When Providers and hobbyists get together do they prefer home cooked food or that offered by a caterer? A full course meal of just finger food? Are there some food genres which everyone avoids? What are your favorites for parties?

on how formal the get together is... if it is a super bowl part type of get together, just finger foods! If it is a formal Meet and Greet, maybe something more elaborate with a poll on the favorite dishes and have those there?

Depending on time and location I've taken gals out to fancy restaurants, or just a nice family style place.  I've also picked up snacks to have in the hotel room, ordered room service and when someone comes to my home, I cook a meal for them.

I've even been treated to a sushi feast in the back room of a Korean massage parlor.

It's all good.

I take my ATF out for dinner. We have a couple of favorite restaurants in the area where I visit her.  She has expressed an interest in cooking for me so I will, at some point, get an out call hotel room at an extended stay with a full kitchen.  I have done this once or twice in the past and it worked out well!

Food is usually involved only with extended dates (overnights) for me, so if not a restaurant, then I'm a big fan of room service. Gives us plenty of options for eating and then playing on our schedule.

Of course, the weekend date gives us a chance to mix it up, so there's a combination of cool restaurants that we can show one another (being on different turf, usually) and having some home cooking, as well.