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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:
RaininSummer · 30/08/2026 21:28

I went to a wake recently and the buffet was like that. Unsurprisingly, as a dairy intolerant vegetarian, all I had was the pineapple from the cheese and pineapple. It was quite funny really but I was surprised that there were no crisps, fruit or salad type bits

Flannelfeet · 30/08/2026 21:25

TheEarlofButties · 30/08/2026 20:37

I’d also need a Sara Lee gateau, recently defrosted and still on the cardboard

Awww braw...the strawberry one with the nuts round the sides 😋 👌

TooOrangey · 30/08/2026 21:18

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 20:40

What do the oh so superior MC serve on their buffets then?

Charcuterie boards, grazing platters, smoked salmon blinis, caprese salads, bruschetta with various toppings, fancy canapés…

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 30/08/2026 21:17

Forgot to say I absolutely love a beige buffet. I was elated to get some mushroom vol au vents on a flash sale offer from Ocado recently. They're in the freezer waiting for a worthy opportunity to eat them with a nice glass of something.

bellsbuss · 30/08/2026 21:16

My husbands uncle had a lovely beige buffet at his wake last year. I went up twice , the third plate I sent my husband up for me as I was too embarrassed to up again. Haven’t had one since and craving it now.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 30/08/2026 21:13

EppingIsFun · 30/08/2026 20:40

Gosh yes, that's unfortunate. I do think potato salad is called for in a beige buffet.

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You'd still have to check the ingredients of the mayonnaise as it might have thickener in it which would contain gluten.

Our friend who has late onset coeliac disease just doesn't eat anything outside his own home except in a couple of restaurants and cafes he trusts to take it seriously. When we had a party he said not even to bother catering for him, he'd bring something he could eat in a tub. He did say though that if we had fruit he would risk a banana, which is safe if it's still in its skin until he peels it.

EppingIsFun · 30/08/2026 21:13

Iceplater · 30/08/2026 21:07

Salsa. Sour cream and chive. Random orange one that’s probably chilli cheese. Guacamole.

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Nah for me it's the 'lucky dip' selection, where they're almost all the same colour and you can barely tell the difference between them. I think one's sour cream and chive and the pink one is thousand island.

I hope they had Pringles.

Original poster
Iceplater · 30/08/2026 21:07

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 21:02

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

Salsa. Sour cream and chive. Random orange one that’s probably chilli cheese. Guacamole.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 30/08/2026 21:06

Golden banquet. Love that @AitkenDrum1970or should that be chicken drumstick 😉

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 21:05

TomatoGlut · 30/08/2026 21:04

As it's Christmas you could always add a touch of class by referring to the buffet as a cold collation.

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I could add a spig of parsley to ponce it up a bit.

EnglishRose26 · 30/08/2026 21:05

Homemade jam tarts with homegrown strawberries are gloriously British, and delicious with a dollop of Devonshire clotted cream.

TomatoGlut · 30/08/2026 21:04

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 21:00

We always have vol au vents on the boxing day buffet.

As it's Christmas you could always add a touch of class by referring to the buffet as a cold collation.

Fizbosshoes · 30/08/2026 21:02

We occasionally have beige buffets, at home, pronounced beige boof-fett.
i mean literally about 3 times a year. DH is unbearably snobby about it but me and the kids like it.my absolute fave thing from a beige buffet is an egg mayo sandwich on basic bread!

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 21:02

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

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 🤣

TheEarlofButties · 30/08/2026 21:01

XenoBitch · 30/08/2026 20:40

And still a bit frozen in the middle.

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Stop flirting with me

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 21:00

We always have vol au vents on the boxing day buffet.

Dandeloosha · 30/08/2026 20:59

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 20:40

What do the oh so superior MC serve on their buffets then?

Or those gross buffets where all the foods just sit on the table touching each other while everyone flicks through it for the best bits. Gross.

SereneFinch · 30/08/2026 20:58

Fuck me, I’ve not had a vol au vent since the 80s. I would’ve been all over it.

bluesky9 · 30/08/2026 20:57

Food of the gods. Who doesn't love a beige buffet from time to time?

Fibonaccithesequel · 30/08/2026 20:57

Iceplater · 30/08/2026 20:54

I’m not.

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Just the “middle class fanny”
sounds very Scottish 😁

Dandeloosha · 30/08/2026 20:56

AitkenDrum1970 · 30/08/2026 20:46

It’s called a ‘golden banquet’ in our house 😂 not that we have one that often!!

Edited

Yassssss!!!

likelysuspect · 30/08/2026 20:54

Open sandwiches, quiche and vol au vents are not beige. Neither are pork pies.

Where were the turkey twizzlers?

Original poster
Iceplater · 30/08/2026 20:54

Fibonaccithesequel · 30/08/2026 20:52

Are you Scottish @Iceplater ?

I’m not.

OP posts:
TomatoGlut · 30/08/2026 20:53

Nightnova · 30/08/2026 20:40

What do the oh so superior MC serve on their buffets then?

Naice ham.

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