When do people buy their festive food? Christmas host newbie.

[sprockerdiles]

I've managed to make it to 27 years old without hosting anyone for Christmas but this year we are having MIL and BIL stay for a few days and I'm cooking - gulp.

The Turkey is sorted thank god but I'm finding I cant get supermarket delivery or collection slots for veg/fresh bits/nice seafood etc.

Is it ok to wait until a day or two before christmas and go to the supermarket in person or does all the nice stuff go to people who have pre ordered it?!

Starting to panic that I've cocked it all up already.

I get all non perishables delivered the week before. That’s anything for the freezer, crisps, nuts, biscuits, drinks, bread, condiments etc etc etc. That’s all booked to come on Sunday 20th. Along with usual food stuffs for the start of the week.

I also visit the local farm shop or Marks and spencer and get frozen pan au chocolate and croissants for the freezer for CD breakfast.

Then on Christmas Eve, I get fresh veg, fresh orange juice, milk and pate and anything else missed from the weekend shop. It’s usually just a few things.

Then a final visit to the butcher. All done by around 10 am on Christmas Eve.

Sorry, I'm an annoying person that books delivery as soon as they're released for the 23rd. But it tends to be just the last fresh bits, and the other bits I get in various shops throughout December. TBH, the final shop is really just to cover Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and Boxing Day. I think the supermarkets are very good at stocking up on the usual Xmas essentials, so I've never had any problems with delivery - all the necessaries have always arrived, BUT crucially I've got a day still in case of anything forgotten..

I’ll get the majority of mine on the weekend before Christmas then I normally end up getting a few bits in Christmas Eve like croissants that go out of date quickly and stuff I’ve forgotten

Stock up with anything that you can put in the freezer or long lasting cupboard food now.

You're probably too late for a Christmas delivery or click and collect for a full shop but you might be able to get a collection slot for some of the specific Christmas food items they do. I've got a collection slot as Sainsburys on 23rd December specifically for a big gammon joint and a seafood party platter from their Christmas food range. I think those collections might still have some availability or you might be able to do similar at a local butchers.

I'll just need to pop to a small local shop for fresh stuff like cream, parsnips etc a day or so before Christmas day.

I buy as and when from the beginning of November.

Fresh veg will be fine a few days/a week in the fridge.

I never go to the supermarket after about the 20/21st anyway

I find that all the good stuff is in the shops all November and December, so as a pp said, get everything you want now that will keep in the fridge or freezer, and then go out and get veg on 23rd.
Buy earlier rather than later or all the good stuff will be gone.
I have had orders of Christmas food with loads of substitutes, there's no guarantee of getting what you want even if you order online as it's such a mad rush.
Also if you see something you must have, then don't leave it "until next week", as it won't be there.
Aldi and Lidl have some nice Christmas food atm.

As others have said if you’ve got the space start stocking up on your dry non perishables and fresh foods that can be frozen.

I’ve got at click and collect booked for the 23rd which will have fresh fruit, veg and salad, milks, creams, bread and then buffet/picnic foods for Boxing Day.
The last two years my local Tesco has been really quiet on Christmas Eve morning at about 11am (dc and I go for a winter walk and nip in for a Christmas treat in the cafe). The store has always been well stocked with fresh foods but things like mince pies and Christmas cake/puddings - gone.

Usually I go out, first thing on the 23rd but this year I have non perishables stocked up, and the freezer is being slowly filled. I have milk delivered so I can order extra eggs, cream and juice. I have a veg box delivery and the meat ordered from the butcher. I panicked a bit after lockdown and signed on to the veg box and butcher as soon as they started accepting new customers.
I thought we couldn’t afford deliveries but the sad thing is I’m actually saving money on all the stuff I’d buy if I was out and about.

Buy anything not perishable or anything you can freeze as early as possible.

Latest delivery slot I could get was the 21st so it looks like an in-store visit for dh me this year. Not looking forward to it!!!!

I have everything already. Except the veg

DH is famous for his Christmas eve dash to Tesco, he usually comes back with loads of perishables, and one occasion a reduced to clear turkey. The shops normally have plenty in.

First time hosting as well. I've got a slot on the 22nd booked with the intention of getting anyrbinf that I couldn't get then on the 23rd leaving the 24th "stress free"

I book Christmas delivery as soon as the slots are released (first week of October).
I buy the non perishables in October (stock up on booze, cranberry sauce, vacum packed chestnuts, sauces etc).
Anything that can be stored in the freezer was delivered this morning (party food, emergency deserts, pigs in blankets, stuffing balls).
Turkey ordered in October.
The Christmas delivery slot on the 23rd is for vegetables and dairy.
I have no idea whether you will find what you need at the supermarket because I have never set foot in one in December. The thought alone is too stressful

I go to the local grocers when it opens at 7am on Christmas Eve for the veg.

