xmas party (pot luck)

[bmccasland]

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!

[Karma007]

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...

[Kimmyt]

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.

[fastdogs]

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

[ACG]

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.

[salsabike]

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

[Karma007]

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

[Andrea]

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...

[shootingstar]

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...

[sundial]

I had alligator sausage cheesy balls already this morning.

Does it taste like chicken?

[Crankin]

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...

[Irulan]

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.

[bmccasland]

Does it taste like chicken?

Nope - spicey - more like pork sausage.

[bmccasland]

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.