Random Discussion: Potlucks

angelabbf

I have a friend that says "I don't eat anything that involves 'luck'." And I can't really chide him for it. He sorta has a point.

How do you feel about potlucks?
Do you trust the cleanliness, etc of the dishes?
Does it depend on where/who?
How do you decide?
Or... Do you ever wonder if (God forbid!) it's your dish that people are scared of?

 

Talk it out! 

kfishie

It totally depends on the potluck...who, where, when, why!  Years ago, I got severe food poisoning from something I ate at a potluck (turns out, almost 10 of us became extremely ill).  So, I am cautious of what I eat. (I think as a general rule, certain foods just can't be left out for long periods of time in the heat, without refrigeration, etc so I will bypass those foods instead of taking the risk).  If I know the person who brings the dish, I trust them! 

abvernon

I have a few rules:

I will only eat what looks like homemade food. I am not going to have a sandwich that I can make at home.

I have this huge fear of getting food poisioning so I stay clear of items that need to be refrigerated (like macroni and potato salads and deviled eggs).

I will only get up once for the main food and once for the dessert. After that, I am done.

The only thing that ticks me off of potlucks is that:

a) there are a few people who SAY they are bringing something and don't (or bring something else). 

b) People assume I will want the leftovers? No, I do not want that macaroni salad that has been sitting out there for 2 hrs or that cake that looks like you picked up on the way in.

patty&nick

I am against potlucks mostly because it seems like a way of cutting corners. Don't invite me over and tell me I have to bring my own food! If you want to have a party, then have the means to actually feed the people you invite, ya know?

The few potlucks I have been to have had some questionable food. I just don't trust a table full of crockpots. And there is usually not adequate means of keeping certain foods at desirable temperatures--I have made the mistake too many times of sticking my carrot stick into some rather warm ranch dressing. Yuck.

sm23

I use the same judgment at potlucks as I do normally... I consider the source and the type of food and if I have any doubt, I don't eat it.

tonic

I'm not a fan of potlucks in general because I have this thing about meals being well balanced and going together. Ok, I'm just a control freak! I actually have tried to do a potluck before and people didn't bring enough stuff or some people who signed up for stuff didnt come. It was a complete fail. I wont ever do one again.

I think potlucks are good for large gatherings with a bunch of people you dont know (ie. Block party). I'm not a fan otherwise. 

And people are never scared of my dishes  

 

angelabbf

I am REAAALLY picky about potlucks where there are a lot of people involved. If it's a smaller family gathering or something, I don't mind. Usually those are more 'controlled', but the rest of them.... Scary.

I usually go to the raw fruits/vegetables (aka salad). I figure those are pretty safe. I prefer to know who made what. I generally will sort of ask around to find out what everyone brought. There are some people that I will not eat their food (sorry folks, but I've seen inside their houses and it's unclean & scary). If I don't know who brought it, I probably won't touch it. I also tend to go for the more "gourmet" looking food. Usually the crazy foodie people make those and are pretty safe. 

I do wonder if people are ever 'scared' of my dishes because I have a dog. Some people are weird about animals in the house. But I am obsessive about cleaning my hands before cooking and she's not allowed around the kitchen when I'm cooking. 

Potlucks CAN be frightening. And at the holiday time, they are abundant.

ladipale

I haven't been to a potluck with people I don't know very well in a LONG time. Most of the potlucks I go to now are really just family gatherings where the host asks us to bring something, or we offer to do so. At these, I feel fine eating everything offered b/c I trust the people cooking.

melgrady

The only potlucks I have been to lately happen at work for various holiday or co-worker celebrations. These are usually a fun way to enjoy the lunch hour and most people bring salads or food that is easy to heat up in the microwave or toaster oven, so I trust most of the food. I always worry about what to bring because I want it to appeal to my co-workers but I also want my food to last during my hour long commute in the morning. This is why I end up bringing cookies much of the time.

