Dear Queenie,
When you have guests for dinner, must you offer to let them take the leftovers home with them or do you get to keep them for your own use?—Entertaining Etty Ket
Dear Etty Ket,
It is up to you just how generous you wish to be. You are not obliged to feed anyone beyond the meal to which they were invited.
However, if you have been in the habit of giving out “doggy bags” you may have to re-educate your guests by preparing less food than you are accustomed to do, so that there are no leftovers, or by putting the leftovers away immediately and, if anyone asks for some “take home” telling them you are planning to have the leftovers yourself for lunch or dinner the next day.
