Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No gravy with Christmas dinner 😱 AIBU?! (Lighthearted!)

77 replies

TheGarbageManCan · 25/12/2021 18:33

No gravy… been with DH for nearly 11 years and married 6.5. Am sure I’ve had multiple roasts here before and at least 2 Christmas dinner before this. I know they aren’t a big fan of gravy but I’m positive they’d have made it before?

SACRILEGE I tell you - although MIL has been on the sauce all day and the turkey was delicious!

What’s have you missed today??

OP posts:
Tomnooktoldmeto · 26/12/2021 11:40

We thought we’d done a pretty good job raising our DC 18 and 19, they know their table manners and can make polite conversation over the meal, but NEITHER will have gravy on their meal and the younger one insists on ketchup with his Christmas dinner !

Clearly a chapter was missing from the child raising manual

Heronatemygoldfish · 26/12/2021 12:00

Growing up there was a distinct difference between mum's family and dad's. Mum and my nan would have gravy that was basically the meat juices plus a bit of water and gravy salt. Dad's preference (and mine) is for thick gravy made like a roux with meat juices and anything else that was used to cook veg. So we always had both. Fast forward to today, DH is in the thinnish camp/uses packet mix and DC likes either!

ThisMustBeMyDream · 26/12/2021 12:08

I agree with the YABU because there is nothing lighthearted about no gravy! It is a staple along side roast potatoes!
Also, pretty much every single one of you saying Bistro.... it is BISTO!!!
We have the instant gravy (Bisto or another brand, I'm not fussy!). But I don't eat much in the way of meat, and definitely not a meat gravy. So 🤷‍♀️. It tastes lovely to me!
We don't cook for anyone else, but this thread has been instrumental in reminding me, should we cook for others at Christmas - check what their idea of Christmas Dinner is!!! I would never ever want to disappoint on Christmas day!
Our staples are:
Two meats (the meat eaters choose one, and then there is chicken for me who won't eat any other meat).
Roast potatoes (not mash! Never ever done mash with a roast!!)
Roast parsnips
Carrot and swede mashed with butter
Stuffing
Pigs in blankets (for everyone else!)
Yorkshire puds (don't care what meat is served...gotta be done!)
Broccoli or other green veg
Sprouts
Relevant sauces for those that like them (just OH, not me, I don't like them!)
And of course, Gravy!

Some years we do cauli cheese, but it isn't a staple for me.

I'd love to hear what others consider staples as I bet there is such massive variation, hence how we end up with threads like this! Surely though, any good host would check with their guests, and if there is an issue (say, not enough room to cook a particular dish) then let them know so they have a choice to accept, decline, or bring their own?!!

RandomLondoner · 26/12/2021 12:13

I'm mystified by the concept of mash with Christmas dinner. Why would anyone eat mash if the same potatoes could be roasted?

Is this a regional thing? Where do the people who expect mash live?

BrightYellowDaffodil · 26/12/2021 12:26

I'm mystified by the concept of mash with Christmas dinner. Why would anyone eat mash if the same potatoes could be roasted?

Quite, why would you possibly want mash when you could have a lovely roast potato with lovely crispy bits?!

thecatsinthecradle · 26/12/2021 12:29

My mum doesn't like gravy. I mean wtf. How are there people like this in the world? I'll never understand it.
My neighbour eats ketchup with EVERYTHING. No matter what the meal, she'll have a wee dollop of ketchup on this side

baggies · 26/12/2021 12:36

Decent gravy pulls the whole meal together. There would be mutiny in our house without it!

trappedsincesundaymorn · 26/12/2021 12:44

@RandomLondoner

I'm mystified by the concept of mash with Christmas dinner. Why would anyone eat mash if the same potatoes could be roasted?

Is this a regional thing? Where do the people who expect mash live?

Why would anyone ruin a good potato by roasting it? Mash is much better IMO
Heronatemygoldfish · 26/12/2021 12:51

But if you don't have mashed potatoes how do you have bubble and squeak on Boxing day?

ThisMustBeMyDream · 26/12/2021 12:57

We don't have bubble and squeak! Not a boxing day thing in our house!

User2638483 · 26/12/2021 12:59

No gravy would ruin Christmas dinner for me, genuinely,

I’m so sorry you had that experience. Next time bring your own.

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 26/12/2021 12:59

@Whambamthankyoumaam21

We had our meal out today- it had cress as a topping. Don’t get me wrong, Was lovely. But cress Confused
That's not cress is it? Surely it is parsley?
RedRobin100 · 26/12/2021 13:04

Unacceptable

Steelesauce · 26/12/2021 13:14

How do you eat a dry dinner??

I didn't have an Xmas Dinner this year by choice (I was working the afternoon and always feel sick if I eat before). I requested a baked camenbert and crusty bread. My Mum put it in the over for when I got home and burnt it Sad I've now decided Christmas at home always now! No one ruins my camenbert!

elp30 · 26/12/2021 13:15

@RandomLondoner

I'm mystified by the concept of mash with Christmas dinner. Why would anyone eat mash if the same potatoes could be roasted?

Is this a regional thing? Where do the people who expect mash live?

They're probably American.

I only made roast potatoes yesterday because my English husband and children love them. I really wanted mashed potatoes 😔

ThisMustBeMyDream · 26/12/2021 13:22

Looks like peashoots to me. All the rage on meals at restaurants at the moment it seems Hmm

KatherineJaneway · 26/12/2021 13:27

How do you eat a dry dinner??

Exactly. If you don't like gravy yourself, fair enough but not to cater for guests who do is poor hosting.

00100001 · 26/12/2021 13:31

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow no parsley is more edgy round the edges. See photo!
@Whambamthankyoumaam21 has round leaves of watercress

No gravy with Christmas dinner 😱 AIBU?! (Lighthearted!)
BigYellowHat · 26/12/2021 13:44

My step son has roast with no gravy!! First time I saw it I couldn’t believe it 😂

Shallwegoforawalk · 26/12/2021 13:47

Bread sauce was never a thing when I was growing up so it's never part of our Christmas dinner. I tried it a couple of times in the spirit of adventure (one home made, one posh shop bought) and thought both times it was absolutely rank. Never again.

But gravy is essential!! I have been known to scoop out the last spoonful from the boat while loading the dishwasher after the dinner and drink it solo.

bumblingbovine49 · 26/12/2021 13:49

@Toddlerteaplease

I never have gravy on anything. Can't bear soggy Yorkshire puddings
Me neither or soggy roast potatoes. All that work to get them perfectly crisp and then making them deliberately soggy to eat. Wtf is that all about? I always have to remind myself to make gravy for roast dinners if we have guests.
Wannabegreenfingers · 26/12/2021 14:21

I don't understand mash on a roast dinner. The clue is in the name.....

baggies · 26/12/2021 15:06

Surely you have roast and mashed potatoes?

CurtainTroubles · 26/12/2021 15:11

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Isseywith3witchycats · 26/12/2021 15:16

Mrs organised here got everything perfectly cooked and ready to serve then looked at the empty gravy jug so had to resort to instant bisto chicken gravy granules didnt care it tasted fine and no cant have a roast dinner without a gravy of some sort but i dont do mashed potatoes as i end up filling up on mash and dont eat the meat which is the main part of the dinner and had bought frozen yorkies for yesterday they are still in the freezer of forgot those as well