Dear Gabbie,

“Dear Gabbie” is written with the simple hope of bringing a few smiles to your day and is not meant to replace the advice of professionals … especially your mom!

Dear Gabbie,

What do I do about a “double dipper” who attends our family functions? Nowadays, it seems people would be more attentive to not biting a carrot and then re-dipping it into the same dip everyone is eating, but it’s become a problem.

Signed,

Still Single (dipper, that is)

Dear Still Single Dipper,

Eating from the same bowl as a “double dipper” … I’d rather be slapped.

How this ungentleman (Yep. I’m making him a man. Fight me.) lived through the pandemic and came out on the other side with a faulty germometer—unlike the rest of us—is baffling, to say the least.

Truthfully, it is a bit rude of me to label this person an “ungentleman” when, honestly, he (or she) is just a family member who obviously enjoys your top-notch party food and likely your company (although I don’t have the data to confirm the latter). So, let’s brainstorm some options to ensure that everybody at your shindig has the best time ever, including you.

Remind yourself that you are a “hostess with the mostest,” and plan ahead for success, my friend. Can you serve that award-winning dip in a few small bowls, so that one can be nudged ever-so-gently next to him? Of course, this would have to be accomplished with military-level stealth. Or, with all the love in the world, exclaim, “I’m SO happy to see you like my veggie dip!” Then, kindly scoop some on an appetizer plate for him, adding lots of carrots. (Tongs please! STAT!).

If that fails, maybe check store ads for sales on individually packaged ranch dip or hummus. 

If none of these work, well, it might be time to stop offering “self-serve community foods” for a while. After all, get-togethers are really about enjoying good company with family and friends. So, good luck in dealing with the dreaded double-dipping dude with delicacy, decency, and decorum. You’ve got this!

Cheers!

Gabbie