‘Liming’ is ingrained in Trinbagonian culture. Unless you live under a rock, you’ve had one at your home, or been to one by a friend. And though it’s hard to mess up a get-together with friends, food and drinks, some people actually fail miserably. Food is undeniably important—especially if your lime goes into the wee hours of the morning when munchies start to settle in. So to avoid a bunch of hangry friends, here are a few dos and don’ts when planning your lime.
DOs
1 Have food.
This one may seem obvious but to some, it isn’t. It’s absolutely essential if your lime is scheduled to begin around dinner time. It doesn’t have to be a full spread for a proper dinner and it certainly doesn’t have to be expensive. Ask your friends to bring chips, dips, mixed nuts or any other snack. Golden rule: You just can’t have an alcohol-filled cooler with nothing to soak it up.
2 Find out allergies.
This may seem pretty obvious and easy, but with larger groups of friends, you would be surprised to find out how common and specific food allergies can get. Before risking the disaster of swollen throats, puffy faces and hives, send a simple message to your friends just to make sure. If there are allergies, our suggestion is to completely avoid that ingredient—after all, there’s no telling how sensitive persons can be (they might not even know).
3 Have a mix of drinks.
Just because you’re the host, doesn’t mean you have to provide all of the drinks. Designate guests to bring different types of alcohol, chasers and any other beverage in order to avoid too many bottles of one drink. In other words, ensure that your group brings a mix of wines, chasers, beers and liquor. After all, you want to avoid the last-minute, quick-shop run.
DON’Ts
1 Assume people will bring food and drinks.
You may be thinking that people will just out of courtesy bring what they need or eat before attending the lime—newsflash, not everyone’s polite or will remember—and some may just assume that there is food. Take the time to ask your friends to bring drinks and ice; suggest a potluck or, float the idea of ordering food when you invite friends to the lime—this way, they know exactly what to expect and don’t show up hungry, confused or silently wondering when they can run away to get a snack.
2 Use real plates, use paper or plastic plates.
Don’t subject yourselves and your guests to clean-up after the lime when everyone is tipsy and sleepy. No one will judge you, in fact, guests may feel relieved that there’s minimal cleaning up at the end of the night (it means they may not have to offer or do much work). Use paper or plastic plates, cups and cutlery—just throw everything away at the end of the night.
3 Underestimate.
It’s better to over than to under. At least if you have too much food or snacks leftover you can send guests home with extras or save for the next day. You definitely don’t want to be caught in the embarrassing spot of not having enough. Depending on the size of the lime, cater for two to four extra guests. This will accommodate for unannounced plus ones and round 3 eaters.