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Original poster

Lighthearted: If you're not British, what's the Christmas food that you just can't eat?

234 replies

BetsyBobbins · 09/12/2023 15:17

I've been in the UK 22 years now, but I can't still bring myself to eat some of the traditional British Christmas food. I tried them once and never again. Mind you, this is coming from someone who got used to, and now loves baked beans among other things. But Good Lord, what's up with the Victorian puddings and cakes?

Christmas pudding: Looks like Elephant poo, smells like stale booze and tastes like soil.

Christmas cake: More of the same. Looks horrid, smells weird and has an even worse texture, a mix of soil and sawdust. Plus, how can you trust something that was cooked months in advance? I don’t.

Mince pies: now, that is the worst of all. Looks good, I’ll give them that, but they smell like vomit and have the texture of baby sick.

Tell me the ones you never got used to

OP posts:
Dotcheck · 09/12/2023 15:23

Mince pies- they are not nice
Brussel Sprouts- let’s just move past them now. I understand that for a long time they were one of the few veg which was still fresh in December, but come on!

Also, Santa does not drink booze on Christmas Eve. That is wrong and sends children poor messages about drinking and driving 😁

I’ve come round to pigs in blankets, but can’t get on with one over cooked roast potato.

ThereSnowLimit · 09/12/2023 15:25

Love mince pies, Christmas pudding & Christmas cake 😋

Bread sauce is rank

stayathomer · 09/12/2023 15:26

I’m Irish, so similar foods as far as I know, but I hate most Christmas desserts- mince pies and Christmas cakes and cheeses and cranberries and all of it!!!

Original poster
BetsyBobbins · 09/12/2023 15:27

@Dotcheck glad someone agree with me on the mince pies. And I do love pigs in blankets too!

@ThereSnowLimit bread sauce tastes like nothing to me, but at it doesn't taste vile, lol!

OP posts:
Chilicabbage · 09/12/2023 15:28

Bread sauce is proper weird thing. Turkey🦃👎

I love mince pies now I know it's not actual animal mince meat anymore😂

Grimmz · 09/12/2023 15:28

I too am forrin.

I can't get excited about pigs in blankets (too porky and fatty) and I'm not a fan of mince pies/Christmas cake (dried fruits bleugh).

Mulled wine on the other hand..

Ykn · 09/12/2023 15:28

I'm British but totally agree with you @BetsyBobbins!

Chilicabbage · 09/12/2023 15:29

Delicious as they are I find pigs in blankets bit disturbing when you think if the name.
Oi piggy parts, here is a blanket made from your flesh😂

Original poster
BetsyBobbins · 09/12/2023 15:31

stayathomer · 09/12/2023 15:26

I’m Irish, so similar foods as far as I know, but I hate most Christmas desserts- mince pies and Christmas cakes and cheeses and cranberries and all of it!!!

Cheese and cranberry is an odd combination mix indeed. It's no cheese and grapes, mind you

OP posts:
Lizzieregina · 09/12/2023 15:31

Grew up in England but hate mince pies, and pigs in blankets weren’t even something I’d heard of till recently, so I don’t know about those!

I then moved to Ireland, and my aunts Christmas pudding and cake was top notch, so I love those!

Original poster
BetsyBobbins · 09/12/2023 15:32

Grimmz · 09/12/2023 15:28

I too am forrin.

I can't get excited about pigs in blankets (too porky and fatty) and I'm not a fan of mince pies/Christmas cake (dried fruits bleugh).

Mulled wine on the other hand..

Mulled wine ❤️

OP posts:
Original poster
BetsyBobbins · 09/12/2023 15:33

Ykn · 09/12/2023 15:28

I'm British but totally agree with you @BetsyBobbins!

I have not met a single British person who doesn't like mince pies, you're the first, congratulations 😅

OP posts:
TheWayTheLightFalls · 09/12/2023 15:37

Mince pies for me too, Christmas cake.

Slowlivingfemale · 09/12/2023 15:39

Where to start? Mince pies, Xmas cake and pudding, surely there all the same thing?
Serving cheese with biscuits, cheese should be served with crusty bread and please allow the cheese to get to room temperature.
Bread sauce
Pigs in blankets
Roast and mashed potatoes, either one or the other.
Cauliflower cheese has no place with a roast dinner, it's far too stodgy.

Snoken · 09/12/2023 15:56

Also foreign and agree with all that’s been listed in the OP. I dislike a lot of British puddings though, such as bread and butter, trifle, banoffee, jelly, berries and un-whipped cream, victoria sponge (just a half finished cake in my opinion).

Unescorted · 09/12/2023 15:59

Trifle and bread sauce.

Squshyuoo · 09/12/2023 16:01

I have not met a single British person who doesn't like mince pies, you're the first, congratulations 😅

I know plenty of British people, including myself, who hate mince pies. They and Christmas cake/pudding are very much love them or hate them foods imo.

Igneococcus · 09/12/2023 16:04

Can everybody have a pop at your traditional Christmas foods, OP?
I'm not British either but I wouldn't be surprised if some British MNetters would find this thread quite mean-spirited.

KohlaParasaurus · 09/12/2023 16:05

One of my daughters is married to someone from across the pond. He's not a fussy eater and makes a point of seeking out local delicacies wherever he goes, but he's unable to get to grips with mince pies, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake.

Chilicabbage · 09/12/2023 16:06

Igneococcus · 09/12/2023 16:04

Can everybody have a pop at your traditional Christmas foods, OP?
I'm not British either but I wouldn't be surprised if some British MNetters would find this thread quite mean-spirited.

Immigrants and generally foreigners do have "a pop" at local foods where they are. Where I am from we even have an online series with foreigners tasting traditional foods and it's hilarious!

Clutterbugsmum · 09/12/2023 16:07

I'm British born and bred and I don't like Christmas food.

Can't stand mince pies, Christmas cake and Pudding. I don't even like Turkey.

Igneococcus · 09/12/2023 16:08

That might well be @Chilicabbage but I still find it a bit out of place here in this particular forum

Clutterbugsmum · 09/12/2023 16:08

Igneococcus · 09/12/2023 16:04

Can everybody have a pop at your traditional Christmas foods, OP?
I'm not British either but I wouldn't be surprised if some British MNetters would find this thread quite mean-spirited.

Only if they are the professional offended.

If you look at the 'What are having for Christmas dinner' thread very few people have the 'traditional' Christmas dinner

Chilicabbage · 09/12/2023 16:10

Igneococcus · 09/12/2023 16:08

That might well be @Chilicabbage but I still find it a bit out of place here in this particular forum

Pretty confident they can take it. They are known for their humour.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 09/12/2023 16:10

how can you trust something that was cooked months in advance

Cheese, all tinned and frozen foods, all ready meals, all dried goods e.g. pasta, confectionery, panettone, biscuits, crackers, crisps, many types of cured meat e.g. salami, pickles, wine, beer, spirits ...