To Ask Guests To Bring NYE Food?

[ChicMintUser]

AIBU to ask guests to bring food to my NYE party?

I’m hosting NYE this year and I’m already dreading the sheer volume of foods I’ll need to buy. I’ve always been high-energy and very lean (I prioritize fitness and honestly, my body just doesn't require much fuel to thrive. I intermittent fast from 5 pm to noon the following day).

The problem is my guests. They are lovely people, but they seem to treat New Year’s Eve like a competitive eating trial. Last year was a bloodbath, I put out what I thought was a generous spread and it was inhaled within twenty minutes. I'm talking platters of cheese, fresh fruit, delicious charcuterie, imported European crisps, sandwiches, etc. By 11 pm people were looking at the empty platters like I was starving them, despite the fact they’d already consumed more calories in one sitting than I do in three days.

I want to be a good host, but my internal gauge for "normal" portions is clearly broken compared to the average person. I find the sight of mountains of beige food quite off-putting, to be honest. I don't want to spend my evening watching people descend into a food coma while I’m trying to actually celebrate.

How do those of you with "normal" appetites handle catering for the "bottomless pit" crowd?
Do I just buy out the local Costco and accept the waste? How many sausage rolls per person is considered "enough" for people who don't know when to stop?

Am I a total Scrooge for wanting to serve elegant, light nibbles rather than a buffet that looks like a Viking feast? I just can’t wrap my head around needing that much fuel to simply sit in a living room and wait for a clock to strike twelve.

Is it unreasonable to ask guests to bring the snacks they like instead of buying a pile of food I would never, ever eat?

We have one, but it only does two small pies at a time. Which is fine as DP eats pie and I don't. One of the most used pieces of kit in the kitchen though, most leftovers get pied.

0/10.

Why invite fat people from tiny flats who like gorging on mountains of beige food?

Keep up @ChicMintUser you said you don’t make sourdough as you don’t like to use the oven! You must keep your ducks in a row or people might think you aren’t genuine.

Quality baps- a reall mixture from an artisan bakery different shapes n sizes/ seeded etc would look awesome in a big rustic basket
Good West Country salted butter, then posh Tip-tree red/brown sauce and a couple of good chutneys, for those who like that in a sausage bap.

I think that’s best suggestion on here for later in the evening
prior to that - nibbles= charcuterie /cheese /pate/cracker boards as well as a large selection of Olives and Turkish meze dips such as - whipped feta /flavoured hummus /muharra /cannellini bean/garlic and herb Ali-oil etc - all available in Waitrose / M&S.

Fabulous idea; perhaps you could bake a few duck and pomegranate pies for the poor?

That sounds absolutely fabulous! Making my lists as the suggestions come in.

If I had been invited to someones house for anything I would bring more drink than I could drink and ask if they wanted any food. So many people have been brought up so badly to not even take wine or whatever when they are going to friends.

Funny thread. Glad you could take the subsequent ribbing with good grace OP. Happy new year to you!

She invites them knowing they can't squeeze out of the doors of their tiny flats, so she can eat all the imported crisps herself.

Always welcome! I love to cook! 😁 I want my guests to feel like they have been pampered and have enjoyed a feast! Most of the food was polished and everyone wanted a doggy bag! People are asking when they can come over again! 😂

I would host more often but with a full time job and small kids it isn’t as often as I would like. 😊

The way you speak about your family & friends is terrible.

Food in the scenario isn't fuel.

I hope you tell them in advance!

if I wasn't invited until 9 I would have eaten before I arrived, especially if I'd been there last year.then I'd be a bit miffed to miss out on all the bits & pieces!!

You seem overly obsessed with my baking habits. I'm not a professional baker so I don't have some sort of schedule for baking but I have occasionally made rolls before and yes, I use both my bread maker and my oven.

I think that be smashing and people love quality different flavoured sausages from a farm shop -get some good veggie ones also don’t forgot x

You're not even a professional troll.

The group chat has already been updated! No one is to bring any food or drink, just provide me any specific drink recommendations they want on hand. And their favourite flavour of imported crisps, of course 😜

This is a LOT of work to flog some French crisps.

Are all the people staying, if you live in the country and they live in the city? French crisps are bloody awful.

I'm open to any crisps, really. American, Aussie, Korean 🤣🤣🤣

Yep, the French are great at so many food stuffs. Crisps are not one of them.

The reason your food went so quickly was because you served delicious expensive snacks. Do what everyone else does and serve rubbish - Walkers crisps, sausage rolls, shop bought onion bhajis and spring rolls and the food will last beyond midnight.

OP you’re a riot! Can you let us know how the WhatsApp group chat goes?

A friend of mine hosts a summer party every year which goes from mid afternoon to late evening. She asks when she invites for everyone to bring a dish and something to drink. She provides bbq food, beers and wines. It all goes well, she suggests what she would like people to bring, that way allergies and intolerances are also catered for. It’s never an issue. The main thing though is that she asks people to bring a plate when she invites, not after invites have been accepted

We all always bring a dish, and snacks and booze. I would consider it rude not to. Why should one person lump all the costs, hassle and time of it all.

OP shouts into a void where no other people exist. Or replies from her other sim card.