US style cooking co-operatives

[hulahoop69]

Hi, does anyone know of the kind of dinner swap groups that are popular in the States? People club together to buy their food in bulk - so save money - then they each have to make a dish to feed the whole group on one night. You only have to cook once because on the other nights you benefit from someone else's hard work. I'd love to get in touch with anyone doing this in the UK?
Sounds fun and money saving

How much do you have to buy to save money? Who keeps track of the finances and is responsible for the shopping? How does a group of families decide on dishes that everyone likes? And what happens if, like most of us, you have busy lives and can't guarantee to be able to bob round to the neighbours for your tea at 7pm? Human nature being what it is, I bet it also turns into a competitive cook-off eventually.... everyone trying to out-do each other. I'm amazed anyone makes this work in the US if they don't live in the kind of isolated community that raises barns...

It could get a bit Come Dine with Me I agree, but I guess if you kind of all get along, you can draw up a list of agreed dishes that every enjoys and take it from there. I think it would be effective to freeze the meals too. I have researched a bit and it does seem that in the UK it's becoming increasingly popular for groups of friends or neighbours to club together to buy their non perishable goods in bulk from these new online bulk grocery wholesalers who have a minimum spend but it's not too much. I have read a couple of articles in the press where they calculate the savings and there are definitely savings but it only really makes a difference across the year.