Community Corner

Tell Us: Who Gets the Leftovers?

When a party ends, do you keep what's left of your contribution or leave it behind?

Written by Cristel Mohrman.

When you’re invited to a party, few would argue that it’s appropriate to bring along something for the guests to eat or drink.

But when the gathering comes to an end, what happens to the leftovers?

I’ve been taking mental notes as I leave various festivities, watching as some guests leave behind the last of the dessert that they contributed, and as others pack up the remainder of the pie and the unopened bottled beverages and take them back home.

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In a Good Housekeeping column, Peggy Post opines that potluck leftovers belong to the contributor, but that some hosts may have their own “leftover policy.”

Miss Manners offers less definitive dinner party advice. In one column, she suggests trying to eliminate leftovers altogether by suggesting how many portions guests should bring.

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In another, she provides even less guidance

It sounds like this one is up to us to figure out. What do you think? When you host, do you expect to have leftovers, or would you rather have your guests take them home? When you’re a guest, do you expect to bring home whatever’s left from your contribution, or do you leave it for the host? Tell us in the comment section below.


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