xmas party (pot luck)

Years past, our company had a catered Xmas party lunch. Well you can't blame them for not picking up the tab this year. So we now have a pot luck. this wouldn't be too bad if there were more women who cook in this place.

I work for an engineering company. Mostly men, and then their are us. two women who are married, a single gal who hates to cook and me.

We have had pot luck lunch in the past. So I cringe at the thought of another pot luck here.

we have had:

shrimp cocktail platter, which no one dared to eat except for the person who brought it. The shrimp must have been pickled in nitrite. rubbery and just plain yucky.

a vegetable platter (clery stick, cucumber slices, raw broccolli) from a local grocery store

a bucket of El Pollo Loco chicken with its famous flame grilled chicken . A step up from KFC

a take out from Panda Express. My guess is its going to be orange peel chicken with fried rice.

oh almost forgot Pizza pizza from Domino's. the real cheap franchised pizza shop.

....

Yesterday, one of the guys asked me what I was bringing and I said not sure. So he put in a request for sushi. NOT SO FAST BUCKWHEAT (Der Schweinehund!!). #1 grade tuna starts at $20/lb.

In the past, I have brought:

Gnocci with cream sauce (my boss requested cream sauce instead of tomato sauce) guys poo-pooed it. My boss loved it. and one guy whose last name is Itallian said I don't know how to make REAL Itallian dish. (Sche**&) And my boss is second generation Itallian.

Potato salad with vinegarett with bit of meyer lemon. where's the mayo someone asked.

micro-green salad with falafal. What the heck is that as they pointed to flafal. no clue!!!

Chicken with artichoke in light cream sauce tossed in with linguini. Gremolata sprinkled on the top. Parsley and garlic gave it the nice color and bit of bite for a balanced taste. And the lemon zest gave it that refreshing light taste. too weird for them.

So I'm thinking why am I going to beat myself up with der Schwein und der Hunds?? I'm really tempted to get Hormel can of chilli or Van Camps pork and beans and chop in some cheap hot dog meat. :mad:

but I'm just too nice. So maybe I'll try more for the 10 pointer on a guy-o-meter food. Stuffed bell peppers. stuffing will be cajun style dirty rice. relatively simple and easy. Use enough rice to make it cheap. I think I will make some of them blazing hot :D:eek::eek::D
chop in some habanero's or sctch-bonnet or serano. serves'em right.

feeling bit mean!! My partner thought it was totally appropriate with the van camp idea. cheap hot dog adds that just the right zinger touch.

It's too bad I can't call in sick tomorrow. :P

LOL! :D Men....:rolleyes:

I guess you could always serve spam on a toothpick. :p

Some peoples taste buds will never evolve, why knock yourself out?

How about antipasto from the grocery store deli?

Is there someplace close that could "cater". Have everyone chip in a set amount, and have the food brought in. My office does that with Boston Market (meh...) But is is better than toxic shrimps!

Fruit Loops?

Fruit Loops is a fantastic idea!

We're having record breaking ill will at work right now...I was planning to bring a half dozen Happy Meals to a pot luck at the bosses' house, but Fruit Loops opens a whole realm of possibilities!

I don't get it....why not all of you go to a restaurant for the Christmas meal , prebook place days in advance with people rvsping and everyone pays for their own dish. Just get a restaurant that has a web menu online for people to ponder over dishes in advance.

That's what we do where we are....and the majority of employees are men. Yes I work at a construction engineering firm...it's large enough, that I don't know all the guys and other employees.

Snapdragon's idea works well also where we are.

I say bake cookies! I don't know anyone who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies. And if they're picky, I guess you can alway bake one batch more chewy then the other.

Geez... I can't believe people would actually complain about your food. And they didn't even TRY cooking theirs!

People who like to cook can choose to cook. People who don't like to cook can choose to bring take out or grocery food. If there's a food in either case that people don't like...they don't have to eat it. No big deal.

