Offended by friend’s comments about party food

[LinsMum22]

We hosted my friend, her husband and three kids yesterday afternoon. Our sons are in the same football team and we said we’d put some food on at ours after and watch the Liverpool match who they both support. My friend agreed to party style food being the best option as everyone could pick at it as and when.

Amongst other things, there was - Indian selection, tempura prawns, sausage rolls, mini pizza’s, mini sausages, chips, breaded chicken. So a good mix all from Iceland where we’ve had positive comments on the food before.

I could tell my friends’ youngest looked unimpressed when they tried one of the items, and pulled a face to my friend. She made no
attempt to get them to try another item and basically said ‘I know’. I noticed five minutes later she had barely ate anything herself either.

15/20 minutes later, the youngest moaned again and this time my friend said ‘don’t worry, we will stop at McDonald’s on the way back as I’m hungry too.’

I text her after they left to say sorry if they didn’t enjoy the food. She replied to say they didn’t realise it would be that sort of food and that they’d have got something else before coming round if they realised!!

AIBU to find this really snobby and ungrateful? The fact she then took the kids to get a McDonald’s makes no sense!!

And you would communicate this to your host how, exactly?

Since you’ve quoted me, I actually wouldn’t since I’m allergic to almost everything on the planet.

But prior to developing the allergies, I still couldn’t have choked down a samosa. I wouldn’t have made a drama out of it, but I wouldn’t have eaten.

It is the one benefit to being allergic to so much….I have a non offensive excuse to not eat things I don’t like!

Because OP said "party food" and I'm sure she would have known if her friend was a vegetarian!

Yet you’d consider it in ‘good taste’ to turn your nose up at the food?

My mom just had lunch with someone who works in the meat industry and can confirm the raw ingredients for Aldi and Waitrose (for example) come from exactly the same place. She was beyond rude to not keep it to herself when being hosted- am actually gobsmacked that she doubled down in her not really apology.

Supermarket snobbery reminds me of the Webb and Mitchell "Didl-de" sketch.. "Chicken style oven roaster (Land Gull)".. i'd have happily snaffled the lot OP, perfectly okay as a one off party snack. Some people on here have never gone hungry out of poverty that's for sure. If only everyone in the world could afford to be so discerning. They'd all be choking it down if there was now't else pretty quick.

Your friend is rude, even if she wasn't a fan of the food, she could have discreetly gone to McDonalds after without mentioning it to you.

What a way to fall of this mortal coil.

OP had spent the morning watching her kid play football. She may have wanted to watch football on the TV too afterwards. Where's the time to cook from scratch??

@aCatCalledFawkes

you are so brave

@JudithOnHolidayAgain

Live a little! There really is no need to cook from scratch for every single occasion! Free up a bit of time for ‘me time’ for yourself -
You matter too!

Have you made it today's mission to shit on people for no reason? My kids know how to budget and I'll always ensure they have sufficient funds to eat properly, bless your heart.

We do plenty for the environment in other ways, so I'll consider it offset. But do feel free to share your locally sourced, plant based diet and UK-based holiday plans, plus your sustainable transport options and no-buy lifestyle details as I'm sure we would all love to learn from you.

She had told her in advance what she was serving! 🙄

Your ‘fiend’ is really fucking rude op. So are the snobby people on here ‘not like Iceland food’.
if anyone in life prepares you food whether a piece of toast, a banquet, a buffet- even if not to your taste, you are (or act) grateful ffs. It’s basic manners. I’m angry on your behalf. I would be very grateful x

Exactly!! People can be so food focused, it’s ridiculous! The key thing in that situation was watching the football and being social . The food was an aside that Op was kind enough to spend her money on

Friend

None of this really adds up and I would have to wonder if her son is a fussy eater and she is embarrassed by it. They are obviously not that particular if they were going to stop for a MacDonalds on the way home.

@Trovindia

what about when they’re 54? Will you subsidise them to make sure they can have a whole array of out of season fruit and veg to hand at all times?

p.s relax, I’m not shitting on you - it’s mumsnet, it’s really not that deep!

It’s fine not to like Iceland frozen food. That doesn’t actually make you snobby.

Its just not fine to make it obvious when you are a guest of someone serving it.

Unbelievably rude, and I wouldn't invite her again.

I find the Iceland snobbery hilarious. They are brilliant for loads of things, not just chicken nuggets. They made the best frozen sofrito mix, then took it away from me.

And frozen party foods are often less processed than fresh ones because they don't need preservatives to extend their shelf life.

Enjoy going to her place next time OP. Demand caviar.

It’s fine not to like Iceland frozen food. That doesn’t actually make you snobby

It does make you a bit snobby if you've never actually tried it.

100%.

Bad manners from friend and kids.

No leg to stand on with MacDonald's as preferable alternative 😆

Though in fairness I think they did try it because that was what occasioned the comments they made.

But I agree: people who just don’t like the idea of the brand are snobby.