Just wondering what other peoples' thoughts are on bringing a plate etiquette.

This has come up as we have a friend who was complaining the other day that when her husband gets together with his friends that he does not bring back any of the cake he takes. Her argument is that their DD helps to make it and she should have a slice. The 2 of us that were there argued with her that if you bring a plate that there is to be no expectation to bring any food back and if she really thinks their DD should have a slice then cut a slice and leave it with her before taking it, or bake a second cake.

So, my take on it is that if you bring a plate don't expect to take food home. If there are lots of leftovers, then leave them for the host/hostess (a perk of hosting) or share them amongst everyone else there. I would prefer someone else to take home what I bought and I take home something else.

The exception is something that is either very expensive or rare that you keep control of, such as a good bottle of port, or in our case DH's homebrew meads. A lot of work goes into one bottle, so it is not being left anywhere.

Ok, so what does everyone else think or do you have a funny bring a plate story?

**BTW Mods - it would be nice to have a etiquette section ***