Miss Manners: Can I plan ahead for leftovers from Thanksgiving dinner with my daughter’s in-laws?

[ermingarden]

Dear Miss Manners: I'm invited to Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws of my daughter. Is it rude to take my own to-go container to bring home leftovers?

And a burlap bag in which to take home the silverware when they are finished using it?

Comments

[tielan]

Yes, at large family events like Thanksgiving my mother has been known to not just bring empty containers for leftovers, but to bring enough for everyone at the meal to take a couple! She does, however, not bring them out until the question comes up naturally.

Yes, we do this, too. (For Christmas, b/c we don't have Thanksgiving.) Containers in a bag that gets left with our purses, and when the leftovers are offered (they're always offered; we have oodles of food because everyone brings a plate like their dish is the Only Thing That Is Going To Be On Offer For Lunch) then we have our own containers and no need for extra plastic.