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Going away for 1 night - food ideas

89 replies

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 08:44

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!

OP posts:
JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 13:00

PurpleThistle7 · 28/08/2025 12:59

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

This sounds fun, thanks!

OP posts:
PurpleThistle7 · 28/08/2025 13:12

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 13:00

This sounds fun, thanks!

My husband and I do this sometimes - all the little tapas style stuff is fun to mix and match. Buy a bottle of wine and dinner is sorted!

ExcellentDesign · 28/08/2025 13:16

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 12:57

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!

No, I get annoyed when people say they’ve never met anyone who has done such and such as I always want to say “how do you know, have you asked every single person you know”, (call me pedantic), obviously it probably does happen, but it’s not something I’ve ever come across. I think also a lot of people LOVE eating out and find it hard to believe someone wouldn’t so are trying to persuade you. Hope it all works out whatever you end up doing.

Catpiece · 28/08/2025 13:27

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 12:44

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

Why is this thread so emotive?

It’s not “emotive”. That’s not the word to describe it.

PestoHoliday · 28/08/2025 13:28

Christ, that sounds joyless. Eating out is one of the great pleasures of travel. Bringing something I cooked earlier in the week to reheat while on holiday feels like missing the point of holiday.

Catpiece · 28/08/2025 13:41

PestoHoliday · 28/08/2025 13:28

Christ, that sounds joyless. Eating out is one of the great pleasures of travel. Bringing something I cooked earlier in the week to reheat while on holiday feels like missing the point of holiday.

Don’t say that! It’s “emotive”. But yes, completely joyless.

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 13:44

Catpiece · 28/08/2025 13:27

It’s not “emotive”. That’s not the word to describe it.

Oh ok. I am using that word, though, to describe it. Have a good day!

OP posts:
JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 13:46

PestoHoliday · 28/08/2025 13:28

Christ, that sounds joyless. Eating out is one of the great pleasures of travel. Bringing something I cooked earlier in the week to reheat while on holiday feels like missing the point of holiday.

Its an overnight stay not a holiday but we all do what we do, right!

OP posts:
Catpiece · 28/08/2025 13:49

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 13:44

Oh ok. I am using that word, though, to describe it. Have a good day!

And you

Early3Rise · 28/08/2025 13:54

You can literally get whatever food you'd like in London. Quality dictated by price.

I'd never self cater for one night, what a total faff (planning, packing, cooking, cleaning)

Zanzara · 28/08/2025 13:54

Here we have another MN thread where some can't imagine that others may like different things to them, and that that's fine.

As a diagnosed Coeliac, DH and I have been doing this sort of thing for decades. We prefer high-quality self-catering accommodation as it's more spacious and has more facilities than a hotel room or suite, but that's our preference, others will have different tastes. We also find most restaurant food very disappointing since Covid, so I get you, OP.

Dietary issues aside, I don't think it's difficult to imagine that there might be times when a couple just want to get to their accommodation, kick their shoes off, pour the wine and start relaxing, without all the faff of going out to eat. In addition, some may prefer a quiet meal together, rather than a noisy or brightly lit restaurant.

I do this all the time, OP, and here's my tuppenceworth.

To avoid too much cooking in an unfamiliar kitchen and too much clearing up, I'd take something largely previously prepared, or easy to pop in the oven.

For a romantic night away, I think I'd take one of the following for minimum effort and a meal we'd both enjoy.

Make some beef stroganoff at home and take a pack of prepped veg from the supermarket ("stabby veg"), stab the bag and cook them in the microwave for a few minutes. Then take either a sachet of microwave rice or the potatoes dauphinoise as below. Heat the stroganoff gently in the microwave, you don't want the cream to curdle.

OR take some steak, and some butter , salt, pepper and rosemary to cook it with. ( I personally would take my own pan to cook it in, unknown pans can be tricky for this). Serve with a mixed salad, and add some Dijon mustard vinaigrette previously made at home and transported in a small container.

Then the dauphinoise. Buy a pack of the Bistro potatoes dauphinoise from Asda (the best ones I've found by a country mile), double layer in a little ovenproof dish at home and wrap well with foil. Cook them when you get there for a little longer than the packet says, and at a slightly lower temperature. Take the foil off for the last 15 minutes to allow it to brown.

Very easy indeed, and utterly scrumptious. Get a dessert from one of the supermarkets if you want one, or some cheese and crackers.

The Morrisons with the proper florists are doing some very cute little posies in a glass vase for five or six pounds for the table if you're feeling so inclined. 😄

I hope you have a lovely time. 💕

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 14:19

Zanzara · 28/08/2025 13:54

Here we have another MN thread where some can't imagine that others may like different things to them, and that that's fine.

