Goomba wrote:
> val189 wrote:
>> My big beef is that the hostess usually serves the meal family
>> style. Some start passing clockwise, some start counter, and the
>> whole thing becomes frustration on wheels. Someone invariably ends up
>> with cold food and is STILL trying to get the pepper passed his way.
>>
>
> The hostess could always start everything at her end and start passing
> or just ask everyone "please help yourself and pass to your right" which
> would provide some direction.
> And to be honest, yesterday at my brother's house the passing issues
> contributed to part of the general merriment and provided a few laughs
> and jokes.

It is not the fault of the hostess if her guests can't get it together
enough to pass things in the same direction. While it might help to get
things started in the right direction I don't see a major problem with
some things being passed in the opposite direction. There is always
going to be someone at the table who passes something on without taking
any, and others who will take extra time while they get picky and take a
long time. No matter which way you pass there is going to be a backlog
somewhere.