Curious to hear from sitters, if a HO prepares a welcome dinner the evening prior to departure, would you prefer a meal that yields no leftovers vs. something like a lasagna or casserole that would yield leftovers?
We have a sitter coming in a couple of weeks (she has no dietary restrictions) and are thinking of either 1) a half (8x8) pan of turkey lasagna with salad and homemade bread or 2) fish (probably tilapia) with risotto and asparagus.
The lasagna option, even at half size, will probably yield 2-3 meals worth of leftovers. The fish option wouldn’t yield any. Note, we leave basics for sitters in the fridge: a few eggs, butter, bread, milk (also the normal condiments) but otherwise try to leave it clean and empty for them.
Would most sitters prefer to have leftovers from a welcome dinner or not?
I suppose we could make the lasagna and ask her after dinner if she would be interested in them, or we could freeze them. But I hate to put her on the spot like that…so maybe safer to stick with an option that yields no leftovers (we would clean up all the dishes and put them away in either scenario).
I am thinking this makes the most sense, but I hope she doesn’t feel put on the spot and hesitant to say please freeze them out of fear of offending us (we wouldn’t take it personally lol).
I started a sit at the weekend, the host had made vegetarian chilli in the slow cooker, jacket potatoes and baked bread which was all lovely. I was left the bread and a portion of chilli was in the fridge with the rest in the freezer along with home made soups etc and I have been told to eat anything I like. How lovely is that and very welcoming. We shared a lovely meal and got to know each other.
I was once welcomed to a sit with the most delicious fish pie I’ve ever tasted. When we’d all finished eating there was still a decent portion left, which I’d kind of ear-marked as my dinner for the following night. I was horrified when the home owners gave it to the dog!
It’s really kind of you to put lots of thought into it, and to go to the trouble of cooking. I think leftovers are great, but maybe the simplest thing is to ask what your sitter would prefer - if they’re bringing lots of food with them they may prefer the extra fridge space.
I would enjoy a leftover meal. Although I enjoy cooking, having time to sightsee and spend with the pets and not take up time with meal preparation is most appealing. Leftover lasagna sounds delicious. I would not ask that question to her after the meal when she is full. I would say, there are leftovers we are putting in the refrigerator for you. Tomorrow if you decide you’ve had enough, please freeze it, thank you.
@Felinelover, kudos on a wonderful, welcoming attitude.
Majority of our housesits have involved pet parents that expressly request that we arrive the day/evening prior to their departure. This seems to serve a pragmatic comfort (that we turn up!) and provides much appreciated date flexibility but also enables handover and a meal together.
Irrespective of whether you leave leftovers then the gesture of sharing a meal together is wonderful. We certainly appreciate the meal, the handover and frankly the conversation. Through such gestures then we’ve met some like-minded people and rapidly built trust and rapport.
Definitely leftovers, as a sitter I love it when I have a couple of meals I don’t have to worry about while I get used to the pets, the house and the local area.
The very first sitters we had were amazing. We are just friends now. They stop by in the area for sits and know they are always welcome to our guest room. This past summer they asked to stop by and we were traveling for a month+ (not for fun, but at my parents house as my Dad was sick). We had our dog with us, our cats were with a drop in (paid) sitter. We told them to just stop by anyway and use our place in between sits. They tended to the cats (we paused the drop in sitter) and knew the ropes so everyone was fine with it on both sides. We were able to connect with them at a movie in the park night before they left the area - I just love hearing stories of their adventures! Kudos to the sitters out there, I love travel but I need to be rooted somewhere too, so I could not do what they (or many of you) do. But, still love hearing about it!
Yeah we’re not super extroverted but like hanging with sitters for a meal the evening before. It is usually a very nice exchange of backgrounds and experiences.
Oh, good approach! Thank you!! I’ll just pack it away in a freezer safe container and leave it in the fridge, and tell her if she doesn’t want them to just put the whole thing in the freezer.
Perfect. Demonstrates a relationship mindset, versus transactional intent.
We have a number of pet parents that have thoughtfully made similar offers. We keep in periodic touch with a subset of our pet parents. And there’s some that, if asked, we’d try hard to support in the future, even if involved hopping on an international flight. Just good, respectful people that appreciate the win-win-win trade (PP, HS, pet) that is often possible.
You’re a superstar host for cooking either and both sound delicious! We love leftovers & welcome dinners of any kind (& usually return the favour). Freezer is a great plan if it’s the lasagne and then the sitter can choose to eat or not. You’re a THS model human of mutual exchange. #timetocloneyou
@Felinelover
I, the sitter, personally prefer a “I’ll have whatever you’re having” style of Welcome Dinner. This approach immediately lifts the pressure off both the host and the sitter, requires only an extra plate, and makes me feel part of the family right away.
After dinner, a casual, non-question statement is usually brilliant (and requires no answer): “There are some leftovers in the fridge; please feel free to help yourself or simply toss them away.” Let the sitter decide what to do with the food without any added obligation.
If like like you can make/buy a somewhat “festive” desert, just for the fun of it. However, it is absolutely NOT necessary.
The one question you absolutely can, and in fact should, ask is: “Is there anything you don´t like or are allergic to?”
I have had both options. Have always been happy with any leftovers and sometimes there has been enough left for at least two meals. But whatever you prefer to cook?
I rewally enjoy sitting down for an evening with the host/hosts befor tjhey depart.
We do not worry about freezing stuff that we don’t want -e,g loaves of bread that the owners have bought for us but we prefer sourdough from the local bakery. We just leave a note to say thanks for the thought but we have left it for your return.
