Food sadness.

[Shakespeare]

We just finished a potluck lunch at work. It's the first such potluck we've had since I've been here (a little over two years).

I adore my coworkers (LOVE them), but I discovered today that I'm working with a group of lousy cooks. If I weren't so bummed out about how awful the food was, I'd find it funny.

Okay, it's a little funny.

I made a triple chocolate trifle, which was (thank goodness) gobbled up.

[Dora]

1. We used to do that at my office.

People didn't care for it. We enjoyed the dining together, but most really didn't like participating in the potluck. We have 45-50 people on staff, so you can imagine what the potlucks were like. Finally, I convinced our director to sponsor a luncheon offsite, and we've been doing that for the last four years. People are MUCH happier now that they don't have to cook.

[Warpy]

2. At my hospital job, there were only two of us who actually cooked

for pot lucks, myself and one of the aides who'd bring in some concoction of tribal allotment beans and/or cheese. The rest of them would bring in premade stuff of various descriptions, Velveeta and bottled salsa in a crock pot being a fave.

It was depressing at the time, but those types are going to be the ones who are the most fun to watch as the economy keeps going sour and they can't afford Velveeta and bottled salsa to eat with prepackaged chips.

[hippywife]

3. I don't participate anymore.

I really am not into being social with my co-workers all that much, and many, many of them do hit the local WallyWorld for prepackaged stuff. You should see the leftovers in the fridge when it's over. Always tons of it and it all goes to waste because, since they didn't actually prepare it, they really don't care if it sits in there and rots.

[Shakespeare]

4. With the exception of one person who brought deli potato salad, everybody cooked.

There were about 15 of us at the luncheon, and everybody really gave it their best effort--it's just that the food was truly awful (with the exception of the two desserts, and one vegetable dish). But, we did have a great time, so that's all that matters, I suppose.

[hippywife]

5. Trust me when I say

if you worked with the folks I do, you wouldn't attend, either. I get out of all kinds of activities- motivational meetings, parties, potlucks, you name it-by graciously volunteering to take the switchboard so the receptionist can attend. Works for me. :D

[Name removed]

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[supernova]

7. Office social functions

are often subject to forced gaiety and that spills over onto the food offered.

I just try to live through them.

[Shakespeare]

9. Fortunately, this wasn't forced.

Everybody had a great time (even if the food wasn't so great).

[Stinky The Clown]

8. My 'coworkers' belong to this group

http://www.fcsi.org/

Not many bad meals shared among us.

My wife is a member of various teacher, dance, and, music organizations. She always compares our events to hers. Not favorably. :hi:

[hippywife]

10. Wouldn't I like to be

a mouse under the table at your gatherings! :9

[Longhorn]

11. We had a potluck at my community college campus.

The campus manager provided ham, turkey, and beverages and we brought the rest. I didn't contribute this year but I have in the past. There was lots of really good food, though I couldn't possibly try everything. I only saw one store-bought cake. I guess I'm pretty lucky that we have lots of good cooks on our faculty and staff. :)

Then again, maybe I'm just easy to please, especially when others are cooking for me. ;) And I'm a picky eater but I only chose to eat food that I like. :hi:

[Shakespeare]

13. LOL--I told my sister about this, and she gravely intoned....

"you know, that wouldn't happen here in Texas." (meaning: everybody's a competent cook) :rofl:

:hi:

[Longhorn]

14. I didn't think of that!

Maybe that's the answer! :rofl:

:hi:

[AwakeAtLast]

12. I've been to many great ones and a few bad ones

The bad ones are usually bad because I don't think people realize they need to bring something of substance. I remember one many years ago when I was a temp. One person ceremoniously placed an OPEN, HALF-EATEN bag of potato chips on the table, then proceeded to pick up a plate and loaded up. I found out later that it was normal at every one this place had. I would never say anything about someone bringing potato chips, especially if they are not good cooks, but opened? :puke:

I always make sure to bring something in a 9 X 13 pan or large container. That way I know there will be enough of something I like. :D

[yellerpup]

15. I cook for my husband's work potluck events.

His small crew (art) sometimes puts in 80 hour weeks and the company is only 10, owners included. I can't fault any of them for not knowing how to cook and one of them once brought a box of dried spaghetti because she likes to snack on it while she drives (?!!???). She says it's crunchy... Anyway, people who work such brutal hours deserve someone to look out for them when it comes to potlucks. One of the kids brought a dish to the last potluck (at the end of the meal, unfortunately) that she slaved and sweated over and we all praised it mightily because she made the effort. Like you, Shakespeare, I love them all even if they can't cook.

[hobbit709]

16. Most people nowadays think cooking involves

taking it out of the bag or box and putting it in the nuker. I knew one person who even had instructions on a card on how to make buttered toast.

[The empressof all]

17. In theory I'm not a fan of potlucks

It just seems unsanitary to me and goodness knows where or how that food was prepared. Believe me, I'm not a clean freak but I know enough about food sanitation to prevent killing people or making them ill. I NEVER eat potluck chicken now after getting sick many moons ago on a crock pot of chicken that the "cook" made with rock hard frozen chicken breasts.

In my old neighborhood the folks from my street put out quite a spread a few times a year. I knew them all and not one had killed anyone with food bourne illness. I ate well and without fear.

Work function...I'd stick to the bagged chips or my own contribution which is usually a huge apple crisp.

[NJCher]

19. my concern, too

I'm a college speech instructor and yesterday a student gave a presentation on the importance of washing one's hands. She had statistics and observational studies on how much people wash their hands. Suffice to say, it is not enough and when they do actually wash their hands, they don't do it right.

Not to mention the habit some people have of tasting and putting the spoon back in the pot. If you're cooking for you and you only, then fine. But it's done unconsciously and I'm afraid too many people forget they're cooking for others.

So that's why I forego bake sales, pot lucks, and the like. They are charming and folksy as can be, but knowing what I know, I can't enjoy them.


Cher

[Arkansas Granny]

18. We don't do potluck at work. We have a full kitchen in our office, so every

now and then my boss or I will get in there a make a big pot of chili (his specialty) or soup or a casserole of some kind and have all the guys come from the jobsites to have lunch. They leave a couple of dollars in the kitty to help defray expenses.

Today I brought in my usual Christmas offering of homemade cookies and candies as my Christmas gift to them all. My daughter and I baked most of the day Saturday on goodies to take to our respective offices and will be baking more for the family as it gets closer to Christmas.