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AIBU?

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Original poster

Offended by friend’s comments about party food

807 replies

LinsMum22 · 28/04/2025 20:45

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!!

OP posts:
ForJollyLemonZebra · 29/04/2025 20:16

She's no friend.!!. whatever you think of the food

Widower2014 · 29/04/2025 20:17

Next time, ask her what food she wants and suggest everyone brings something

ForJollyLemonZebra · 29/04/2025 20:24

She's no friend!! So rude ...

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 29/04/2025 20:26

Yeah it was totally hypocritical to go to MacDonalds after sneering at your buffet, but I agree with others that it was perhaps a bit 'brown'.

But where are their manners?! Like they've never heard anyone say 'If you can't say anything nice...'

liamharha · 29/04/2025 20:28

OP you're friend is a insensitive and rude .

bittertwisted · 29/04/2025 20:28

Still can’t comprehend any Liverpool supporter old or young caring about the food. Sunday was one of the best days I have ever spent with my boys, the excitement, the celebration, the tears

what we ate will never register. Them seeing their team, their passion, win in front of actual
fans……

I love a good spread, I like salads and Camembert, and the rest of it

this was a few nibbles whilst watching the game, that whiny rude child was no Liverpool supporter

as a massive supporter myself this whole post completely misses the point

1543click · 29/04/2025 20:28

They were very rude. Even if you are not keen on food served it's completely unacceptable to make comments like that when someone has made the effort to host you.
There are also people on here pretending to be sympathetic and at the same time show they would, in their opinion do better. Also pretty rude.
It sounds a great informal buffet OP.

DisagreeingALot · 29/04/2025 20:29

IwasDueANameChange · 29/04/2025 06:52

Along my mates people would actually cook/prepare fresh food, it would not be the norm to host & offer up trays of oven baked beige.

It would be:

  • charcuterie/cheese/fresh bread, lots of salad, fruit etc
  • freshly cooked barbecued meat, side dishes
  • freshly cooked good quality pizzas for children
  • pulled pork rolls and salad
-Veg sticks & hummus definitely

There would always be fresh veg/salad/fruit and sides made from scratch etc

That’s all very lovely and well done to you and your mates, but how is it relevant?

I have never eaten Iceland frozen food. But if I was offered it by my host, I would eat it and be very grateful that they had invited me and laid out food. Because that’s what decent people with manners do.

JohnTheRevelator · 29/04/2025 20:31

If it wasn't for the fact that she said she'd take them to McDonald's on the way home,I'd have said maybe she was being a bit snobby about the food not being healthy enough. But saying they're going to McDonalds on the way home blows that right out of the water! And as for saying 'I know' when her child made a face about the food,that is just downright rude! I certainly wouldn't be inviting her or her kids round again!

ForJollyLemonZebra · 29/04/2025 20:32

She is not a friend !!... never invite or welcome them again...not their cuppa tea...don't matter.. your house your hospitality ... Rude people

Bestfadeplans · 29/04/2025 20:33

M and s party food for watching the football? What a snob

Marosanne · 29/04/2025 20:34

Iceland party food is exactly what party food is! SO RUDE!! I would be mortified if my children behaved like that, let alone join in myself. They would never get another invitation to my house again, that's for sure. And then announcing they're going to visit McDonald's because they're still hungry is just the icing on the cake. What a horrible family :(

JillyGiraffe · 29/04/2025 20:38

soupyspoon · 28/04/2025 21:00

Who the hell eats carrot sticks anyway. They always smell of mould when you buy them ready sticked. Awful things.

My family and I had ‘homemade’ carrot sticks at dinner time (along with cucumber and pepper sticks, and hummus) - it took me all of 2 mins to peel and chop them. And the whole bag cost me 8p from Lidl just before Easter!

Calliopespa · 29/04/2025 20:41

It was a friendly and perfectly appropriate thing you did op.

You were hospitable; she was rude.

JudgeJ · 29/04/2025 20:51

Bikergran · 29/04/2025 18:58

Actually Iceland products are good quality, comparable with many supermarket frozen foods. I was surprised hiw nice they were when I tried some.

Show quote history

Were Iceland not the first UK company to tackle the GM problem, 'back in the day'?

Hmm1234 · 29/04/2025 20:53

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 28/04/2025 20:49

If it's good enough for Kerry Katona it should be good enough for everyone.

