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Summer 2009 Potluck Ideas

Potluck—July 2009

There is an art to organizing and carrying off a successful potluck event, I’m convinced.

Many folks grew up with these types of events, whether the gathering surrounded church fellowship events, community socials, or family parties and reunions. Gatherings that included food used to be potluck activities where you could count on certain members of your social circle, neighborhood, or family bringing a dish that they were “famous for!”

Then came the late 80s and the beginning of the Food Network generation. Often the invitation called for a simple “Just bring yourself…” request and nothing more. This was the era (that lasted throughout the 90s and up to a couple years ago) that I refer to as the “culinary show off era” where folks would host monumental parties and provide every last morsel of food, from appetizer to dessert. And god forbid someone bring something to eat that might possibly up-stage or throw off the theme of the host’s culinary spread!

We’re in a new era now. Rare culinary prowess is now ubiquitous, people long for social gatherings where each person can contribute something, household budgets are tighter, and more and more of us long for the social connectedness that comes along with sharing foods from the heart. The only unfortunate part of this whole thing is that folks listened to Emeril too much over the years and now use immense amounts of garlic in everything they prepare! But that's another topic altogether.

Here are some potluck ideas from greatgrandmother.org:

Be clear. Whatever route you take or whichever theme you select, be clear about what you expect or what the host is offering. If you’ll have a hot grill going but expect guests to bring their own food to be grilled, then say so. If you have a certain theme or food allergies, you should be up front with your expectations. If you are going alcohol free, then state your intentions clearly. And if you want the party to end at a certain time, don’t be shy! But, say so up front.

Have fun. Some of the better social events do not just revolve around food. Many have planned activities, certain themes, music and decorations, or specific purposes like fund raising, celebrating anniversaries, birthday, or other special events. In a time when our economy is struggling, people are gravitating toward fun things to do that do not cost anything. And for those who wish not to participate, it’s always a good idea to have plenty of comfortable chairs for them to sit around and socialize.

Kids are key! Keeping the kids at home is not as popular as it once was. Parents—especially dual income families who have hectic work schedules—don’t get much quality family time during the work week and like to make sure that they spend lots of good time with their children. Virtually all of my potlucks include children—especially during the short summer months. In fact, I now offer to handle all kids meals, from hotdogs to fresh fruit, so that parents can focus on bringing their favorite adult-type dishes to the potluck, knowing that food for their children will be provided for.

Think locally. Localvore potlucks are a great way during the peak summer growing season to take advantage of bumper crops of strawberries, zukes, and cukes, as examples. Often you’ll get the opportunity to taste two or three different and new recipes that include the same fruit or vegetable! All the good reasons around sourcing your foods locally make sense for a potluck inspired by garden-fresh produce.

Mixed grill. I like to grill marinated vegetables, herb slathered boneless chicken thighs, drunken shrimp, and pork tenderloin; then provide them as a mixed grill main entrée. All my guests then bring salads, side dishes, appetizers, drinks, and desserts.

Think Organic! I serve organic and sustainable foods whenever possible. That's one of my personal values. I often ask my guests to consider including at least one organic ingredient in their dishes...and guess what? It works! It's catching on.

The art of conversation is still alive and kicking! Not every potluck event must include a long list of invitees or offered on a grand scale. Many of the most memorable events I have hosted or participated in have been intimate, with small groups of people who enjoy intelligent, kind, and thoughtful conversation. Extemporaneous potluck lunches with a chilled bottle of white wine and a couple good friends can be quite enjoyable.

Be money smart. We’re all tightening our belts and that’s a good thing. Encouraging friends to bring something simple and economical is often quite helpful. When I fall short of cash, I bring a platter of kicked up brownies. My Better Crocker mix is .99¢ and a handful of dark chocolate chips, some toasted walnuts, and a dollop of frosting cost very little more.

Try a theme. I like themes. When I need a morale boost, I host a potluck with a cool or random theme. My last was an Earth, Wind, and Fire theme. The music (from the group of the same name) played, the look was African, and the food was anything that came from the earth, came from the sky, and could be cooked on an open fire.

Good luck and happy potlucking!

Sustainably,

Mario