Do You Serve Yourself All The Best Bits?

[SmidgenofaPigeon]

I do.

I made a bloody amazing lasagne this evening. When I was dishing it out, I noticed DH’s bit had a particularly nice bit of bubbling mozzarella on it so I took it for myself before I took it through to the table. Since I do most of the cooking because I like it and I’m good at it, I do this quite a lot. I’ll take the juicier bit of chicken breast or the nicest looking roast potatoes for example. I don’t serve myself more than DH, I just take what I consider to be the choicest bits.

Then I started to think about my dear (now sadly dead) gran who would be horrified at this behaviour she would ALWAYS give the best bits of meat to my grandad or my dad, even if it meant everyone else had gristle. I remember on holiday once the women and children got fish fingers and the men a prime bit of cod loin which she fried up in some batter. She’d also buy steak for the men and a cheaper cut for the women.

I was just musing over whether I do it to rally against her strange ways (she always said the men deserved the nice bits more because they worked hard) or do I just think I deserve all the best bits because I’ve cooked it 😂

So do you serve your partner/children the nicest bits first or are you selfish like me and keep them for yourself

I'm quite lucky with this - DH and I disagree on what the best bits are so we both get our version of them (eg he loves a corner slice of lasagne and if it has the smallest amount of white sauce & cheese then he'd prefer that, which I like a middle piece and the more white sauce and cheese the better).

When it comes to things we both like the same pieces of, if I'm cooking I take the best bits probably 75% of the time.

My mum and nan would be ashamed of me - they absolutely believe men should get the best bits, bigger portions and be served first 🙄

On the plates, it would look as though I'd given everyone else the best bits. But that's because they wouldn't have seen the ACTUAL best bits that I'd secretly nabbed in the kitchen 😏

Yes I do. I do the cooking I get the reward. I also give myself the slightly larger glass of wine if they come out slightly unequal as I've taken the trouble to go to the kitchen to pour it.

The absolute best thing about being a single parent of a young child, is that you automatically get the best bits... mostly.

Crisp chicken skin, very roast potatoes, the gooey bit of brownie, the crispy edge of pasta bake, the rarest steak.... kiddo hates em all.

There is a reason I’ve put on 3 stone in 4 years...

Yes I do! I've planned it, shopped for it, cooked it and washed up afterwards.

@Mistlewoeandwhine

I do a worse thing. I dish up out of view and all the plates look equal but I’ve actually scoffed loads of the best bits secretly. I’m a size 18 now though so I don’t actually recommend this…

Yes I do this! Usually when it’s a roast, I get really pissed off if people come in before I’m finished stealing bits.

I live with my mum and do all the cooking, if we are having the same thing I call her in and let her serve herself first (I don’t know why as she’s never expected this, respect I guess) but she always takes the best bits so if I have my heart set on something I have to remember to hide it! Really I should just serve myself first, I’ve cooked it and usually paid for it too…

@plominoagain

When they spend their time and effort making a particularly nice meal , then they get chefs perks .

Till then , I get the crispiest roasties , the best Yorkshire puddings, and the chicken skin . Oh and when the beef is nearly done , I put a slice of bread in there to soak up the juices and get crispy at the same time. Like a gigantic umami flavoured crouton. Which I will deny utterly if challenged .

The bread sounds good but how can you make gravy for the Yorkshires if you've soaked up the juices? Never mind the OPs question, this sounds like an impossible dilemma.

Of course! The Philistines I live with wouldn't appreciate them anyway. I do give DH and DS bigger portions of meat though, but that's because they are bigger hungrier people

Whoever cooks gets the best bit here - and we all know it.

Absolutely. DH would happily live off freezer crap so I give the best bits to the person who appreciates them most. Me.

I take the more well done bits of pizza toast chips roasties meat as I like my food crucified, where husband hates it and thinks I’m a weirdo but then I do like it all near crucified.

It doesn’t soak up all the juices , just enough to go crispy , and then I use the rest for gravy . The trick I find is to get it lightly dipped , and then put it at the back nearest the fan , in the tray that slightly buckles , so it’s on the bit that’s higher , and the rest of the juices then run towards the front.

I always give OH the best bits as he is simply just a truly amazing man.

If it’s between me & the kids, the kids get the best bits. If it’s between me & DP i do 😬🤣 Poor DP.

@plominoagain

It doesn’t soak up all the juices , just enough to go crispy , and then I use the rest for gravy . The trick I find is to get it lightly dipped , and then put it at the back nearest the fan , in the tray that slightly buckles , so it’s on the bit that’s higher , and the rest of the juices then run towards the front.

You clearly have this down to a fine art.

There’s a name for this ‘mummy martyrdom’ used in Australia & New Zealand. It’s called ‘burnt chop syndrome’ (not a real syndrome).

It was coined in the 1980’s I think, to describe a wider social phenomenon than just mealtimes- women being programmed to put everyone else first. It’s sad just how automatically the women of some generations will serve themselves ‘the burnt chop’ (there’s always one!).

I think the pendulum swings if you had a mum like this, I’m very caring but I will share the best bits among everyone who would appreciate them, including myself. ‘Chef’s treat’ is definitely a thing in my house though. Not all the best bits make it to plating up stage when I’m doing all the planning, shopping & prep! I’m shameless with this!

Always get the best bits - cook’s treat. If I need to check if something is cooked in the middle, a chicken breast for example, I slice it in half - guess who gets that bit. DH eats anything tbf.

Everything I cook is 'the best bits' Well, ok, I made that up. I'm not exactly Delia Smith.

I usually give everyone else the best bits - man, woman or child.

I serve the best bits to myself for sure. Unless I've cooked one bit so badly I'm embarrassed, then I'll serve that bit to myself to save my pride.

I always give my DC the best bits. I love them more than I love myself.

I don't, but I do have the chicken oysters

I usually divide it up evenly. But, if I'm doing roast chicken, I get the oysters.

@longtompot

So do you serve your partner/children the nicest bits first or are you selfish like me and keep them for yourself

I share them out. But I get all the crusts because I'm the only one of us who really appreciates them!

I used to lay it all out on a platter/ plates/ bowls for people to help themselves, then DH whinged he hated that and wants it plated and served.

He’s not seen a wing/‘mouse’ of the lamb/ ‘oyster’ of the roast chicken/ cheesiest slice since.