Thoughts on Xmas lunch out?

cannugec5

Having cooked a full Christmas dinner for 24 of the past 25 years, I would willingly pay £50 a head for someone else to do it.
 And the washing up. And the stressing about everything being ready at the same time. And forgetting the Yorkshire puds ( as I did yesterday - they are still in the freezer). And peeling the potatoes and other veg. Setting the table. Storing / labelling any leftovers etc etc. 
unfortunately nowhere locally is open on Christmas Day. For me, having that meal out the day before or day after somewhat misses the point! 

I should add that my husband and our guest do both help a little bit but need constant guidance . Dining out means I don’t have to think about that either…

I entirely understand that Christmas Dinner is only an extravagant Roast Dinner, but it is by its very nature a bit more special with more accompaniments. 

Marmaduke123

cannugec5 said:

Having cooked a full Christmas dinner for 24 of the past 25 years, I would willingly pay £50 a head for someone else to do it.
 

Misread this at first - thought you had cooked for 24 people for 25 years!

strawb_shortcake

Marmaduke123 said:

cannugec5 said:

Having cooked a full Christmas dinner for 24 of the past 25 years, I would willingly pay £50 a head for someone else to do it.
 

Misread this at first - thought you had cooked for 24 people for 25 years!

Snap, I thought it must be Mrs Radford

Spendless

Abbafan1972 said:

I am with you all on the fact it’s just a fancy roast dinner. My Mom seems to be of the mindset that you have to have a Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. As I said in my opening post, last year we cooked a curry for ourselves on the day and went out for a Toby on Boxing Day. Even today we went for a Harvester (just the 4 of us) and it was lovely. We had 3 really generous courses, plus the salad bar and 4 refillable drinks. It was £115, minus the £20 deposit already paid, so £95, I didn’t think that was bad and each course was massive, plus the salad bar. But I wouldn’t pay more than double for Christmas Day for the same food. 

Have you considered eating at an Indian restaurant on Christmas day? I haven't done it but I've heard good reports from people who have. They serve 2 different meals, a traditional Turkey dinner or you can have a curry (I'm guessing there's just one curry option though). Hazarding a guess here but your use of Mom (rather than Mum) on a UK site, makes me think you live in the West Midlands area in which case I should imagine there's numerous Indian restaurants around you (unless of course you've all moved from where you grew up) 

That would serve both of your preferences, means neither side has to cook and I *think* though I'm not totally sure that the meal isn't quite as expensive as it would be elsewhere on Christmas Day. Maybe an angle to explore? 

elsien

When many people used to go to grandparents for Xmas lunch and they only had the kitchen and one downstairs room we used to pile the armchair and the TV in the bath and borrow folding tables and chairs from the local cricket club. Here there’s a will there’s a way.
Obviously if that’s a step too far then just have Christmas on your own if that’s what you prefer. 

Emerion

I like the idea of offering to cook at her house, where she’s presumably got more space. But on reflection, is she likely to be able to “let go” and not be in and out “helping” and/or criticising? Plenty of people couldn’t. You could give this idea go, if you can face it, and if it is a disaster, let her pay to eat out from then on if she wants to.  Then award yourselves a treat afterwards - your own “Christmas day”, cooking what you want, or eating out. We have a similar situation, and don’t think of the 25th as Christmas Day anymore - it’s a duty day which has to be got through. Our Christmas Day is on the 28th, and it’s lovely.  

baser999

£50???? Restaurant up the road from my brother in Kent was upwards of £125ph. We drove past and it was packed

Pollycat

Abbafan1972 said:

As the title says - we’ve only ever gone out for Xmas day lunch the once and that was years ago (20+). Last year we cooked a curry on Xmas day and we went out for lunch on Boxing Day at the local Toby Carvery, it was £22.99 each for a 3 course meal, which wasn’t too bad, as apposed to around £50 each on Xmas day, which we’ve never been able to afford, or would even want to pay that much (there are 4 of us). So last year on Boxing Day, my parents came with us and we thought the food was nice and perfectly edible, no complaints. Except for my Mom who left most of hers and all she did was complain about it, this spoilt the mood for the rest of us. Anyway, we had dinner at my parents yesterday (she invited us), but you can tell she no longer wants to cook on Xmas day and has said that next year we will all go out and she will pay. The place where we will go is a cheaper Carvery (Stonehouse) but even for yesterday, the price was £49.99 each, which no doubt will be more by next year. We have decided that we are going to say thankyou for the offer but we can’t let you pay, so we won’t go. We wouldn’t pay that kind of money for a meal ourselves, so wouldn’t expect them to pay either. I think we will be cooking next year now. 

We have done Xmas dinner a few times over the years but we only have a small house and recently had to get rid of our dining table due to lack of room, so next year would have to bring in the garden table/chair inside to sit at. 

We are your thoughts please? 

xx

I'd ask her point-blank to be absolutely sure of this.

It seems crazy to consider hosting at your house if you would have to bring garden furniture inside.
I think this sounds a sensible suggestion - would your Mum go for it?

MovingForwards said:

If you want to avoid your mom cooking, go round and do it at hers, especially if your home isn't that big, or scale it back and enjoy the day / company instead.

She's not the only person in this decision about Christmas Day.
Your Dad, you and your partner also have a say in where you eat.

Keithy13

We had Christmas dinner in Bangkok. All you can eat and drink with alcohol £30 or soft drinks only £15.
Excellent food and great service. No snow though.

Spendless

Further to my suggestion above to look to see what Indian restaurants offer, I've been able to look up one of my nearest ones. They offered 3 courses, traditional soup or prawn cocktail, turkey with all the trimmings plus Christmas pudding. Alternatively you could have from their usual menu  poppadum's and pickles, any starter, any main course and any rice or naan bread. £39.95 per person. Traditionalists might not like that they're serving Yorkshire puddings with the turkey (though we live in Yorkshire and it's commonly served  where we are) and the Christmas pudding with custard but I still think it makes it a reasonably priced option. This one is unlicensed so you take your own alcohol. It wouldn't be any good for us as vegetarian daughter dislikes curry but it's an option I'd consider as and when she no longer dines with us on Christmas Day.