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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask if there’s a social class issue surrounding Findus Crispy Pancakes ?

319 replies

Jumell · 08/12/2024 12:14

I’ve read some things in mine and sort of sense this might be the case but not 100% sure

Also is there a class issue around Fray Bentos pies ?

I love those !

OP posts:
Lorrymum · 08/12/2024 13:17

Were Findus Crispy Pancakes and Fray Bentos originally aimed at the MC's? Freezers were expensive and Women's Lib and freedom from the kitchen was mostly embraced by MC women in the 60/70s.

BitOutOfPractice · 08/12/2024 13:16

Ah but @CuteOrangeElephant all of those Dutch fried snacks like kaassoufle may be common but goodness they are DELICIOUS. I’d love a pint and s bittebollen right now!

BitOutOfPractice · 08/12/2024 13:14

Im common and grew up poor-ish. We never had either because it was cheaper to cook from scratch. We didn’t really have any convenience foods. I was jealous of those that did.

Petitchat · 08/12/2024 13:12

Lorrymum · 08/12/2024 13:10

I remember orange juice starter and half grapefruit with a cherry on top!

Yeeeees, the height of poshness and being so cool....

godmum56 · 08/12/2024 13:11

Lorrymum · 08/12/2024 13:10

I remember orange juice starter and half grapefruit with a cherry on top!

yes and tomato juice.
Is owning a Crimpet the modern version of findus pancakes or are Crimpets posh?

Mrsredlipstick · 08/12/2024 13:11

We begged our French chef trained mother for crispy pancakes (very expensive for a family of 7!). I still love them. Fray Bentos no chance, we used to call it dog meat.
We never had upf but we did have a Bejam freezer. Mainly full of fruit and green beans with ice cream on top.
Fwiw my mum had a title but only dusted it off when she was angry. Used to intimidate rude teachers.
Rusty Lee has a recipe in her book for crispy pancakes.

Lorrymum · 08/12/2024 13:10

I remember orange juice starter and half grapefruit with a cherry on top!

Maurepas · 08/12/2024 13:09

Used to have Fray Bentos pies long ago when I lived in Zambia and didn't have a car ( for food shopping). Thought they were down market at the time but needs must.

Original poster
Jumell · 08/12/2024 13:09

Petitchat · 08/12/2024 13:06

In my teens I thought I was, oh so with it, making Vesta beef curry.
And the bees knees for making my own prawn cocktail for starter.

I was also waitressing in a "posh" restaurant and one of the starters was "orange juice"
Wtf???

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🤣 at the orange juice but you’ve triggered my memory there !

OP posts:
Petitchat · 08/12/2024 13:06

TheShellBeach · 08/12/2024 12:21

Any thoughts on Vesta beef curry?

In my teens I thought I was, oh so with it, making Vesta beef curry.
And the bees knees for making my own prawn cocktail for starter.

I was also waitressing in a "posh" restaurant and one of the starters was "orange juice"
Wtf???

MyNamesGaryAndImAddictedToChips · 08/12/2024 13:05

MonkeyToHeaven · 08/12/2024 12:26

Yes, because they're basically a folded cloth cap with a filling.

😂

RipleyGreen · 08/12/2024 13:04

@Chowtime we’re pretty down with COOK.

TravellingSpoon · 08/12/2024 13:04

We used to heat out house for hours on the warmth given off by the molten cheese filling of many a crispy pancake. No need to use the coal if Mum was making those.

CuteOrangeElephant · 08/12/2024 13:02

I'm foreign so didn't grow up with these foods. I remember a roommate when I was at uni eating a Fray Bentos pie and the rest of us thought it looked disgusting. The Fray Bentos eater was working class. The rest of us didn't really fit into the English class system because foreign.

Findus pancakes with the cheese looks like what the Dutch would call a kaassouffle. That is definitely considered to be a bit of a lower class food here.

Lotts123 · 08/12/2024 13:02

If you’re taking Crispy Pancakes and Fray Bentos pies then you also have to mention Bernard Matthew’s Cheesy Hamwichs 😂

Original poster
Jumell · 08/12/2024 13:02

LapsedRunnerC25k · 08/12/2024 12:59

You can. My local Waitrose store stocks Fray Bentos.

@Jumell, I think @quantumbutterfly was pointing more to the idea that red is generally better with pizza.

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Ah I thought that might be the case I might have made the wrong call

Id have put white wine with pizza because I’d see it as ‘lighter’ than a meat based dish … but maybe I’m wrong !

OP posts:
SquawkerTexasRanger · 08/12/2024 13:02

Someone once told me that it is permissible for food companies to use old meat that has been deep frozen for years if the meat is going to be tinned. So surplus supplies of meat are often used in tinned meat products such as dog food and spam. I would think those bentos pies would fall under the same category 🤢

Catsnap · 08/12/2024 13:00

I’ve never had either, but my DH reminisces about the vesta chow mien and other very convenient foods- his parents both worked and they all caravanned in Europe in the holidays. I was brought up with a mostly stay at home mum who had an allotment. So it was all home cooking (really, really solid bread) Cranks recipes etc. Some class, totally different experiences.

LapsedRunnerC25k · 08/12/2024 12:59

Tess150 · 08/12/2024 12:46

You can't buy either of them in Waitrose. HTH's.

You can. My local Waitrose store stocks Fray Bentos.

@Jumell, I think @quantumbutterfly was pointing more to the idea that red is generally better with pizza.

itsgettingweird · 08/12/2024 12:59

Omg I use to love findus crispy pancakes.

Probably still would if I hadn't discovered I can't eat wheat 🫣😂

KnigCnut · 08/12/2024 12:59

My mother is proper old school peerage class posh (listed in Burke's etc). We were brought up on Findus crispy pancakes, Heinz tinned bolognaise, Vesta curries etc. Because she went straight from living with her mother who had a cook and housekeeper to living with my father. They spent their early years of marriage overseas, where they also had a cook and housekeeper. So she never learned to cook until they came back to the UK and started a family.

Freezer/convenience food was very much the 'in' thing in the 1970s. It was freeing women from stove slavery.

Plasmodesmata · 08/12/2024 12:58

My mum was middle class and there were lots of things we were not allowed because they were "common". The rules were fairly arbitrary. Findus crispy pancakes not allowed but Fray Bentos were ok.

Mipil · 08/12/2024 12:57

drspouse · 08/12/2024 12:27

My extremely posh step grandmother (wore a tartan skirt and headscarf to climb hills) liked a Fray Bentos.
So I'll bet money on the Queen liking them.

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LOL my headscarf wearing UC DGM often had a Fray Bentos pie or Vesta chow mein in the larder. She would save the crispy noodle garnish for us. My DGF was very much WC so maybe they were his choice.

I’ve never eaten either of them but we ate a lot of 50p Doll packet noodles at boarding school.

On those grounds, I shall say they are U 😂

Original poster
Jumell · 08/12/2024 12:56

Dontwearmysocks · 08/12/2024 12:55

Never had a tinned pie but associate eating Findus as a high risk activity given the likelihood of third degree burns…

as an aside - my spellcheck tried to change Findus to fondue…am I middle class now 🤔🤔🤔

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 most definitely!!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jumell · 08/12/2024 12:55

Just saying

”FINDUS - success on a plate for YOU’!”

if you remember that advert tag line you’re young - like me ❤️

OP posts: