I totally enjoy the open concept, I love cooking for friends and I love being able to include them in the finished meal. When someone says "what can I do to help, it makes them feel good when they can contribute. I know I always feel good when I am a guest and truly mean it when I say."what can I do to help?" and the hostess gives me a job!! If I want to be the total hostess and "lay it all out" I'll hire a caterer and no one has to work..but that's not what my friends expect. Just my weird way of entertaining my friends.