To use caterers in my own home?

[thatsenoughalready]

Can I ask, do people think it's bit rude to use caterers if you're hosting a dinner party at home? I've done quite a few dinner parties recently and another one tomorrow night. Now DH has asked people over next weekend and I can't be bothered. Would it be odd?

Oh God just do it, OP. Agree with nap about your ‘D’ H. Inviting people over before checking with you ...saying people “know it’s Cook” so fucking what? ...saying no difference between 6 and 12

Does he want to show that his wife is a perfect cook or something?

Your question about would people expect to go to a restaurant? No. Lovely food and company in comfortable surroundings, no worries about overcrowded restaurant, privacy, etc. More intimate ...all good.

As to the poster who said “I’d think you couldn’t cook” Again, so what?? What if you can’t? We can’t all be brilliant at everything.

Another vote for Cook.

I do most of Jewish new year catered for by Ottolenghi, worth every za'atar-encrusted penny.

And fwiw when I go to others' houses I couldn't be bothered if it's Cook or their granny; I'm there for the company mainly.

It's great!

My DH hired a chef to cook us and some friends a meal for my birthday once was amazing!!

Also I am non meat-eating have been for 20 years. I don't mind doing meat for DH and the kids, but I hate buying loads of meat and dealing with it like I will be tomorrow.

Sorry but your DH sounds like he is taking the piss. He is using you as a caterer.
He’s invited a load of people over and has said that ‘people will know if it’s Cook’.
I would tell him that he’d better get the apron on and go out.
You are his wife, not staff.

I've done it with students from our local culinary school program (in the States). Much cheaper and it's good experience for them. DH and I were more involved than if we had just hired professional caterers, but it is especially nice to have someone else serving and cleaning up.

What is this "cook" everyone is referring to?

My friend used to do it all the time - for four six, or eight. The woman who did the cooking would provide you with the whole supper, or just a main/pudding, etc.
My friend is clever, glamorous, fun. She doesn’t have to be able to demonstrate that she can cook as well. Seriously, if cost isn’t an issue, it’s the perfect way to enjoy your evening and be hospitable.
Give ‘D’H a cookery course for Christmas.

We are veggie too and I only offer veggie when people come for dinner or we host parties/ functions!

Sorry not sorry

Still not clear why it is your responsibility!? I personally hate cooking and am basically useless at it & my DP loves it and does the majority of the cooking (especially the stuff that gets the glory!). However if I endlessly invited a load of my friends over and expected him to cook on demand that would be totally different and incredibly entitled.

There are tons of caterers round our way who do exactly what you are looking for for a living presumably there are all over the UK - so not weird at all if you can afford it!

Mammy - at Cook you can buy frozen dishes for 4 to 12 persons and there is even the dish that fits so you can put the food straight in there. I sometimes buy their lasagne for the kids if I have no time.

Go for it, why not. If you can afford it do it, anything to make life a bit easier is my motto.

Of course it's fine to have a caterer, but why doesn't DH just do it himself?

This is obviously a regular occurrence. If you don't want to end up like my mum, still doing it after 50 years, he needs to learn to cook and what is involved in catering for that number.

Buy him on a cooking course for Christmas. And a One Pot.

Give ‘D’H a cookery course for Christmas.

Oh - snap!

Still not clear why it is your responsibility!?

Exactly. He's invited these people over so he goes to Cook or he organises the caterer.

There are caterers who’ll come for that number but for a price.

You should do it! And tell your DH to sort himself out.

I genuinely don't know how long it would take me to stop laughing at DP if he a) invited people around to dinner without asking b) expected me to cater for them all c) didn't think there was a difference between cooking for 6 and cooking for 12 and d) scoffed at me for suggesting Cook because 'people will know'. The laughing would be peppered with rude words and telling him to go pleasure himself.

As a guest, I would not care at all. Just want a glass, sorry shedload of vino and grub and a great night with people I can have a laugh with.

Would you OP be concerned that you have outsourced it, rather than cooked it yourself?

You know.... you didn't grow it yourself or kill the calf in the wild, or source your fish on a line at your local fishing spot and so on.

Is that OK for mn?

Just do it. Those who will comment, knock them off your list. But no one will. Guaranteed if they realise they will be so fkn jealous of that!

Do what you can afford love. Feck everyone else.

To be honest we rarely do the whole dinner party thing nowadays. It tends to be close friends only and a barbecue in the summer or a big takeaway curry in the kitchen in the winter.

Dead classy we are.

Yes I'm at a stage where I think you should make life easier if at all possible. DH is super-sociable and he thinks I like cooking which, I do - if I have the energy. I have less energy than him and he doesn't always get it.

Depends how many people coming- anything over 8 and I think it’s acceptable. Most dinner parties we go to aren’t catered but have their home helps serving/clearing up.

As someone who has no interest in cooking at all apart from wholesome family food I’d absolutely go for it.

It pisses me off that people who enjoy cooking wonderful food get accolades for it. They’re doing something they love doing ffs!
Yes I know it’s petty😂

Right, so when are you going to tell him it's entirely up to him to sort this?

How long have you been married?

My mum did it because she liked cooking, but 50 years on she fucking hates it.

I have less energy than him and he doesn't always get it.

Do you actually have less energy or are you spending it doing the cooking, household stuff, childcare if applicable and carrying the mental load?

If he's got plenty of energy and then he can cook.