Going away for 1 night - food ideas

[JustPassingThruHere]

Hi all,

DH is taking me away overnight and wants to eat dinner at a restaurant.

However, I've suggested making a meal at home and taking it or using the kitchen where we're staying to make something there.

To be honest, I find restaurant prices extortionate for carb loaded, inferior food and would rather our money was spent getting good quality wine or visiting an attraction as part of our day.

Any recipes which commute well or aren't too much trouble to cook in a strange kitchen?

We like all foods just not oven chips, white potato, pasta or deep fried people.

Thanks!

It just sounds like you begrudge paying which is fine, but i do think if you saw eating out as a treat you would probably enjoy it more, if your husband is paying just don't look at the prices 😀

I totally agree with you. I mostly hate eating out for dinner. Overpriced, shit quality. Know we can do so much better at home.
I do love a coffee out though.

Hotel du Vin, Lambs, Vintners for example all do a set lunch menu.

Yes, that's a good compromise. I'd still want to go out for a walk/drink in the evening though, unless I had a balcony or outdoor space with a good view, even then it would feel odd to not go out at all.

Me too!

Serious question... do you expect prices to stay the same as 1999? How do you expect restaurants and their staff to survive on "wrong century" wages/ prices? Do you earn the same as what you did last century?

Stratford London or Stratford upon Avon?

If the latter then I would recommend:
Loxleys
Boat House
El Greco
Oppo
Vintner

Plus all the usual chains if you have Tesco rewards or similar.

I’d be pretty upset if I was your DH - he’s arranging a nice night away including dinner and you’d rather eat reheated leftovers in a holiday cottage

No problem spending on good food but definitions on 'good food' vary.

Same!!! And a fat slice of cake 😍

I don't have any expectations. Just because something has changed doesn't mean I have to engage hence asking for alternatives. Do I have to pay for something just because you love it so much? What a weird statement.

Good thing you're not my husband.

Boston Tea Party for breakfast/brunch, it’s quite rustic, but charming, not overpriced, good quality and consistent.

My "weird statement" was in response to you asking if you're "...alone in thinking a side salad with 3g of lettuce, 3 tomatoes and an 8 oz steak for £20+ is a joke. Maybe I'm in the wrong century lol..."
Of course you don't have to engage but you came on MN to ask, not me!

And you made the comment about the wrong century. Not sure why you're getting so het up with me - I don't give a flying fuck what you do for dinner while on holidays! You asked a question, I answered. I'm grown up enough to realise prices haven't stayed the same for the past 25 years!

Do you need a time out?

Never heard of anything like this. Bizarre

You've never heard of someone going to a self catering place and asking for self catering recipes???

Why is this thread so emotive?

If you're going to be in the Avon version, I'd suggest driving over to The George at Shipston, which we've always found good.. if your DH is persuaded to eat in that night, I'd go for something you can freeze and reheat so you don't spend loads of time cooking. Massaman curry? Some kind of slow cooked feast? But seriously, I would eat out. Even if the food is ok, the occasion of spending time together should make it even better.

Wind up and working quite well

😆🤣 for what? Swearing?? No I'm an adult, thanks.

Enjoy your night away (& all the cooking and cleaning 😜)

Thanks!

Why are people being so sensitive about it? Why does preferring what you can cook yourself a disgusting crime?

I've never heard of a couple booking a self catering place for a single night in a tourist town and staying in to cook, no. Longer stays maybe, if you are with children and wanting separate space once they've gone to bed for the night, maybe, but for a couple going away together I'd say it's pretty unusual especially if one of them does want to go out for dinner. Shit food is very easy to avoid, Trip Advisor is very useful.

But if you insist on staying in I would do as suggested upthread and eat out at lunchtime then have cheese, bread, olives etc as a light evening meal then go out for a drink later.

Not hearing about it doesn't mean it doesn't happen, obviously. I don't find it unusual at all but these responses are intriguing!!!!

Thanks for suggestions. We're definitely going out for a drink. I don't know how to make my own wine, yet!

Personally I’d do a snacky dinner - go up the fun aisle at whatever your favourite grocery store is and get dips, olives, fun food you might not get regularly. I love doing this and don’t always love going out to eat