Ha! Same situation here. We used to have a chef at work, but due to the times, he's been gone a year. So, everyone once in a while, we dust off the kitchen and do a potluck. I bring a watermelon/feta/pinenut salad with lemon-peel infused olive oil, this other guy brings Doritos. Chili potluck, I bring a black bean/roasted corn salad, he brings a package of cookies. Xmas potluck is tomorrow. I just spend $54 dollars to make my sweet potato souffle, doubled recipe - they're cooling off as I type this. He's bringing soda. What makes that just too pathetic is that we have a free soda fountain. All the soda anyone can drink...:rolleyes:

I hate potlucks. There, I've said it. Food tastes horrible if the menu isn't cohesive. You can be the best cook and bring a spectacularly yummy dish, but paired with the wrong thing it will taste like something unmentionable.

Only time a potluck can be good is with friends where everyone is trusted to stick to a theme and not bring crap, or is willing to take an assignment (me included).

Chip in for pizza and pies. It'll be easier and less nauseating, and everyone spends the same amount.

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one who hates pot lucks!
I'm with the group that says "chip in $5 each and order in some pizzas."

I work for an engineering firm, in cajun country. So even though most of the staff are men, they can cook what they catch. If it's shrimp, they probably caught them. Totally blew me away when I moved here that while the guys were talking about hunting or fishing, the disucssion would then move to recipes!

So we irrevently call our Section's pot-luck "Road Kill Cafe." Hey, we're the biologists of this bunch. I believe Shrimp Etouffe is on the menu. I had alligator sausage cheesy balls already this morning.

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

I have a potluck at work today. I'm vegetarian, so potlucks always make me nervous. I usually grab a snack ahead of time, so I'm not left with salad and chips. I made cupcakes (vegan) and have not told a soul that they're vegan ("There's VEEGAN IN THERE?! I"M ALLERGIC TO THAT!"). I'm waiting for the accolades before I spill..

A positive story, at my bf's chrstmas party (while not potluck) was catered by a meat company. I was giddy when I found out they ordered falafel, etc. from another restaurant just for the veg-eaters. I have never felt so loved...

I actually like potlucks, especially for lunches, but then I'm more of a grazer for lunches anyway. I can imagine they would suck righteously if not many people enjoyed cooking, and honestly if someone PUT AN ORDER IN? Oh man, the snarky comments would have had a hard time being withheld.

We're doing a potluck at work on Xmas eve since our company shuts down after that and usually the last day before the break is mostly empty and the people that are there are just wrapping up loose ends. Our company is highly multicultural, so I always look forward to our potlucks. I'm looking forward to lots of dumplings! And I plan on making some challah.

K.

I hate potlucks. I don't cook, so I'm the one that always brings chips or sodas or packaged cookies.
If there's a sign up sheet, that's what I sign up for, or paper plates and forks or something.
We just had a potluck at work today, and occasionally I'll get my husband to make something. He made nasi goreng for this one. I can usually get him to make something indonesian that's spicy and some people are afraid to try, because it's different.
We don't get too many really fancy things brought in. Yesterday's potluck had chips and chocolate cheesecake, dips, vegetable tray from a supermarket, my DH's nasi goreng, pasta and meatballs from an italian restaurant, potato salad from the grocery store, and a salad. Soda and a sweet mix made with kix cereal, and a cheeseball and sliced summer sausage.
we're eating the leftovers today.
vickie

Disclaimer: I don't mean to hurt anyone feelings on this one.

I have over 200 people in my office. I'm the OM so the duty falls on me. By the way we have a formal party too.

I issue assignments: A/P does side salads, Marketing does meatless salads, IT does desserts, etc. I only allow 2 people to bring chips/dip and 2 to bring cheese/crackers. If you don't want to cook, give me $10.00. No money is taken the day of the event, otherwise I won't have enough food. With the money I buy tamales, a fully roasted turkey (this year it was 33lbs) and lasagne and pizza sometimes too.

Tickets are issued the day prior, cuz I have moonchers. They wait until the line dies down and they get in line, only for me to discover they rsvp'd no in the first place. Then other people don't get any food! It has happened before.

I ask the Vegans get together and make some vegan dishes, there are only 5 of them.

Diabetics, I can't say no desserts, they need to stay away on thru your own power. But there is always one person who says that I should nix the desserts.

