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Meals

Breakfast is usually self-prepared and self-served whenever you get up and are hungry. Sometimes nice folks make omelettes or something for those present, but we do not plan breakfasts.  Try to finish by about 9:00 A.M. in case we have morning talks.

We purchase lunch supplies and people make their own lunches from these or leftovers whenever they get hungry. This is usually right after morning talks or before afternoon ones. A few folks go out to eat now and then.

Dinners are prepared by volunteers;  Sign-ups will be done in advance of the conference. Cooks buy the necessary supplies ahead of time. Dinner is whenever they say it is, usually around 6-7 P.M. Each participant will also be assigned to go out to dinner on one night, unless they would prefer to opt out.  This allows us to enjoy the Blue Point Bar and Grill (which can only handle smaller groups) and also reduces the size of the group for whom conference cooks must prepare meals. 

Cooks will also purchase snack foods on request (we leave sign up lists for this purpose), and these can be added to the communal tab as long as the items are inexpensive and widely shared.  If you crave something unique, you should offer to pay for it.

We will also try to buy appropriate amounts of soft drinks, wine, beer, juice, etc. If you drink very large amounts, or have special or expensive preferences you should probably pay for your own supply.  At the end of the week, you will be asked to self-assign into 'heavy drinker, light drinker, or non-drinker,' based on your self-assessed alcohol consumption during the week.  You are asked to be honest, and other attendees may spontaneously help you with this self-assessment.  These assignments will be used to make adjustments in the food/drink costs charged to each individual.  Contrary to rumor, they are rarely posted on this website.

People often go out for lunch in small groups. Unless you choose to opt out, you will also be assigned to a small group to have dinner out at the Blue Point Bar and Grill one evening.  Charges for this night out are paid directly at the restaurant and are not included in the food bill.

Food runs

Volunteers will make a couple of initial food runs at the beginning of the week, using shopping lists that have been devised over the years.  Then cooks will make additional runs each day to purchase the items they need plus any others that people have requested.  You may add items to the grocery list, but if these are personal items, you should indicate this and pay the purchasers for them directly.

Those who make shopping runs should keep the receipts, cross off all personal items and write their names and the total to be reimbursed on the back. Receipts should then be deposited  in the envelope or basket on the counter of the main house.  These amounts will then deducted from the bill for the purchaser.  Importantly, these amounts are also added together to determine the overall food expense to be shared by participants – consequently, receipts presented after the bills are drawn up cannot be reimbursed!

After dinner clean-up

Participants will also be asked to sign up for after dinner clean up assignments.  Although these individuals have primary responsibility for cleaning the kitchen and dining area, putting away food, loading the dishwashers, etc., everyone is asked to pitch in and help to the extent they can without getting in the way.  It also helps if people will clean up their own dishes, classes, coke cans, etc. during the day.

The Oceanfront Grille

The Oceanfront Grille
1197 Franklin St., Corolla NC 27927
(252) 453-4748

In past years we've had several different dinner out traditions.  At one time the whole group went out to eat together on one night, but as Duck grew, it was increasingly hard to find restaurants that could accommodate us all.  So we began going out as smaller groups on different nights, which had the advantage of reducing the size of the group for whom cooks had to cook and letting smaller groups of Duckees (arbitrarily assigned) get to know each other. 

Most of the time we would make multiple reservations at the Blue Point, which was very accommodating and has excellent (though expensive) food.  However the Blue Point is all the way down in Duck, a half hour ride each way.  And it has limited outdoor seating, which is unprotected from the elements, and which didn't work for us during the pandemic.  So now we have switched to the Oceanfront Grille, which has considerable, covered outdoor seating and is much closer to our houses in Duck. The following is their description:

"The Oceanfront Grille offers a casual atmosphere with an ocean view for our customers. We strive to bring friendly and attentive service to assure an enjoyable dining experience. The restaurant offers a unique yet simplistic menu designed to pair dinner entrees with our signature crabcakes. This design offers the opportunity to try multiple menu items at a reasonable price. Portion sizes are generous and never lacking in taste.

As always, we will poll attendees about their interest in going out to eat one evening.  The tradition does have advantages, both in keeping the dinner crowd back at the houses more manageable, and in encouraging mingling.  But no one is ever required to participate. And whether we shall try to renew this tradition this year remains to be seen.