Is it impolite to bring food container's to a family get-together dinner?

^^^^^ ROFLOL. That ain't just impolite; it's way more than that. In fact, it's so rude, it's hilarious.
Sorta like a waiter holding his hand out & saying, "I'll take my tip now."
Remember the doorman "Ralph" on "The Jeffersons?" He always asked for a tip - hilarious.
 

There's a woman that comes to the church coffee fellowship and brings containers. If she just asked, I wouldn't begrudge her taking leftovers, but she eats her fill then goes back to the table and proceeds to fill her accoutrements without so much as by your leave - like she thinks she's entitled to it. I asked her about it once and she said she's was taking the food for a hungry woman. I can guess who that is.

However, one time a friend invited me to her house for some holiday. After the meal she gave me some cartons to fill to take home and went to sit in the living room. I was in the process when her daughter came into the kitchen and saw what I was doing. She grabbed the food away and said I was "greedy". I told her that her mother said I could take whatever I wanted, She responded that the offer didn't include what she had brought. Later, I told the hostess what happened and she just shrugged. I almost felt like I was set up. That person and I are no longer friends because of other demanding and intimidating things she did to me. That was a totally toxic family.
 
Last edited:
Not heard of this in the UK or where I live, in England. Some do take what we call doggy bags for scraps in a restautant or eatery to give to their pets and restaurant owners dont seem to mind
 
Maybe taking other people's leftover food home from a shared meal (with permission) is a old custom, or an American one. I've been looking around on the Internet and the younger people and non-Americans never heard of anything so outlandish. They would be shocked and embarrassed if anyone offred them the meal's leftovers.
 
Last edited:
Hold on, a function at a church spread or some hall, may be acceptable, but to bring container to a private home.
Surly, this had been discussed beforehand?

Why not bring your farm animals, they need fodder, maybe
left-over mashed potatoes, green beans... come on Bessie...
 
I didn't go, but my sister told me she went to a wedding and this couple sitting at the table, after the people were done eating, the wife fished out a container she brought with her and took all the plates with food left on them and dumped the food into her container. Everyone at the table were shocked and uncomfortable. It's not like they were extremely poor, the wife was a schoolteacher, I don't remember what her husband did but they both had jobs.
 
Catlady said:
I didn't go, but my sister told me she went to a wedding and this couple sitting at the table, after the people were done eating, the wife fished out a container she brought with her and took all the plates with food left on them and dumped the food into her container. Everyone at the table were shocked and uncomfortable. It's not like they were extremely poor, the wife was a schoolteacher, I don't remember what her husband did but they both had jobs.
Click to expand...
That type of behavior makes me chuckle. Maybe at one time, they were poor & knew what it felt like to starve.
 
Our families do it all the time. The host provides the entree. We generally take "Cracker Barrel" recipe beans or cakes, pies, other desserts. Some call them "pot luck" dinners. After everyone arrives, dinner has options like a smorgasbord.

Dinner with friends? Take a good bottle of wine.
 
Yes, Keesha. They bring empties and take home fullies. However, this is done only with the host's permission. It was a custom at holiday meals in my family, at least, to offer those in attendence any leftovers they wished to take home. It was part of our hospitality. Like I mentioned, maybe this isn't done anymore these days.
 
I asked my daughter to bring some good quality containers for left overs for yesterday. I filled me a couple of meals worth and insisted they take the rest as its one of me and 4 of them. We work those things out ahead of time.
 
My daughter would not even do that when she comes for dinner, of course she knows everything in the house she can have but has the good manners not to demand.
 
I used to take holiday leftovers home from my mother's house but that was the only place that I can remember other than a restaurant doggie bag.

When I was a kid I also remember people filling a plate to take to someone that was unable to attend. I think the custom was referred to as a cold party plate.

I would leave it up to the host/hostess and go with the flow.
 
Whenever we did pot luck get togethers, what we did was have everyone bring their own dish of something. After the buffet style banquet everyone got an equal portion of what everyone else brought. It saved one person from all the pressure.
Since my husband family is much larger than mine there were many family members and different places we would meet. We don’t do it now.
 
I used to socialize with a group that had pot luck meals. Everyone simply took their own dishes home with whatever was left in them. If anyone wanted a portion of someone else's dish to take home , they asked. If someone particularly liked a dish I made, I always offered them what was left.
 
When we get together for the holidays, the ladies Always cook/bring more food than we can possibly eat at one setting. It's pretty common for everyone to take a small container home afterwards. A couple of days ago, when we had Thanksgiving at the daughters house, one of the granddaughters brought some home made chocolate fudge that I fell in love with....I filled a small container with what was left, and the granddaughter will be sending us a copy of the recipe.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top