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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Thoughts on this Xmas present

34 replies

georgedawes · 10/12/2020 11:53

Not sure what to get my sister and her partner so thought of trying to a restaurant type meal at home. We can't visit each other indoors due to covid restrictions, but she loves coming to us for a meal normally as they're not huge cooks but like their food. I don't want to create any work for them, just make it special.

So I was thinking some kind of meal with excellent ingredient and instruction how to hear up, wine, candle and a homemade pudding.

Does this sound a bit rubbish?

OP posts:

Doidontimmm · 10/12/2020 13:33

I don’t particularly like cooking so wouldn’t thank you for that sorry!

Doidontimmm · 10/12/2020 13:34

Sorry just noticed you said instructions how to heat up, not cook! As long as was freezeable (as plan my weeks meals), then yes that’s lovely x

Monkeytapper · 10/12/2020 13:35

Just get her £50 M&S voucher and they can please them selves to what they would like to eat/drink

HopeAndDriftWood · 10/12/2020 13:37

I'd like this.

I've been looking for one for the in-laws, but so far most of them seem to have very short shelf lives, and I imagine they'll have planned their immediate meals around Christmas... I'm still looking!

crumpet · 10/12/2020 13:37

I send a relative an afternoon tea for their birthday,
which was well received

www.pigletspantry.co.uk

TheCrow · 10/12/2020 14:02

I would maybe send them the wine and candle and get them a gift card or food delivery from a nice restaurant nearby instead. A lot of food loses taste and texture after being reheated and it would seem a bit less special. So many nice restaurants are doing delivery services now, I think if it was me I'd rather have some nice food brought to my door

Spacerader · 10/12/2020 14:52

I probably wouldn't be in to this.
As pp suggested, a lovely candle, bottle and a voucher for a takeaway would be nice.

Lovemusic33 · 10/12/2020 14:59

M&S voucher or takeaway voucher (just eat) would be good enough. I’m not sure I would appreciate a pre cooked meal as I’m quite picky but would love a free takeaway of a voucher to buy some posh food from M&S as it’s somewhere I can’t afford to shop.

DontWalkPastTheCastle · 10/12/2020 15:04

I would be fucking livid if someone sent me a posh ready meal and instructions on how to light a candle

Original poster

georgedawes · 10/12/2020 17:23

Not sure that was quite what was suggested Dontwalk but thanks for the input.

I know what people mean about reheating though. I suppose I was trying to recreate the lovely meal we've wanted to do all year but haven't because of covid. I just want to spoil them a bit like we would if they came to us.

OP posts:

DontWalkPastTheCastle · 10/12/2020 18:14

Well it pretty much is! I would rather have a restaurant voucher than have to reheat something for my tea

Jobsharenightmare · 10/12/2020 18:15

I would love this gift OP.

Howmanysleepsnow · 10/12/2020 18:16

It’s brilliant (voice of experience here: go with Rick Stein!)

Original poster

georgedawes · 10/12/2020 19:03

My idea is something like coteathome.co.uk/gifting/

Not saying I'm as good a cook but would make it as special as I could, with personal touches too. I don't think that's the same as a ready meal and a candle, but doesn't mean it's a good present either.

OP posts:

TFSRM · 10/12/2020 19:10

When I read this my first thought was Cote at Home. I think it sounds really nice.

Lindy2 · 10/12/2020 19:11

We've got quite a high class restaurant here doing this type of thing. You collect your chef prepared meal and heat it up at home. We're doing our first one tomorrow as they've had fantastic reviews.

I just wondered if there are other restaurants near your sister doing similar so you can buy a voucher for it. That might make the present a bit more special and give them control as to when they choose to have the meal.

I'm actually hoping this type of option carries on even after Coronavirus. We wouldn't usually be able to afford to eat at this restaurant and getting babysitters isn't straightforward, so the take away option is brilliant for us.

Imissmoominmama · 10/12/2020 19:14

The Cote at Home prices look very reasonable; is the food good? £80 for a Christmas dinner for 4-6! I don’t like the idea of veal jus though.

Butterflyfluff · 10/12/2020 19:15

If I’ve understood it correctly, your talking about sending a meal you’ve made that they would reheat, but you’re not a great cook

Sounds like a bad idea to me

As others have said, places like Rick Stein offer this and that’s pretty special, but your idea is less so

Enidblyton1 · 10/12/2020 19:17

Great idea, I’d love that present

Sparkletastic · 10/12/2020 19:17

I'd love this. Cote at Home gets great reviews.

katy1213 · 10/12/2020 19:19

I'd love that if it was a finish-at-home delivery from a nice restaurant.
Wouldn't be impressed by M&S vouchers/local takeaway, though.

TheCrow · 10/12/2020 19:22

@butterflyfluff I think the people receiving the meal are the ones who aren't great cooks, not the person making and sending it. They normally go to OPs for a meal but because they can't do that this year she wants to send a meal to them instead that they would just have to reheat

Floralnomad · 10/12/2020 19:24

I wouldn’t want this if it was from a fancy restaurant let alone if it was one of my sisters preparing it , even though they are both reasonable cooks.

Original poster

georgedawes · 10/12/2020 19:25

I am a good cook I think, not a trained chef of course. I was saying my sister isn't a great cook, hence why they like coming to us to be spoilt.

I was thinking of making myself, but of course it may not be as special. However, my thoughts were to make lots of personal touches that I think they'd like. However,a restaurant option may be more welcome.

OP posts:

Original poster

georgedawes · 10/12/2020 19:27

Yes TheCrow exactly. We're not chefs, but always spoil them with nice food and wine which they really enjoy but obviously haven't this year. I just wanted to make them feel special again :)

OP posts:

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