This year I had 2 seperate lines one with tamales and 1 with the turkey. Why? Because the first 50 people get full plates and everyone else has to pick around. This way they had to choose their main dish and then get back in line if they really wanted the other main dish. I sort the side dishes to go with the main dish. The desserts are kept in a seperate area. This year I had a few people go to the dessert room first! Yup they are all crazy nuts. It is really an event in it's own.

Most of the managers are assigned a duty. Otherwise I'd have to do this alone. Though it still takes all of my day.

Then there are the others... my food was cold... I didn't think there were enough green vegetables...why can't we do this every month...no one ate the dish I made... someone took my plate...I don't think this was worth $10.... I spent more than $10 on my dish....If I leave you my food will you stir it an hour before serving?...this dish has too much salt...someone ate all the vegan dishes before I got there....there isn't enough meat dishes.... there were no mashed potatoes.... the foods didn't balance each other....

Most people are really grateful and it is one of the few times people sit other departments.

So I don't like potlucks in an office when I have to do all the work. But then I change my mind about it when I see how happy people are.

What a great post, ACG--I love it.

ACG- I love it! Pehaps that is what every office potluck needs- a plan!

What a coincidence! My S.O. just called me to ask if I could make a batch of his fav. broccoli dish for a potluck at his work tomorrow. It wouldn't be a problem except they only have a small microwave, which would mean that it would have to be cooked then reheated, which is definitely NOT the best way to eat my broccoli!
I think I'm going to opt for some sort of cold dish that I can throw together tonight & let it marinate until lunchtime tomorrow...

Ours was a success today. I doubled my sweet potato recipe, and we had exactly half left over. But, we have enough leftovers of everything to do it all again tomorrow.

The guy who brought soda, same flavors that are in our free soda fountain, also brought ice. Which we put right next to our (free) ice machine. :rolleyes:

I live in the south and used to go to church. I have been to more potlucks than I can count. I love potlucks. I even collected church cookbooks for a time, which always have the greatest potluck recipes!

I am simply APPALLED that ANYONE complains about the food at a potluck! You're not ALLOWED to do that! It's the height of rudeness. If you don't like something, don't eat it. It is just that simple.

Maybe those of you who have charge of the potlucks can post a little etiquette with your invitations. The first one, No Complaints!

Karen

Tuckervill, LOL! I have visions of chocolate sheet cake with white icing. :D

ACG - My bets are on that you are a great manager all the way around - wonderful plan to try to satisfy the majority.

I am with Tuckerville - I LOVE potlucks! With that being said we never have potlucks at the school I teach in and I am very glad of that, much less stress. - but then we have the option of hotlunch everyday whoo hoo :D or should I say :eek:.

During semester exams, parent teacher conferences, last day of school etc the administration, kitchen and school climate committee take care of the logistics, we have had soup/bread, pizza, sub sandwiches, taco salad.
These are prepared for by the kitchen or catered and paid for through the profits from the soda machines in the teachers lounge and the juice/water machines the students have access to.

Honor society does a teacher appreciation Bar-b-que in the spring.

At our school if you are:
Vegan - bring your own
Vegetarian - bring your own
Lactose intolerant - bring your own
Don't eat beef - bring your own
I am allergic to all wheat and wheat products - do I complain? No. - I don't expect them to cater to me, the majority can have everything. They let us know the menu in advance and if I can't have something I BRING MY OWN.

I am not paying unless I drink soda and even then I would be getting the soda.

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

The guy who brought soda, same flavors that are in our free soda fountain, also brought ice. Which we put right next to our (free) ice machine.

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I don't know if that's funny or sad.
Is he fully mentally competent? Seriously, is he?

I guess I really shouldn't be complaining about the pot luck itself. I was just reacting to das Schweinn (pig) who requested for sushi. and others who poo-pooed my selection in the past.

We also had our pot luck today. General Manager who had requested for the pot luck did a no show and supposedly went out for Xmas shopping. And half the people in our division disappeared like cockroaches when you turn on the kitchen light.

