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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think beige buffets get a raw deal and have their place?

185 replies

Iceplater · 30/08/2026 20:02

I recently went to the funeral of an elderly relative and the wake was in a working mens club. The buffet came out and it was a sea of beige - sausage rolls, quiche, open sandwiches, vol a vents (which I have seen for years), jam tarts, Mr Kipling. And it was glorious.

I moved away from my home town and I’ve become a terrible middle-class fanny. This took me right back to the 80s and Sundays at my Grandparents when they put on a “spread”.

I wouldn’t want it every day but it was amazing (despite it being a funeral). AIBU?

OP posts:
Girasoli · 31/08/2026 22:40

Ooh I love vol-au-vonts a classic of 90s parties.

My mum always made tramezzini (tiny Italian open sandwiches)...so fiddly but so tasty!

Ferro · 31/08/2026 22:05

My nan has made her own funeral soup. It is in the second freezer in the garage, two gallons of it. It is lentil, of course. She says it is the only way to guarantee people will have good soup. She is still in excellent health and will probably have to make a second batch before her time comes.

CrystalSingerFan · 31/08/2026 21:58

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 31/08/2026 20:18

The faux naive misunderstanding at what constitutes a beige buffet might be one of the most MN things I've ever read 😂.

Well I hope I add to the Mumsnettyness with the comment that it's spelled "Vol-au-vent".

Vol-au-vent — Wikipédia

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vol-au-vent

EvieBB · 31/08/2026 21:31

Iceplater · 30/08/2026 20:02

I recently went to the funeral of an elderly relative and the wake was in a working mens club. The buffet came out and it was a sea of beige - sausage rolls, quiche, open sandwiches, vol a vents (which I have seen for years), jam tarts, Mr Kipling. And it was glorious.

I moved away from my home town and I’ve become a terrible middle-class fanny. This took me right back to the 80s and Sundays at my Grandparents when they put on a “spread”.

I wouldn’t want it every day but it was amazing (despite it being a funeral). AIBU?

Snap! I went to a funeral a couple of months ago with a v similar buffet .....and yeah it was divine!

Cakeandcardio · 31/08/2026 21:21

I think you are right. At the right time, it can be delicious!!

Yewlez · 31/08/2026 21:19

We held my mum's funeral recently and the wake food the pub provided was like this. I had to go home and cook something because it was all just beige pastry. I'm not a fan of a beige buffet. I wouldn't have minded if there had been some salads but there wasn't a single bit of fruit or veg on there!

NavyBlueJeans · 31/08/2026 21:17

mdinbc · 31/08/2026 21:04

I've never heard the term 'beige buffet' before, but reading some of the comments, I understand now.

Any funeral tea, or afternoon fundraiser tea I've been to has usually a whole variety of items, mostly finger-food, and quite a bit brought in by family or neighbours. I've never snubbed my nose, or thought it was not posh enough if there wasn't all the colours of the rainbow. And I always appreciate a good sausage roll!

Same here, I never heard of the term 'beige buffet' until I joined Mumsnet and it would never occur to me to think the type of food described here is anything other than delicious, comfort food.

StepawayfromtheLindors · 31/08/2026 21:15

MrsMoastyToasty · 31/08/2026 17:02

I'd much rather have a beige buffet than any Hipster Wankster Deconstructed Shite of Rib Of Squirrel with a Ferret Jus served on an Artisan Floor Tile.

Love this, and agree

mdinbc · 31/08/2026 21:04

I've never heard the term 'beige buffet' before, but reading some of the comments, I understand now.

Any funeral tea, or afternoon fundraiser tea I've been to has usually a whole variety of items, mostly finger-food, and quite a bit brought in by family or neighbours. I've never snubbed my nose, or thought it was not posh enough if there wasn't all the colours of the rainbow. And I always appreciate a good sausage roll!

Nincompoo · 31/08/2026 20:28

BigMommasHouse · 31/08/2026 17:23

Yes, they have their place. Wensleydale to be precise. “Funeral Teas” in the area are traditionally beige. Scotch Eggs, Pork Pies, Ham Sandwiches, Christ’s and sausage rolls. Always will be!

You always need a “Christ” at a funeral 🤣

PlacidPenelope · 31/08/2026 20:19

Bzr · 31/08/2026 17:39

When I was growing up it was smoked salmon, tuna, egg mayo and herring bridge rolls. Cold fish goujons, potato salad, coleslaw, pickled cucumber, a selection of danish, some crumbly kind of biscuit things, marble cake, apple strudel and a cup of tea always on a cup and saucer served from a tea pot.

Bridge Rolls - oh yes. Why oh why aren't they available anymore?

