Plan your own potluck party

Not sure how to plan your own potluck party? Let us give you some tips on how you can host your family and friends!

With the restrictions loosening and festive period just round the corner, we all look forward to resuming our gatherings in large groups, enjoying the company of a big group of guests and soaking in the atmosphere of a real, mid-to-large scale dinner party! But to prepare and cook for so many guests would be daunting, isn’t it? This is where the idea of potluck party comes in.

Potluck party is essentially each guest or group will contribute to the gathering by bringing some food and drinks. It is a communal gathering with different, often homemade, dishes of food to be shared. Not only does this unloads the responsibility from the main host, guests can bring something that suits their appetite. Maybe my partner would like to have some roast chicken instead of the tomahawk steak, and my kids are craving for some potato salad instead of cauliflower rice. That’s alright as I can decide what to bring to the potluck party. Talk about win-win!

Let’s get down to business.

Firstly, decide on a theme. All parties got to have a theme, that includes potluck parties as well! A great theme can definitely up the game of your potluck party. Guests can get more involved in the planning, dress up and more. This will make them look forward to the party even more. Think seasonal, holiday, colour, generation and more! Find one that means something to everyone. Our kids love everything Disney so we’ve definitely tried that; it was fun dressing everyone up in their favourite Disney characters!

Next up, the food (of course!). Make sure that you have all the courses prepared, from appetizers to mains and desserts. We love large centerpieces like whole baked salmon, whole ribeye fillet, huge roasted lamb leg, tomahawk and more that will surely wow everyone. Some may prefer to fire up the BBQ and get some burgers going. Accompany them with sides like a salmon salad, nachos and you are almost ready to go. Don’t forget desserts – get someone to bring a cake! Check out our recipe section for more inspiration.

Lastly, the beverages (and alcohol for the adults) that pair nicely with what you and your guests bring to the table! A punch usually does the trick for the kids, while a few bottles of everyone’s favourite wines will satisfy the adults.

How to pick the right wine to pair with the food? As a general rule, the leaner the beef, the lighter the red wine. A high-marbled ribeye would go well with a Cabernet Sauvignon with high tannins that complement the juiciness of the steak. Leaner cuts like tenderloin would likely go better with a Pinot Noir instead. To match the delicate flavours of young lamb or a medium-rare roasted lamb, choose delicate wine like the Pinot Noir for the best pairing. If your roast lamb is served medium to well-done, try the Chianti, Shiraz or Merlot, which are fuller-bodied, as the meat will be richer in flavour and not quite as tender.

With these, you should be well-ready to host your next potluck party. Time to gather your family and friends!

This post in inspired by True Aussie Beef and Lamb.