The most popular form of a Running Dinner is the one whereby in principle all participants take care of (a part of) the menu in their own house; either a appetizer, maincourse or dessert.

Table occuppation depends on nr of (menu)courses (often 3), nr of participants and wanted exemptions. The last is possible at sufficient participants in a Running Dinner for couples (>12) and even necessary in a Running Dinner for individuals (>20) to avoid a too small table occupation. An exemption of a course can by example also be given to the participant who wants to organise the opening-meeting prior to the Running Dinner or the coffee for all participants at the end.

The maximum element of surprise occurs when participants don't know in advance which guests they recieve in their house/at their course, and where they have to go for the other courses and who they meet there. The program strives to a solution in which participants never meet twice.

Participants special wishes

they may in advance state a preference for a course (appetizer, main, dessert) and -if necessary - a maximum nr of guest at their table. The program can also deal with a preference of a special guest or even the blockade of one.

Requirements

Minimal requirement for the program are all the names/adresses of participants (individual Running Dinner). When organised for couples the family name/address will do. Combinations are possible. Tthe adresses are necessary in order to proceed the "walking sheet" for each participant: a note with the name/address of the next host. The organiser is also to be informed of possible food-allergy of a participant.

The organiser

He/she informs all the participants individually wich course they serve for how many guests (no names) and if an allergy has to be taken into account.
Furthermore all the participants must be informed of the start-and duration of the courses. The hosts have to take into account the distance/time to walk for the guests to the next course. If applicable also the adresses/starttimes for the opening and/or coffee need to be made known.

Walking sheets

Are individual notes for each participant on wich is written the host and adress for the next course. They can of course send by mail individually but a meeting with all participants prior to the Running Dinner is a nice occasion to distribute the first walking sheets for the first course (not necessary for the hosts of this course). These hosts and the hosts of the main course recieve a closed envelloppe containing the walking sheets for the next course for theirselves and all their guests. This envelloppe has to be opened after the course. In this way the maximum surprise element is achieved.