Dear Webby,
I clearly told our dinner quests not to bring anything. Frankly, I like to cook and show off my recipes and skills. I also spend a lot of time planning on how the foods will fit together.
One couple showed up with an expensive gourmet dessert which made mine look bad. I had to serve it (it was perishable) and everybody raved about it and them and all my efforts were neglected.
I want to confront them but feel it would sound petty. What can I do?
Hostess
Dear Hostess,
Had it not been perishable, Webby would have thanked them away from the other guests and said "I'm sure we will enjoy this tomorrow evening with our dinner. I have a dessert planned for tonight and also do not want to offend the guests who did not bring anything."
Being perishable makes it hard.
If you include them again at one of your parties, Webby would tell them not to bring anything, that you have the menu covered and while last time your dessert was delicious it did not fit with the theme and you felt bad for the people who did not bring anything.
If they insist ("we never go empty handed") tell them the kind of wine you are serving and that they can bring a bottle, and you always enjoy a box of candy. Make them feel that you want all your guests to have a night out without any cooking.
Webby
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