Heading into last weekend getting together with friends was at the top of my to-do-list.  It only took four phone calls, a smattering of emails and a few text messages to reach a group decision – 8 of us would meet up for dinner out at a favorite restaurant.   Ah, dinner out with friends lovely!  What could be easier right?

Well the meal was great and the drinks and the dessert too. There was lots of laughter and chatter after a long work week.  It all seemed so fun and carefree until that dreaded part of the night when the waiter came and plopped that daunting group check on the table (no separate checks at this restaurant because that would just make everything too easy on the guests).  Ugh!   Ummm…..did anyone of bring a calculator??  No?  Ok so let the round of pass the check begin.  Let’s see we started with drinks but some people ordered cocktails, some people shared a bottle of wine and one person just had a diet soda.  Then there was the appetizers that two people order but 2/3’s of the group nibbled on, followed by meals that varied in price from the house salad to the house specialty of the night.  And for the end of the evening 3 people ordered desserts (which most people at least got a fork into), 2 people ordered coffee and 4 people ordered after dinner drinks.    Holy cow….are you sure no one brought a calculator to figure all this out??  At first you always consider just dividing the bill evenly but there is always one couple who order twice and many drinks and appetizers and desserts as everyone else and one person who order only a soda and salad.  It just never really works out fairly.  So then begins the passing around of the check to try to figure out how much everyone owes.  This can take as long as the meal and inevitably we always seem to get stuck throwing in extra to make sure the waiter doesn’t get stiffed because someone can’t add up their part correctly.

Does my evening sound familiar to anyone else?  Well, I think I am over the group restuarant meal thing for a while.   For the next group get together I am going to simplify and just invite everyone over to my house for dinner.  I know what you are thinking “But wait who can afford to feed all these people and who has the time to cook?!?”.    Well here is where I am going to get savvy and suggest a pot luck.  As the host I will make the entree.  If I go the semi-homemade route I can make an entree in way less time than it takes to drive to the restaurant let alone get seated and served.  Then I will just ask each couple brings a dish and a beverage.  (I guarantee you I am going to get out cheaper making an entree to share than I did last Saturday night paying for a 3 course meal at the restaurant!)  I am thinking I am going to make one of my signature dishes – Crab Alfredo Over Pasta.  Talk about EASY!  I start with SeaPak Maryland Style Crab Cakes and pre-made Alfredo sauce.  The seasonings in the crab cakes really add some nice  flavoring to the pre-made sauce to make it taste more homemade.  Sometimes I add in a pinch of thyme as well.  Just that easy the entree is done!  Then all I have to do is ask one couple bring salad and bread, one couple bring a vegetable and one couple to bring dessert.  BYOB, of course – Bring Your Own Beverage.   Oh I can hardly wait!  So which sounds easier to you – splitting the group check at a restaurant or hosting a pot luck at your house?  Do you have a favorite potluck dish you like to make?