Office potluck day--love it or hate it?

One week on the new job and the dreaded pass-around comes out. The sign-up for an office potluck next week.

Maybe I am anti-social (OK, I AM anti-social) but I just really do not care for these things. Last job I once declined an, however offer to come in from the field for a day for one, said I had work to do and no big deal that I missed it. Reality was I had work to do and was glad for an excuse to miss it. So far this one seems to be one I can just shy away from. Some places, however, just have too many.

I don't mind one around Christmas, a time for a party of sorts and many cookies and sweets to snack on. But I am just finicky about someone else's home cooking, even more if I don't know it well.

Does anyone else out there feel this way?

Quote: AZDuffman

Does anyone else out there feel this way?

Totally agree with you on this one. Potlucks are terrible. We have one during the holiday season to encourage everybody to stay in the store nearby and not face the crowds out in the food court. The LAST place I want to be on my break is in the building I work. I leave the store every day for lunch, and while the habit is a bit more expensive, the satisfaction of getting away from it all is worth it.

But back to potlucks, as I have an allergy to onions (strange, I know) I have to be careful with foods I eat. Since most foods people bring in have onions in them, I can't eat most of it. I hate potlucks.

Quote: Tiltpoul

Totally agree with you on this one. Potlucks are terrible. We have one during the holiday season to encourage everybody to stay in the store nearby and not face the crowds out in the food court. The LAST place I want to be on my break is in the building I work.

Well, if everyone stays, I see your point. Since I started bringing in my own food, I stay at the office to eat. But everyone else leaves. So I can eat at my leisure and browse the web or read the paper. If only I could train the phones not to ring during lunch...

Quote:

But back to potlucks, as I have an allergy to onions (strange, I know) I have to be careful with foods I eat. Since most foods people bring in have onions in them, I can't eat most of it. I hate potlucks.

Guilty. Aside from dessert, I can't think of any of my recipes without onion. I love it, for one thing, and it's a convenient, cheap and easy ingredient that mixes well with almost anything.

They are terrible. Being a vegetarian, I have to ask about pretty much everything that comes in. Also, it requires me to go to a store and pick up a cake. Why can't people just collect $10 from everyone and get actual good food?

Quote: FinsRule

They are terrible. Being a vegetarian, I have to ask about pretty much everything that comes in. Also, it requires me to go to a store and pick up a cake. Why can't people just collect $10 from everyone and get actual good food?

Be careful Fin. Or you will not be invited to the Secret Santa club this year. LOL

I've been to alot of clients, and I get inadvertently invited to these pot lucks, especially if I have a corporate apartment and are asked to bring something. I think they're interesting and bring out the personalities and the capabilities of the people who are cooking.

A few people go to a serious effort to cook something to show off. These people are either the managers (who are incompetent) or older ladies (also incompetent) who feel the need to cook to show that they can do *something* right, because god knows, they screw up everything they touch at the workplace.

Others buy something frozen and just heat it up and maybe put together a dip. These people are making an effort to conform and contribute and be a "team player". These people are those who actually like their workmates and care what they thing. They are also probably competent at their job.

Others find the vegetable or dessert tray at their local CostCo. These people are lazy, don't want to go, and are just doing the minimum. These are the people who are probably excellent at their work and probably don't get along with the great cooks.

Finally, others avoid the entire situation altogether and just call in sick or find some excuse not to partake. Those people probably have a real disdain for their job, don't like the people they work with, and are antisocial. They're probably also the all-stars.

As a consultant, I like to make excuses and miss the thing and make the mention of "billable hours". They're inviting me probably not because they want to, but to make me feel inclusive. If I have to go, I'm at CostCo and buy something practical, like 48 rolls of toilet paper for the ensuing diahrrea because one of the serious cooks also lacks a meat thermometer or a fridge.

I like to cook, and about once a month I make a big crockpot curry, chilli or stew for work. I 'sell' portions for the local cancer research charity. Those who want to share it can and those who dont may join in with their own food. Or not. Everyone can make their own choices, and folks join in as little or as much. But most people like each other, and get involved socially in some capacity (just not everything).

We do one pot luck a year at Christmas. Oddly, i try to avoid as much of thst as possible. Its TOO social.

The meat is always catered from our site cafeteria (which is actually good!) and my department has some pretty good bakers for desserts. The sides are meh, but I can ignore those.

I like them. I always sign up to bring 2 liter sodas.

Quote: progrocker

I always sign up to bring 2 liter sodas.

Join the club my friend. Ten minutes ago my wife told me to post almost the same word for word.

I enjoy potlucks...more for the social aspect than for the food. There is nothing worse than going to a job where evreryone hates to be at work. The potlucks develop friendships that help when you have to work 5 days a week.