For those attending, we did have pizza hut pizza, pepperoni., Three kinds of chili (I brought one of the three figuring it rates high on guy-food meter), two kinds of fried rice, fried chicken from Ralph's (a local grocery store), spagetti, bunt cake from local grocery store, an IT guy actually made a pot roast woohoo... And yes I did take my stuffed bell peppers (capsicum). They liked it so that's all good.

I'm happy that no one gave me a hard time about my food. That constructive criticism from the engineers is enough to make you bonkers.

Oh thank you for your own personal experience with pot lucks. It's been fun reading.

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench View Post

The guy who brought soda, same flavors that are in our free soda fountain, also brought ice. Which we put right next to our (free) ice machine.

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Originally Posted by Zen

I don't know if that's funny or sad.
Is he fully mentally competent? Seriously, is he?

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I question it too. But, as far as I know, he is fully competent. Just a bit out there. It's so funny. We're a small company. After lunch, everyone tends to pass folks in the hall and say, "great pie!" or "can i have the recipe for that salad?" When I passed him, it took everything I had not to say, "Yummy Diet Coke!":p

This is really interesting.

We have a holiday potluck lunch every year, and it's lots of fun. There are people here from all over the world, so there's a good variety of food. Most people either are decent enough cooks or are married to decent enough cooks, and the rest bring something simple like veggies and dip. Someone brings Popeyes chicken every year and that's always a favorite. The desserts are also a mix of homemade and store bought, but it's all good.

My cooking skills consist of boiling water for pasta and "cooking" frozen foods in the microwave or oven. So I bring spinach dip and bread or crackers. I found a recipe on Kraft's website that includes garlic and parmesan cheese, so it's got a little extra flavor to it, and it only takes 5 minutes to mix everything together.

Every year we invite the cleaning people who work in our building to join us, and we all chip in and give them a gift card as a thank you for their hard work. Then they start the buffet line since they're our guests.

No one expects gourmet food or worries about whether all the different foods go together or whatever. We're just trying to have a little bit of holiday fun.

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

I had alligator sausage cheesy balls already this morning.

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Does it taste like chicken?

Wow, the pot lucks I have been to at work (schools) have all been organized and with a variety of great food. Nobody brought KFC! What a bunch of lazy people...

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Originally Posted by smilingcat

...Yesterday, one of the guys asked me what I was bringing and I said not sure. So he put in a request for sushi. NOT SO FAST BUCKWHEAT (Der Schweinehund!!). #1 grade tuna starts at $20/lb.

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LMAO!! That's too funny that he put in a request. My office x-mas party tonight is potluck style, but our group usually brings in lots of yummy food. :)

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Originally Posted by sundial

Does it taste like chicken?

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Nope - spicey - more like pork sausage.

Keeping hot dishes hot - most people don't seem to realize that "ice chests" will keep a hot dish hot. An ice chest is a thermal box...

The day before our pot luck, I made my dish, put in refrigerator. In the morning, when I got up and put the dog out, turned the oven on, put in the casserole. Went about my normal morning routine. When I was getting ready to leave, about 45 minutes later, I lined my ice chest with a thick pad of newspapers and an old towel. Put in hot casserole, covered with it's lid. Stuffed all extra space with more towels. Slid the serving spoon in the corner, and zipped the cover shut, 4 hours later it was still hot.

If every organization could have an office party seargant like ACG.

While the current organization doesn't do potluck parties, some other organizations have done potluck not bad.

I worked for a large law firm, where our whole floor, had a potluck tea/coffee break every 2 weeks on fridays. The whole signup schedule was worked out months in advance. 2 people organized each tea and provided small food (ie baked goods, etc.). It was a 20 min. affair and got people out of their cubicle and office worlds to mingle, graze and socialize. I was in a dept. where there were several other depts. plus lawyers on the same floor. So it probaby was one of the better regular/social "teas" compared to some other floors that never did it. people occasionally brought their family artwork or vacation trip photos to share...

I was at a potluck once that was all meat with a bag of chips. Hamburgers, chicken, venison, elk sausage, moose sausage, hot dogs, a moose roast... you get the idea.