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?

Make some specific requests: stifado (stew, usually pork or rabbit), kleftiko (slow cooked lamb), yemista (stuffed vegetables - tomatoes, peppers, etc), moussaka, loukanika (Greek sausages) or spetsofai (sausage casserole), soutzoukakia (meatballs in sauce).

Greeks aren't massive breakfast eaters, so what you've described is about what they'd imagine you'd want - but make requests if you want something else.

Your in Greece. What were you expecting? That's pretty standard Greek fare. What do you class as holiday food?

I can’t complain about this IRL as everyone but me seems to be ecstatic and it would be bloody rude

Sorry I missed this post, scrap above advice. Maybe PIL are just used to pants food?

Ask for lamb kleftiko or moussaka?

Your in Greece. What were you expecting?

Greek food is not all plain meat and potatoes.

Greek food is gorgeous-what nationality is the chef? Apologise if you've already said but cba to rtft.
Steffado, kleftiko? I agree though you are limited by taking fish out of the equation...

Totally agree op.

Im the calmest most rational and non foodie ever.

I had actual tears over a cheese sandwich when I was pg.

Crikey.

I'd be in heaven with a week on spanakopita.

'Perhaps they think you all like plain food if they’ve not been told any different.'

But if everyone else on the holiday is enjoying it, then perhaps that's what they do want. I wouldn't want to go to a restaurant if I'd already paid someone to cook.

Greek yog and honey for brekkie anyone?

Holidaying when pregnant is rubbish. Well, I didn't enjoy it! Ignore the poster re the drink problem, there's nothing wrong with craving a glass of wine on a hot summers eve.

So - no wine, turn to the food! It does sound dull as shit and thinking back to my pregnancies I'd be huffing that I hadn't got any satisfaction food wise.

I think you've been lumped with keep it plain - she's English and pregnant. YANBU!

*Im the calmest most rational and non foodie ever.

I had actual tears over a cheese sandwich when I was pg.*

That really made me . Thank you guys, even the mean posts have made me feel better about my ridiculous disproportionate salad-related rage.

It will all be fine!

Holidaying when pregnant is miles more fun than holidaying with babies or small DC!

It’s probably too late, but a little bit of self reflection before your child arrives would be a good thing. For yourself and your child.

🤣

Your in Greece. What were you expecting? That's pretty standard Greek fare. What do you class as holiday food?

I had amazing food in Greece, Meze, casseroles (can't remember the correct name), loads of different salads, dips, roasted lamb, beautifully seasoned meats. Not just plain grilled stuff every day.

Yeah, holidaying whilst pregnant is lame. I like to drink on holiday. Gave it a miss when pregnant for this reason.

It’s probably too late, but a little bit of self reflection before your child arrives would be a good thing. For yourself and your child.

You are so very wise! I should indeed reflect on my terrible unpleasantness and hatred of grilled meats. For myself and my child.

*You sound so unpleasant
So many bits of your OP

It’s probably too late, but a little bit of self reflection before your child arrives would be a good thing. For yourself and your child*

What utter fucking tripe 😂

It’s probably too late, but a little bit of self reflection before your child arrives would be a good thing. For yourself and your child.

Good lord! She was looking forward to having nice food on holiday and is a bit disappointed and feels like having a bit of a moan, especially because she's pregnant. Only on mumsnet does that make her an alcoholic, an suitable parent, an awful person in general, a draining person.

Are you getting proper Greek salad of just plan salad with a slab of feta on the side?

To be fair plain grilled fish is pretty standard in the Mediterranean, I wouldn’t expect a sauce, but it should have nice lemon and olive oil and herbs. I love it.

The rest sounds a bit dull. I feel your pain 😀.

Oh come on @Highhorse1981

Poor form. You’re making yourself look idiotic.

Apt username much

I accept you are grumpy preggo woman.

I often say this on MN... Even plain food tastes divine if you're really hungry. If it doesn't taste that great, you're not that hungry (or it's gone off, but you dont' say it's spoiled food). Simple solution, go for smaller portions, the food will start tasting great.

Because it sounds like there are several people on the holiday, the chef is going to have to cater to the least common denominator.