Quote: only1choice

Quote: progrocker

I always sign up to bring 2 liter sodas.

... my wife told me to post almost the same word for word.

Two liter Jack Daniels?

Thats for after leaving the job site.

I like them, and wish they occurred more regularly. Then again, we only do one each year. Quarterly would be nice. You have them weekly? Holy crap! I'd be looking for an excuse too!

For the record, I make a 'big salad'. I generally make a big salad for myself every couple weeks. For the pot luck, I just double up on everything I put in, and put it in a bigger bowl and bring it. I've done this 3 years in a row, and the office ladies always assume that my wife makes it for me. Whatever. At least I didn't just go to the store and get something pre-made and say I participated....

I'm probably in the minority here, but I like them. We do them 5-6 times a year. Fortunately, my department is 2 guys and 17 women, mostly middle aged. About 6-7 of the gals are VERY good cooks, so we end up with some excellent dishes, desserts, and cakes. And the socialization isn't too bad, so I don't mind it.

I used to bring in some of my favorite recipes, until I discovered that they were generally too spicy or manly for the group. (Do women just not like chili and jambalaya?) Then I tried to be healthier and bring in some fruit, only to find that it barely gets eaten. (Yet all of the cakes, cookies, and sweets get eaten - then they complain about their weight!) Finally I gave up and now I do the guy role and bring in 2 liter bottles of soda, juice, and lemonade; or just a couple bags of chips.

Weekly would be way too often though.

I'm on the fence.

I enjoy cooking, and like to share with my friends and co-workers.

I don't usually enjoy eating their crap. And I hate the inequity that I spend $40 on groceries and 6 hours in the kitchen, and most people just show up with a bag of chips or a bottle of soda.

I like potlucks...but I don't go for the social aspect...I go for the food, PERIOD...
I usually don't really bring a dish...I literally get twenty $1 bills and put them in a dish that says "Take one, please."
LOL
Yes, I am a fucking asshole.

Myself I prefer the Friday office beer hour...especially when the company is buying the drinks.

Quote: PapaChubby

I don't usually enjoy eating their crap. And I hate the inequity that I spend $40 on groceries and 6 hours in the kitchen, and most people just show up with a bag of chips or a bottle of soda.

Well, new teams were formed and in the first meeting a "food day" was brought up---sometimes I wish the whole earth would explode. But I might not be alone. Two women were looking at the list and seems many people signed up to bring pop or paper products. Outright complaining about the cost varriance. My dream is that this kills the concept entirely, forever.

As for me, I try to simply avoid the sign-up sheet all night, then I just do not even go to the table to even look. Others may not be as passive-aggressive as I am about it. My luck was good when midway thru higher management killed it for at least this week.

The last thing I want to do at my job, is to have to cook something and cut into my family time when I am not at the office. I don't mind, and would prefer if they just asked for a few bucks from everyone to spring for pizza or fried chicken.

As long as there is somebody to pity the single men and say "just bring in some drinks," I'm fine with them.

Ours are easy. Our Public Works guys cook out on the grill here and you can pitch in 5 bucks for when they go to the store or bring something simple and then we grill and eat during lunch.

I've never worked at a "real job" that had one, but last Christmas at the casino they encouraged everyone to sign up and bring something. Like a lot of guys have said on here I signed up to bring in a few 2 liter bottles of pop because I can't cook to save my life. A lot of the food that was brought in tasted great but I was sick as a dog for half the night. There's nothing like trying to deal while your stomach is doing barrel rolls. Ugh... never again!

We don't do such things where I work, but last month I agreed to cook an odd pasta we got as a sample form the manufacturer. It's a wheat-flour apsta "enriched2 with some form of seaweed. The thing is that it looks black, though it's supposed to be dark green. Since it's elbow-shaped, I'm thinking of doing with a creamy chipotle sauce.

Well, today's came and went. Luckily one of the lead people askes me yesterday if I wanted to sign up but worded it like she knew I did not want to. I didn't even go over to look at the food. Then at the end of the day we were told, "In the future be more careful about getting up during worktime to get food--it was not well received." Seems productivity dropped like a rock. Mine was down but it was due to Weird issues on several early loans I was assigned. When you stump 2 supervisors with a question you know it is a real problem. But the speech was about people eating instead of working. No matter what, it looks like I may be on the right side of things.

Sorry for the late-night rant. We now return you to your regularly schedueled programing.

As an intern I love the potlucks as I indulge on the "mama's cooking" that I miss from home. yet I am not expected to make anything myself. This will change when I accept a fulltime offer from the firm at the end of the Summer. Until then, let the potlucks roll!