Would you rather go out for a meal with friends, or do the cooking yourself for them?

I am in two minds about this question!
I like to cook and be creative, however I also like to go out with friends.

I think I would have to say go out as I rarely go out at night due to not seeing well, and as I have not had visitors for dinner for a while as I find it now a lot of work on my own, I would have to say go out!

by Finy

I was cheating Finy . . . . My answer was so much like yours I just changed it around a bit! LOL ^_^
By the way, I just read your piece on Pinno . . . oh, it was lovely. Bless you for being one of "us". What a lucky boy.

I guess I don't mind both! But I'd only cook for my closest friends!

Come to think of it, I think going out would be the better option. No need to do the dishes afterwards! Which means I would actually be able to sit and chat with them! Instead of running around in the kitchen

by Monika

We like to go out. We don't get out to dinner often and if we have a relative or friend over we like to relax over a nice dinner somewhere so that we can then all come home and have a nice chat without thinking of dishes etc.

by Rice

Rice Paper -well put -that was probably sort of what I was trying to say!

Eat out.

There's a group of us who meet approx every 3 months', to have Dinner. We've been doing this for decades'. Each couple, in turn, chooses the Restaurant.

It's always a fab night, as much chatter, & laughter emanates!
We've known each other for over 46 years', & as we've always been employed in the same line of work, we can have our 'whinge' sessions, quite happily!

I always feel mentally stimulated by our various conversations, as we speak on many different subjects', with which we're familiar.

Nothing quite like a good meal, excellent wine, & companionship!

Cheers!

by donjo

I prefer to go out with friends for a meal

by AJ

My days of cooking at home for a group of people are Gone!
I no longer have the big kitchen, I only have now a small small kitchen....so out-we-go!

Plus there is little fun working hard in a hot kitchen, and then all the dishes etc...You can't enjoy yourself really.

by jonaja

It really would depend on the number of friends! If it was just a couple,I would enjoy doing the cooking at home. If I was spending time with several friends then I would like to go out,and maybe share several unusual dishes which I would never bother to cook at home. Whichever I ended up doing,I think that returning to my place to relax and chat for a while would be the perfect way to end the evening! All of my friends are fond of my Fur Babies so I would have no issues at all with inviting any of them back to a home where dogs rule the roost!! The only issue would be which of us managed to get a chair to sit on before those Furry children did!!!!

by Jules

Oh jules, I don't have that problem . . . the dogs just wait for somebody to sit down and then they sit on them. Very tidily. With their paws crossed. Hahahahaha. (Funny how dog lovers flock together)

My dogs also cross their paws,and the large dog actually looks rather elegant when she does so!!! I do agree about Dog people always being able to find each other.I have made friends with people all over the world,through my love of dogs!

I'd rather go out. I spend a lot of time at home so I prefer a change.

by Jennifer Muirhead

I love to cook and like cooking for others. However, if I am seeing my friends, we usually go out to eat. I want to spend as much time with my friends as possible, so would prefer NOT to spend it in the kitchen away from the conversation and laughing. We used to have dinner parties every weekend when the kids were little, simply because it was more convenient for friends to come to us. The kids could still go to sleep in their own beds. They would say hello to the guests and then it would be bedtime for them, and we would have the rest of the evening to spend with our friends. It was a lot cheaper as well to entertain at home. Now that the kids are not little anymore, we are able to go out to eat, and spend the evening with our friends, whilst someone else does the cooking.

by Lluxi

I love to cook and like cooking for others. However, if I am seeing my friends, we usually go out to eat. I want to spend as much time with my friends as possible, so would prefer NOT to spend it in the kitchen away from the conversation and laughing. We used to have dinner parties every weekend when the kids were little, simply because it was more convenient for friends to come to us. The kids could still go to sleep in their own beds. They would say hello to the guests and then it would be bedtime for them, and we would have the rest of the evening to spend with our friends. It was a lot cheaper as well to entertain at home. Now that the kids are not little anymore, we are able to go out to eat, and spend the evening with our friends, whilst someone else does the cooking.

by Lluxi

I think it depends on how I'm feeling and what everybody is in the mood for. We recently had some friends stay with us over a weekend - we went out once and I cooked once. I have to say that they enjoyed the meal I prepared, though it did take a little while. I enjoy cooking for family and friends. I think it's really special.

by Vee

Hands down without a doubt, no second guessing, I always have and always will boldly say LET'S GO OUT. As much as I enjoy cooking, it's a personal release mechanism for me and a way to get creative. But for total escapism and enjoyment, I can't beat a night out with friends enjoying a few bottles of wine or cocktails and a meal. The enjoyment of coming together, eating, drinking, gossiping about one and all and everything is my idea of friendship and fun. My friends and I consider ourselves to be foodies extraordinaire and will think nothing about saving up our dollars and cents and going somewhere and doing something out of the ordinary as part of our food adventure. For instance, playing booking roulette at the Fat Dat restaurant or at Momofuku. Some of the experiences have been goddam expensive but what fantastic nights we've had. Our motto is you only live once - ENJOY it out and about with friends who share the same love of life!

by Annalisa Brown

I’d always go our for dinner. I’d be to nervous cooking for more than 2 people.

by miro_

I rather go out. I cook over a 1000 meals a year so going out is fine by me.

by dwatk

This depends on my mood! I enjoy both cooking at home for others and going out for a meal. It's a tough choice!

by Aleigha

Out to a restaurant would be my choice!!!!! I eat at home alone all the time and an evening out would be great!!!

by ginge

I think I'll prefer the second one.

by silvi