You know all those stories about old ladies bringing tupperware or ziplock bags to parties and stealing leftovers?
You feel bad for them, but at cringe at the same time.
I’m the opposite of those old ladies. I bring my own food to fancy parties. Non-fancy parties, too. Anywhere there’s food that I can’t eat (which is everywhere).
I’ve even started buying my own containers specifically to bring food to parties. (I like the Systema brand because they lock tight to stay closed and are pretty leak-proof.)
This came in handy over the weekend, because I RSVP’d too late to a superfancy black-tie wedding, which meant there wasn’t a dinner ready for me.
But it worked out, because I brought my own food! Sometimes having a cranky gut works in your favor.
My philosophy with Bring Your Own meals is to keep them as simple and easy to eat as possible. That way, no matter what the utensil situation is, you’ll be prepared. Nothing’s worse than trying to guzzle yogurt out of a container because you don’t have a spoon! (I’ve done that before. Way too messy for a wedding.)
Here is what I packed:
- Deviled eggs (not shown: make a little sandwich with two whites plus filling in the middle)
- Pickle
- Olives
- Meatballs
- Epic bar (pork ‘n’ pineapples flavor)
- Black Medicine coldbrew coffee (do not recommend, try Chameleon Coldbrew or Stumptown instead)
Yes, it’s a little bit weird to whip out a container full of food at a fancy dinner table, but like most things, it’s only awkward if you make a big deal out of it. I would be willing to bet that the people on the other side of the table didn’t even realize I wasn’t eating the steak or fish options.
Maybe the guy sitting beside me thought I was bonkers, but he was too polite to say anything.
And because I didn’t have to worry about what to eat, I had more time to enjoy the party. Win!
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