October 11, 2006 08:59 PM UTC
(Updated: October 11, 2006 09:04 PM UTC)
When invited to dinner, should I bring something???
If you are invited to an informal party or dinner it is not necessary, but it is polite to ask if you can bring something to contribute to the table. If the host/hostess takes you up on it, then you must follow through and bring the requested item (salad, wine, ice, hors d'oeuvres, dessert or whatever) and by no means should you arrive "fashionably late" to the party
Potlucks
In Hawaii the most popular form of entertaining is potluck where you're expected to bring a dish to share.
With the diversity of ethnic groups we have here, a potluck dinner can be a very exciting culinary event.
It is not unusual to have several relatives in one family who are of different ethnic backgrounds (chinese/hawaiian married to a japanese/american or portuguese/filipino married to a hawaiian/samoan, etc) so within one family pod you could have at least 3-6 ethnic backgrounds.
When you are lucky enough to get invited to a community potluck then the mix can be even greater, so the food brought reflects the gamut of a United Nations gathering.
The best way to eat at a potluck, is to serve yourself little bits of everything to taste. But just in case Auntie Lehualani Ka'apanua is sitting next to you on one side (and she made the huli-huli chicken w/poi side dish) and Uncle Hideo Yoshimura is on your other side and he brought the Miso Yaki Salmon, you must at least eat the little bits you served yourself, whether you liked it or not.
After you finished your "tasting" then it is safe to go back for seconds of what you really liked.
The same principle applies to anywhere else you live in the world.
When I was small, my mom would serve us at least a small helping of everything and you had to finish what was on your plate before you could go for seconds of what you really liked.
I in turn followed this practice with my kids. It is a good idea to expose them from the time they are small to all kinds of food, then they won't embarrass you when they go out to eat.
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Comments: 15
I usually end up in the kitchen when I'm invited to anyone's home for a meal
;-)))
Katrina, it is easier on the pocket book and also really wonderful due to the variety of food people bring.
I had been to church or garden club potlucks and family reunions in the mainland, but you have never been to one like the ones here!!!!!!!
I would love to come to one of yours. You sound like a great cook.
Would love to be invited to one of your parties!!!!!
Potlucks are my favorite way to entertain - they are such fun as well as tasty.
I agree the best tactic is to take a tiny sample of everything, it is fun to discover somethig new,
My granddaughters are really picky but I notice my stepson is already training them to try all kinds of food before declaring they like it or not. He also gave his six year old a little lecture about eating at least a little of what you are served at other people's houses even if you don't like it because it's rude to not do so.
I can't wait for the girls to be able to spend some summers in Hawaii. It's going to really open their eyes to the world a bit.
Sounds as if your stepson has the right idea!
Donna, I will try that next time and see if it takes care of the problem, though I have always published my articles that are cut and paste from my own files directly to the Gather publishing form in the past. This is twice it has happened and I have no clue!
Kathryn, how weird that some people can read the whole thing, some, like you, missing the end words and Marsha just one sententence...........! I appreciate that you persevered and figured out the missing words!
Cena, if you ever visit Hawaii and I have the pleasure to meet you I will try to see if you can experience the "ultimate potluck"!
Thank you, Linda. there was a very active wine group here on the island, but I'm not sure if they still meet. Their get to gethers were legendary back in the day when I would join.......and definitely no deli or Costco food!