I’m originally from the north, now living in SC. Re: never returning an empty dish. As much as I appreciate Southern (and Northern) hospitality and manners, I disagree with this most of the time. If I bring food to someone who is sick, grieving, or just to help them, the last thing I want is for them to feel obligated to fill that dish in order to return it to me. I want to alleviate some of their stress, not add to it. Maybe this comment is a little off topic here, but perhaps “food for thought.”

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