Potluck etiquette

[Sara516]

Re: Potluck etiquette

@AFayiz

Well!!! yes in our circle too there is no forcing. However once my friend asked me that as she isn’t a great cook so she wanted me to bring biryani, although n my previous one dishes with other circle we had rule that whoever is gonna host will prepare Biryani or pulao but that was all Pakistani circle in Pakistan, Moving in multi cultural is a bit different, first of all many other cultures dont very much appreciate one dish. (Although i hate that on calling out for one dish no one anticipates but when u invite everyone is bringing some food). Last year when i did iftari I specially sent out message to all ladies that I have plenty of food dont bring any as I want ur company not food.
No special rules we have but now we somehow following about rice that host would make that, but for that also its need to be Pakistani or Indian host as others will just make plain rice. I was amazed when one of my bangladeshi friend was dishing out rice (white) and saying it pulao I asked from where is it pulao and then i came to know the rice they make with putting whole garam masala is pulao:smack:
So in multi culture u have little different experience. This eid also we are doing potluck, however we are just 7-8 families. Host asked me if i can make dessert and i said no I would make some savory dish and it was fine for her.
Never did potluck iftar here. When we were in KSA (with my parents before marriage) that time we had potluck even when we friends reached to 7-8 class we used to do one dish but most stuff was homemade. We sometimes used to organize school/college one dishes too.

Hmmm that’s interesting. The one I went to, the host did make beef biryani (she’s Bengali) but she called it pulaow too…I’m not sure.

@khattichic

As far as leftovers go, we usually just divvy up amongst ourselves, and whatever is left in your dish/bartan, you take it back home with you!!

Now I know this!

@redvelvet

Leftovers:

If they are offered by the host, then take an amount that leaves behind something for others.

Or…

Ask the host if you can take leftovers.

Pet Peeves:

(I guess these could have featured in X2’s thread)…

Slicker-than-Salan-Grease: This is the guest who doesn’t “ask” the host for left overs, she “tells” the host; may even announce it. “Rukhsana/Farhana/Zubaida (insert name for host)…main tumhari nihari apnay saath le kar jaa rahi hoon, mujhay container do.” See what Slick-Shady just did there? Had she “asked” for permission, it gives the host more wiggle room to refuse. But when you “tell” the host, it may be harder to inkaar them. Slicky may not be careful about leaving some leftovers for other guests or the host either.

Lol, RV, I can’t imagine any host saying “no you cannot take leftovers.” that’s just…weird to me IMO.

I have to sheepishly admit, I said to my friend “you won’t ban me from future davats if I take some biryani home will you? Because it’s just so fantastic” and she told everyone to take leftovers. But this was a friend…I wouldn’t do it with someone I’m not too familiar with. (and FYI I didn’t take a huge amount…my own dish on the other hand, I left it all there…I had no idea what to do with it.)