Why ask?

What sort of food is 'totally unsuitable'? Does it not fit in with your colour scheme or something?

I have never had a pot luck party but I can see how it would work. I do not have parties these days but when I did friends would usually bring a bottle or chocolates both welcome 😁

jenpax me too only ever had parties where people bring a bottle Never ever given a food party where people bring their own food I ve always provided

Nandad, please don't work yourself into a state over the food. People will eat practically anything that's set out on a buffet table because guess what? A buffet is a mish-mash! It'll be fine, really.

I always take something whether it is just a box of nice biscuits or a bunch of flowers. I think if you know people well it would be quite normal to say bring some cheese straws or some those nice sausage rolls you make Mabel, and of course bring wine

I had six people here for Christmas Day and did not expect and would not want themthem to bring food, they were my guests. I am an 83 year old widow living on a fixed pension, managed very well, but I was whacked at the end of the day.

All the NYE parties we've given or been to the host provides the food and each guest brings a bottle or two or some beers.

people have asked what they can bring though, the poster isn't really being grasping

Lemsip chill out man!

We used to have Halloween parties years ago. We provided hot food eg curry rice and hotdogs, then guests used to bring something for the table eg homemade quiche, sausage rolls, little cakes, crisps. We provided salad, 1 quiche, scotch eggs cheese and pineapple, squash lemonade coke for the children.We had a chocolate fountain too.

Go with the flow and try to enjoy. We have been invited to a party. OH is going I am not. I really do not like New Year so I will be happy to watch a film with a cuppa and some choc and go to bed before the year ends.

We’re having a family gathering tomorrow with a buffet set up as can’t face another sit down meal after Christmas. I’ve dusted off the wicker paper plate holders that I’ve had since 1982. The champagne bucket has been cleaned and a stack of napkins ironed. DH is doing the cooking so will sit back and relax until tomorrow. None of my family have even asked if they can bring food, they know we like to do the catering.

I think pot luck suppers have come over from America now.
I like them.
More diverse than if someone specified exactly what to bring.

I think the OP is happier about it all now though.
👍

Sometimes it just takes a minute to adjust your brain if things don't seem to be going the way you envisaged.
We generally "get there" after a little while.

lemsip

if you cannot have any party without having guests bring food then you shouldn't have one is my opinion!!

If people want to bring food ot drinks l welcome it. As it happens, we are hosting a social afternoon/party for our church house group in a little while. It is a Bring and Share event. I rather like the American term Pot Luck.

Iam64

Nandad don’t worry- bring and share parties always go well and it makes life easier for the host

This is true, and helps the hosts cater for a lot of people.You get dishes sometimes that you wouldn’t otherwise, for better usually tho sometimes worse🤭

In the 60 s and 70 s we had BAB parties… bring a bottle. Which meant wine or beer.
No mention of food. We must have provided that.

All a long time ago now…. Suddenly feeling old.

I used to imagine that guests would select a dish from the buffet and eat a plateful of that, with side dishes. In fact they will usually help themselves to a bit of everything and often choose a weird mixture of food on their plates, so don't worry what dishes guests choose to bring with them. It's probably worth saying that you don't want a bowl of green salad though, it's such an easy thing to bring that you could end up with a few as few people will eat it!

My daughter is coeliac and usually takes her own food , on at least one occasion her in-laws handed round the gluten free to people. Most of which was then put into the bin un eaten. My daughter was told ...there are crisps!

ExaltedWombat

What sort of food is 'totally unsuitable'? Does it not fit in with your colour scheme or something?

Ooooooh!! A bit sarky there, methinks!

It really doesn’t matter, go with the flow and enjoy, you don’t have to eat what they bring if you don’t want to

Perhaps its something the offending guests would like to eat!

T

At our church we called it a faith supper, or Jacob's join. and no one was asked to bring a specific thing. Part of that faith was that there would be enough food for everyone and enough choice that no one went hungry. Over time of course, people knew your signature dishes, so you might think I wont take meringues as X usually brings them, or whatever. You might be having a good time financially and be able to splash out on some special ingredients, or things may be tough, so I always keep in a few tins of things , that would provide a decent meal if money was tight. So , might be mundane, but a tin of tuna or salmon can make some very fresh sandwiches with granary or wholemeal bread. Half a cabbage, half an onion, a couple of sticks of celery and a few cashews or pine nuts make a very decent coleslaw. Very acceptable to go with many other dishes . When my son was young and I was at home I used to make our own bread. It was something I was good at and it was cheaper and better than shop bread. So when money was tight, out came the tin of tuna and some mayonaise . Sounds a bit boring but used to put the sandwiches with some thinly sliced celery and carrots and some radish to add some colour. They would be one of the simplest plates on the table but my goodness they disappeared in very quick order.Whatever people brought, it was given with love and hope that everyone would enjoy the food and the talk.If you look at it that way , it takes the stress off you . Remember the important thing is that you and your friends enjoy being together to share a happy evening. Dont let the bake off programmes take over. The joy is in getting together and sharing. In years to come when you look back and chat with friends who were there, you might say do you remember those super meringues, but more likely to remember you all dancing together or sing Auld Lang Syne. The food is a lovely part of a party, but not the most important. Enjoy your evening with your friends . I will probably be here on my own, but at midnight I shall open the door to the new year, raise my glass of whisky and wish Health and Happiness to all friends old and new, and of course Gransnetters will be included. After a really horrible year I hope that next year will be an improvement, for me and others. Still we older people are doing the most annoying thing that we can to spite all these politicians. We keep BREATHING!!! 2025 here we come with more friends and contacts, who we might pass in the street and not recognise, but on here we know each other, and ask after someone who has not been on for a while etc . Long may we continue

Crasymum, I sympathise with your daughter. It's not the first time I've attended something where I've been told GF food has been provided only to find it all gone. I take my own food everywhere.

mae13

Just as long as no-one contributes kebabs. Greasy, of ambiguous origin and downright disgusting.

Why on earth would anyone bring kebabs? What kind of parties do you go to?