A few friends and I were planning little reunion after not seeing each other for months, but we didn't necessarily want to be at a bar or restaurant.
We wanted a space where we could eat, drink and catch up without having to worry about disturbing other people.
I have always liked the idea of potluck and it's something I always wanted to do, so I suggested it and to my surprise the girls agreed.
We had our first successful potluck last month and last Sunday the girls and I were at it again.
A potluck as a gathering where each guest contributes a different meal (usually home-cooked) which is shared.
The leftovers are taken home and it's usually not the dish you brought with you.
Our little potluck club is by no means on the level as chef Luke Dale Roberts’ popular eatery in Woodstock of the same name, and our cooking certainly doesn't come close to his innovative creations (we wish). At least our club has no long waiting periods and no culinary qualification is needed.
Potluck is a great way to entertain friends and family without the host breaking the bank and spending a whole lot of time in the kitchen.
The aim is to eat, drink and catch up - not slave away in the kitchen. The food doesn't have to be anything fancy as long as you made it yourself.
Speaking of drinks, that’s the other rule of our club, what fun is an "adult lunch” without some happy juice?
Each of the girls are allowed to bring a bottle of wine or nonalcoholic beverage of their choice.
Once all your guests have arrived, a great idea is to place all the food on a table or the kitchen counter and allow each guest to dish for themselves.
This gives everyone a chance to see all the offerings, ask questions and exchange tips and recipes.
My girlfriends and I are no masters in the kitchen, so we don’t feel intimidated or worry what the others will say of think about our cooking.
It’s a great opportunity to learn from each other and even our own mistakes.
On the menu at our inaugural lunch was macaroni and cheese with a spinach, mushroom and ham filling, bobotie, couscous and fried chicken - not bad for a bunch of novices.
Since we didn't discuss the menu in great detail, it was a nice a surprise seeing what each person contributed and how good it all looked on the plate.
The great thing about a potluck is that there is no pressure on the host to anything other than make their one dish while the rest of the food arrives with the guests.
It's also a good idea to change up the venue with each gathering.
Another thing I love about potlucks is that leftovers are guaranteed, and since you already brought your own dishes, there's no need to leave with the hosts’ precious Tupperware.
There are so many themes and ideas to play around with when it comes to hosting a potluck.
The next time you're in the mood to entertain, consider this low-budget buffet.