LOL this I guess Iceland food just doesn’t taste like M&S party food

Mashbutterfly · 29/04/2025 20:55

DisagreeingALot · 29/04/2025 20:29

That’s all very lovely and well done to you and your mates, but how is it relevant?

I have never eaten Iceland frozen food. But if I was offered it by my host, I would eat it and be very grateful that they had invited me and laid out food. Because that’s what decent people with manners do.

Show quote history

I would second this. I would consider meats, cheeses, breads, salad to be a buffet and if I'm honest I would inwardly be a bit disappointed at beige heated food BUT I would absolutely be grateful, thank my host and expect my children to do the same.

She was rude.

carchi · 29/04/2025 20:59

This woman is supposed to be your friend. Someone who criticises another person's hospitality is certainly no friend. Also allowing her child to be disrespectful and actually agreeing with it would be end of friendship for me.

Sumthingsweet · 29/04/2025 21:00

Iceland party food is awful and all tastes of the fridge - I’d prefer a McDonald’s too sorry . But if they didn’t like it they shouldn’t have said it as it is rude . As you asked , yes it’s not enough and does not fill you up etc

Calliopespa · 29/04/2025 21:04

I think plenty of people would be disappointed if presented with a tray of celery sticks, blueberries and hummus while watching the football.

I’d still not comment and act pleased, but I’d think that was as disappointing or more so than frozen nibbles in that context.

But my point is more how often do you visit someone and get exactly what you would have chosen yourself? Unless I’m far more picky than I realise ( I’m quite picky, but not to the point I have found it inhibits my life!) there’s often something you love, a couple of things you really don’t like and the rest is very nice but not what you would have chosen yourself. That’s how it goes when someone other than yourself is catering for you. You partake, say thank you and enjoy the company.

She has subpar social skills op.

Rewis · 29/04/2025 21:05

I'm just grateful for this thred. I've never understood what party food meant. My british friends talked about it and I've always been too scared to ask :D

PlumFairies · 29/04/2025 21:06

LinsMum22 · 28/04/2025 20:45

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!!

Iceland party food is rank so I don’t blame her 😂 but she could have been more discreet about it.

Emonade · 29/04/2025 21:09

Everlore · 29/04/2025 17:24

I would have loved to be invited to your buffet supper OP, I love a buffet and consider myself something of an expert on the subject. My husband and I began having a weekly buffet night during lockdown. Given that we couldn't go out for a meal at the weekend we decided to inaugerate our Saturday buffet night, preceeded by a kitchen disco, because nothing says party like a buffet tea! It just made Saturday feel a bit special and helped stop all the days from blurring into one long Wednesday!!
We still regularly have buffets even post-lockdown, especially since our little girl arrived, it turns out they're also a great option when trying to eat with one hand while holding a four-month-old baby!
To all the people on here laying down the law about what constitutes a buffet, we've had all kinds of weird and wonderful things on our buffets, as long as their small pieces and there's a nice variety that's all good. Our buffets usually have an international selection, we're particularly keen on samosas, pakora, spring rolls, tempura prawns and chicken, nacho cheese bites and lots of other indulgent but delicious treats.
I source buffet food from a range of shops, though I'd say Aldi and Iceland are our main source of party food. Aldi have really upped their game recently, especially from October to Christmas, they've got some really interesting and varied buffet foods that I can highly recommend, both vegetarian and meat-based. Iceland do my favourite duck spring rolls but by far my favourite samosas come from Farm Foods, they're terrific!!

I LOVE this! Absolutely going to start a buffet night

JudithOnHolidayAgain · 29/04/2025 21:09

PinkyFlamingo · 29/04/2025 19:36

Carrot and cucumber sticks are definitely not nicer than sausage rolls 😂

Show quote history

I can't think of a less appealing food than a sausage roll! 🤢

mummysherlock · 29/04/2025 21:14

I’ve tried some of Iceland’s party food and it’s really not that bad and I would have loved to have scoffed some tempura prawns whilst watching Liverpool win the league…..

Yeah your friend’s kid was well rude OP and she doesn’t sound any better. I was brought up to be polite and gracious when offered food at someone else’s house even if it wasn’t really to my liking and my kids have been taught the same. She wouldn’t be getting an invite back that’s for sure

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