What do you call this type of meal?

[tectonicplates]

I had never heard the term "picky tea" before joining MN.

I'm talking about the kind of meal where you have some slices of bread, a selection of vegetables and dips, cheese, and often some leftovers and things so it turns out a bit random. You put all the food in the middle of the table and everyone helps themselves.

What do you call this meal in your family?

Cold collation after Spike Milligan.

The term "picky tea" is like nails down a blackboard. I suppose it depends on what it consists of. We have a cheese board supper here, mainly when I don't feel like cooking and fancy wine. Leftovers are only really eaten for lunch.

Was always called bits when I was a kid

We call it mish mash dinner. My mum used to do this when we were kids, on a Friday night. Combination of leftovers from the week and freezer food as we were only allowed nuggets and chips on a Friday! It was always followed by popcorn, chocolate and movie night! It was our favourite day of the week! I carried on the tradition and do the same for my kids every Friday.

Ihaventgottimeforthis

Cold collation after Spike Milligan.

Love this!

If ever I have occasion to serve this sort of thing (that wouldn't come under the family umbrella term of "smorgasbord"), I'm calling it that.

My Mum grew up calling it a Picky Tea... I thought it was a family expression; no idea it was a northern thing!

It's a picky tea to me, I'm midlands.
It's even been shortened to just 'a picky' by my kids, who both ask for it for lunch most days.

Charcuterie board

A platter

Back in times of yore, we would often go out for a late lunch on a Saturday, then get nice cheeses, bread, olives, cold meats etc from the deli for the evening. I suppose it’s kind of tapas, but we call it a picky tea here.

GOD, I MISS SATURDAY LUNCH.

We call it 'Cheesy Bits' because cheese always features heavily. It's my kid's favourite meal!
At Christmas we have a big selection of cheese, cold meats, salads, pasta/cous cous/rice dishes, crackers, chutneys, pickled onions, gherkins, etc. but throughout the year it's a smaller selection of cheese, ham or salami, salad and usually tiger bread plus any leftovers that won't be too weird 😂

My dc love this kind of thing for lunch , bread, salad, olives, mini pizzas, cheese, crisps, fruit etc etc especially when the weather is so nice and they can have a picnic

They also eats tons of veg sticks with houmous if I do something like this which is always a bonus 🤣

It could be called a 'Smorgasbord' if you want to be posh!
😀

Table picnic.

Choosing dinner

DH (American) calls it "Choose your own adventure " tea, I quite like this, so I go along with it.

Picky tea. If i am being lazy and just put out oven chips and something covered in breadcrumbs it’s a brown tea. DH calls that a plate of shite.

French dinner

I'd call it a disappointment

If it was in the middle of the day, I would call it lunch. In the evening, it would be supper.

Picky bits

DH's family call it picky bits. My lot call it bits and pieces.

I do say smorgasbord, but I’m not posh! 😂

Mamma I call that brown foods as well

If DH does a 100% brown meal I look askance and insist something non brown is added.