Travelled to friend's house for dinner, just strawberries for desert - AIBU to think it's low effort?

[Carefreebie]

On the weekend my partner and I travelled to a friend's house for dinner. The journey was over an hour by train.

The main course was sausages with nice sides (potato salad, tomato salad, another salad). That was nice.

But desert was just strawberries with some pouring cream.

We had a nice time, but AIBU to feel that the desert was very low effort and unexciting, and should have been more exciting than strawberries given the journey?

When my friend came to mine, I did a 3-course meal, feeling I should make a big effort because of her long journey.

There is nothing about sausages and salads with strawberries and cream after that makes it a kids meal.

😆

This

Me too.

I once went to dinner at my friends and she served poached pear for dessert. It had taken us 78 minutes to get there because a lorry had shed its load on the M6. Which I suppose wasn't my friends fault. But still.

Strawberries and cream is the perfect summer dessert.

As someone who doesn't like puddings generally, I'd have really liked strawberries & cream. Nice, light Summer pudding. Plus, strawberries are a treat - they're expensive to buy enough for 4 people! Much nicer than some heavy, stodgey pudding in my opinion. The first course sounds much worse.

I expect the priority for your friend is your company, I think the meal sounds completely nice and lovely between two friends. You sound horribly judgemental and if I was your friend and knew you’d said this I’d be terrified of having you round for as much as a biscuit!!!! I hope not everyone feels like you!

Why not? A perfectly balanced meal

Well, that’s very decent of you.

OMG you travelled OVER AN HOUR to get to your friend's house and were only given sausages and strawberries.
What a lot of effort you made OP, and what a lazy friend they are.
Hope that's what you wanted to hear?
YABU.

I’m sure you won’t be invited, don’t worry.

i hope my friends aren’t all like you, her meal sounds nice

This can’t be a real post!

“Over an hour by train” so just over an hour that isn’t a long journey at all! That’s less than many people’s commutes to work!

I would be grateful been fed at all, strawberries with optional cream is a nice healthy dessert, even if it’s had been 3hrs on the train one way!

Did you take wine, flowers, a gift for the host or offer to bring anything for dinner before you visit?

As PP said it’s the company not the food

For Gods sake don’t buy strawberries

Curious to know what meal suggestions those who are outraged would find appropriate to offer to a friend coming for dinner!!!

I long for beans on toast ( or anything ) if someone else would make it!

This! I went somewhere for dinner last year where pudding was 3 very sweet roulades (from the shop) plus a cheeseboard.

I managed some Stilton and handful of grapes. I'd never choose an overly sweet pudding even in a restaurant, even Michelin starred.

I would be delighted to be offered strawberries and cream in summer.

What an ungrateful post. I hope the day never comes when I criticize anyone who invites me for a meal. I visit friends mainly to enjoy their company - any food is a bonus.

If the sausages were really good quality grilled on bbq and the salads were lovely potato salads and coleslaws etc then this would be a great light summer lunch. Fresh berries and cream is a hugely underrated dessert. I'd like maybe a shortbread with it mind you.

There's nothing wrong with strawberries and cream. I might have served the strawberries with good quality vanilla ice cream and a flake.

The sausages and salad would have irked me more but because I don't care for sausages.

Perhaps your friend doesn't have lots of spare cash and isn't a confident cook.

A dear friend of mine who entertains generously is not a cook and generally does a selection of bought bits (quiche, ham, bread, salad, olives, cheeseboard and a bought pudding). It matters not a jot.

Were they her own strawberries? Picked herself? If so that is a lot of effort!

I think you've missed the point of friendship.

Same here!

Wow. So much entitlement about.

I am always happy to see my friends.
And they have busy lives so I don’t expect three course extravaganzas.

If someone has gone to the trouble of fixing a date, and inviting me in to their home, then I am grateful.

And if there is the added bonus that they have cleared a space at their table, bought and prepped food for me, then I am happy.

What’s wrong with seasonal fresh fruit? Nothing better imho, a classic summer pudding. Unless you’ve been watching too many episodes of Masterchef?

And as pp have said, you could have always brought some special biscuits or something with you if you wanted to be sure of eating fancy food,

Bloody hell, I would be ecstatic if someone served me artic roll!