how do the 'pot luck' supper clubs work?

[DanaSD]

I'm wondering how the potluck supper clubs work. Does the host usually make the main part of the meal and everyone else brings the appetizers, sides and desserts?

I see the a lot of supper clubs use themes - is this more for the potluck tpye of clubs?

Do you do any of the cooking once everyone shows up? Right now 2 of my girlsfiends and I get together and we cook together - this is fun when we're learning a new technique but I think with a supper club (6-8 people) this would be hard (my kitchen is on the small side).

[Grace]

Hi

My supper club has been going strong for over 3 years. We always do ours pot luck. We have between 5-7 members (some people drop out, we just added two new members, so right now we're 7). We also agree that none of us have houses (kitchens) large enough to accomodate that many "chefs" at one time, so that's why we do pot luck. Plus, it's less of a time committment. Our meetings run 2-3 hours when there's little/no cooking involved. If we had to cook it would add at least another hour or two - much too long for a weeknight and none of us want to do weekends as we all have families and other activities.

In any case, we have it set up basically the way you described - the hostess prepares the main dish and everyone else brings everything else. We RSVP by email with the dish we're planning to make/bring so there aren't any surprise duplicates or 3 desserts and no side dishes (for example). We definitely do NOT do any kind of theme - we always work out of the current issue of CL. We have found that we like our "eclectic" menus, where the dishes don't necessarily "match" - and we've also found that all of us have such different tastes in regard to which recipes appeal to us in the magazine. Everyone else always brings dishes I would never have chosen to make, and vice-versa. It has expanded our horizons so much, you wouldn't believe it. I get soo much more out of each issue of CL now and it makes it so much more fun when you can taste so many different dishes.

There are times when a recipe is "finished" at the hostess' house - i.e., an appetizer needs 10 minutes of baking, or the parsnip cakes get fried up in a pan (the batter was brought with pre-made). One member once brought an unbaked pie which we baked while we were eating all the other courses and it was done in time for dessert. But that's more the exception than the rule for us.

I would suggest getting together with your group and just making up your own "rules". Do what works for you. And if things aren't working well, change them. You'll soon find a "groove" that everyone is happy with (we did). Our group has literally never missed a meeting in 3-1/2 years. We have so much fun.

[magdon]

We're a potluck & theme supper club, also because of kitchen size. We did an actual cookalong once when only two of us could make it, and there is occasional finishing done on site, but that's about it. Hostess picks the theme & what she wants to make, which is usually a main dish. I like the themes because it makes me branch out & explore new recipes, plus you still get that "oh I never would have made that but it's fabulous" experience. And some of our themes are pretty open ended. We just did a harvest theme, for example. And we just had our 2 year anniversary! But I agree with Grace-- it's definitely all about what works for your group.

[colleency]

My supper club is new, but we do potluck mostly. We have a theme, which we all decide on together (next time is Moroccan) along with the date and the host.

Then people email what they want to make, and I send out a reminder a week or so in advance with what they signed up for and who's going.

If someone wants to prepate part of their dish at the host's house, they let them know. It's usually one or two people cooking and the rest bringing.

But our host is not responsible for any particular dish, just whatever they volunteer to make.

[Kismet]

Ours sounds very similar to Colleen's. We do mostly potluck - maybe some finishing touches at the host's home. Each meeting, we try to schedule the next one. The host chooses the theme and either assigns courses, or, more often, lets everyone else choose which course they would like to make. This month, our theme is apples! Can't wait for Sunday. :)

[cj holley]

We (my S.O. & I) started a Dinner Club over a year ago with two other couples. We love it and meet once a month. We have a theme and concentrate on winepairing with the menu. We have tasted some sensational combinations with the wine & cheeses, among other foods! At the end of the meal we vote on our favorites! The Host & Hostess prepares the menu in their home , and it has been quite expensive (even though each couple brings their favorite bottle of wine). The Potluck idea is a perfect solution. We keep a scrapbook with photos & recipes of each Dinner. It's a fun time & we have enjoyed wonderful meals and fellowship together. The Oct. Dinner is scheduled at our place, so, we are going to suggest Potluck to our friends in hopes to change our "Dinner Club" into a "Supper Club"...Potluck Suppers bring back childhood memories of family and friends gathering together with hungry tummies & heart-felt laughter...Why not capture the nostaglia of times past and serve it "our way"!