AIBU to think that this is too much money for BBQ contribution?

[jomidmum]

Last week some relatives kindly asked us over for a BBQ. We asked what they would like us to take along. They said some chicken kebabs and some burgers. No problem.
BUT then they said that they only consume meat purchased from a certain local butchers shop, and could we please buy it there.
So we did. It cost £25. For 8 burgers and 4 chicken breasts.
AIBU to think that it's not OK to name an expensive shop? Our food budget is £60 a week for 4 of us.
Obviously we'll just move on but I do think it was a bit cheeky.

If someone asked me what they should bring, the answer is themselves. I don't expect anyone to bring anything. In reality they'd arrive with a bottle or some beers and some nibbles.

saying for you to bring meat is totally unreasonable never mind dicating the shop.

That's the mother of all grabbiness. They want a certain meat, they should provide it.

I have a friend who has a BBQ where if you want something fancy, you bring it yourself, everything else is provided. What you offered was a polite request which should either be turned down or responded with a request for salad or a pud. You've learnt your lesson, just make sure you eat loads!

i would expect the host to buy and cook the meat items, if needed the guestscould bring salad,coleslaw or desert. i think they had a bloody cheek. xx

If they're that fussy they shouldn't accept contributions IMO. We have our preferences for certain brands etc but wouldn't be so rude as to expect generous guests to fall in with them.

I only like to eat certain burgers and sausages as I have a phobia of fatty bits but if I'm not eating it it's not my problem. P.s. I would usually bring my own food to a bbq with spare beng shared if anyone wanted any.

We only eat organic, high welfare produced meat at home. Which is why I would never ask anyone to bring meat to a BBQ (or other type of party).

A side dish or pudding maybe, but never the meat.

I have 2 organic chicken breasts in the fridge at the moment which cost £6. Waitrose organic beef burgers cost £4 for 4.

so I think £25 for what the Op got does seem a little steep.

How rude of them!

Absolute bloody cheek! They probably couldnt afford to get it themselves. If someone asks me it would be a pudding or a bottle of wine (doesnt have to be expensive) normally when people ask shall we bring anything its out of politeness...u dont expect to be spending a third of ur weekly shop!!!!

Is their butcher urban or in a posh area? That's really expensive, and I only buy free-range local meat. Difference is, I'm rural and it's way cheaper than the butchers where I work.

Well cheeky of them!

Ah, I move in circles where bring and share BBQs are the done thing. None of us can afford to host a BBQ and buy everyone's food, so if that were the expected etiquette then none of us would ever get together in groups of more than 4! I had a B&S BBQ last week and 20 people came, was a brilliant get together but no way could I afford to feed 20 people - would be a shame if these things never happened as none of us can afford to feed everyone.
That said, it is literally, bring some food and drink and we will all share. I buy my fair share and make salads and pasta or something, and it works really well. I would never tell someone exactly what they had to bring or specify a shop to buy it from.
But just wanted to say that for some people, being asked to bring meat to a BBQ is the norm, and not considered odd at all! I'd be surprised if someone invited me to a BBQ and told me not to bring anything! :)

Radio rental.

Every BBQ I've ever had, guests have asked what should they bring. My reply is "Nothing, just yerselves!" They still bring home-made coleslaw and potato salad though. And a few bottles of alcoholic ginger beer, and rum. I would be if I asked should I bring something and instructed where it must come from. #entitled twattery

I'd take great pleasure in turning up with really cheap meat and telling them I bought it from their poncy shop. They sound like a right pair of nobs.

Round here it's completely normal to bring meat to a bbq. I think this thread shows that while lots of people think it's rude to ask people to bring meat, many others think it's completely normal. However, even I think it's weird to stipulate the butcher you need to buy the meat from.

Should have got from Aldi, and re wrapped up in plain packaging. They'd never have known!

YANBU. You were kind enough to care and ask what you should take along but they were up their own arses cheeky to request you purchase the meat from a specific butcher.

It's the norm to have either a BYOB or BYOF (or both) where I'm from - for you to eat or drink yourself and then share. Not to take food long for a stock pile, free-for-all BBQ. That's just odd.
If going to a BBQ and we were taking own food, say, steak, then DP would like to taste that steak cooked medium-well the way he likes it. Not to end up eating a char-grilled chicken drumstick instead . Glad to be a veggie...salad all round!

The 'hosts' were hypocrites anyway, what does it matter how the meat was reared if it was still killed at the end of it?

Sorry, vegan over here

Seriously though, the host was definitely cheeky and unreasonable. As someone who has been to many BBQs and been unable to eat ANYTHING if I didn't contribute but still had my veggies skewers and salads effectively turned down or sneered at, I'm a firm believer that the host should never dictate what a guest brings, and should make sure they feel comfortable. End of story.

Taking the P big time. If I ask people over for food I don't expect anything but a bottle of wine or a bowl of salad is always gratefully received. I provide what I think is sufficient food for my guests and would never ask them to contribute anything.
£25 worth of feckin meat does not constitute an invitation to party. If they can't afford to feed you they shouldn't have invited you in the first place.
Thank goodness I don't have friends like yours.

You should have brought puddings instead! They must be on commission at that butchers...........

Here in NZ bbqs are 'bring a plate'. So everyone brings something, be it meat, salads, bread etc. It is never stipulated what you should bring, it is just all put out and everyone helps themselves, they are get togethers where everyone chips in and has a good time.

I went to a BBQ recently where everyone pitched in with food and it was fun, but it was more a vague "I'm bringing sausages", "I'll bring some roast veggies" sort of thing.

I don't know why you didn't just take something else instead when you saw how expensive it was.

Next time don't ask just say you have a wonder marinade recipe and you're taking "your special chicken kebabs". Buy them from Asda cover them in sauce and say they're from an artisan butchers. Cheeky snobs!

I have been to loads of BBQ's where you take your own meat, it used to be quite the thing to do.

We always take a meat product, and maybe salad, cold pasta, snacky bits etc (oh and booze) with us. But would be annoyed at being instructed to bring pricey stuff from a posh place. I might get the luxury version at the supermarket but that'd be it. Plus I would totally be doing it back to you if you came to my next BBQ. I remember my aunt (a snooty one) munching on a delicious feta and vine tomato focaccia bread I'd brought along. She said "Ooh is this the one from Booths I was telling you about? I said no it's the one from Lidl I was telling you about." She didn't drop it and run away screaming but her face was amusing. We'd had a conversation a few weeks prior and she said she never shopped at budget stores as she believed the quality was dreadful. She was extolling the virtue of Booths. I've never set foot in one but couldn't imagine being ok with spending upwards of £6 on "posh" bread.