@Toby Winter
I started a gourmet club of 4 couples 25 years ago. We still meet for a 4 course dinner 4 times a year to this day. I highly recommend this idea to everyone. We ALL look forward to these dinners. They are events. The hosts prepare the entree and choose the recipes and assign appetizers, side dishes, and desserts to the other 3 couples to make. Each dinner has a theme complete with appropriate music, table decor, and foods. Hosts place some kind of favor at each place on the table (a Christmas ornament; small plant; take away candy treat; small bud vase w/flower; etc.) and these usually contribute to the festive table decor. Hosting rotates back one season each year. If you host Fall this year, you will do Summer next year and Spring the year after. Want to know more about starting and hosting such a club? You can e mail me at dcognac@comcast.net.