I hate the food on holiday

[pandarific]

Gutted. We’re at a villa in Greece with PIL, I’m pregnant. This villa (organised by PIL) comes with a ‘chef’, who you give money at the start of the week and they cook breakfast lunch and dinner.

It’s run by an English lady, who manages the chef - all we got asked was ‘are there any vegetarians?’ and one person has said they don’t like fish - ‘oh okay, good you said as we have fish three times this week.’

My problem is... The food is cooked fine, but it’s very, very plain and the same thing over and over. I can’t have a bloody drink, I LOVE food anyway so was really, really looking forward to nice food on holiday. Varied, interesting, with nice desserts, stuff I wouldnt have at home - holiday food, iyswim? I could honestly cry.

For lunch yesterday it was spinach and feta pie, plain tomato onion olive pepper and cucumber salad, a loaf of bread and a slab of feta. Fine - bit dull, but fine.

For dinner yesterday it was plain cooked chicken (no sauce of any kind) cooked potatoes and the same salad. A loaf of bread, a slab of feta cheese. An odd orange cake for after which was strangely wet inside and not very nice. ...again a bit dull, but fine.

For breakfast, it’s been eggs, a loaf of bread, Greek yoghurt, jam, cut up fruit. Oh or cornflakes. (Three large packets of cereal, all bloody cornflakes. WTF?)

For lunch today, it was the chicken from yesterday, the spinach pie from yesterday, a slab of feta, a loaf of bread, and salad.

We have just had dinner. I had a word with myself beforehand as I’m beginning to get severely grumpy and struggling to hide my rage, and everyone else, DH included, seems to be delighted with it. I was thinking I shouldn’t pre-judge it, I’m sure she’ll do something different, etc etc. Can you guess where I’m going with this?

Plain grilled chicken or plain grilled pork (), no sauce of any kind, the same salad, a slab of feta, a loaf of bread, the spinach pie again. Nothing for after.

I am fucking gutted. I KNOW I am putting too much importance on this, but I can’t have anything to drink, I’m pretty bloody food focused anyway and now I’m pregnant I’m dying for nice, interesting food to relieve some of the massive fucking boredom of being pregnant, and I was SO looking forward to this. Idk if I was stupid to expect something better, I’ve never been on a holiday like this before, wasn’t . No shops open at the min as it’s a public holiday - I have privately moaned to DH and he’s said we can go to the supermarket .

If I see that fucking salad again I may scream. Please Mumsnet, I know IABU - hand me a grip someone?

Fuck me...talk about a first world problem. The chef at your villa isn't cooking food entirely to your liking?! Are your diamond shoes too tight as well?

Oh my, it does sound very dry and dull, you've got to have a word with someone

Sorry posted too soon! I can’t complain about this IRL as everyone but me seems to be ecstatic and it would be bloody rude. Just sitting here, quietly seething.

I’m very food focused and would be exactly the same! I actually feel upset for you. Could you not suggest an evening out at a local restaurant - get everyone else to see how good the food could be and then make some suggestions to the chef? Perhaps they think you all like plain food if they’ve not been told any different.

@formerbabe I know. Hol not picked by me, see so I can’t complain as it would be bloody rude. But it’s boring as fuck.

Well if you put fish off the menu on a Greek island you have limited the chef somewhat.

Sounds pretty shit to be fair OP, can you ask for something specific?

Can you request something? It does sound very repetitive.

Did ILs pay for the holiday ? If so you need to keep quiet and say nothing.
If you paid your share then talk to the English lady - tell her you were looking forward to sampling the different aspects of Greek cuisine and will you be having mezze or moussaka or sampling any Greek sauces.
To be honest though I do seem to remember Greek food being fairly dry so what you're describing doesn't seem out of place.

Maybe say you're going out for dinner one night to have a romantic evening before the baby arrives?

Its really a shame greece doesnt have shops where you could buy some food if your personal chef is not to your liking

Are you there for much longer? I’d be equally gutted as I love trying different foods whilst I’m on holiday - it’s one of the highlights for me!

@rookiemere, yes, PIL paid. Struggling to arrange my face appropriately at meals.

To be clear, I eat fish, one person doesn’t. They seem happy.

The food sounds dull, but if the others are enjoying it not much you can do.

Why are they serving fish to no one just because one person doesn’t like it?

Go out to the local shops and buy some nice bits and bobs for the fridge? Arrange to go out with DH for lunch or dinner?

Why dont you just ask if you can access the kitchen to make a sauce? Shell get the idea.

What were you expecting though, fry ups and spag bol?

Can't you just take OH for a "romantic" meal out (or 5) aka pig out on nice food ?

You and DH take yourselves off for either lunch or dinner every day.

Tell the chef what you would like for breakfast and your meals.

This is a real easily solved non-problem.

This is really a non-problem.

It does sound repetitive but I’d love someone to cook dinner for me for a week so I’d eat anything! Can you say something to them?

Do you have a drink problem? You sound desperate (beyond normal) for a drink.

I do understand where you’re coming from; when I was pregnant my day revolved around food and looking forward to them

If the PIL paid for your holiday you are having a free holiday and should manage your expectations, and your face.

Do you think they’re used to cooking for people who don’t like foreign food and so are playing it safe? Greek food is lovely, I’d be miffed as well at paying for boring, dry food.

I still think fondly about the lamb I had on holiday in Kefalonia. I haven’t had lamb as good since.

That is boring as hell, Greek food is some of the best on the planet, I’d be very disappointed

Can't you go out and buy some dressings, dips, olives, pastries, pittas etc etc?

I would find that pretty dull though it sounds as if you are a wet feeder like me - I can't stand dry food. Also not quite sure why she can't do fish with an alternative, at least one night.

If you're not paying, just suck it up, though you could suggest taking the hosts out to dinner to thank them - give the chef a night off.