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?

Smorgasbord, Buffet, Tapas, Meze or bread, cheese and meat platter - it depends what's in it.

We call it a plate of things in my house. My friend calls it a platter in hers so I think she must be a bit posher

Seleczione .. said in a silly Italian accent .. as in a selection ... 😂

Picnic tea usually. We used to really look forward to it when we were little. Like a ploughman’s lunch (haven’t seen those for years though). Usually potted beef, ham, bread, hard boiled egg, plus anything that needs eating up.

We are northern. I’d always assumed that picky tea was due to someone on mumsnet mishearing picnic tea.

We call it picky bits!

When I was small, it was bits & pieces in our family. My ds calls it a little plate.

Healthy Snacks; even if it's not healthy, its just something my sister used to call it when we were kids and it stuck.

Or 'picky bits' (Southern here).

Bits & bobs or picky bits.

Picky tea or stuff tea

Stuff tea!! Really?

Lunch.

Everyday lunch in lockdown.

Picky tea or carpet picnic

Buffet lunch or buffet tea depending on time of day.

Picky tea, SW.

Picky tea

Picky tea!

We call it a "mixed up super"

Snacky tea

Picky tea! We had one tonight (although it was more extravagant as it contained some cooked items!)

picky tea...

Northern family who are all fond of a buffet

Picnic dinner, when the girls were young. On a blanket.

We call it ‘Pick what you want’

Tapas tea

That to me is what “tea” used to be (at my grandparents house since they used to eat “dinner” at lunchtime).

I guess I must be very old.