One of the many things I love about our dinner group is seeing everyone’s beautiful homes. With 4 couples in our ongoing rotating supper club, we get to dine in a friend’s home regularly and we also get to see progress of everyone’s house and garden projects. There are always house projects, aren’t there?
Our dinner group met in February at Robin and Greg’s home. They have lived in their mid-century home for 7 (or is it 8?) years now. They used to live 7 houses away from us but now it’s about 7 blocks away. We let them stay in dinner group even though they moved. The other couples in our group live on our block so everyone is within walking distance or bike riding distance. Or carpooling/driving distance when it rains – which it does sometimes in Portland!
I love how it’s decoration is eclectic and reflects the era of the house as well as Robin and Greg’s taste and style.
Why is it that every party begins in the kitchen?! Their kitchen is small like mine but is completely efficient and holds 8 adults easily.
We all had to exit the kitchen and had appetizers by the fire.
Next, dinner was served at the dining room table.
It’s always festive when the dishes are passed around in a flurry of conversation and checking to make sure you got every dish and sauce passed to you.
And the glorious, delicious dessert which was a fallen chocolate cake.
Here’s the menu:
- Appetizers: fresh salsa, guacamole, and sour cream chipotle sauce with homemade tortilla chips (we brought this assortment)
- Drinks: were various but included a classic margarita following this recipe from Real Simple
- Main course: pork chile verde with red chile salsa from Epicurious (our hosts made this)
- Salad: fresh and colorful – Bobby Flay’s green onion slaw with lime juice and honey added to the dressing (another couple brought this)
- Dessert: fallen chocolate cake from Bon Appetit (the final couple brought this)
Our dinner group rotates houses or hosts and it’s “pot-luck” style so everyone shares in the work – and in the fun. You’ll find more about our dinner group HERE along with other entertaining tips. We’re meeting again soon and as always, I can’t wait!
What’s your favorite dish to bring to a “pot-luck” dinner party?
Go Gingham related links:
How to organize a dinner group – why not start one? It’s frugal, fancy & fun!
Last summer’s dinner group gather is here and the appetizer we brought is here
Our dinner group followed Bon Appetit’s menu last fall
The last time we hosted diner group – in between decorating seasons
Dinner group in spring – well, it felt like winter
The appetizer – white bean dip – brought for dinner group
Go Gingham 
I love the idea of a dinner group. I have had various ones in the different places I have lived, but have not gotten one started here (10+ years later, I am still saying that!). Having a regular group makes getting a plan together so much easier and I love seeing everyone’s houses too!
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Annie, it is the only way to see friends regularly it seems! With everyone’s busy lives, if we don’t take time and schedule gatherings, years can (and do!) go by too quickly. We just had our April gathering on Saturday and it was in another pretty home – with fabulous food! Thanks, Annie 🙂
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I love the idea of dinner groups, I had one back in CA where we rotated dinners at each other’s houses. We had pot luck parties, and they were the best.
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Thanks, Minnie! They are the best! This gathering was in February and we had another one this past Saturday night. It was great to see everyone and the food was out of this world – as usual. Are you planning to start another one???
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