That means more time to enjoy the good company.

If you’re planning a potluck dinner, be sure to discuss the menu ahead of time. This will enable you to avoid duplicate or similar recipes. It wouldn’t do to have three scalloped potato dishes or four peach cobblers. It will also keep cooks from creating something someone might be allergic to or can’t eat. In addition, you’ll be able to plan out the different courses. For instance, by giving out meal assignments you can have two or three guests bring appetizers, a few others can work on side dishes, (the hostess generally provides the entrée) and the bakers in the group can whip up a dessert or two. Everyone wins.

If you’d like, you can have a surprise pot luck dinner. When giving your meal assignments, advise your chefs not to tell anyone (including yourself) what dishes they plan to bring to the party. If someone in the group has a food allergy or can’t eat a particular food due to medical reasons, it’s best to inform all the cooks prior to the event so no one is left out of the sampling. This is a good occasion to try out a new dish or share a beloved family recipe.

Because a potluck dinner is informal, you don’t have to worry about a lot of fancy decorating, or bringing out the good silver (unless you want to). The party can be as casual as you’d like. It can be a buffet or backyard barbecue. You can use everyday plates, or for fewer cleanups, you can purchase festive, disposable party ware. Set up folding tables for the buffet and don’t be afraid to ask guests to bring extra chairs if they are needed. The style of dress is up to you. For a casual affair, your guests will enjoy having the option of dressing up or coming in jeans.

If there are friends coming who aren’t cooking types, they can be assigned beverage duty. Have them whip up some tasty punches, mixed drinks and flavored coffees. The hostess should provide a general assortment of beers, sodas and wines, but special drinks can be provided by designated beverage people. People without culinary skills can also stop at the bakery for some fresh bread and rolls or pastries for dessert. No one is excluded at a potluck dinner.

Potlucks are great for large gatherings such as graduation parties or Fourth of July barbecues. They set the tone for the day as well. A casual theme means guests can really let their hair down, be themselves and not have to worry about stuffy formalities. Isn’t the purpose of a party to relax and enjoy yourself?

If you’re looking for a theme for your next gathering, consider a potluck dinner. Who knows? It may even become an annual tradition.