Tips For Directing A Potluck Meal

How To Politely Guide Your Guests When Hosting Your Next Potluck

The decision has been made. You are hosting a potluck. Perhaps your office has appointed you the 'Potluck Planner.' Or, maybe your family has put you in charge of the reunion meal. Maybe the church or school potluck needs a fresh face, and that face belongs to you. No matter how you ended up in charge, the fact is, you have a task in front of you. What does this task entail?

Beyond asking someone to bring food to share at a potluck, there are other considerations. When you are the one responsible for planning the potluck meal, you need to go a bit further. Let's take a look at a few things to keep in mind when directing a potluck.

The Menu

A potluck, in its purest form, is based on luck. Each participant brings whatever they wish and it's, well, good luck... hope the meal is satisfying, delicious, and everyone is happy. That plan can definitely be interesting. However, if you have ever been to a potluck where the choices are green bean casseroles, baked beans, and Jello, you know how a bit of orchestrating the menu could help.

As the person in charge of planning the potluck, you can direct the meal. Start with a definite menu, figure out how many of each course you will need, then start dividing up the dishes. Now, when you issue the invitations, ask the guest to bring a dish of their choice, but in a certain category.

You can be specific if you like, but guests typically like some leeway. For instance, don't ask a guest to bring lasagna or pea soup.

Instead, ask them to bring a pasta casserole or a hearty soup. Then, your guest has some guidance without limiting them to something they may or may not want to make, or bring.

If you need particular side dishes for a meal, don't be afraid to ask, but do keep the meal flexible enough so that your guests aren't feeling hemmed in by your choices. Remember; every participant in a potluck wants to present a dish they are proud to serve, but they won't be offended, and will most likely be relieved, if you give them an idea of what you need for the menu.

The Set Up

Picture everyone arriving at the potluck at the same time, all holding onto big pots of food that you asked them to bring. Then imagine there is no place to set the pots down and no help directing them. You can see how this would not be a good situation, and not very inviting, at all.

The number one rule for arranging a potluck setting is to have good traffic pattern and plenty of table space. When the guests arrive, be sure there is someone at the door directing them and helping relieve them of their burden. That is the least they can expect.

Now, be sure you have the tables clearly arranged with plenty of electrical outlets for crockpots, roasting pans, coffee pots, etc. Remember to have large bowls filled with ice to set dishes in that need to stay cold. Have all the plates and bowls at the beginning of the serving table, with silverware and napkins at the end.

Have seating areas set up well away from the food areas so the traffic flows naturally. Put beverages at another table so that guests can set their plates down, then step over to the 'bar' to grab a drink. You don't want your guests balancing plates, utensils, and drinks all in the same trip.

The Clean Up

Disposable plates, utensils, cups, and napkins help make a potluck cleanup easier. But, you still need to plan ahead. If everything is going in the garbage, it's usually no problem to line a large garbage can with a sturdy bag and just make it convenient for the guests to dispose of the items.

If you serve canned drinks you will probably need a separate container for the aluminum cans. The plastic plates and utensils may also be recycled. Plan this all ahead and clearly mark where you want the items to be tossed. You don't want your guests to have to guess.

The hardest part will be returning the leftover food and dishes to the guest who brought them. The best way you can handle this situation is to plan ahead. Purchase plastic food containers for the leftovers, and stock up on a supply of sturdy boxes to help transport the pots and pans home. Don't expect the potluck guests to plan ahead; that's your job. Make it easy for your guests to grab their leftovers and their cookware and get it to their car.

If you provide a menu, set up the tables and the room to easily handle a crowd of people, and you make the clean up convenient for your guests, your potluck will be a success. We can't promise that Grandma's Jello salad circa 1950 will be a culinary masterpiece, but we can guarantee, if you plan it right, it will be presented well!