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 31/08/2026 20:18

The faux naive misunderstanding at what constitutes a beige buffet might be one of the most MN things I've ever read 😂.

tokennamechange · 31/08/2026 20:15

Neutraln · 30/08/2026 21:01

So I think we’d be described as old upper class- old money, land, gun dogs type thing and we have this food all the time. We have it with champagne but often after shooting , like today, this is what we have out the back of the Land Rover. I didn’t realise it wasn’t done anymore? The sausage rolls and scotch eggs and quiche is home made but it’s never gone out of fashion in our circle - same as our passed on wax jackets though 🤣

no, obviously when eaten out of doors or home cooked by ones housekeeper obtained from M&S in the 3 for £8 deli deal such food becomes 'picky bits' 🤮 which is eminently acceptable to the middle classes It's only when served indoors at a celebration with the majority purchased from iceland or asda can it be judged as déclassé . Come on, this is British101!

WindsurfingDreams · 31/08/2026 20:14

My family have been MC for generations and I can't comprehend people so determined to prove their MC credentials that they never see a sausage roll or a scotch egg.

tretaddict · 31/08/2026 20:05

pulpJarvis · 31/08/2026 17:18

Our union annual meeting used to do a beige buffet, which had white or brown bread mixed grated cheese sandwiches, and cheese and onion pastie for the veggies. The year they did Brie and cranberry sandwiches there was an audible’ooh crikey, look at that!’

every other year was Lancashire hotpot with pickled red cabbage.

I love a Lancashire hot pot with red cabbage and brown sauce. There should also be a cheese pie available and both served in those huge metal trays in big slabs

Hiredgun · 31/08/2026 19:56

Iceplater · 30/08/2026 20:02

I recently went to the funeral of an elderly relative and the wake was in a working mens club. The buffet came out and it was a sea of beige - sausage rolls, quiche, open sandwiches, vol a vents (which I have seen for years), jam tarts, Mr Kipling. And it was glorious.

I moved away from my home town and I’ve become a terrible middle-class fanny. This took me right back to the 80s and Sundays at my Grandparents when they put on a “spread”.

I wouldn’t want it every day but it was amazing (despite it being a funeral). AIBU?

As a one off, I think this is kind of fun to do and enjoy the memories.

Sometimes, I throw a retro themed dinner party and people love it.

Whosthetabbynow · 31/08/2026 19:53

Sounds like buffet heaven but then I’m a working class oik from South London

tobee · 31/08/2026 19:52

Love a vol au vent, and all in the pastry family! And cold collation is the default term in this household thank you very much

Neutraln · 31/08/2026 19:50

BEAchDays2 · 31/08/2026 17:58

Shooting is gross.

Show quote history

Ay?! It’s clay pigeon 🤣🤣 I don’t think that’s gross!

Mammyloveswine · 31/08/2026 19:27

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 21:02

And dips. The four cornered ones. Proper classy we are.

oooh yes breadsticks and dips… tempted to send ds to alsi…

AtleastitsnotMonday · 31/08/2026 19:17

My biggest issue with a beige buffet isn’t the fact that it’s beige but that it doesn’t tend to have much variety in texture or in many cases flavour. The worst though is when items that taste better warm are served cold, I.e pretty much any pastry, pizza or breaded chicken! I do however like a retro finger sandwich, egg, salad cream and cress, coronation chicken or tuna and cucumber are all sublime!

NavyBlueJeans · 31/08/2026 18:27

Traitorsclaudia · 31/08/2026 18:01

I love a beige buffet. We have a family buffet every Christmas and Easter (Jesus would have loved it). Whole dining table covered in fifty shades of beige food with a small plate of grapes, strawberries, tomatoes and cucumber for health. Everyone gets a paper plate and there's not enough seats so you have to try to juggle your plate and glass of wine. Eat till you feel a bit sick.

That sounds just lovely! Both the food and everyone gathering together every Easter and Christmas to enjoy it!

Fizbosshoes · 31/08/2026 18:22

One of my favourite things as a kid was if my mum had done a buffet tea with posh triangle sandwiches. Left over egg mayo sandwiches toasted the next day were the absolute best! (Plastic bread, not poncy sourdough)

DreamingOfGeneHunt · 31/08/2026 18:19

HorseandHeron · 31/08/2026 17:29

We do, A poster on here the other day was describing how she made trifle with tinned clementines and orange jelly and hundreds and thousands. It made me long for the food of 1970s family get-togethers.

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Oh I think that was me! I'm still very 70s/80s in my catering. My sister laughs but it makes me happy.

Noras · 31/08/2026 18:06

It sounds lovely but I would eat none of it. I am vegetarian with issues with my bloods so sadly I’m looking for the hummus, bean salad. quinoa, cherry tomatoes, tabbouleh etc

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