Life & English: Potluck

Potluck is an event where the attendees bring their dishes to a meal, each guest contributes a different dish of food, often homemade, to be shared.

The idea of potluck, communal meal, originated in the 1930s. Traditionally, potlucks were a simple combination of dishes brought together by event attendees without a general theme. However, recent times have seen the growth of themed dinners for parties or special occasions.

Potluck dinners are often organized by community groups. The usual rule is that each dish be large enough to be shared among a good portion, but not necessarily all, of the participated guests. In some cases each participant agrees ahead of time to bring a single course, and the result is a multi-course meal. Guests may bring in any form of food, ranging from the main course to desserts. In the United States, potlucks are associated with crockpot dishes, casseroles, often called hot dishes in the upper Midwest, dessert bars, and salads.

Foods in a potluck dinner

Sometimes, more informal get-togethers with distributed food preparation may also be called “luck of the pot” or “potluck”.

Quy Minh