Potlucks are a way of life for boaters and cruisers. With a small group, it’s pretty easy to set out or pass dishes and there usually isn’t a particular line for the main meal.
But that all changes with a larger group of people. People can spend anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes in line, which can be boring or hunger-inducing.
I’ve seen two really good ideas to keep people happy while in line:
- Put the appetizer table approximately halfway down where you expect the line to extend. People who line up early can grab their appetizers on their way to the head of the line (where they will probably wait a few minutes for the food to be available, so they’ll have a chance to eat it) and those further behind get to pass by the appetizer table, pick some up and eat while in line.
- Pass appetizers hand-to-hand along the line, from the back of the line to the front. This is particularly good if people brought their own plates; otherwise, send appetizer plates down the line first. I really like doing this with a large group who probably don’t all know each other, as people will naturally start talking as they pass the dishes. It’s a great icebreaker!
If you’re organizing the potluck and plan to do the “pass the appetizers down the line” it’s a good idea to request that appetizers be finger food and not hot dishes.
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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Gena Beckett Olson says
good idea!