Everything else, like vacuum packed chestnuts, bacon, goosefat, cranberry sauce, After Eights, booze, is bought some time in December when I happen to be in the shop.

It's just a big roast with some extra veg. It'll be fine.

We’ve stocked up on dry goods, non perishables, condiments and ‘treats’ and alcohol already. We are fortunate enough to have a cupboard free for it all.
We don’t use a lot of frozen food but I will pick up ice cream, a few party type snacks this week.
The meat is ordered from the butcher and he delivers so that will arrive on 22nd.
I find trying to book a delivery slot overwhelmingly stressful. It actually makes me anxious! I’m quite happy to brave the supermarket with a list and I will do our perishable food shop late night on 20th December and that will be that last time I go to a supermarket until New Year.

I had no trouble booking a collection slot at Morrisons for Christmas eve, but when I started shopping I found loads of items I want are sold out. Its the same with M & S. Seems like they're limiting stock available to order this year.

You will be fine. I do my food shop on the 23rd usually. Yes, it's busy but there is loads of stock. Expect to queue but I find it quite fun. There's Christmas music and people always seem in a good mood.

I buy all of our non perishables and things like extra tinfoil etc in November & first week of December (obviously checking use by dates).

Turkey gets ordered from M&S as soon as their brochure comes out and that and any other pre ordered meat gets collected on 23rd. Most of our fresh stuff gets bought then too.

DH works in a supermarket so zero chance of him getting the time off, so he’ll pick up anything we’ve forgotten before he starts his shift and then pops it in a cold spot.

We used to get all of our fresh stuff on Christmas Eve and never had any problems, but I’ve decided I’d rather spend the day relaxing and watching Christmas films, so I refuse to do it now. Ordinarily I’d say you’ll be fine, but people in our area appear to be going very full on with Christmas provisions this year. They always have advent calendars left over and there’s nothing this year.

My friend was over the moon because she’d managed to get a delivery slot for Christmas Eve. I’m not sure about every single supermarket, but the three I am sure about don’t get their home shopping items from a special warehouse, like she thought they did. They get picked from the stock available on the shop floor. If it’s not there, the pickers can’t pick it for you, so if there’s anything special you must have, get it early!

I’ve got a slot booked but it will cost £10 so I may well cancel and go shopping in person to be honest. In previous years there has always been plenty of stock in supermarkets, but as others have said this year it’s a bit different and I’m not sure what to expect. I would highly recommend starting to pick up non perishables now just so you can cross them off the list. (Stuffing. Crisps, nuts, mince pies etc). Caution needed buying Christmas baileys and lindor though - we are into our fourth purchase and there is still a few weeks to Christmas

Have just asked my DH and he thinks you’ll be fine for veg right up until the last minute; they always end up selling them for pence every year, but if you want special cheeses or anything like that, get them as soon as the use by dates let you. Don’t rely on it still being there for Christmas Eve delivery slots.

Most the non-perishables are bought and stashed away during the first couple of weeks of December. Just the very fresh stuff is left to the Christmas order, which is always set for the 23rd so there is time to do an emergency shop-run if something important doesn't show up.

The 'Christmas Shelf' does need a personal guard, though. So someone is always appinted the protector of the feast and their job is to prevent everyone else snaffling things before Christmas.

carrots and parsnips can be bought now, blanched (cooked for about two minutes in boiling water, taken out and cooled quickly) and then frozen. cook straight from frozen in the oven in a bkaing tray in oil. can be drizzled with mustard and honey to perk them up a bit.

brussel sprouts like wise. take off the outer leaves if markd and cut a cross in teh bottom. only need cooking for a little bit on christmas day. there are lots of fancy recipes with bacon. you can freeze bacon now if necessary and defrost the niight before.

you can buy stuffing and cranberry sauce etc now.
lots of cheese and crackers will be still well within date for christmas day. as will pudding.

clotted cream freezes so mine is away ready.

I’ve put an order in the butchers for the meat and additional bits like bacon and pigs in blankets. This I collect 24th. It’s only 5 of us so not tons.
I do a shop for the veg and other fresh bits as I don’t like risking dodgy delivery issues or substitutes. Usually do this 23rd.
Chocs and drinks and crisps etc put aside through Dec.

You’ll still get treats etc a few days before- you may have to go round a few supermarkets, but you’ll get it all.

For pushing the boat out in future years I’d recommend treats from Fortnum and Mason and cheeses from Paxton and Whitfield.