Why a Potluck Party?
In these days of ever-increasing food prices, most of us aren't even thinking about entertaining. Feeding our own families is becoming more difficult, so the thought of feeding six, eight, or more guests is quite daunting. The potluck party comes to the rescue! Not only are these parties fun, but they also spread the cost of food among all the guests. Potluck parties are quite the bargain. For the cost of one dish, each guest will be fed a meal worthy of any restaurant.
The Pluses of a Potluck
A potluck party is a wonderful way for experienced and new hosts to get together with friends. Parties don't have to have a purpose, but if they do, there's a built-in icebreaker. Coming to the door with a delicious dish in hand will help even the shyest guest feel involved in the party.
If you're feeling adventurous, try hosting a true potluck party. Just ask every guest to bring a favorite recipe. If you get five desserts and one main dish, so be it! You may want to have a backup plan of ordering pizza, just in case, but these types of parties are memorable and very fun.
Everyone is so busy these days. Just the thought of throwing a party can be exhausting. A typical party involves lots of planning, coordinating the menu, shopping for the food, cleaning the house, making all the recipes, serving, then cleaning up. Just the thought of that much work can put an end to entertaining. But a potluck party is different.
As the host, all you have to provide is a space for the party, and usually the main dish. The guests bring the rest! You can assign specific recipes to your guests, or just ask them to bring their favorite salad, potato side dish, dessert, appetizer, or whatever.
Spreading out the cost and the work this way is very efficient and, in these tough times, provides a way to get together with friends and family without prohibitive costs.
If you're hosting the party, of course, you'll need to have a presentable venue. But you don't have to host a potluck at your house! A beautiful park, the beach, or even your backyard can be the setting for a wonderful party.
There are two types of potluck parties: where guests bring finished dishes that may need to be baked or reheated, and where guests bring ingredients and everybody cooks. If you have a large kitchen, or an outdoor kitchen with lots of room, a cooking potluck party can be lots of fun.
“Many hands make light work” is a common saying, and it's very true. You will probably find yourself hosting more parties if they are potluck parties, just because they are so easy. The communal experience of dining together is a basic part of every society, and it strengthens bonds between friends and family.
Finally, a potluck is a great way to save money. Because you don't have to provide every course of a dinner, you can splurge and make something a bit more expensive. You can serve steaks, use exotic cheeses, or provide out-of-season items like strawberries in January.