Topanga

Let me add my 2 cents. We had one on Friday for work. They catered all the meats and they had the staff bring the sides. First of all, I ate too much and then spent all Friday, Saturday, and Sunday sick as a dog. Stomach cramps, and other unpleasantries abounded. It was not fun. I'm thinking food poisoning.Here I am on Monday and still feeling sick. So, I don't think I will be doing any potlucks soon. My luck ran out.....

Another co-worker was also sick on Friday so it wasn't just me. Be careful people!

StefandTodd

Eh, they don't bother me.  I am pretty adventurous when it comes to food and I enjoy trying new things, especially homemade things that I can get the recipe for and replicate.  So, in general, I like them.

Angela's dog comment makes me wonder if people are scared of my food...haha.  Eh, if they are - don't eat it.

One thing I was surprised to learn not long ago is that mayo actually doesn't need to be refrigerated (from a food safety standpoint)...so potato salad left out, while not all that appealing, won't cause you to get sick.  Mayonaisse on wikipedia taught me that...it was a late night, a long drive, we were bored and had iPhones out...yeah....don't judge

ladipale

StefandTodd:

One thing I was surprised to learn not long ago is that mayo actually doesn't need to be refrigerated (from a food safety standpoint)...so potato salad left out, while not all that appealing, won't cause you to get sick.  Mayonaisse on wikipedia taught me that...it was a late night, a long drive, we were bored and had iPhones out...yeah....don't judge

LOL.. we are the biggest iPhone nerds. We spend lots of drives researching random thinkgs we think about. We spent a 2 hour drive reading and debating time travel and wormholes. Another time we spent a good amount of time reading about how birds procreate and sleep (thanks to the trillions of birds on the causeway for sparking that conversation)

But, yeah, I've heard the same thing about mayo.. its the actual mayo, it could be cross contamination in the kitchen..... 

the most common thing to get food poisoning from is veggies, actually!

hannikan

ladipale:

the most common thing to get food poisoning from is veggies, actually!

Yep, the only time I have ever gotten food poisoning was from lettuce on a sandwich.

I am surprised ppl are so anti-potluck. They were such a part of my growing up with extended family and family friends. It's a way to save money, creates a feeling of community and it contributes to learning about foods you don't eat in your family. I have become wary of buffet style eating from a germ standpoint. It has nothing to do what kinds of dishes are brought and whether they are homemade or not it has to do with catching a cold or flu from many people using the same utensils (and in some cases none at all) and not washing in between. I think I have gotten sick from work banquets that way. Now I only will go to those if I can be at the beginning of the line.

leolyns

I can live without potlucks but at the same time, it could be a way to try out different dishes that I wouldn't normally make or think of making.

Although, there was one co-worker who made a crockpot of chili and it gave me the most upset stomach after  , because the meat was too fattening. 

cheryl2006

ladipale:

the most common thing to get food poisoning from is veggies, actually!

Really!? I would have never thought that. Now I'll need to do some googling. 

We don't have to worry about potlucks much anymore now that we're vegan. We can't eat 80% of what's on a table without grilling people with questions. I usually bring a main dish and a dessert for us to snack on if we're hungry. Sometimes we also bring some extra snacks in the car if we feel we need more food.

Prior to being vegan, I was usually hesitant to try something if I didn't know who made it. People would have to be raving about it for me to try it. 

cheryl2006

angelabbf:

I do wonder if people are ever 'scared' of my dishes because I have a dog. Some people are weird about animals in the house. But I am obsessive about cleaning my hands before cooking and she's not allowed around the kitchen when I'm cooking. 

Apparently people worry about cat owners. http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/46751659.aspx

I read this thread a few days ago. We don't allow our cats on the kitchen counters, nor do the eat off our silverware. I do know they like to wander around our counters when we're not home because I find little paw prints on the clean stove top. So, like you, I just clean everything down before I cook/bake. But I realized that these random strangers don't know how clean my house is and overall I'd be hesitant to eat baked goods from anyone I didn't know decently well.

 

Passanie

I had no idea so many people had issues with potlucks! And here I thought they were just a great way to avoid all the work being placed on one person. No offense, but if that many people go to that much trouble to make me food, I'm not going to turn my nose up at it.