As a diagnosed Coeliac, DH and I have been doing this sort of thing for decades. We prefer high-quality self-catering accommodation as it's more spacious and has more facilities than a hotel room or suite, but that's our preference, others will have different tastes. We also find most restaurant food very disappointing since Covid, so I get you, OP.

Dietary issues aside, I don't think it's difficult to imagine that there might be times when a couple just want to get to their accommodation, kick their shoes off, pour the wine and start relaxing, without all the faff of going out to eat. In addition, some may prefer a quiet meal together, rather than a noisy or brightly lit restaurant.

I do this all the time, OP, and here's my tuppenceworth.

To avoid too much cooking in an unfamiliar kitchen and too much clearing up, I'd take something largely previously prepared, or easy to pop in the oven.

For a romantic night away, I think I'd take one of the following for minimum effort and a meal we'd both enjoy.

Make some beef stroganoff at home and take a pack of prepped veg from the supermarket ("stabby veg"), stab the bag and cook them in the microwave for a few minutes. Then take either a sachet of microwave rice or the potatoes dauphinoise as below. Heat the stroganoff gently in the microwave, you don't want the cream to curdle.

OR take some steak, and some butter , salt, pepper and rosemary to cook it with. ( I personally would take my own pan to cook it in, unknown pans can be tricky for this). Serve with a mixed salad, and add some Dijon mustard vinaigrette previously made at home and transported in a small container.

Then the dauphinoise. Buy a pack of the Bistro potatoes dauphinoise from Asda (the best ones I've found by a country mile), double layer in a little ovenproof dish at home and wrap well with foil. Cook them when you get there for a little longer than the packet says, and at a slightly lower temperature. Take the foil off for the last 15 minutes to allow it to brown.

Very easy indeed, and utterly scrumptious. Get a dessert from one of the supermarkets if you want one, or some cheese and crackers.

The Morrisons with the proper florists are doing some very cute little posies in a glass vase for five or six pounds for the table if you're feeling so inclined. 😄

I hope you have a lovely time. 💕

Wow!!! Thank you so, so much for those ideas!!! Really appreciated! They all sound realistic and great!

Thanks to everyone who helped with recipes and places to go.

Really grateful 🙏

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 28/08/2025 14:26

If you do end up in Boston Tea Party for brunch, I recommend their vegetarian qaesadillas. Tasty and decent value.

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 14:28

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 28/08/2025 14:26

If you do end up in Boston Tea Party for brunch, I recommend their vegetarian qaesadillas. Tasty and decent value.

Thank you!!! I'll keep an eye out and an appetite ready!!

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 28/08/2025 14:41

If you don’t eat out how about a take away?
or you could get a hello fresh style recipe box and just bring one nights worth of meal kit with uou?

wwyd2021medicine · 28/08/2025 15:29

The Opposition bistro
Thoroughly enjoyed the food and I rarely look forward to restaurants

Moonflower12 · 28/08/2025 17:18

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
Is the Greek place, you’re thinking of, El Greco? If so, it’s lovely with a well cooked varied menu.

Moonflower12 · 28/08/2025 17:20

@wwyd2021medicine That’s also a good shout.

The Bell at Welford, a couple of miles outside Stratford. The Bell at Alderminster and The Arrow Mill are my suggestions. Also Lambs or Vintners.

Moonflower12 · 28/08/2025 17:27

@tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz

The Box Brownie cafe on Henley Street?

BrendaSmall · 28/08/2025 17:29

JustPassingThruHere · 28/08/2025 09:03

Thanks it's not just low carb it's the cost of cheap meat, like rump steak, I just find extortionate.

🤣
you’re joking right!!!

Moonflower12 · 28/08/2025 17:30

If you do decide to self-cater, there is an excellent butchers in town. Barry the Butchers and an M&S food hall on the retail park.

Movinghouseatlast · 28/08/2025 17:36

If we are going away we tend to take a posh ready meal like Charlie Bighams and just bung it in the oven. Or we go to M and S at a service station on the way.

Stratford is so lovely though. I love The Dirty Duck ( the pub part, the restaurant bit is like a Harvester. It used to be glorious back in the day but it got ruined) Sitting out on the front terrace looking at the river is one of my favourite things to do.

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 28/08/2025 17:46

Stratford? A tourist town? East London must have changed since I was there.

wwyd2021medicine · 28/08/2025 17:53

@Moonflower12
I'm a little concerned that we are talking about a different Stratford. I automatically presumed Upon Avon but many responses as if it is London.
I think Upon Avon is nicer than east London for a night away from home!

GetOuttaMySkip · 28/08/2025 18:53

A couple of people have suggested Boston Tea Party but I don’t rate it there at all. Funny that we all like different things / places.