Newcomers to The Villages and the family and friends who flock to visit them

[senior citizen]

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[rubicon]

My wife and I prefer to entertain in our home. So when people visit either for vacations, holidays, etc we prepare meals. While I attribute it to my american-Italian upbringing the fact is that many Americans utilize home dining as a wayto bring family and friends closer together.

If we are out and about we may stop for an ice cream or something light but home cooking and good conversation just seem to go together

[BettyCrocked]

The outdoor kitchen on my lanai gives me a great opportunity to do low country boil. It's great for cooking for lots of people, and I don't have to stink up the house.

[senior citizen]

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[raynan]

We rent our guests a golf cart. We cook breakfast every morning and stock the fridge with sandwich makings and snacks and liquids. We go out to eat every night and Oakwood BarBQ and CattleBaron are a must. Steak & Shake if there are kids. Katie Belles, Codys, Lighthouse, Little Joeys and Giovannis. Gators Dockside, RjGators, even City Fire for the s'mores. Guests will usually pay for at least 1 dinner otherwise separate checks. By the end of the visit, when they know their way around we'll take the kids at night while their parents go out to have some time alone. The first year you get a LOT of company. Now (3 years later) our most frequent guests have bought here.

[cquick]

We had a big house in Orlando with 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Lots of company. Now we have a 3 bedroom house (with 3 people living in it). Our company stays at a hotel nearby and we can spend our time together and they have a comfy bed to go to at night. works great:bigbow:

[kittygilchrist]

Remembering how it was when we ourselves were new to a certain perceived resort area, and also knowing from The Villages video where newcomers mention how happy they are to be free of "kitchen duties" because of all the great restaurants in TV........I was just wondering who would like to share their experiences as newbies.....once they were settled.....and then the guests began flocking to visit them..........

When I was younger, and everyone came to Vermont for each and every weekend.......I was cooking nonstop, even with a three year old and a new baby.........three meals a day, desserts and snacks. At my age now, I'm wondering???????????

If they were visiting for a week or more, did you continue to take them out to eat or did you "cook in".....or barbecue? In THE VILLAGES.

Which restaurants did you take them to?

That could get pretty pricey for breakfast, lunch and dinner, right?

We took our son, his wife and the baby to many places at Lake Sumter Landing and elsewhere, The Lighthouse, Gators,
Waterfront Inn, etc.......plus others on 466? We also ate at home on the lanai.......plus they treated us to more dinners at The Waterfront Inn.

But if all of your kids came at once, or old friends.....for a prolonged visit, what is your favorite "menu".........for a week or more????

I realize the guests would also host a few meals out.

Plus , there are always party platters, fruit platters, etc. from Publix or Sweetbay.......and we all enjoy Chinese takeout......

Taking a rest from decluttering closets..........gave another huge amount to our Salvation Army this morning...........

Thanks in advance. I know I will get great ideas......as always.

Guest will hopefully help with cooking and dishes...just had a very pleasant visit with 3 for a week. I asked en route from the airport what they like and hate. Went to the grocery and stocked up.
Put some non-perish faves out on the counter the whole time, showed up where to get sodas, made a pitcher of tea, implying, insisting, "help yourself" to popcorn, chips, snacks, candy, cinnamon buns. Lots of cut up fresh fruits in fridge.

Breakfast was mostly oatmeal or yogurt, cooked once, went to Bonifay buffet once. put out raisins and nuts, toast. should have boiled eggs for bfst, lunch sammies, picnic and salads.

Lunch meats on hand, again put sammie stuff out, salad and make your own sandwich, tuna salad, cooked soup ahead of time. One picnic at Homosassa, nice. at out at Disney. out at Lighthouse.

Dinner, (frozen) pizza, predone broiled chicken, out in Daytona Beach,
gator tail, chicken strips, spaghetti, salads galore, frozen veggies, steamed fresh broccoli, boiled red taters. Nobody liked steak but me...so didn't go there.

[casita37]

We mix it up, depending on who is visiting. My daughter is vegan, so we eat in. Our friends like to "do" the town squares, etc., so we do that and eat out. I stock up on easy, serve yourself, foods, so people can make lunch sandwiches or snack as they like. Everyone has a different breakfast preference/time, so I have boiled eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit and bread options, etc....DIY! We also will pick up a pizza, order take out from Bob Evans, or other places, or let Fresh Market's deli prepare dinner. They have a great deal with a whole chicken and 2 sides for about $15.

We also tend to get out of The Villages to explore central FL and have found some great eating spots along the way. We try to find waterfront dives....our favorite ambience!

We do prepare home cooked meals, but I would say the majority are either eat out or take out. We always go on our strict "healthy kick" after quests leave! LOL

[casita37]

@kittygilchrist....Sounds like our entertaining styles are very similar!! Our guests all seem to be very comfortable with it.