Please Tell me I'm Not Alone Regarding Work Potlucks

[Minnie]

I normally drop off something store bought and then don't enter the kitchen area again that day ((shudder).

 

[LBIJim]

That's gross. I have a long haired dog, and I am obsessive when it comes to cleaning my kitchen area...especially if I am cooking for other people. I would die of embarrassment if I took a potluck dish and someone found dog hair in it.

Even if I knew it was your food, I probably wouldn't tell you about it. I don't think anyone would. No need to die of embarrassment.

I'd just pull out the offending dog hair and eat the yummy potluck dish. No biggie.

I have an iron stomach and I'm not grossed out about minor things like that.

Jim

 

[Hannathy]

I figure, if it's not killing them, it won't kill me.

me to! If you eat in any restaurants then there is no reason not to eat at pot lucks. Just watch Kitchen nightmares if you want to see into some restaurants kitchens.

I like pot lucks I like to try different things.

 

[LisaNJ25]

if it doesnt kill you or give you the trots, you will be okay!!

I am extra careful when making food to take somewhere. Not that I am poisoning my family on a daily basis but I will keep my hair tied back, clean off counter bleach, etc.

 

[pppiglet]

We are having a potluck at work on Friday. I told them even though I clean all the time, with 9 cats I am not taking any chances that someone may get a stray hair in their food! I will buy something pre-made to take. I also will eat anything at a potluck. I love to try stuff and if there was a hair in it, it wouldn't be the end of the world for me.

 

[MELSMICE]

I'm not a huge fan of potluck....maybe it's because I'm a picky eater, but I usually only eat what I bring.

Also........no bake sale purchases for me. I'm an avid baker and will donate tons of baked goods, but I have never, ever purchased a baked good from a bake sale. Just can't do it!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I love work potlucks! I guess I'm just lucky because there are some great cooks at my school.

Germs just don't bother me that much. When I eat at a restaurant, I don't know what the kitchen is like ot how clean it is. Life is too short to me to worry it away.

The big difference here is that the restaurants have to be inspected by the health department and are given ratings that are displayed where the customers can see them. You can choose not to eat at an establishment that got a poor rating. If a rating is too low or stays consistently low then the establishment can be shut down.

I love a good potluck but due to my allergies I am limited on what I can eat. I usually stick with a few familiar foods made by people I know that I can ask about the ingredient list.

Buffets in general gross me out. DH loves to go to Golden Corral but that place makes me gag!

 

[pearlieq]

If it looks OK and I have no reason to believe the people providing it were unsanitary, I dig right in! I love potlucks--it's so much fun to try a variety of new foods.

I feel sort of bad for the people who worry about such things. I think they spend a lot of time uneasy and miss out on a lot of fun.

 

[kirstenb1]

I guess I like to live dangerously. I love potlucks, especially at church---folks can cook up a storm!! I worked in food service for several years, and attended all the mandatory "safe kitchen practices" classes. I doubt my Mom has ever attended any, yet has a sparkling clean kitchen.

I get what people are saying...I've known folks who aren't scrupulous about a clean kitchen, but the only time I've ever gotten food poisoning in 44 yrs was one meal at WDW, so go figure.

 

[pearlieq]

My husband used to be the kind of guy that ate anything, thought it was snobby of me to question what other people brought.

I'm with your husband. These people weren't vying for a spot on Top Chef, they were just trying to be nice and help you out. Wow.

 

[redlight]

Restaurants are probably much less sanitary (as are some of the workers) - not to mention buffets (even the ones in Disney)..

I agree.

 

[daisyduck123]

I feel sort of bad for the people who worry about such things. I think they spend a lot of time uneasy and miss out on a lot of fun.

No...don't feel bad for me. If I wanted to eat it, I would. It helps keep me thin anyway!

 

[maslex]

I've always loved potlucks, whether they were at work or other people's houses.

Sadly, I'm going to miss our work potluck next week. And for Christmas Eve, we're having a potluck at my brothers house. It'll be his family, my family and our parents. We'll each cook up a main dish, appetizer and dessert. MMMMM, can't wait!!!

But I know of many people at work who won't eat a lot of stuff because of who it comes from. I understand why, but for some reason, stuff like that doesn't bother me.

 

[redlight]

For me, the only problem with potlucks is that I overindulge.

 

[Deb Quen of Colorado]

I'm with your husband. These people weren't vying for a spot on Top Chef, they were just trying to be nice and help you out. Wow.

let me clarify.
We were VERY appreciative of the meals!!!! I'd have to say 95% of what was brought got eaten. We did however toss bread and fruit that had mold. Seeing that kind of stuff just made me question the quality of the rest of the meal.

 

[NMAmy]

I love work potlucks and have no problem eating food prepared by other people.

I always bring an enormous crockpot full of chili and it's all gone by the end of the day so I guess my coworkers trust me and my kitchen.

This is yet another phenomena I never knew about until reading the DIS.

 

[luvsJack]

Don't mind them at all, we are having a pot luck today and I am bringing meatballs. Luckily the only person who anyone ever questions usually buys something on her way to work so it never even sits in her house.

I have enjoyed pot lucks at every job I have had. In the child care center, parents brought all kind of homemade goodies for the kids and finger foods for the adults. Never had a problem with it. I guess I just don't really think about what someone else's house looks like.

If I found cat hair, dog hair or human hair, I would stop eating THAT food from that person, but I wouldn't stop enjoying the rest of the pot luck.

 

[Robinrs]

I love work potlucks! I guess I'm just lucky because there are some great cooks at my school.

Germs just don't bother me that much. When I eat at a restaurant, I don't know what the kitchen is like ot how clean it is. Life is too short to me to worry it away.

Yet these same people will eat at a restaurant where the people who prepare your food are total strangers...

 

[anniemae]

I love work pot lucks! It is always such a hodge podge of food though. I usually only eat what I make and what people make that I know really well. Once, a woman brought in sandwiches with mayo and ketchup. That's it, just bread smeared with mayo and ketchup! I steered clear of that! You never know what you will get at a work pot luck.......

 

[LovableGluttons]

I love potlucks!

Iron stomach? Maybe.

If I find a human hair or bugs, I lose it.