Potluck Party Themes

This was a dessert party only, for people who had already eaten dinner. I set this potluck for 7:00 pm.

In our newsletter blurb I indicated that everyone should bring a chocolate item and that I would be showing the movie "Chocolat".

I set it up to look sophisticated and elegant. The table was set with a nice white tablecloth and candles. My contribution was chocolate dip in a silver chafing dish surrounded by out pieces of fruit for dipping. The chandelier was set to dim so the candles could sparkle. I used very pretty paper plates and my good flatware.

A coffee urn was set up in the kitchen with decaf. (I figured, there's enough caffeine in all the chocolate).

It turned out great! Everyone brought such different things, it made for a real tasting feast. Of course, someone brought brownies and there were chocolate cakes. We had a box of chocolates, moon pies, donuts, chocolate cookies and someone brought Godiva chocolate cordial.

There was only push back from one person, who called to say that she didn't think this was a good idea so she was bringing a white cake with white frosting --- there's one in every crowd! (At the end of the night, there was only one piece gone from her cake -- hmmmm).

It was a great theme for socializing as everyone milled about the table taking little taste samples and telling each other what to try.

When it seemed as if everyone had their fill, I put on a DVD of the movie Chocolat with Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench and Johnny Depp.

Flickr photo by Claire Thompson

This party was set for a Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm. Everyone was asked to bring cookies, scones, biscuits or little tea sandwiches.

In the kitchen I had the coffee urn filled with hot water. I already had many many boxes of herbal tea and I picked up a few more. By the coffee urn was sugar, lemons, honey and cream.

The dining room table was set with a pink tablecloth. For extra seating, I put a tablecloth over the coffee table. In the kitchen, I set up a little round table with a pastel table cloth.

At the time, I lived where part of my property grew wild and it was wild rose time. I put a vase of wild roses on each table and sprinkled rose petals all over the tablecloths the aroma was wonderful. Wild roses have a strong rose scent.

One of my friends arrived early and she suggested that I also tie the vases with pink ribbons, so I whisked out the wrapping paper box and we quickly tied pink ribbons around.

Again, it was great. The guests rallied and brought a wide assortment of homemade cookies and tiers of little tea sandwich.

Photo ©.E. Gregory

A tapas party is part of Spanish cuisine. The idea is instead of having a big meal, the guests eat appetizers and hors d'oevres. The guests go from table to table nibbling, thus circulating and socializing. There are usually less chairs than people to keep the party moving.

I asked that everyone bring an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre. The results were an amazing assortment: olives and cheese on toothpicks; ham and cheese wrapped around asparagus and bruchetta spread with calamata olive paste, and much, much more.

As each guest arrived, I asked them to put their creation on any table around the living room and dining room.

To give it kind of a club atmosphere, I kept my 3-way lamps on low. I sprinkled metallic confetti all over my rugs and on my table cloths. In the background, I had Laura Fygi music playing to further the supper club feel.

Laura Fygi is in the genre of Diane Krall -- very pleasant to listen to and singing old standards.

Flickr photo By Javi Vte Rejas

For this one I asked everyone to bring a Mexican dish and to wear bright colors. I was at first fearful, that everyone would bring taco chips and salsa, but that was not the case. Some people stopped at Taco Bell and picked up a dish. There was a big variety. As for the clothing, several people came in large straw hats, there were long ruffled skirts -- it was so bright and cheerful.

I set up two punch bowls -- one with alcohol free Sangria and one with alcohol free Margaritas. I have to tell you, they were as good as the alcohol version and I didn't have to worry about any of my guests travelling home.

Alcohol Free Margarita Recipe

At one of the local discount stores I found inexpensive red silk roses. I had one of my male friends, greet each female guest and present her with a rose.

Ahead of time, I burnt the tips of about 20 corks. I had one of my female friends greet all the male guests and use a burnt cork to draw a mustache on them.

Mariachi music was playing all the time and I handed out the words to the more common songs such as: La Cucaracha and Cieto Lindo.

After dinner we all went outside to hit a pinata.

Photo ©.E. Gregory

This could be for Columbus Day --- or any day.

Get a red and white checked table cloth.

Put some drip candles in old empy wine bottles.

A nice centerpiece would be a bowl of Mediterranean fruits - oranges, tangerines, grapes --must have grapes. If figs are in season add them. Also, add Brazil nuts and walnuts to the fruit bowl.

Photo ©.E. Gregory

Ask everyone to bring an Italian dish. The possibilities are endless: meatballs, lasagna, crusty Italian bread, chicken parmigiana, bruschetta, garlic bread, baked ziti. If they are not gifted cooks, they can bring a pizza.

And then the desserts: Canollis or spumoni

Play some Italian music in the background see the sample of Il Divo on YouTube below. The women will melt.

You can show a humorous movie set in Italy: Divorce Italian Style, Marriage Italian Style or How to Murder Your Wife are some suggestions. Or, you can sit around the table after dinner for hours just talking, as they do in Italy.

This can be so bright and colorful. Hang paper lanterns and use bright red plates. Have a pot of water so everyone can make tea.

Easy for the guests. If they want they can just stop off at a Chinese restaurant to bring a dish. Some of the larger supermarkets also sell whole bags of fortune cookies; that's one option for someone to bring. Also, the frozen food department of the supermarket now has large portion Chinese food bags. Fried rice is relatively easy to make if someone wants to try their hand at that.

You can play the video Mulan by Disney. It's enjoyable for children and adults. Play Chinese checkers. And of course, read your fortune cookies.

Photo courtesy of morgue.File free photo