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Christmas

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

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Original poster

Did you eat out on Christmas Day?

20 replies

CrackersInBed · 17/01/2010 20:00

We love eating out and so do dc's so i am really tempted to this next year.

I felt like I spent 72 hours in the kitchen this year, not to mention the shopping, table organising, washing up and clearing away, and I just thought why am i doing this? Really got to me that everyone else was enjoying themselves and i was just sweating it out in the kitchen.

But i don't know anyone else who has done this, and i don't know if it is a really awful idea.

OP posts:

rosieposey · 17/01/2010 20:02

I did it once and i hated it i suppose it depends on where you go but i loved serving up the whole shebang for everyone this year and spread out all the prepping over three days so it was in reality only a couple of hours in the kitchen

Original poster

CrackersInBed · 17/01/2010 20:06

why did you hate it? was it very impersonal? not really as special as being at home? too casual or too stuffy?

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rosieposey · 17/01/2010 20:24

The food was a bit rubbish and it was very crowded - added to that the venue completely dictated the pace (as you would expect) and it just seemed so, well... rushed.

Its not as special as being at home i dont think, depending on the amount of people that you have to cater for it is a massive faf but hey its only once a year and i have learnt with each passing one how to get really organised (this year we moved in to our new house exactly two weeks before Christmas day and i still managed a goodly spread ).

Hulababy · 17/01/2010 20:29

Not this year, but we did a few years ago, along with DD who'd have been 3 at the time. So, it was me, DH and 3y DD.

It was lovely. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was great. It wasn't cheap though at £50 a head. We didn't have to pay for DD, although when we enquired last year she'd have been £10 at 7yo.

May do it again next year; already talked of it.

Original poster

CrackersInBed · 17/01/2010 20:33

The problem is that there are 19 of us and everyone has to come here as ours is the only house big enough for everyone to fit in. But it is a squeeze, especially as we have to move tables so we can all eat together, and then that crowds the living room / dining room for the rest of the day.

Also, elderly relatives + tiny babies means that nobody can help out. Believe me, I am super organised and do everything beforehand that i can but it is just too much faffing.

And because people have travelled especially, I do it all again on Boxing day and the 27th. Just seems so silly - all this just so we can eat together.

OP posts:

Original poster

CrackersInBed · 17/01/2010 20:35

Ah Hulababy you have made me very happy - I really wanted to hear something positive.
£50 is the going rate around here, too, which is such a lot, but then it cost us far more than that to cater for such a huge family here so we would be better off. It would be up to eveyrone else if they want to pay and join us, or do something else.

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Blu · 17/01/2010 20:39

There are about 19 of us at my brother's house for Christmas every year, too, and unless someone has just had or is desparately needing a hip replacement, or is actually sitting down bf-ing, or is under the age of 7, they HELP!
I do not believe that out of 19 people you are the only one who can work. It's more fun if everyone takes turns to pitch in, too.

Next year, make part of your plannning sorting out who can help, when. They can also being ready made dishes of food, puddings, big one-pot meals etc.

My sister and I have a great double act in roping people in so that my B and SIL don't get landed with an unfair share of chores - we 'invite' people to come and do the drying up with us so we can have a talk while we do it, etc.

rosieposey · 17/01/2010 20:45

Crackers we dont have nearly so many to cater for - i think if you look for somewhere really nice and do you research you could probably find somewhere lovely for your family's spread next Christmas - i agree its only good if everybody pitches in and i have three teens that do as well as DH so have a look around and i wish you a far more relaxed one next year

MrsOnTheMove · 17/01/2010 20:49

We did it this last year - was fantastic, already put our names down for this year.

It was expensive £80 per head, 2 dcs aged 4 and 6. I have to say we went to a 'luxury family hotel' in a beautiful country house, was very relaxed, everyone dressed up, children were very welcome (children ate something off their childrens menu, as we knew a £40 childs meal would be wasted on them), arrived at noon left at 5pm... but best of all I got a day off - no cooking, dishes or mess, it was wonderful

I do think it is about choosing the right venue for you and dc's.

