AIBU to offer guests leftovers?

[PralineCookie]

I had a smallish party this week. There was quite a bit of left over buffet food left so I offered to it to my guests. It was some chicken, ham, curry, mixed grain salad et, Some cake etc.

One friend said later that she never offers leftovers to guests because it makes it look as though they're poor and need the food. I've never heard anyone express that sentiment before. It's the norm at parties I've attended.

They were good quality leftovers and hadn't been picked over by people. It wasn't scraps and had been stored and served correctly. Not left out for hours.

AIBU to think that it isn't rude to offer people leftovers?

That's funny. I hope your friend never attends parties held by any of my family members, she would be mortified!

Thank you all for the reassurance. I was beginning to wonder if I was committing some terrible social faux pas.

Did the friend attend the party or was she just making blanket assumptions about the food? Eg left out all day, not that it really matters I suppose.

Some people are funny about left overs or think it’s degrading etc. But I think in the situation you describe, the guests who felt like that could easily just walk past the food and leave without taking anything home.

I do it all the time.
Have never had a weird look just yehhhh mom/stepmom has overdone it again

I always over cater so am very happy to send my guests home with a food parcel. They’re happy too.

In my family you didn't make enough there wasn't leftovers for people to take home. My mom is Italian and there was always a lot of food, strange friend.

I want to go to your house for dinner parties.

I would appreciate leftovers from a party. When I was younger and went out more, I would bring a plate back to my mother, who was housebound. She enjoyed the change of cuisine and felt like she was not forgotten. I always offer guests a plate of leftovers so the food doesn't go to waste.

The last time I had a party I gave a friend who’d stayed over the best part of a whole gateau. She asked if I was sure I wouldn’t rather keep it for myself, but there was another pudding that hadn’t even been touched - even I couldn’t have managed two to myself She certainly wasn’t offended.

A family member had a party with a massive buffet, the DJ was so good everybody was dancing all night, and there was a lot of food left. We wrapped and stored everything properly and contacted the local homeless shelter who were delighted with the sizeable food donation.