Do you like your dinner guests................

17 years ago

helping you in the kitchen. Maybe it is just me, but it drives me crazy when I have people over for dinner and I am trying to get things on the tabel, everyone wants to pitch in and help. I know people are just trying to be polite, but I have a certain way of doing things and it gets me frustrated when people start organizing my table not the way I like it, putting food onto plates that I don't want to use.

Does anyone else feel this way, I guess I just don't like others in my kitchen.

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Comments (18)

dotmom
17 years ago
Yup..I have just about every movement needed to put the dinner on, planned in my head, and if they would accept my polite decline of their generous offer, things go very smoothly. I've been told I'm a control freak, but it's my dinner party. LOL Dottie
lilliepad
17 years ago
Nope,the more the merrier I say.That's the fun of having guests.If it's a really formal dinner I prefer to do it my way but I can't even remember the last time I had one of those.LOL Don't mind them helping clear the table or wash dishes either.Now loading the D/W is a different story.I like to do that MY way!LOL
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sue_va
17 years ago
Here's the difference at my house:

I don't have guests. I have comp'ny, and I let them help as much as they want to.

Sue
trinitytx
17 years ago
I used to get crazy when people were helping in my kitchen, but over the years, I have really mellowed out and realize what a wonderful help friends can be.
I do not run the show anymore, I just have the show.

Trin
helencolby
17 years ago
We are quite informal at our country home, so I love it when my "guests" come into my kitchen and feel comfy enough to just jump right in to help. We get to enjoy one anothers comeraderie and it all works very well.

I quit doing the formal thing years ago and now just prefer to relax and enjoy good food, good friends, and good times.

Helen
marlingardener
17 years ago
I'm in agreement with Helen. When we had formal dinners, usually for foreign visitors to the company my husband worked for, I handled everything and wanted no help in the kitchen. The language barrier was difficult enough without trying to explain the difference between a fish knife and a butter knife! I liked the Aussies best--they were a lot of fun, and ate whatever was put in front of them.
Now, we live on a small farm, and when folks come to dinner, we all know what is what, and where it is, and we ladies have a great time in the kitchen while the menfolks talk corn and rainfall and other stuff. This is so-o-o-o-o much better!
joann23456
17 years ago
I prefer to do things myself, but I know that people want to help, so I plan specific tasks that people can help with. If someone asks to help, I give them one of the tasks. I also do everything possible beforehand, including setting the table and laying out serving dishes.

When I am a guest at other people's homes, I always ask whether there's something I can do or whether it would be more helpful for me to just get out of the kitchen and chat with other guests. Most of the time, people would rather have me leave them alone in the kitchen.

As an aside, I think it's a bit sad that people equate formal with being less fun. I love to make a special effort with flowers and candles and complicated recipes (which are fun for me to do), and I'd hate to think that people are thinking, "Oh, why doesn't she just serve lasagna!" People sit for hours talking at my dinner parties, though, so I'm pretty sure they're enjoying themselves.
msmarion
17 years ago
Are you kidding? The more the merrier. I have the table set and the seving dishes out long before company arrives. I generally use a sticky note and mark which plate, bowl etc. is for which food. I save the cooking (except for Thanksgiving and Christmas) until people arrive. The person that's bring appetizers is requested to arrive early. Then we can set up the bar and the appetizers and it's all ready when others arrive. The others get aprons and a job to do. I think it's much more fun that way.
When we lived in NH the cousins all came to our home for the Thanksgiving and Christmas. Somehow not all of them remember the manners we learned about pitching in to help. When my Gran was alive the men did the cleanup. LOL The ladies got a chance to sit down and visit. I can still picture my grandfather and my dad and uncles all in aprons doing the dishes and putting the food away. I really think they enjoyed themselves.
susan_on
17 years ago
I like it best when I work away doing what needs to be done and the ladies visit with me and keep me company while I'm doing it.
dances_in_garden
17 years ago
I don't mind it, but my kitchen is the size of a small elevator. No room to help, really. As for cleaning up? I would rather stack things nicely and leave the clean up for later, by myself, after everybody goes home.

I like to spend the time VISITING, not washing dishes.
rthummer
17 years ago
The only person who can help me without me getting flustered is my daughter, we "read" each other, and know each others ways like the back of each others hands, she says I am the only one she wants helping her about her house also. I guess we are just persinkity people.;0)
monica_pa Grieves
17 years ago
NO.

I have every move planned, both before and after dinner...and I don't need to break the rhythm with questions about where something is or goes.

Too many hands screw things up.
nancylouise5me
17 years ago
Here's another NO. I don't like people in my kitchen trying to help. Like any good hostess, I have as much done ahead of time as can be so that there is no need for them to help out. I want to enjoy their company too. They are my guests and shouldn't be working in the kitchen. Don't want them to help with the clean up either. I know where everything goes. Don't want to go searching for a utensil I need only to not find it in the spot where it is supposed to be. Leave it all to me. I invite them over for companionship, good food and conversation, not KP duty. NancyLouise
wine50
17 years ago
Well said Joann 23456 and the other "no's. If I am having a dinner party I've spent days preparing for it. I have things just the way I want them and know exactly how to manage. It is very distracting to have someone else in the kitchen. Thanks, but no thanks. Let me fix you a drink, have a seat, relax and talk to the other guests. Enjoy yourself. I'll join you in just a minute. When I am invited to someone elses house for dinner I offer to help but, understand completely if the hostess declines my offer.
kframe19
17 years ago
Do I like my dinner guests?

No.

That's why they went from guest to entree...
jemdandy
17 years ago
One Queen in the kitchen is fine; Two queens is an upset; Three Queens is war.
jannie
17 years ago
I'm a planner, I like to do everything MY way, so I don't like help in the kitchen. Unless someone volunteers to bring the plates to the table, I refuse help. And when it comes to cleanup, just bring your dirty used plates near the sink and set them down. I'll do the dishes after everyone leaves.
susanjf_gw
17 years ago
don't mind help with clean up, lol...cooking is another thing all together...

Do you like your dinner guests................

Comments (18)

dotmom

lilliepad

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