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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To knock on neighbours door and ask for dinner?

244 replies

listsandbudgets · 08/06/2023 18:04

(Light hearted!)

I'm so hungry, really tired, kids and dp are out, no idea what I'm eating and whatever it is they are cooking smells absolutely blooming fantastic. The smell is wafting through all the windows... It's tangy and savoury and has some kind of wonderful spice hanging around the edges.

AIBU if I pop round with a plate and ask them to fill it with whatever they're having...or should I settle for a fish finger sandwich?

OP posts:
Confrontayshunme · 08/06/2023 18:07

I had that in a flat once. Went next door, asked if I could have the recipe for whatever smelled so amazing, and she immediately offered me a plate. I have moved cities several times since then, but we are still very close! Made a lovely friend who is also a brilliant cook!

IamaBluebird · 08/06/2023 18:10

Go and knock, tell them it smells delicious and could you please have the recipe. Try not to dribble though 😀

DontBePassiveAggresive · 08/06/2023 18:12

One day there will be an app like Shazam only that you hold your phone up to catch the smell and then it will give you the recipe or better still a plate of it.

ejbaxa · 08/06/2023 18:16

Get hello fresh
you’ll not wonder what to cook and it’ll taste great
I’m about to eat some hoisin chicken and plum stir
fry - even though I’m a very shit cook

Bonjovispjs · 08/06/2023 18:19

Love a fish finger sandwich, had one for lunch today 😁

Original poster
listsandbudgets · 08/06/2023 18:24

All joking aside they are a very traditional hard working Pakistani family. The recipe has probably been passed down generations and possobly never written down! If I went round they'd insist on me joining them, be offend if I didn't and feed me even if they had to have less themselves

I once went round to borrow an ax and they happened to be eating lunch.. an amazing byrani. They're brilliant neighbours but sadly tonight at least I reckon I will have to settle for the glorious wafts of cooking through my window

OP posts:
AliceMcK · 08/06/2023 18:28

listsandbudgets · 08/06/2023 18:24

All joking aside they are a very traditional hard working Pakistani family. The recipe has probably been passed down generations and possobly never written down! If I went round they'd insist on me joining them, be offend if I didn't and feed me even if they had to have less themselves

I once went round to borrow an ax and they happened to be eating lunch.. an amazing byrani. They're brilliant neighbours but sadly tonight at least I reckon I will have to settle for the glorious wafts of cooking through my window

They would probably happily feed you. When I was a kid I’d hang around the Pakistani families houses and they were always giving me food. After moving back to my home town about 8 years ago loads of memories came back when the Pakistani family across the road knocked on our door and brought us some food, it was fab!

mondaytosunday · 08/06/2023 18:32

My new neighbours are from South Africa and have a BBQ most weekends since the weathers been nice. Definitely want to hand over a plate as it smells so gooood (and I hate cooking).

OfficerPastiche · 08/06/2023 18:34

Go for it!
I'm of South Asian descent and often cook delicious food. I'd be chuffed if someone asked. Beats them complaining that it stinks.

InAFettle · 08/06/2023 18:38

My old ndn were Pakistani and the smells that used to come out of that bungalow were mind blowing. Once I said something to DP about how it was making my mouth water (we were in the garden) and 5 minutes later they were at the door with Tupperware and a bag of fresh made roti. The gran said anyone who compliments her cooking should be able to at least try it. Oh my god it was the best food I’ve ever tasted.

I now live near a factory that makes flapjacks and that is also torture at 8am 😂

HoldingTheDoor · 08/06/2023 18:39

There was a Mumsnetter who did this and it turned out that her neighbour was actually boiling her husband's overalls.

DarrellRiversCriminalBehaviourOrder · 08/06/2023 18:39

listsandbudgets · 08/06/2023 18:24

All joking aside they are a very traditional hard working Pakistani family. The recipe has probably been passed down generations and possobly never written down! If I went round they'd insist on me joining them, be offend if I didn't and feed me even if they had to have less themselves

I once went round to borrow an ax and they happened to be eating lunch.. an amazing byrani. They're brilliant neighbours but sadly tonight at least I reckon I will have to settle for the glorious wafts of cooking through my window

I can't see a single downside to them inviting you for dinner and giving you the recipe. And then you can share it here with us.

skyblueblue · 08/06/2023 18:43

Many Asian are very hospitable and love to share food，particularly traditional food. Knock the door and ask for the recipe (and remember to update here lol)

worraliberty · 08/06/2023 18:45

HoldingTheDoor · 08/06/2023 18:39

There was a Mumsnetter who did this and it turned out that her neighbour was actually boiling her husband's overalls.

