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!!

I live not far from Iceland HQ so have lots of friends who work there. They have innovation lab with a full time Michelin star chef, they are very invested in product development. The snobbery on this thread is embarrassing

I’ve had tempura prawns from pretty much every supermarket and there’s not much discernible difference, fresh or frozen. Unless you’re going to a good Japanese restaurant they are all a much of a muchness. In fact I’ve got some coming in my Tesco delivery this afternoon.

Looks wise some can look plumper in the better supermarkets but that might just be the batter, not sure as I scoff them too quick to notice.

I’m not sure if Iceland still do it but they used to do this lovely prawn in a seafood sauce thing (frozen) that I would add to pasta. It was really good. I’m certain loyal M&S and Waitrose customers would not have suspected if it had their labels on them.

@LinsMum22 I have to agree that the problem is it was from Iceland - my eldest and my youngest wouldn’t have eaten (and neither would I too be honest) but also I wouldn’t have made it noticeable and would have had a quiet word with the kids to not be rude and disrespectful.

Totally rude. I wouldn’t be inviting her again.

She wouldn't have been able to tell the difference had she not seen the packaging. Party beige is party beige, whether it's M&S sausage rolls or otherwise.

Turns her nose up at chicken nuggets but goes to Mcdonald's afterwards... the cheek 😂

Yes. Please tell us what she would have preferred. McDonald’s doesn’t give any clue …
did she want hamburger? Filet-o-fish? French fries,

Your friend was very rude. Don’t invite them again.

I have just done a buffet and a lot was from guess where.....Iceland 😃 People are odd, not sure what they expect for "party food" ?!

So there was all the beige food you could find. I do think she was rude but I also think you could have put a bit more effort in if you had specifically invited them. There was nothing at all unprocessed, fresh, healthy or colourful. I'd have been very dissatisfied with that offering but woukd have kept my thoughts to myself. Carrot, Cucumber and Pepper sticks with dips. Chicken drumsticks. Cheese and crackers with chutney. Salad and coleslaw, potato salad. None of this is difficult and is much nicer that cheap frozen boxed stuff.

We went to a family event. It was an Iceland buffet. There had obviously been some lack of communication between the lady and her partner. He put the food on the table and called everyone to eat. The food was straight from the freezer. No one said though, everyone waiting for someone else to. She did not know, one of her own kids told her later why no one ate the food😂

Who has the time for all that. Much quicker to buy ready made. This isn't a wedding

The OP was hosting some friends with children for a football match, not an exquisite dinner party. Who says she wanted to “shine as a hostess”? (That phrase is vomit-worthy, honestly)

They didn't need to be rude. They could communicate in a very polite manner that they're not fond of that food and if the host has any cheese, ham, greens would be perfect. Crisps. Whatever else.
I am a feeder and when I see someone not eating I ask if they would like something else and I tell them what alternatives I can offer if I have any, I usually have something in the fridge that agrees with anyone. Even a piece of fruit or an ice cream.

What you served is almost irrelevant; the issue is the rudeness with which your guests behaved.

It sounds like they rocked up ready to be fed - nothing wrong with that if that’s what was offered and agreed. But when someone else does the work and provides the food, you don’t make or allow rude comments about it. I’m very particular about what I eat because I have to be, for boring and complicated reasons. I’d have had a couple of bits if there was anything suitable, and had words with my children if they’d dared be rude.

Ok - I personally wouldn’t be a fan of a biege buffet . However I was raised with manners and would never disrespect a hosts food or allow my children to . It’s not my house so not my choice - everyone can find something to eat in that spread. I would have eaten and thanked you for providing hospitality.

Just tell her to go fuck herself and hopefully she will read between the lines.

People are reading this wrong. The friend wasn't complaining because it wasn't fancy enough, she was complaining because it was too exotic.

In any case it doesn't matter what it is, you act like an adult, eat what people offer and thank them for it!

This is not about your hospitality and food it's a about the complete lack of manners and tact of your 'friend'. You know the answer. Invite someone else .next time

But she said she'd go to M&S, which is definitely seen as fancier.

Incredibly rude entitled people. They sound like need to learn some manners. I wouldn't bother inviting them round again as they sound awful.

Lots of people don't watch sports, hardly unusual

There were sausage rolls...

Yeah as if! Why didn't she say to her kid she was going to pop into M & S and get some stuff from there instead of McDonalds. As if that's any better? I wouldn't put out M & S stuff for a party with a load of people coming round to watch football. I agree. its not cheap and you get about 4 pieces of everything in each pack If she wanted M & S she should have bought it herself! And told her kid to not be so rude. There wouldnt be a next time if it was me!

I wouldn’t particularly want that either but she agreed to party food so would have eaten some to be polite and had something later … although McDonalds is just as cheap and nasty, so … 🤷🏻‍♀️
Just don’t bother to invite again.