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Christmas

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Original poster

Having Xmas dinner out- has anybody done this?

17 replies

Besplendour · 02/12/2016 14:25

We are doing Christmas dinner at local pub this year, so as not to spend the day slaving over boiling cauldrons and roasting spit Wink

May I ask, do you still do the full Christmas shop etc. to have the fridge full? I love a big family Christmas with all the bells on, and don't want to come home to cheese sandwiches after paying £175 for the dinner.

OP posts:
ppeatfruit · 02/12/2016 15:48

Yes we have but it's not like your own I'm afraid , it was more like school xmas dinner ! Yuch a disappointment Xmas Sad. It wasn't cheap but it wasn't as much as yours! Maybe yours will be good !

Yes you still have to buy or make some xmas food of course unless your name is Scrooge Xmas Grin

MistresssIggi · 02/12/2016 15:55

Well obviously you don't have to buy as much as no actual dinner, so you can focus more on the snacks, chocolates and drink!
I have done it and will do so again. It depends what you enjoy. The dinner isn't very important to me anyway, lots of other ingredients are.

ppeatfruit · 02/12/2016 16:22

Yes you do what suits you of course. Unless you've got full on help in the kitchen it can be a chore. DD2 does it usually and she's great , dh does the meat and she does the rest ! I just do the effing washing up the next day when everyone else is sleeping it off! (we don't have a dishwasher!).

Original poster
Besplendour · 02/12/2016 16:49

Oops should have said that was the total price, not per head!! I'm thinking plenty of schloer, a few pies etc. made in advance, so nobody has to cook?

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idontlikealdi · 02/12/2016 16:52

We're going out this year - I'm basics of hosting and no one else has a big enough house. I'm planning on getting everything I normally would bar the turkey and veg!

We have an early sitting - 1pm - so will no doubt manages to eat al the cheese and everything else in the evening. The 'tea' and picky bits are the best bit of Christmas imo!

Diner is £85 per head and I'm sure it won't be as good as mine but I'm ok with thatGrin

idontlikealdi · 02/12/2016 16:53

That should say sick of hosting...

popcornpaws · 02/12/2016 16:56

We go out for dinner on Christmas day and later on at night will have cheese, crackers, pates, mince pies, xmas cake madeira cake etc or a small buffet so yes we still buy lots of lovely foods to snack on.

Titsywoo · 02/12/2016 16:59

I used to eat xmas dinner in restaurants every year when I was a child as my dad ran a big hotel in central London and always had to work. So now I always have it at home because it's just not the same when you are surrounded by strangers. It is nice to be spoiled though!

JustCallMeKate · 02/12/2016 17:09

DH and I have gone out for the past 5 years. We normally have family visit at night and I do:-

Baked cold ham (I cook this on Christmas Eve)
Pre cooked baguettes (bung in the oven sort)
Christmas chutney (that I make in October)
Cheeses
Christmas pie (I cook this on Christmas Eve and reheat)
Pate
Green salad
Brie, apple and onion tart
Mince pies

We normally eat at 1pm on Christmas Day and by the time everyone arrives we're ready to eat again in the evening.

ppeatfruit · 02/12/2016 17:23

That would take the stress out of cooking lunch for everyone justCall me Good idea.

£i75 for everyone is very reasonable Besplendour Does it include booze?

Original poster
Besplendour · 02/12/2016 17:24

I'm getting hungry just reading that, kate! Which recipe do you use for the tart exactly?

OP posts:
Original poster
Besplendour · 02/12/2016 17:26

Not sure tbh, my DM booked it. I've a feeling you get 1 bottle of wine?

OP posts:
JustCallMeKate · 02/12/2016 19:55

I use this recipe. It's delicious and quick to make too.

MarsBarsAreShrinking · 02/12/2016 21:44

We went out a few years ago for the first time and while I loved the lack of stress, being able to enjoy Christmas morning etc... the food itself was awful. This year though we're going somewhere really lovely (been several times for special birthdays) and I am very much looking forward to it! I'm trying not to think too much about the cost (!) and more about what a much more relaxed day it will be for me.

We'll get lots of M&S buffet bits in for the evening as we've got an early sitting (1.15) and I'm looking forward to that almost as much.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/12/2016 22:07

Did it once with friends we were staying with. They insisted, to 'save having to cook.' TBH I would happily have cooked the dinner myself - and I did offer - rather than pay inflated prices for a dinner that wasn't as nice as one at home. And no leftovers to pick at!!

The other thing about dinner out, is that unless you happen to have a teetotaller with you, or can walk it or take a taxi, somebody can't have a couple of glasses of wine.

MarsBarsAreShrinking · 02/12/2016 22:12

See, I hate cooking Blush the mess, the heat, the timings, getting everything out at the same time so the first things don't go cold. All of it. I get myself so ridiculously stressed by it all. The only bit I actually enjoy is the eating!

Daughter, 21, has offered to cook next year. She's good at it and she enjoys it, so it's a win win as far as I'm concerned!

Doilooklikeatourist · 02/12/2016 22:19

Done it once , had a mediocre meal out , and then we still had to do have done a massive shop , as you still need food for Boxing Day , and there are no leftovers to use , so you have to cook on Boxing Day
That negates the going out on Christmas Day
Still do the big shop

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