Theme Party: Around the World Potluck

Go International

Take your party planning international and host a unique Around the World theme party. This fun spin on the potluck will have partygoers trying new dishes and drinks from across the globe. Read on for décor and details on how to throw a successful soiree with international flair.

Planning

When you send out your dinner invitations (whether by snail mail or email), assign each guest or couple with a different country. Make it clear on the invitation that the guests are responsible for providing a traditional dish and the ingredients for a drink recipe from their assigned country.

Example for England: Guest could bring fish and chips for their dish along with Pimm's & Lemonade to create a cocktail.

Planning Tip:

Make sure the invitation for your Around the World party is clear. It's a good idea to assign categories to each guest's dish: appetizer, entrée or dessert. This will ensure that you have a good mix of food for each course and will prevent you from ending up with 12 desserts!

Choosing Countries

Since this is a dinner party, make sure to pick countries that have distinct and delicious food!

Around the World Potluck Countries:

• France: perfect for appetizers and buttery desserts
• Italy: ideal for the main course (can you say pizza and pasta?!)
• England: not known for their food but they have great traditional meals like fish and chips or bangers and mash
• Spain: possibilities like seafood paella are delish
• China: great for appetizers (wontons, dim sum, pot stickers) and main course dishes
• Japan: check out our article on Sushi and Sake for inspiration
• Thailand: noodles and rice dishes make excellent sides
• Mexico: crowd pleasers include tacos and tequila
• Norway: fresh fish abounds in this Nordic country
• Brazil: cook up organic meat and veggies Brazilian Barbeque style
• Belgium: the world's finest chocolate makes for tantalizing desserts

Party Décor

Decorations for an Around the World party should be as eclectic and varied as the countries you've chosen. Think about color and texture for an international vibe and be sure to light plenty of candles.

Because you'll be serving so many different types of dishes, a buffet or family-style will work best.

Table Décor

Use mini flags for fun decorations

Use simple white tablecloths and decorate each table with souvenirs and postcards from your chosen countries. Hang flags on the wall or buy small versions to add around flower arrangements.

Find our from your guests what they are planning to bring and make labels for their dishes and cocktails in advance to make everything easily identifiable to your guests.

Round Out the Room

Purchase prints of vintage travel posters to hang on the wall above the tables.

Vintage looking globes of different styles and sizes placed around the room will add to the charm of the event.

Music

Create an eclectic mix of tunes from around the world. Your guests will feel like they're jet-setting across the globe.