Fireworks & Forks: 4th of July Potluck Etiquette
Celebrating the Fourth of July can be a great way to gather with family and friends. Hosting a casual gathering is a lot easier when the host asks their guests to bring a favorite side dish. Here are a few 4th of July potluck etiquette tips for those who are bringing dishes to share with a group. We’ll also be covering what to bring when cooking is not your preference, prompted by a viewer question.
Potluck Etiquette for the Host
1. Give Guests Specific Directions
If you are asking for a side dish, don’t just say, “bring anything,” and then complain when they arrive with a bag of chips. It’s up to the host to have a detailed overview of the menu. For a guest who isn’t comfortable preparing a potluck dish, they may instead want to contribute by picking up a few extra drinks or being on call to grab extra ice before the party begins.
2. Inquire About Food Allergies
A walnut in the Waldorf salad, or a can of tomatoes in a sauce may mean someone may potentially end up in the emergency room. Not a great way to spend a holiday, for the host of the party or for their guest. It’s best for the guest to inquire if there are any dietary restrictions. The host should alert the guests, but it may be a “nudge” to the host to find out if there are foods to steer clear from.
3. Have a Plan for Serving
As the host, you’ll want to be clear on where and how you’d like things to be served. Start with a designated table that will accommodate everything well, along with plenty of utensils, napkins, plates, and whatever else may be needed, such as warming trays or coolers. A special touch that also serves a helpful purpose is small labels for each dish.
Potluck Etiquette for the Guest
1. Last Minute Swaps are off the Menu
The host is making a list of all of the side dishes their guests will be bringing. Swapping a potato salad for a tray of orange slices and mint leaves is not a welcome surprise for the busy host who is pulling the meal together. Guests arrive hungry and host is balancing the dishes between light and heavy to ensure their guests are fed a hearty fare.
It’s always best to bring exactly what you have committed so the host will have a variety of dishes without duplicates to offer their guests.
2. Don’t Be Stingy
While it’s not a guest’s job to feed an army, it’s important to make enough of the side dish for everyone to try, at least once. Plan for an extra guest, or for someone who would love another helping.
A good rule of thumb when bringing a side dish is to plan for at least 4 to 6 more people than expected.
3. Consider the Weather
For a hot summer day, avoid hot, steamy soups and heavy dishes that could potentially spoil in scorching temperatures, especially if you end up in someone’s backyard. Bring a dish that is easy to serve and can be eaten with either utensils or their fingers. If you have to crack it, shell it, or break it, it’s best to avoid it.
Steer clear from mayo or cream based dishes, or soft cheeses like goat, brie, and cream cheese, that spoil particularly fast in the heat.
4. Label it or Lose It
Make sure to put your name on your plasticware with a dark Sharpie. Many serving dishes look the same and you want to make sure you take home your brand new Rubbermaid, rather than someone else’s older model. If there is a special detail about the dish, such as gluten-free or vegetarian, make note of that on the lid as well.
5. No Need for a History Lesson
Unless someone asks something specific, it’s not necessary to go into a long and detailed history of how your great aunt June served the dish to her 7 children every Sunday for 20 years. Some people will enjoy the story and others will be put off because it brings back some type of negative recollection.
6. Share the Recipe
When you bring something delicious to share with a group, there is always a chance someone will ask for the recipe. Be prepared to either share the recipe, or direct them to a close version online. Saying that you are not going to give it to them because it’s your” family secret” feels somewhat trite and unfriendly. Let’s face it, any recipe can be found online.
7. Avoid Scooping Up the Remainder of the Dish
You might want to take some of your dish back home to your son, but it’s better to make extra for the family and leave it at home. It’s not only bad manners to ask for the leftovers, but it’s also not very hygienic because people may have contaminated it by letting the food sit out, used utensils that were also shared with another dish which could potentially cause an allergic reaction,or the food may have sat out, and someone may have double dipped. It happens!
Happy Fourth of July!
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