Casey Elsass

If you're reliably late, bring a drink.

If you're stopping by later, bring dessert.

And if you bring nothing else, bring a present.

So be honest, know your role.

Second thing is when you're bringing something, bring everything you're going to need to serve that thing.

Don't walk in the door and expect your host to give you a platter, a bowl, a pair of tongs.

That's your responsibility.

Also, your host is going to be playing a game of culinary Tetris in the kitchen.

So bring your food ready to go.

Do not expect fridge space.

Don't expect oven space.

Room temp.

Perfect.

No, I have also had someone who was going to bring the cheese plate and they showed up an hour and a half into the dinner.

So we had to eat very French that night and finish with the cheese instead.

That's so interesting because Eater declared last year the year of the dinner party.

So I think we have two teams here.

I think entertaining, especially around meals, is much more about the community, the being together, the time spent, than what's actually on the table.

I actually think it's totally acceptable to...

some store-bought things into your dinner.