Page 2 | Offended by friend’s comments about party food

LinsMum22 · 2025-04-28T19:45:21+00:00

We hosted my friend, her husband and three kids yesterday afternoon. Our sons are in the same football team and we said we’d put some food on at ours after and watch the Liverpool match who they both support. My friend agreed to party style food being the best option as everyone could pick at it as and when. Amongst other things, there was - Indian selection, tempura prawns, sausage rolls, mini pizza’s, mini sausages, chips, breaded chicken. So a good mix all from Iceland where we’ve had positive comments on the food before. I could tell my friends’ youngest looked unimpressed when they tried one of the items, and pulled a face to my friend. She made no attempt to get them to try another item and basically said ‘I know’. I noticed five minutes later she had barely ate anything herself either. 15/20 minutes later, the youngest moaned again and this time my friend said ‘don’t worry, we will stop at McDonald’s on the way back as I’m hungry too.’ I text her after they left to say sorry if they didn’t enjoy the food. She replied to say they didn’t realise it would be that sort of food and that they’d have got something else before coming round if they realised!! AIBU to find this really snobby and ungrateful? The fact she then took the kids to get a McDonald’s makes no sense!!

TheRoundTable1983 · 30/04/2025 13:37

Yep. Very rude. Just don't ask them over again.

Fuzzymuddle33 · 30/04/2025 13:33

This is incredibly rude of her.

And if she’s then off to McDonalds she can’t be snobby re food.

Its bizarre.

I wouldn’t bother with her again. she isn’t worth it and life is too short.

You bring your kids up to not be rude, not support them in it.

I feel cross on your behalf.

JudgeJ · 30/04/2025 13:33

that whiny rude child was no Liverpool supporter

Probably a Man Utd fan if rude and whiny!
Years ago my brother had a 'girl friend', both in their 40s, and she came a couple of times to our home when we did a buffet meal, all freshly cooked meats, salmon etc. little bought in except M and S quiches, salads like rice salad, potato salad homemade etc etc. On both occasions she picked up her plate, walked round the table and put her plate down, my brother looked so embarrassed. SHe didn't get asked a 3rd time!

ruethewhirl · 30/04/2025 12:52

coupebaby · 30/04/2025 11:40

This is my way of thinking exactly, whenever I’ve had “party food” it’s basically along the lines of what you listed, Iceland food is just that, nibbles, when I live ever gone to a party it was always buffet style everything laid out and plate up, some meat bits, salads, crisps/dip etc this isn’t what you get with Iceland nibbles so was disappointing for the friend but as you said absolutely no need for her to be so bluntly rude in front of OP, she maybe should have being honest and said sorry I thought be something different and not too fussed on anything here but thanks so much anyway and don’t worry we’ll grab something on the way home, OP may have offered to make them something else and all forgotten about or maybe not and still would’ve wrote the post I don’t know lol

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What’s wrong with just nibbles? People are too obsessed with filling their faces at social occasions these days. It’s supposed to be about getting together with people you enjoy spending time with, not what’s on the menu.

HellDorado · 30/04/2025 12:44

Iceland food is just that, nibbles, when I live ever gone to a party it was always buffet style everything laid out and plate up, some meat bits, salads, crisps/dip etc this isn’t what you get with Iceland nibbles so was disappointing for the friend

For heaven’s sake, they were sitting around watching the football!

coupebaby · 30/04/2025 11:40

Mummytotheboy · 30/04/2025 09:31

I think what you served was more snacky bits, nibbles some would say. If I was serving party food there would be sandwiches, salad, quiche, a fruit platter, dips, coleslaw, crisps plus what you served. I think they was just hangry as they expected to be able to put a plate of food together and they got nibbles hence the mcdonalds. All that aside they where incredibly rude. You have these conversations in the car on the way to mcdonalds not in front of the host. Even if you hated it you say thankyou for inviting us the food was lovely!

This is my way of thinking exactly, whenever I’ve had “party food” it’s basically along the lines of what you listed, Iceland food is just that, nibbles, when I live ever gone to a party it was always buffet style everything laid out and plate up, some meat bits, salads, crisps/dip etc this isn’t what you get with Iceland nibbles so was disappointing for the friend but as you said absolutely no need for her to be so bluntly rude in front of OP, she maybe should have being honest and said sorry I thought be something different and not too fussed on anything here but thanks so much anyway and don’t worry we’ll grab something on the way home, OP may have offered to make them something else and all forgotten about or maybe not and still would’ve wrote the post I don’t know lol

eggandonion · 30/04/2025 11:36

Cheeses and meats sounds fancier than cheese and ham. I'm going to go plural.

coupebaby · 30/04/2025 11:30

LinsMum22 · 29/04/2025 08:55

Well you’ll be pleased to know I saw my friend on the school run! And she actually said sorry that her youngest didn’t eat anything (didn’t mention her mcd’s comment). She said she thinks this was because it was frozen food rather than ‘cooked from fresh’ which she thought it would be (she doesn’t mean me cooking from scratch, just the same type of food but not frozen).

