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Original poster

I need to get a roast dinner to the Canary Islands.

66 replies

PortaRoast · 13/12/2019 12:36

We're going to a small Canary island on Christmas Eve. 3 kids, 2 flights and we arrive late so can't do a supermarket shop.

We all want a proper Christmas dinner so I'll have to pack it all and take it with us won't I? We have full kitchen facilities there.

Only 2 of us eat meat so I won't need to take a huge bird or anything... I'm thinking maybe a ham would be better but will meat travel OK? Is it even allowed?

I'm going to feel mental packing sprouts aren't I? Any suggestions or experience doing this?

OP posts:
HowlsMovingBungalow · 13/12/2019 12:39

You need to check to see what is legal to take into the country.

GeriAtric · 13/12/2019 12:39

It seems like an awful lot of work. I'm not sure you'd be able to take meat. Would it not be better to have your Christmas meal before you go?

northernlittledonkey · 13/12/2019 12:43

Why? Can’t you eat something local?

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YorkieTheRabbit · 13/12/2019 12:48

Can you just book somewhere to eat a Christmas dinner if that’s what you want

motorcyclenumptiness · 13/12/2019 12:48

I did this a couple of years ago. Went to a UK supermarket, bought fresh veg and spuds (all in sealed plastic bags with country of origin details showing), stuffing, nut roast, mince pies, Xmas pudding, tinned turkey and ham, packed it all in a suitcase and took it on easyJet to Lanzarote (DF was in hospital there). No problem. Won't be that easy after 31 Jan.

LittleSwede · 13/12/2019 12:50

DH and I brought a 4 pound joint of beef to Sweden a couple of Christmases ago Grin put in a cool bag with some ice packs and packed into suitcase. We have also brought steaks over a couple of times. Decent meat is expensive over there.

Potatoes, a jar of goose fat and some vegetables should travel ok in a cool bag. Could you bring beef instead of ham? It keeps better out of the fridge. The hold of the plane will be cool but also depends on transfer times and how long you have between the two flights.

skinnyamericano · 13/12/2019 12:51

When my DH was a child, his family used to go to Tenerife every year for Christmas. MIL used to take a huge turkey in a cool box on the plane.

One year they actually made the papers with a photo of them and their turkey coming off the plane.

(I’ve always thought it was a bit ridiculous they didn’t just have a paella 🤣)

RhymingRabbit3 · 13/12/2019 12:53

If you're going abroad for christmas I would just embrace the holiday and not bother with the xmas dinner - it's not going to be a traditional Christmas in other ways and seems like a bad idea!
Surely they have chicken in other countries? I definitely wouldnt be packing meat into my suitcase - what is your flight is delayed or the meat leaks all over your clothes.
If you really must I would take the veg and gravy granules but buy anything refrigerated from a supermarket when you arrive.

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 13/12/2019 12:57

Why? Can’t you eat something local?

Because they want to? Hmm

What a ridiculous and pointless question.
You could ask that on any thread.

"We're thinking of moving to Scotland. Has anyone got any advice as to where?"

MN - "why? What's wrong with where you are? Can't you just stay there for the rest of your life?"

Troels · 13/12/2019 12:58

You can do an online order with Mercadona and have it delivered the first moring there.

Starisnotanumber · 13/12/2019 13:23

On the canaries Christmas is not as big as in UK. Many restaurants are open providing Christmas dinners to tourists and expats.
Which island are you travelling to.?
Are you still there for the Feast of the 3 Kings in January

userxx · 13/12/2019 13:31

I'd be checking what's allowed to be taken in to the country first. I'm in the Canaries on Xmas day but will be having paella. Find a local restaurant and go ourt for xmas dinner, its much cheaper than over here.

Sparkletastic · 13/12/2019 14:05

How small an island are we talking? We go to Lanzarote every other Christmas and there's always a supermarket open on Christmas Day. We go for a bbq mind you. Cooking a full roast is not my idea of a holiday.

As long as you get plenty of lovely cheap cava you'll be right.

AhoyMrBeaver · 13/12/2019 14:09

Don't put yourself through that. Go out to eat on Christmas Day instead. Who the fuck wants to be peeling potatoes and making gravy on holiday? Xmas Confused

Sparkletastic · 13/12/2019 14:15

Are we talking La Palma? There will almost certainly be a supermarket open if so.

Namechanger23455 · 13/12/2019 14:15

hiperdinoexpress.com/en/hiperdino-express-stores

Sparkletastic · 13/12/2019 14:17

It feels so different once you arrive and there's sunshine and a pool. Do think carefully about whether your desire for a traditional roast will be sustained once you realise you could be getting your tan on!

mummmy2017 · 13/12/2019 14:50

Do a dinner the a few nights before you go.
Tell everyone your going on holiday, and they can go fly.

TooleyVanDooley · 13/12/2019 14:52

I’m sure there will be a restaurant serving turkey somewhere

SnorkMaiden81 · 13/12/2019 14:55

Honestly sounds like a huge amount of fuss.

Cazj39 · 13/12/2019 14:56

I regularly take meat into the Canary Islands, when I visit my parents in Lanzarote I take them gammon, bacon, legs of lamb, cheese, butter etc and have never had a problem obviously your best option is to have in your full size luggage as colder in the hold than taking in hand luggage.

Original poster
PortaRoast · 13/12/2019 16:19

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

The supermarket options are limited really because we will arrive on La Gomera at 8pm and are being transferred from the little airport to the villa which is a mile or so from a village. I don't know if the nearest shop will be open on Christmas day and don't want to risk it and I don't want to be out shopping on Christmas day anyway. It's not even a supermarket, more of a local shop. No mercadona deliveries unfortunately.

We could have something other than a roast but then I'd still have to take the food with us so we might as well.

There are restaurants in the nearby village but I have no idea if they are open on Christmas Day. If we were going a few days in advance we could choose one and book but we're not. Paella by the sea sounds lovely and we will definitely be doing that during the week.

So, I'm thinking of taking a small cooked ham for the meat eaters and a nut roast for the others. Cooked cured meat will travel OK won't it? I've seen a packet nut roast mix online so may consider that as it's lighter in weight. Sprouts, carrots, potatoes, gravy mix and some cranberry sauce in tupperware would do wouldn't it? A Christmas pudding and a carton of cream (in more tupperware for safety) for pudding.

The villa owners are leaving us wine, orange juice, cereal, bread, milk and butter. There will be oil and basic herbs etc.

I'm actually looking forward to it but I'm wary that we don't have a big weight allowance and am still not 100% sure it's ok to take meat to the Canary Islands.

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 13/12/2019 16:24

Countries in the EU can take meat into the Canary Islands. Other countries cannot take anything of animal origin.

msmith501 · 13/12/2019 16:26

Can you get a good parcel organised?

Starisnotanumber · 13/12/2019 16:31

As you are in touch with the villa owner I wonder if you asked really nicely they could do a bit of a shop for you. Carrots and potatoes are available anywhere plus cream will be available when they pick up milk for your welcome pack.
Would help with the weight in your cases