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AIBU?

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Original poster

Plate up or self serve?

134 replies

Spondoolie · 22/12/2024 18:42

Christmas dinner/roast dinner - which do you do?

YABU = plate up
YANBU = self serve

OP posts:
Burntsausages · 22/12/2024 19:12

We plate up from the island. Everyone get a plate, stand at the island and is offered each item which another person will pop on their plate in whatever quantity that person wants. I hate sitting at the table waiting for everything to be passed around watching my meal go cold (even with warmed plates) and the leaning over, asking for this and that to be passed. Only thing on the table is the gravy as a help yourself.

suburburban · 22/12/2024 19:11

Much more civilised

One year I had a lot of people so they helped themselves to food in kitchen as it would have taken forever to pass dishes round. I borrowed a serving buffet and it was brilliant

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 22/12/2024 19:10

I do ask people if there’s anything they don’t want. And sauces and gravy are on the table.

Iliketulips · 22/12/2024 19:10

We only tend to have 3-5 on Xmas day, so I serve what I think they'll eat. Less waste and less washing up.

CoffeeCakeAndALattePlease · 22/12/2024 19:09

I would prefer self serve but limited space both in kitchen and at the table means it’s much easier to plate up. So I do that.

Snackpocket · 22/12/2024 19:08

JimHalpertsWife · 22/12/2024 19:00

This is why we don't go for roasts at MILs. She plates up mush/meat mountain "everyone's getting same I cba to do it any other way" it's off-putting.

Edited

Ha ha my MIL does this too!

My mum plates up the meat and roast potatoes and then the veg and stuffing etc is in bowls on the table and we help ourselves to that.

suburburban · 22/12/2024 19:08

Mainly self serve, I hate dished up dinners
I like people to help themselves

PrimalLass · 22/12/2024 19:07

All in the middle

theeyeofdoe · 22/12/2024 19:06

We do a combo. Plate up meat, yorkshires, carrots and parsnips. Everything else on table.

5foot5 · 22/12/2024 19:06

Hoppinggreen · 22/12/2024 18:47

NOBODY puts food on my plate. I hate it
MIL did it once while I was sorting DD out and DH jumped in and took the full plate and moved an empty one out of her reach, he's a keeper.

Well it's great your DH knows you so well and has your back. But I do think yours is a very extreme position. How do you cope with restaurants?

Spondoolies · 22/12/2024 19:05

Self serve

DoYouReally · 22/12/2024 19:05

Turkey, ham & stuffing plated.
The rest in serving dishes on the table.

Mistymorin · 22/12/2024 19:04

All side dishes on table. I serve the meat from the kitchen. They come to me their with plate, tell me what they what/how much, I serve up, they sit at table and help themselves to sides - this works for family occasions in my household!

JimHalpertsWife · 22/12/2024 19:00

This is why we don't go for roasts at MILs. She plates up mush/meat mountain "everyone's getting same I cba to do it any other way" it's off-putting.

Bjorkdidit · 22/12/2024 18:59

Self serve so people can choose their own portion size. DPs family are big eaters and if it's dished up for me, I'll be constantly saying 'yes please, oh not that much', as huge piles of everything are heaped onto my plate.

I remember the time they came to us and BIL must have eaten about 20 roast potatoes, 10 pigs in blankets and half the turkey all to himself. I was expecting leftovers but that's never going to happen if he's there.

Sunnysal · 22/12/2024 18:59

My exMIL and her sister used to plate up for about 12 of us! It was a nightmare! It took for ever so it was all cold. Couldn't even drink as they served Scher apple juice as it tasted 'just like wine ' NOT,

Drearycommuter · 22/12/2024 18:59

Hybrid- I’ll do meat and potatoes (asking how much people want) and the rest they can do. I don’t have enough space on table or enough nice serving plates.

BarbaraHoward · 22/12/2024 18:54

Hoppinggreen · 22/12/2024 18:47

NOBODY puts food on my plate. I hate it
MIL did it once while I was sorting DD out and DH jumped in and took the full plate and moved an empty one out of her reach, he's a keeper.

Wow. Imagine putting some food out for a busy mum who's looking after a baby. How dare she.

We put everything on the table and everyone helps themselves. Easier than trying to make sure everyone has decent slices of turkey, ham and stuffing!

lazyarse123 · 22/12/2024 18:54

I dish up the potatoes and veg but it's only immediate family so I know what they all eat although I do ask as I'm serving it. The meat is put in the middle of the table. We only have a small table,

UndeniablyGenX · 22/12/2024 18:53

Self serve - less waste that way. Leftovers can go straight from the table to the fridge.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 22/12/2024 18:52

Self serve

TizerorFizz · 22/12/2024 18:52

If table and everything gets passed around. DH carves turkey and puts it on each plate in turn. Walking around being picky off a buffet doesn’t feel like Christmas dinner!

MsSquiz · 22/12/2024 18:51

Serving dishes on the kitchen counter, plate up for the kids and everyone else serves themself. I'm not plating up for everyone, checking who wants or doesn't want what.

Only the gravy and condiments are on the table

Biroclicker · 22/12/2024 18:50

Self serve on the table. DH suggested self serve from the kitchen counter but I don't want to feel like it's a canteen!

JC03745 · 22/12/2024 18:50

mrsm43s · 22/12/2024 18:46

Dishes in the centre of the table. DH carves and puts meat on plates, help ourselves to everything else from the dishes on the table, passingroundcas required.

Pretty much all meals are served like this in our house.

This ^

People can then choose what sides they want, how many etc etc. Why make more work for yourself?