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Potlucks Require Strategic Sampling Tips

By Sarah Hinnenkamp

We all know people who have tips and tricks for a variety of situations. I have a friend who tells me the best day and time to shop at big box stores, I get great baking secrets from my mom and I have a friend who’s teaching me the best way to deal with my cell phone company.

Easter Sunday, I picked up a new one. I learned the secret to eating well at a church potluck brunch. It’s a given – of course you’ll eat well. But how about filling your plate strategically?

My dad and I arrived to Easter brunch shortly after 9 a.m., greeted some folks who were already there and then lined up for the food.

We ended up behind a man I’ve known all my life. (I don’t want to blow his cover without permission, so I won’t name him.) He hadn’t reached the plate section of the line, yet he had a plate holding a buttered piece of banana bread – half eaten.

I looked at him quizzically.

His eyes lit up and he explained his strategy. (If people have a good tip, they’re usually more than willing to share).

“I got here right at nine,” he explained. “So I picked from items that were available.”

He went on to explain that if you arrive early, you should never fill your plate. That’s the biggest mistake you can make. Consider this the first part of the tip.

As we talked and waited in line, more people arrived carrying more sweet breakfast.

“See,” he said. “You could have missed out on that.”

His solution is to eat light on the first trip through the line. Then, as more food arrives, check out the selection again. This allows you to sample more goodies baked by friends and family. Pastries, breads and muffins have been crafted with love and are fresh out of the bakers’ ovens. (Let me tell you, I really enjoyed the lemon scone and I always look forward to bite size pastries that are a staple each year.)

My dad and I took a seat. As we chatted with friends and sipped orange juice, I heard the crafty man walk quickly behind my table, halfway through brunch. He had just come from the brunch line and was hurriedly making his way back to his table.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him lift his plate in the air, “More just arrived!” he said, to no one in particular, with a huge grin on his face.

He was having a great morning.

I didn’t follow the tip exactly (when I went back to the selection, I picked up another of my favorite pastries). But I have added the advice to my growing list. You never know when this tip may benefit someone I meet in a future potluck line.

What’s your favorite tip? (Food related or otherwise.)

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Comments

  1. Deb Morrison says

    April 19, 2010 at 10:30 pm

    Wow. I feel like a star or rather my lemon scone was the star of a very nice blog. Mary Ann told me about your blog. Very fun reading.

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