The Poor Man’s Dinner Party (Or, How to Throw an Awesome Potluck)

Have you ever thrown a dinner party? Did it cost a lot? The black market value of your kidney? (You made steak, didn’t you?) Did you totally forget that half your guests were vegetarians, so you ended up spending all that money on a bunch of tofu eaters who only ate the broccolini? Take heart, aspiring entertainer on a budget, there’s hope for you yet!

The potluck — an ancient tradition beloved by book clubs everywhere — is really just a dinner party light. They're perfect for the inexperienced, broke, or lazy entertainer. The concept is simple: Everyone brings food or drink and gathers for communal enjoyment.

Now, to throw The Best Potluck Ever, you need to keep your eye on a few things:

1. Time it right: Potlucks are best when they're relaxed and well-attended, so schedule them for an early weeknight (or maybe a Thursday). Potluck brunch (and its cooler, older sister, Potluck Drunch) make for really awesome Sundays, too.

2. Secure a main course. The entrée is the key to your potluck not sucking. Last Sunday morning, for instance, I found myself with 12 guests, three dozen cupcakes, bacon, bread, and a lot of booze. Uh oh! Always have a back-up: A dozen eggs stashed in the back of your fridge to scramble — or, for dinner, pasta and tomato sauce — are quick fixes to entrée emergencies.

3. Booze ‘em up! Your potluck needs liquid courage even if it’s just Franzia (which can be greatly improved by decanting it for three or four hours beforehand). Inviting some of your more culinarily challenged guests to bring alcohol instead of food is a good way to ensure that there’s enough to drink.

4. Theme it. Betty Draper’s “trip around the world” dinner impressed Don’s big clients, didn’t it? And where entertaining is concerned, you can always trust a ‘60s housewife. Themes are fun! They can vary from the simple (Italian food, TexMex) to the creative (green food, things that begin with the letter R) to the ridiculous (Literature: Great Eggspectations, Tequila Mockingbird, Banana Karenina).

5. Kill some trees. If you’re entertaining more than two people, paper plates and cups will greatly reduce the amount you hate your guests when you’re cleaning up.

6. The more the merrier! These events are well-suited towards large groups of people, so invite all your old roommates, that awkward third-cousin of yours, your bowling team, and the guy you met on the subway last night (maybe).

7. Make friends with Joe. Trader Joe’s is the hand that feeds the potluck. Nearly everything in that blessed store is cheap, delicious, and so easy to prepare a child could microwave it. (The frozen foods are particularly great.) So don't be shy about stocking up in advance of your event — and don't be surprised if your guests do, too. In fact, the lateness of your guests will often be directly proportional to the length of the line at Trader Joe’s.

8. If your potluck is a success, do it again! Do it all the time! Regular potlucks are a great way to see a group of friends once or twice a month. After a while, other people will offer to host, so you can move around and compare your home to theirs.

Jane C. Timm has hosted a lot of potlucks.

Photo via Flickr