Dear Graham
My partner and I are both good cooks and enjoy entertaining. We have two friends who we used to invite over regularly. Some time back I invited them for dinner and one of them suggested she bring a dish. Out of politeness I accepted, unaware it was going to be the beginning of our friends taking over our parties by regularly bringing their own food.
One comes with her own pots and pans and ingredients and cooks a couple of dishes she likes; the other goes to a discount supermarket and buys sponge cakes that would not look out of place at a kiddies’ tea party. I have even arranged to meet them in restaurants the last couple of times to avoid this.
What can we do or say without causing offence? I have dropped many hints, all to no avail. They seem to think I am joking when I say do not bring any food. The next time it is the same dishes and cakes again.
Anon, Powys
