On the thread, I always take a big pork pie to the 'plate' functions, and I buy it in a shop. It is usually the first plate empty, and the only complaint ever was for not bringing mustard. Speaking for myself, I like to know what I'm eating BEFORE I take a serving, because some of those things look as if they've been eaten once already, and I don't like to sniff them. Maybe labels?       Chris, who'll eat anything he takes, but wouldn't take a parsnip.