Hassled · 17/01/2010 20:50

I've been thinking about this too - I always host Christmas on the basis that I always say I enjoy it - this year I thought actually, I would have enjoyed a meal in a restaurant far more. It just felt like hard work.

The only downside I can come up with is no leftover turkey/ham etc. And that is a big downside.

MarineIguana · 17/01/2010 20:55

We did it once when staying with ILs as they didn't want to cook. It was nice - no stress, no mess. It was £££ (they paid though) but then shopping for a big xmas dinner also costs a lot.

I'd do it again if spending xmas with people who liked the idea and could afford it.

Original poster

CrackersInBed · 17/01/2010 20:56

Ha Ha I think lack of leftovers is a bonus - I feel obliged to eat until I feel ill until it is all gone!

I just have this lovely image of us all lounging around in PJs playing with the kids' new games and then we just all get changed and go out to eat ..... and then come home and carry on playing and chatting and having fun. And somebody else takes care of the meal side of things.

This year I just thought what on earth am I doing stuck in the kitchen missing out on the kids playing and being excited etc.

Hmmmm i have just 342 days to find somewhere special enough for us. Actually it must be a lot less than that - i guess we woul dhave to book really early at the best places.

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MitchyInge · 17/01/2010 20:59

we did, was the first time - worked v well, as live next door to the pub

worked until late Christmas Eve and for most of Christmas morning, plus don't have oven, so it made sense

not sure will do it again tho, was about £50 a head which is quite a lot isn't it?

MrsMattie · 17/01/2010 21:00

Yep. Last three years. £60 a head (£25 for kids) without alcolol, but so, so worth it. We've eaten in a gastro pub in a lovely area of London, near to a nice park so we've gone for a nice log walk afterwards. Food was divine, service great, get home and no washing up, just dive straight into the cheese and biccies and chocs .

I cook a big ham and a chicken and loads of roast veg on Xmas Eve so we can have leftovers, but because nobody is relying on eating it at a certain time, cooking it is a relaxing experience. I just bung stuff in the oven in between whatever else I'm doing on the 24th. Sorted!

QandA · 17/01/2010 21:00

A good friend did this for the first time this year and said it was enjoyable for all, though would have preferred it in a couple of years when the children were slightly older (they are 2 & 4. Everyone was relaxed, her mother who usually does the cooking said she had her best Christmas as there was no prep in the morning and no clearing up.

I think if you go somewhere fairly local and relaxed it could be a good thing. I may try it when I can no longer get away with not hosting (currently go to my parents of MIL's)

sowhatitsonlysnow · 17/01/2010 21:02

I did once with my parents (me mid 20's), expensive and souless IME

CMOTdibbler · 17/01/2010 21:03

DH and I did it 3 times - all at the same place where they had a fabulous buffet, so loads of different things to have, very relaxed, and no rush. Twas lovely

Original poster

CrackersInBed · 18/01/2010 14:00

Thanks for the mostly positive vibes. That's it, I am sold. I am now really looking forward to next Christmas for a lovely meal cooked by someone else. We have a really lovely sort of posh gastropub near us that charges £50pp at Christmas. We eat there at other times and know the food is great so I am going to give it a go.

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greygirl · 09/07/2010 13:39

i know this is a bit late - have you considered eating out on boxing day instead - it is much cheaper, and might not prompt so many moans.
i've eaten out on christmas day a couple of times and spend the whole meal trying to make sure the children are behaving/entertained (they are little). i find i don't get a lot fo christmas lunch, so next christmas it will be my family at home, just us, and we meet the relatives later - maybe boxing day. it's a 4 day christmas this year so you might want to consider that.

honie · 09/08/2010 14:58

We're planning to eat out this year. Last year I missed most of the film I had really looked forward to as I was faffing in the kitchen. We will also have LH jetlag this yr, and I have to work Christmas eve.

I will be roasting gammon,chicken and veg with mash on Christmas eve, so that we have leftovers to go with cheese on boxing day!

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