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Original poster

Friends promised a BBQ and delivered an Iceland beige buffet!

525 replies

Bbqdisaster · 23/08/2026 19:32

As above really, myself, DH and 3 DC went to our friends’ house yesterday on the promise of some drinks in the garden and a BBQ.

They said they were having issues with their BBQ so would do an ‘indoor BBQ’. This consisted of beige food from Iceland!!

AIBU to find this a woeful alternative?

OP posts:
LiteraryBambi · 23/08/2026 22:46

I would be disappointed too, although I wouldn't say anything of course.

I cut out lots of UPF several months ago also for health and weight reasons and, while I will have the odd burger, I wouldn't waste calories on Iceland food.

We went to a birthday party recently in a lovely venue but also beige buffet and I didn't eat anything at all. Was very sad, but better hungry than eating crap food that I don't enjoy.

In their shoes I would have just done some roast chicken, salad and crusty bread. Or a big pot of chilli.

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 23/08/2026 22:48

likelysuspect · 23/08/2026 22:44

Exactly, our flexibility about food is what has created the range of international and fusion cuisine found here

You go to small town Spain or Italy and all you find is Spanish or Italian food. Perhaps the odd kebaby type place. I love Spanish and Italian food but lets not pretend 'foreign' lands are bastions of food experimentations and 'foodie cultures' because they're not. They're very limited and rigid. Fantastic at what they do. But thats all they do.

Many areas of those countries have influences from the countries they colonised and countries which colonised parts of them in the past but thats how it has then stayed, it hasnt evolved. British food is ever evolving.

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My brother has lived in Italy for 30 years. He loves coming to the UK and trying all the different cuisines available! I think it's good to be open minded. So what if once in a while you have a meal that isn't great? No big deal.

montysmaw · 23/08/2026 22:48

@Ooooohhhyessss Sorry wrong person!

Needmorelego · 23/08/2026 22:48

likelysuspect · 23/08/2026 22:45

Shocking revelation.

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It's amazing how many people actually do think Iceland sells only frozen food and nothing else.

kittensinthekitchen · 23/08/2026 22:48

Loobylooisblue · 23/08/2026 22:40

No 'Air Miles Andy'.

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Well, no.

Teainapinkcup · 23/08/2026 22:50

Bbqdisaster · 23/08/2026 19:32

As above really, myself, DH and 3 DC went to our friends’ house yesterday on the promise of some drinks in the garden and a BBQ.

They said they were having issues with their BBQ so would do an ‘indoor BBQ’. This consisted of beige food from Iceland!!

AIBU to find this a woeful alternative?

They fed you all.... be thankful.

Loobylooisblue · 23/08/2026 22:50

kittensinthekitchen · 23/08/2026 22:48

Well, no.

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Missed out the comma.
Should have read - No, 'Air Miles Andy'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jlyqdj6geo

Ayarreet · 23/08/2026 22:50

Bbqdisaster · 23/08/2026 21:23

It’s a race to the bottom on here at times!

As 'friends' go you probably are the actual bottom, OP. 1/10

Raraskirtsagogo · 23/08/2026 22:51

I live that the OP has come over all unnecessary at the idea of a beige buffet. The bizarre use of 'myself' in the OP rather than 'I' should have been a clue Grin

Yetone · 23/08/2026 22:51

Loobylooisblue · 23/08/2026 22:44

@Yetone "Sausages and burgers quite frankly, are disgustingly fatty cheap foods."
I'm with you all the way on that.
Ever seen someone put a cheap burger on a BBQ ? It starts off 3" across and as it cooks all the fat runs out and it shrinks to about 2" across. When it's cooked you could sole your shoe with it.

Yes, and some people only cook sausages and burgers on their BBQ, nothing else.

FourCatMama · 23/08/2026 22:52

American here: what is beige Iceland food?

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 23/08/2026 22:53

Raraskirtsagogo · 23/08/2026 22:51

I live that the OP has come over all unnecessary at the idea of a beige buffet. The bizarre use of 'myself' in the OP rather than 'I' should have been a clue Grin

She reminds me of that Catherine Tate middle class mum! Funny.

likelysuspect · 23/08/2026 22:53

FourCatMama · 23/08/2026 22:52

American here: what is beige Iceland food?

American food.

Loobylooisblue · 23/08/2026 22:54

FourCatMama · 23/08/2026 22:52

American here: what is beige Iceland food?

Apparently it's the name for boring fatty food and pies etc made with mechanically recovered meat.
Heart attacks in waiting !

Truetoself · 23/08/2026 22:56

What exactly is beige food from Iceland?

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 23/08/2026 22:57

Truetoself · 23/08/2026 22:56

What exactly is beige food from Iceland?

I asked that and didn't get an answer.

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 23/08/2026 22:57

Loobylooisblue · 23/08/2026 22:54

Apparently it's the name for boring fatty food and pies etc made with mechanically recovered meat.
Heart attacks in waiting !

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How is that worse than BBQ food - especially sausages?

RoseRosse · 23/08/2026 22:59

Needmorelego · 23/08/2026 22:41

And you can even buy fresh fruit and veggies from Iceland.
😁

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Is that why mums go to Iceland? 😁

kittensinthekitchen · 23/08/2026 22:59

Loobylooisblue · 23/08/2026 22:50

Missed out the comma.
Should have read - No, 'Air Miles Andy'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jlyqdj6geo

Edited
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So because the sale of disposable barbecues has been temporarily banned in England, Wales and Scotland, you think noone, anywhere can have use any kind of barbecue?

kittensinthekitchen · 23/08/2026 23:01

FourCatMama · 23/08/2026 22:52

American here: what is beige Iceland food?

Parsley in a jar

ShetlandishMum · 23/08/2026 23:01

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 23/08/2026 22:57

How is that worse than BBQ food - especially sausages?

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It isn't if you think common BBQ.

Loobylooisblue · 23/08/2026 23:02

kittensinthekitchen · 23/08/2026 22:59

So because the sale of disposable barbecues has been temporarily banned in England, Wales and Scotland, you think noone, anywhere can have use any kind of barbecue?

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No, I didn't say that at all.

I think people needed to be careful at the time about lighting anything. We don't know when and where this 'BBQ' took place. It actually seems that it wasn't a 'BBQ' at all, more like a buffet.

Now it's rained it doesn't matter.

kittensinthekitchen · 23/08/2026 23:03

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 23/08/2026 22:57

I asked that and didn't get an answer.

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You realise we can all see that you did, right?

RoseRosse · 23/08/2026 23:03

mybeautifulemeraldparure · 23/08/2026 22:57

I asked that and didn't get an answer.

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It means it was not Instagrammable. No antipasti, no tzatziki, no tapas, no t-bone steak, no couscous.

Only friends and laughter. The agony.

I do believe there were sausage rolls and crisps too, so hopefully OP was able to source adequate holy water to make a full recovery. 🙏🕯

kittensinthekitchen · 23/08/2026 23:05

Loobylooisblue · 23/08/2026 23:02

No, I didn't say that at all.

I think people needed to be careful at the time about lighting anything. We don't know when and where this 'BBQ' took place. It actually seems that it wasn't a 'BBQ' at all, more like a buffet.

Now it's rained it doesn't matter.

Edited
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Your think does not equal a ban. Why are people on Mumsnet so MeMeMe??

And it's not raining everywhere either.

Step outside your bubble. There's a whole world out here.

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