You might show up and the host may not have the right knife to cut your quiche or the right spoons to serve your salad. Make sure also to travel with whatever extra tools you need. Otherwise, for any other kind of dish, just keep your dish covered until you are ready to serve so it stays looking as ready-made as possible. Similarly, if you bring a dish that doesn’t have a sauce but can still be fluffed up, like a rice or grain dish, make sure to give it a stir on arrival. A quick toss on arrival will keep everything looking fresh and as though it was made moments before. It will save the dish from wilting and it will eliminate the pool of sauce that clings to the bottom once it has been out too long. When taking items like salads, or other dishes with an added sauce, try to keep them separated until you arrive. The ultimate no-cook dish is a salad, but even a salad can start to look a little sad if it has sat too long in its dressing. Just because a dish doesn’t need to be put back on the heat doesn’t mean it can get from point A to B without a little bit of attention to detail. Once the flavors are chosen, think through the transportation.

Ultimate Guide to Fruits and Vegetables.

Ultimate guide to classic French sauces.The Aroma of Comfort: Food, Scent, & Memory.Souvenirs: treasures at the supermarket.

Pot luck dishes