Does he want you to transfer any food you have left to another container, or should you leave your dish and pick it up later? Or take the whole thing home now? Before you leave, check in with your host.

Leave the table better than you found it.

Bring serving spoons/spatulas/knives. Don't count on your host to supply anything necessary to serve your dish.

Make sure to write out a card or Post-It note that spells out if your dish contains meat, gluten, dairy, peanuts, or other common triggers. This is especially important today, with the heightened awareness of alternative diets, allergies and food sensitivities.

Accidents happen, and you don't want to lose a family heirloom. Make sure to put your name on your bowl or platter (a Sharpied piece of masking tape always works) so you can retrieve it after the party, but also: don't bring anything you can't live without.

Label your containers-and leave the fine china at home.

Of course, even if it's an indoor cocktail party, you'll want to check before bringing equipment that needs electricity! The time of year will also influence what you bring.

Indoor or outdoor? You probably don't want to bring your slow cooker to a barbecue at a park, where there won't be any outlets to plug into.

Make sure to ask your host first-she may have other plans for her oven. Your stuffed mushrooms are to die for, but they're really at their best if you can bake them at 350☏ for 20 minutes right before serving.

Ask before selecting a recipe that will require your host's kitchen.

Check in with the host before picking a recipe. Is there a theme like a luau or a cowboy cookout? Is there a signup sheet for appetizers, side dishes, etc.? The last thing you want is to show up and realize there are 20 different potato salads to eat.So you're going to a potluck: congratulations! You should know there's more to being a great guest than making potato salad and showing up.

Got a potluck on the horizon? We've curated some tips for attendees, as well as some perfect potluck recipes! Plus, you get to try a variety of foods, including things you'd never think to make yourself (or are too intimidated to try). Few things are more personal than food, and the flavors and choices people make say a lot about them. Potlucks are a wonderful way to throw a party-the costs and labor are shared between the host and attendees, and it's a great way to get to know people.

Perfect pot luck