maxine in ri wrote:
> My husband's church has "small group dinners" where the host
> supplies
> the main course and assigns the guests the appetizer, salads, sides,
> and desserts.
>
> Dh and i were assigned salad and bread, so I made a Citrus salad
> with
> candied walnuts and gougeres.
>
> We arrived precisely at 6:30 as requested, to find that we were the
> second couple there. As I placed my food on the counter, the
> hostess
> said "Oh, we don't need a salad. This other person brought a lovely
> salad of beets and pomegranates, which is what she considered an
> appetizer."
>
> She also brought (which I wasn't told) a basket of artisan bread, so
> to be graceful, I put the salad in the coatroom and suggested the
> gougeres would be nice for the appetizers.....
>
> She _also_ brought gyozo and sauce for the hors d'ouvres.
>
> If I had been the hostess, I probably would have told her, as the
> guests who were assigned those courses arrived, that while her
> offerings were lovely, it would be kind of her to let the other
> people
> share theirs rather than have the other guests shoved aside for her
> ego.
>
> What would _you_ have done?
>
> fuming in ri

"It was extremely kind of you to bring all these things. Of course,
you realize others were asked to bring the (appetizer), (sides),
(dessert) whatever. I'll be happy to put yours aside for you, to take
home when you leave." (smile gently)". Period.