Dear Queenie,
When I invite my family to my house for dinner there is one person who always brings an extra person I didn’t expect. Then I have a problem finding a place for them at the table and having enough food for everybody.
When I invite them I always ask them to let me know ahead of time whether they are coming and how many of them are coming, but there is always a surprise guest.
Queenie, what am I supposed to do?—Fed-up Hostess
Dear Hostess,
Make sure when you invite these people that you ask them to let you know whether they are coming and how many of them are coming. Then set up a table for the number people you expect. If (when) there are extra guests, make a production of setting up an extra table (as far as possible from the expected guests) and seat them and the person(s) who brought them at that extra table.
And always prepare enough food to provide for unexpected guests. If you are surprised to find no one has brought anyone extra, at least you will have plenty for those who came – and probably enough leftovers for the next day or so.
