How often do you have people over for a meal?

[Tiqtaq]

For me maybe once a month but that's mainly lunch for a friend or a roast with siblings and parents.

I never do big dinner parties and wonder if other people still do? My parents had people over to eat way more often than I do.

So, I'm interested to know, how often do you have people over for a meal?

I definitely don't have matching tableware. Half of our stuff is still in boxes (nowhere to unpack it as house undergoing renovation), and people eat off old Paw Patrol plates or whatever comes to hand. Last time, our architect got a plate DS had when he was a toddler that says A PRESENT FOR A GOOD BOY.

@SunRainStorm same here

In my family, I think 2 differences are (1) my Mum didn't work, so had time to prepare dinner party and (2) they lived in a bigger house, so had a dining room

Never. I hate having people over and find it very stressful. Much rather meet up with people in a coffee shop or Wetherspoons.

never and never have

Since I left my husband last year and moved abroad it happens at least weekly, sometimes 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I cook, sometimes we just have some drinks and order something in. I absolutely love it though but couldn't do it every night. Most of my friends live in the area and I have more space than most of them so it makes sense to be at mine.

When I was married it probably happened 2-3 times a year. I much prefer it this way.

Quite often, every couple of weeks. But I’m a chef and that’s how I show love! It’s never a big production, just nice food and company and plenty of wine.

Never

Never. I’ve never been to or hosted a dinner party and never will.

If I want to eat with friends, we’ll all go to a nice local pub

@ThisIsACoolUserName , same here, another retired hostess. Unless I come across people who are likely to reciprocate, won't be going there again!

Three times last week alone, but it's all much less formal now since Covid, I can't be arsed getting all the best stuff out.
I invite people over for drinks and nibbles now which I enjoy much more. Summer we have people around a lot less so winter.

Never

It varies, but maybe once every couple of months. Next time is the weekend after next and we're having three other couples over.

I have never done this.

Friends a couple of times a month, Extended family - 3 weeks out of 4 for a roast or BBQ.

Never. Cooking for ourselves every day is enough, I don’t want to be under pressure to cook for others.
I recently said no to an invite from a colleague, and I think she was offended, but tnere was no way I was having her back.

About once a month for us too. Friends, not family, as sadly our parents have passed away, and both of us only have one sibling each, and although we are close to them, neither of which live geographically close enough for anything more than an annual visit.

In the winter we invite people round for Sunday Roast (that would generally be a whole family - all of us in our group have children in the 13-18 age range, and would include our older teens), or it will be 8-10 of us in the dining room for a 3 course meal, which tends to be adults only. It's not "formal" as in dressing up/wine flight paths etc, but it will be fancier than normal food, with everything home made from scratch. Plenty of wine sloshing around, and generally a good, lively social occasion.

In the summer, the Sunday Roast tends to get replaced by a BBQ (NOT burgers and sausages - more likely kebabs or fish or rotisserie chicken/pork) or Paella on the outdoor Paella burner, or Pizza in the Pizza Oven - again, all these would be more full family affairs.

I love hosting and being hosted. We're very lucky that we have a lot of friends and an active social life - rarely a weekend that we aren't either hosting or invited out somewhere. I suspect that might be due to the sad lack of living close family around us, and we actively put quite a lot of effort into our social life as a result.

Once a year and then everyone within two weeks.

Just because I hate cleaning and once the house is presentable it's easier to host back to back.

Decades ago when I had proper help (house cleaner and gardener) I'd entertain about once or twice a month.

Very rarely these days. Used to, but one woman's older son took to beating my younger son when no one was looking and trying to start fights, so that stopped, and the other family are nice people but their sons immediately start to rifle through all our belongings and their youngest is an utter force of destruction around our home and garden and tried to terrorise the cat so, that had to stop until he matures and learns to control himself. Everyone else is just very busy.

@mrsm43s why did you feel need to say that your BBQ would not have burgers or sausages? Has BBQ snobbery become a thing now?

6 times year I reckon.
As WAH regularly go out instead.

Never, and I hope that continues. I’ve never been to someone’s house for dinner, either.

Family -about once a month. This varies from my mum coming to dinner to hosting the whole Ranks clan (12 including us) for lunch.

Friends who are staying with us - about once every couple of months).

Big buffet with 10-20 guests - once a year

I used to do it regularly.
These days, never.

In 12 years of living here - maybe 3 times !
we have had a relative stay a few times and haven't counted that.

Never. I really dislike hosting. I’d much rather go out for a meal!