Friends promised a BBQ and delivered an Iceland beige buffet!

[Bbqdisaster]

As above really, myself, DH and 3 DC went to our friends’ house yesterday on the promise of some drinks in the garden and a BBQ.

They said they were having issues with their BBQ so would do an ‘indoor BBQ’. This consisted of beige food from Iceland!!

AIBU to find this a woeful alternative?

Really fancy some crusty bread, cheese and chutney now 🤪

'Woeful' is a proper twatty word, isn't it?

I would have called and told you there was a problem.
Had I received the call, my response would've been: How can I help? I can stop at the shop and pick up a fruit and veggie platter and dessert. Anything else?

I vet friend was panicked about getting something on the table for impending arrival of guests with kids.

Not a very nice thing to do to a friend, to start a thread like this.

Also your use of 'myself' isn't great.

DH, 3 DC and I would be better.

Who the hell eats a 'fruit and veggie platter' at a BBQ?

This is like when people are planning a children's birthday party and someone suggests veggie sticks and fruit.

What kids want is crisps and iced gems.

I hope so… though the irony wouldn’t be lost on death row 🥴😂

It seems that, for you, the mark of a good hostess is how much is spent on food?

I always serve vegetables and fruit. People seem to like it but I don't force people to eat it. If they perfer to eat only the classic BBQ stuff also served fine with me.

OP I’m with you 100%. If I’m invited to a bbq I expect some tasty meat and a few sides plus deserts. I always ask what I can take and tend to take a side such as cous cous or rice salad plus drinks. If the bbq was out of order I’d happily cook up some skewer and sausages at home and take them along. All of this is totally normal and I don’t get why PP are saying you are snobby and ungrateful.

Total non event.

Agree fruit platter is always popular and salad and/or roasted veggies.

I dont either.

Sums up the promised BBQ nicely!

It’s because it’s a race to the bottom for many on this site, sadly.

Maybe they were hard up and that is all they could afford? Or maybe they couldn’t get themselves together enough to do more for some reason?

I'm glad you don't force people to eat it. 😂

Not unreasonable at all. It’s full of chemicals. What’s wrong with some salmon or chicken breast with a few herbs and spices, some roasted veg, rice, pittas, homemade salad, coleslaw, potatoes …..come on everyone, the Iceland food is built to last and is not fresh or wholesome. It’s processed crap designed to fill you up and pretend to be cheap. I would refuse of someone said it was that type of food.

I wouldn't say that's typical, it's just expected that people have the good manners to accept hospitality here without complaint.

Yes, I think that's the point.

Thats exactly the point. Politeness and not being a knob.

Ooo get you.

😂😂

I think it could be because

• the OP has posted on an internet forum about someone serving what they consider to be sub standard food, as if this is a terrible affront, when what they have actually been served is ‘cheaper’ food, not poison
• they mention not retrieving (!) the expensive and ‘posh’ wine they contributed
• they mentioned being able to access ( considerably) more expensive Charlie Bigham food from their local farm shop, in a manner that suggests it was some sort of saving grace

Which does rather create an impression of an ungracious and snobbish attitude to what, at the end of the day, was free food offered by people who maybe consider themselves friends?

Yes, I'm sure we've all eaten food that's different, or wouldn't be our first choice.

Firstly, it requires a real lack of class to criticise people who welcome you into their home behind their backs despite technical issues. Brava. 💐

Sounds like the hosts worked with the time, budget and amenities available to them.

Let me spell it out to you, though: a social gathering is about socialising. If you want a food experience you go to a restaurant.