Good food is all the sweeter when shared with good friends.
Vicki Baker
When was the last time you shared a meal with your neighbors? Or what happened to that get-together with the neighbors you’ve been talking about since you moved in? It seems in the busyness of life that relationships with neighbors too often are reduced to a mere wave of the hand as we drive by. Or three years have passed and that neighborhood dinner still hasn’t materialized. Solution: The Potluck Club’s annual Progressive Safari Dinner held on June 14 was a great way to meet new people and reconnect with old acquaintances all while enjoying a multi-course dinner party.
This moving feast offered hours of entertainment for the 65 participants, including the 17 hosts. Friends and neighbors progressed from house to house with each course eaten at a different host’s home. During the evening of mingling and eating, the ultimate aim was for no two pairs to eat more than one course together, so that each couple would be eating with a new batch of people each time. And although it didn’t quite work out that way, there was no shortage of a real sense of community and camaraderie around the tables.
With host and guest designations made, everyone contributed to the meal by splitting up responsibilities. Guests were instructed to bring appetizers or desserts to the assigned host’s home. The entre, a catered meal. Because hosts only had to worry about a single course, they became guests at the rest of the homes and were able to join in the fun as the party migrated house to house and were free to party down, too. It was the proverbial win/win for everyone.
The three-course meal took nearly four hours with sufficient time to enjoy each course and an appropriate time cushion between courses to get to the next destination. Keeping an eye on the time during the party was essential. Guests would be gently nudged to wrap things up and head onto the next location; more eating awaited us just around the corner!
Mingling and scrumptious appetizers were the first course that gave all participants a chance to meet and greet. The mouth-watering main course of roasted chicken, “kalelicous” slaw, sweet corn and twice baked potatoes (catered by Cowboy Chicken) was served buffet-style. And last, the decadent desserts were enjoyed seated, buffet or standing.
Did you miss out on all the fun at the Progressive Safari Dinner? No problem. The Potluck Club organizes smaller and more intimate dinners throughout the year. Our gatherings are a great opportunity to meet new people and re-establish old friendships. Expert cooking and special culinary skills are not a requirement. Socializing in a small group setting around food is what we are all about. For more information regarding membership, contact Bernadette Fideli at [email protected].