Another question regarding food at parties or other events

[Jackie0824]

This question has to do with when you are invited to somebody's house for dinner, whether it was a family member or friends, and you bring some sort of dish(Whether it was dessert or appetizer etc..)When you go to leave, do you 1) leave the food there or
2.)pack up what you brought and take it home?

Growing up, my mother always came with some sort of food item to the party/dinner we went too. She NEVER took the food home with her. Sometimes she would take leftovers of something else, if the host of party/dinner asked if we wanted it. BUT, never did she just pack up what she brought and took it home with her.

Now as an adult if I bring any food item to a party/dinner, I do not take it back with me. I simply tell the hostess "Thank you for dinner.." and leave. Only if , the hostess makes a big deal about it like "This will not get eatten, or we are going out of town.etc..", please take this with you. Only under those cirmcumstances will I ever take food back home with us.

Yet, I know several people who bring things to a party and when they leave, they just pack up what they brought and take it back home with them.Ive always thought this was weird/rude. Is this normal to you to take home what you brought?

 

[bicker]

In the context of what you've written, the food brought wasn't a gift for the host, but rather seems to be part of a collective effort to prepare the meal. As such, I don't think there is a clear protocol, and as such, no one should be self-conscious about their decision, or second-guess someone else's.

For me, all I care about is getting my container or dish back!

 

[froglady]

Another reason why I ALWAYS check with the hostess BEFORE bringing anything. Most people leave any leftovers for the hostess to deal with, so I would appreciate it if someone INSISTED upon bringing something that they check with me first. Then I suggest something that I know I can use later if any is left over. If they INSIST upon bringing something over my protestations, I would consider it a favor for them to bring any leftovers home.

Perhaps the people who bring their leftovers home feel they are helping the hostess (so she doesn't have to clean up, store them, wash and return containers...with new food in them, of course !...etc) just as much as they felt they were helping her by bringing something in the first place?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

We always ask first. I don't assume that the host/hostess either wants or doesn't want the leftovers. Like bicker, my only concern is getting back the container/dish.

 

[aprilgail2]

I always leave it unless the hostess says please take back what you brought..I never would just take my food that I brought for a party etc back home.

 

[Christine]

I've usually left any food that I've brought BUT I've helped the host put the leftovers in another container so that I can take my dish home. Usually, the dinners that I go to are very far away from my home and if I don't take my serving dish home with me, it might be another year before I see it.

 

[stinkerbelle]

I always leave it (but I really only bring baked goods). but if the hostess (or family member) insists, we'll take some home.

I buy afordable containers that I don't mind leaving behind. Sometimes DH likes me to use large Gladware containers (affordable)...I'll leave them behind or he'll load them up with leftovers.

When WE have people over...case in point, we make Thanksgiving dinner on the sunday after thanksgiving and had our brothers/sig others over...they each brought stuff...we sent them home with TONS of leftovers.

 

[golfgal]

Around here everyone takes home any leftovers of what they brought. It is SO much easier that way because then the hostess doesn't have to clean up your dishes too.

 

[NMAmy]

In my family, it's tradition to send all leftovers home with guests. I don't just mean that you take back what you brought--but plates get made up for each guest to take some home. My dad used to save tv dinner trays (back when they were metal) and make up meals for my grandma to freeze since she lived alone and didn't like to cook a big meal for herself.

We always tease my niece--she hates to cook so when she comes to family dinners, we'll go over everything beforehand. I'm making the ham, Mom's bringing baked beans, Sis is bringing dessert and my niece will pipe up and say, "I'm bringing my Tupperware!"

If I take something to someone else's house who is not immediate family, I offer to leave it if they'd like it or take it if they don't have the room or the desire for it, etc. I usually take things in disposable tin pans or gladware so I don't need it back.

 

[stinkerbelle]

my niece will pipe up and say, "I'm bringing my Tupperware!"

LOL! That's my brother AND DH! heheheh

 

[marlasmom]

We had a discount store near where we lived and I stocked up on cheap, but attractive serving dishes for about $1.00 each. I just leave them with the hostess.