I asked whether she had any recommendations for future and plenty of you guessed it….apparently M&S is where she’d go! And that they do 4 for 3 which ‘she’d usually get a few lots of’. We had that stuff at Christmas and it wasn’t cheap and to be honest not really worth the money IMO, plus we’d have needed probably 10+ items to have catered for everyone on Sunday!

Frantically typed this sat in my car before work, I look forward to reading back on lunch 😂

When I read your post my first thought was it’s not the type of food or lack of veg etc it’s the cheap quality. I’ve gotten the Iceland party food before and my kids who aren’t bothered about frozen food weren’t pushed on it, it’s very cardboardy IMO the mini pizzas they loved but a lot of those other bits just aren’t great, a bag of frozen fillet goujons and 1lb of fresh cocktail sausages tray of sandwiches with some Doritos and dips probably would’ve being scoffed a lot faster and cost around the same. She was rude the way she handled it and trying to pass the buck onto her kid now by blaming him for not eating anything but I’d make a point of being invited to hers for the next occasion and let her fork out on m&s party food 😂

Emonade · 30/04/2025 11:25

Miaminmoo · 30/04/2025 01:00

Yes, I’m sure if it was the same stuff but from M&S she would have been fine - she sounds like Amanda from Motherland 😂

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I was telling my dad about this thread and he said is this just an episode of motherland! 😂😂

randomchap · 30/04/2025 11:07

I really want an Iceland party buffet for lunch now after reading that.

bittertwisted · 30/04/2025 10:49

BadLad · 30/04/2025 00:13

Who else is old enough to remember Bejam?

I remember being in bejam with my mum when my baby sister started screaming the place down

my mum was mortified because the headteacher from my naice all girls private school witnessed

i don’t remember Bejam being as controversial as Iceland 🤣

Bikergran · 30/04/2025 10:46

JudgeJ · 29/04/2025 20:51

Were Iceland not the first UK company to tackle the GM problem, 'back in the day'?

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First company to remove hydrogenated fats from all their own brand products.

InWalksBarberalla · 30/04/2025 10:28

We call it the golden food group around here - sounds way better than beige.

SharpOpalNewt · 30/04/2025 09:53

Would prefer a few veg sticks/a salad and fruit as well as the beige food, but I wouldn't complain if someone had laid on food for me.

Mummytotheboy · 30/04/2025 09:31

I think what you served was more snacky bits, nibbles some would say. If I was serving party food there would be sandwiches, salad, quiche, a fruit platter, dips, coleslaw, crisps plus what you served. I think they was just hangry as they expected to be able to put a plate of food together and they got nibbles hence the mcdonalds. All that aside they where incredibly rude. You have these conversations in the car on the way to mcdonalds not in front of the host. Even if you hated it you say thankyou for inviting us the food was lovely!

DisagreeingALot · 30/04/2025 07:57

Rewis · 29/04/2025 21:05

I'm just grateful for this thred. I've never understood what party food meant. My british friends talked about it and I've always been too scared to ask :D

Ha, don’t take all the suggestions from this thread though!

LillyPJ · 30/04/2025 06:43

BadLad · 30/04/2025 00:13

Who else is old enough to remember Bejam?

Me! My mum would buy big trays of frozen yogurts and my favourite was one with a layer of chocolate stuff on the top. Me and my brothers used to eat the strawberry ones while they were still frozen.

Flamingo1978 · 30/04/2025 05:39

Everyone who is giving their opinion on whether you like Iceland party food or not…. It’s completely irrelevant.
If you’re a guest in someone else’s home you should show basic manners and teach your kids them at the same time.
It’s not a flipping restaurant!

BlueFlowers5 · 30/04/2025 03:41

No worse than food catered for work meetings and surely Iceland cheesecake lovely and edible?

TheHerboriste · 30/04/2025 01:05

Pedallleur · 29/04/2025 21:36

Clearly everybody's idea of party food is different. My fil has done a goat curry(!!) in the past. But going to a fast food place after turning your nose up at what's offered is a bit rich. No guarantee if it had been expensive olives, hummus, cold meats and artisan bread someone would find fault or their children won't/can't eat that.

Edited

No one knows if they got burgers at McDonald’s, which also sells salads, wraps and fish.

Miaminmoo · 30/04/2025 01:00

LinsMum22 · 28/04/2025 21:51

I don’t think the issue was nutrition or calories, she was fully on board with the party food suggestion.

The issue (although she’s not told me this) is clearly that it was from Iceland!

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Yes, I’m sure if it was the same stuff but from M&S she would have been fine - she sounds like Amanda from Motherland 😂

Miaminmoo · 30/04/2025 00:56

She sounds unbearably rude and I wouldn’t bother inviting her again. I would have very much enjoyed your party food because I’m not a godawful snob.

snackatack · 30/04/2025 00:49

Dita73 · 29/04/2025 09:29

@Cherrytree86 fruit and veg isn’t expensive. Processed food is. The reason people buy it is because it’s quick

Fruit can be very expensive. Strawberries, Raspberries, plums all more expensive than a packet of biscuits

PyongyangKipperbang · 30/04/2025 00:28

BadLad · 30/04/2025 00:13

Who else is old enough to remember Bejam?

My best friends first Saturday job (when they were a thing) was at Bejam!

BadLad · 30/04/2025 00:13

Who else is old enough to remember Bejam?