Potluck Parties

I don’t know about you, but I’m always ready for a party!  Hosting a vegetarian potluck is a fun way to get everyone together, with next to no fuss on your end.  What I love about potlucks is that they tend to be very casual and relaxed.   And everyone usually walks away with a few new ideas to try at home.  Even for non-vegetarian friends, thinking up a vegetarian dish to add to the table is easy…  for veg novices, I suggest bringing a bowl of rice pilaf, a plate of pita chips and some dip, or maybe a vegetable medley.  A vegetarian potluck means good times for all! 

Perks of the potluck:

• Everyone brings something, so there’s no heavy preparations (or costs) for the host.
• Potlucks invite creativity — people will whip up all kinds of interesting things to add to the table.
• No worries about having to serve something that every person will like, and no worries about your guests’ food allergies.  There are usually so many options, it’s easy for guests to select what works for them and appeals to them most.
• No massive amounts of left-overs if people don’t show up that you planned for, or if you have a tendency to make too much food  (that’s the Italian in me — always cooking for legions even when it’s a small get-together!).  Although guests sometime leave you with whatever is left of their contribution, most of the time they’ll grab their dish when they’re saying goodbye.  Also makes for an easier clean-up!

Tips for the host:

• As the potluck host, I always provide the drinks.  I usually have non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.  I’ve found that a couple of carafes of chai tea add a nice touch.
• Provide all the plates, cups, utensils. (Don’t forget to have bowls and spoons handy for any soups! ) 
• I’ve made the switch to using recycled, re-usable plateware, utensils and cups by Preserve — so that’s another repeated party expense I’ve eliminated. 
• Send out your invitations using Evite.com, which allows your guests to view responses.  This will give everyone an idea of how many people are coming, which sometimes can be helpful in deciding what to bring and how much of it. 
• “No Desserts Please.”  Include this with your invite.  There likely will be a couple of people who still show up with some chocolates or cookies…  which is fine.  But it will save you from the possibility of having a  table of only desserts for dinner.  If there’s a holiday or occasion near the party date, I’ve been known to offer up a cake for everyone to highlight the celebration.
• Vegetarian or vegan? If you hang with a largely vegan crowd, by all means take it to the next level!  However, most of us have a considerable number of non-vegetarian friends, and asking for strictly vegan dishes can be daunting to the point of excluding some of your chums from the fun. Besides, I’ve had some non-veg friends who have been so pleasantly surprised by the vegetarian delectable delights, that they’ve decided to make some cruelty-free changes in their own eating styles — now that’s something to celebrate!

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