OMG that was me and I was literally just thinking of that when I read the OP! 🙈🤣🤣

I asked her what she cooks every Tuesday because it smells delicious. She looked at me like I was mad and said, "Errm I boil my husband's work overalls!"

The did smell lovely and oniony but then again, he is a chef 😳

HoldingTheDoor · 08/06/2023 18:49

worraliberty

Grin I knew it was a well known poster but I couldn't remember exactly who. That was one of the funniest stories I've ever read on MN and sounds exactly like something I'd do.

caun · 08/06/2023 18:49

When I worked in A&E as a newly graduated nurse, the Mom of one of our doctors used bring in a few trays of freshly cooked onion bhajis and samosas at midnight. I asked her for the recipe and she invited me to dinner on my day off. Her son and I are now happily married with 2 teenagers😀

UnplannedPlanner · 08/06/2023 18:51

Go and knock. Definitely.

I was on the other side of this once. A friend of a friend messaged me once to say that she heard I’d served delicious food at the bbq I’d recently had. Said she was not sorry to ask and hoped I’d take it as a complement, but could I keep/freeze some for her next time I made a buffet. She said she’d willingly pay and was only asking because she doesn’t know of a restaurant selling that food.

I was very happy to and did for many months. I also did the catering for her 40th birthday, which she was only supposed to pay for the ingredients but overpaid by about £200 as a thank you. I always invited her to my family events and she’s now engaged to someone she met at a family function and his mum now cooks for her!

itsgettingweird · 08/06/2023 18:55

You joke - but my neighbour is Indian and that man can cook!!!

I once commented that whatever he cooks every Friday smells divine.

The next week he appeared with a plate for me!!!

billy1966 · 08/06/2023 18:58

Drop around an "extra cake" to them, that you were given and all your family are away.

They sound like lovely people, it is likely they would invite you to join them.

My friends husband is from Delhi and anytime we are invited over, we go like a shot, even our children who would normally duck out of things, are well happy to come with us, such is the wonder of his food!

CamelCaseLetter · 08/06/2023 18:59

My df's neighbour was from Syria and used to send him a plate every other day as she knew he was elderly and lived alone. My God, it was the best food I've ever tasted. When he passed away I gave her all his garden furniture and a greenhouse as she loved her garden but didn't have the money for furniture. She invited me and the kids for dinner and we left with a bag full of leftovers, sweets, tea, herbs, and a copper mug. She was awesome 😊

Timeflieswhenyourehavingfun · 08/06/2023 19:00

DD went to a class mates birthday party when she was around 10. She came home raving about the little pockets of pastry and spicy potatoes. I guessed they were samosas and pakoras and mentioned it to the mum at the school gate next time we met. The mum was delighted as she was concerned the kids would be expecting chicken nuggets and chips as per usual Irish birthday party fare. The following week DD took home a Tupperware container stuffed with samosas. They were delicious.

HiCandles · 08/06/2023 19:03

caun · 08/06/2023 18:49

When I worked in A&E as a newly graduated nurse, the Mom of one of our doctors used bring in a few trays of freshly cooked onion bhajis and samosas at midnight. I asked her for the recipe and she invited me to dinner on my day off. Her son and I are now happily married with 2 teenagers😀

That is amazing!

OP definitely go round and ask for the recipe. If you're not in the mood for company tonight, go another day when the food will be finished.

Namechangedforthis60 · 08/06/2023 19:06

My neighbours are of Pakistani origin - he is a taxi driver and gave me a lift home, I mentioned how I can often smell his wife’s cooking and how it smells delicious, the next day a knock at the door from their son with an absolute feast of food and a note saying thank you for the compliment! I am an awful cook so couldn’t return the favour but sent flowers to say thank you! They always give out sweets on Eid if they see us too! They’re lovely neighbours!

treacledan71 · 08/06/2023 19:08

I grew up in between an Asian family and Jamaican family. Got lovely memories of all the different foods. We used to take it in turns around each others house. Jerk chicken, curry and my mom used to do Sunday dinner or fish and chips.

Melminiani · 08/06/2023 19:08

I think this is one of the nicest threads I’ve read for a long time 😊