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?

Sunderland here and I'd say nibbly tea

Buffet or birthday tea (cos we usually request this sort of thing at my Parents' for birthdays ☺️)

the buffets you’re describing - that’s not what we’re talking about. That’s a deliberate selection of several dishes to choose from, made on purpose, not picky bits. Picky bits/picky tea is random bits of whatever’s in the fridge already. It’s not planned for, no dishes are deliberately made for it. I make a lot of buffets when entertaining and they’re a whole different ball game

I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s still a buffet, whether it’s planned as such or leftovers.

My lot call it picky bits which I absolutely hate but call it that too now because I don’t really know what else to call it!!! If it’s lunch time, not dinner, dd asks for packed lunch without the bread 🤣

Bits and pieces. We usually have it for lunch rather than dinner though.

Just lunch! It's how we normally do lunch if there are a few of us.

Dippy tea, cos I usually do it for toddler DD who dips everything in hummus.

For more than one or two people a buffet, if it's just for a single person or a couple then a picky tea

Snacky bits or bits and bobs here in the NW

Bohemian wraps for tea
Magnifico

It’s a picky tea!

Snacky bits

Picky tea when DD was little, but then Id put a selection on a plate for her.
Now its just food from fridge!

NE born, and it's Bits and Bobs here. Evolved into Bibs and Bobs when my daughter was a toddler

Picky tea or smorgasbord if I’m feeling silly!

Bits and pieces for young kuds.

Buffet for the whole family.

I don't think I've ever really had a meal with random leftovers, dips, bread and salad.

Do you mean like left over cottage pie or curry with bread, cheese and dips

We have things like leftover cold meat from a roast with salad and crusty bread or salad and new potatoes and that's what it would be called.
We've had a buffets at parties etc but that's specially bought not left overs.
We have cheese and crackers with chutneys, crisps, olives etc too, but that's called cheese and crackers.

Odds and ends or fridge raid!

We have cheese and crackers with chutneys, crisps, olives etc too, but that's called cheese and crackers

I love cheese and biscuits for dinner!

It’s a picky tea, a buffet is planned, with food purchased specifically for the meal not random leftovers.

Me too MarieQueenofScots DS1 used to call it cheese and crack as a toddler.

We call 'picky tea' the kind of meal where we're using up almost empty boxes and packets from the freezer! It'll usually end up being plates of chicken nuggets, turkey dinosaurs, fish fingers, potato stuff (smilies, croquets, chips), garlic bread, etc.

I would say, we are having a bit of a Mish Mash meal today, help yourself folks.

CBA tea.