How much food to bring to a potluck?

[nauru]

Let's say there are 40-50 people attending.

The way I look at it is this: in theory, if everyone brings enough of their own dish to fill one person, then if everyone does the same there will be the right amount of food for everyone to have a bit of everything.

In practice, people often bring enormous amounts at there are a lot of leftovers.

Is there a rule of thumb?

[4flava]

Bring appetizer amounts for each person. ie. Bring 100 spring rolls =) easy stuff.

[ronin1701]

Let's say there are 40-50 people attending.

The way I look at it is this: in theory, if everyone brings enough of their own dish to fill one person, then if everyone does the same there will be the right amount of food for everyone to have a bit of everything.

If everyone brings enough to fill one person, and there are 50 people attending, even if only half of them want you food, can you actually divide your dish into 25 tiny portions?

OK, I'm being (slightly) facetious here. Obviously you can't cook mass quantities such that 50 people can have more than a small portion, that's not logistically feasible unless you have a big kitchen and the time to cook it all.

My question is: what are you bringing: an appetizer, main, side or dessert?

As a rule of thumb, I'll try to bring roughly a 3-4 qt sized container of something, and adjust depending on what other people are bringing. Your best bet is to check what the other attendees are planning to bring and plan accordingly.

[joeyjoejoe]

I hate this time of year... Pot lucks, cookie parties, etc... I always get roped into them every year.

I bring lots, so I don't look like the cheapo in the office, but I hate lugging in the food on the subway.

This year they are pooling money and catering... I wept tears of joy. Now I just need to avoid the women in this office for that annual cookie party.

[ronin1701]

I bring lots, so I don't look like the cheapo in the office

+1

[MoonDoggy]

I hate this time of year... Pot lucks, cookie parties, etc... I always get roped into them every year.

I bring lots, so I don't look like the cheapo in the office, but I hate lugging in the food on the subway.

This year they are pooling money and catering... I wept tears of joy. Now I just need to avoid the women in this office for that annual cookie party.

Mmmmm can I have some cookies?

When I go to my friend's annual party, it seems I bring more and more every year. I bring Malaysian food to the party and it always turns out to be the talk of the party. The last few years, alot of the people waited for me to arrive before eating (im usually on the late side).I'm planning to bring a *Removed* this year lol

[SeeYouNextTime]

I bring food that I hope everyone likes, not just food that the person who brought it. One time this guy brought in some really stink "I don't know what" and the portion was really small, like an appetizer portion. It stunk up the whole office. It looked rather hideous too. I don't think anyone even touched it.

[JAGpilot]

Potlucks should be strictly for people who contribute. You need to bring enough food for everyone to try some or you'll look incredibly cheap. I remember one guy brought a bag of 3 for $1 samoas (probably 20 of them for a group of 35-40 people). Very chinsy.

[Skully]

Let's say there are 40-50 people attending.

The way I look at it is this: in theory, if everyone brings enough of their own dish to fill one person, then if everyone does the same there will be the right amount of food for everyone to have a bit of everything.

In practice, people often bring enormous amounts at there are a lot of leftovers.

Is there a rule of thumb?

id cater it if i was u, just a thought:cheesygri:cheesygri:cheesygri

[AudiDude]

Let's say there are 40-50 people attending.

The way I look at it is this: in theory, if everyone brings enough of their own dish to fill one person, then if everyone does the same there will be the right amount of food for everyone to have a bit of everything.

In practice, people often bring enormous amounts at there are a lot of leftovers.

Is there a rule of thumb?

Yep the rule of thumb is some people are going to show up with next to nothing and put theirs beside the dishes that nobody wants to try...


Bring appetizer amounts for each person. ie. Bring 100 spring rolls =) easy stuff.

I concur with the above.