To want to eat my Xmas dinner while it is hot?

[XmasSprouts]

So today we had Christmas with some family we don’t normally see for Christmas.
They gave us cold plates and all the trimming were put on the table and we were told to serve ourselves. No sign of the turkey. Then they cleared the table to make way for the turkey. It was brought out like Simba in the lion king, I think we were supposed to gasp in delight.
Then it was slowly carved at the table whilst our food went cold. By the time I got my first bite everything was stone cold.
I really prioritise having everything hot when I host. Hot plates, warmed serving dishes and meat carved before serving everything else. Gravy put in jugs last so it is piping hot.
So AIBU to want my Christmas dinner to be hot?

ps this is tongue in cheek as I am grateful not to cook today and know not everybody has the experience to present a good meal for a large group.

mine was cold too. If always is because i struggle to coordinate everything. But family are used to it and no one seems to mind

That sounds ridiculous op ! Why the drama over presenting the meat for gods sake !

Can you go and pop it in the microwave?

I agree it’s annoying if it’s cold but it’s very difficult with a roast to have everything hot and ready at the same time

But I agree, silly palaver with the meat and carving at the table.

Generally in our family the meat or main vegetarian equivalent is served on plates with everything else on the table in dishes with lids so it stays warm.

I agree, hot food should be eaten hot. This year ours was colder than I'd have liked thanks to timings going a bit awry and I couldn't microwave because I was using my posh plates which can't go in. Thank God for a very hot plate and hot gravy, which warmed up everything else.

That sounds annoying! However, I’m not really a fan of having warm food piping hot. I don’t love having my plates warmed up and being served food that is steaming. I always then need to wait for it to cool to truly taste it and have it be comfortable to eat.

Agree with @comfyshoes2022.
Hot food all tastes the same. I prefer it cooled down a bit. Hot plates feel unhygienic to me.

Christmas Dinner is a ridiculously large meal. Getting all the constituent bits “piping hot” would mean micro waving it. It’s cold by the time you’ve ploughed through it all anyway.

I mean, I wouldn’t want food to be scalding hot as that dilutes the taste and ultimately too hot isn’t pleasant to eat. I get that the simba thing was performative but I can’t see how that would have taken that long in real life - couple of mins at most? Hardly food temperature ruining.

I think you need to grow up slightly & register things from the other perspective, it’s stressful hosting Christmas and sometimes things don’t go to plan, the timings aren’t perfect, dishes aren’t served in the precise logical order to retain heat etc. ultimately it’s Christmas the main draw should be spending time together and not having the a day without fault? If this year was so shitty just host yourself next time.

ours was cold despite my best efforts, dh microwaved his,

I like my meal hot, but I have 3 ovens and 2 warming drawers, without that I’d fail.

Parts of ours was cold which wasn't ideal but by the end I was really struggling to keep everything warm while cooking the last bits. Ultimately I had too many elements for the size oven we have...

I live in a country where ours is mainly a cold spread for the majority of people. Makes me glad I don’t have to stress about this😁.

How can a hot plate be less hygienic than a cold one?

Hahaa. Probably can’t!

It’s just a feeling that a hot plate is a breeding ground, warm being bacteria’s favourite. I struggle with those cafeterias that have stacks of heated plates in self serve places. I rinse a hot mug that’s out of the dishwasher to get it cold first.
I just prefer a cold plate to eat from.

@Power26 when I host the meat is carved before anything else is taken out of the oven or of the hob. I just think carving whilst everyone waits with food on cold plates is ridiculous.

I would prefer my food reasonably hot, but as you said, when someone else host, you just go with it.

I am always a bit puzzled at people who make that make performance over cooking a simple meal, but if they're so proud of themselves, there' not hurting anyone 😂

Isn’t a massive turkey for Christmas dinner a bit of a show though? The main meal of the year is supposed to be a showstopper.

I understand in this age of plenty,a large dull turkey might not be considered all that special.

The timings can be so tricky with all the elements of Christmas dinner. I’d just be grateful someone was cooking for me. I’m sure they didn’t intend it to be cold.

I don't really care if food is hot or not. I don't think it's ever really occurred to me. I mean, fridge cold I would notice but not room temp. It was still edible, right?

Do people still heat plates and serving dishes? I thought this was just a thing my mother's generation did. How on earth do you do this, while cooking piles of food, for numerous guests, who apparently want piles of potatoes?

Of course the turkey is carved, covered in foil and patiently awaiting it's moment.

I absolutely think you can get everything out warm and ready-some things are more forgiving but it is crazy to carve the turkey at that point in the proceedings.

Roasties kept in oven-turned off but hot-until last second. Carrots and parsnips decanted and covered in foil, same with sprouts. Mash in pot with butter and milk-ready to be mashed at last second. Gravy ready, the second the yorkshires are ready it's show time!!

We do put everything out on breakfast bar and self serve. Things like cranberry sauce already there.

Oh god my MIL insisted on putting all my plates in the oven yesterday. Whilst we needed the oven room and she really got in the way.

Then I forgot they were boiling hot and burnt my hand on the bloody plate!

Nothing worse than cold food.
Anything that isn’t served straight away in my house (the meat resting and pigs in blankets) gets wrapped in foil and out in a pot with a lid on to keep it hot

Yes I remember when bringing out the turkey was an ‘ah’ moment. But it would all come out together, and kept as hot as possible (using covered dishes for example).

The food won’t be cold though. Just not piping hot. Then you pour hot gravy on it..