Roll On Friday
A solicitor has been criticised for throwing what she described as a ‘council estate dinner’ which featured Fray Bentos pies and spam fritters.
Sophie Murgatroyd posted on LinkedIn, ‘I love cooking for my friends… the theme of tonight’s meal was “council estate dinner”’.
The lawyer said she cooked the main course and that it consisted of crispy pancakes, chicken dippers, turkey dinosaurs, potato waffles, smiley faces, oven chips, beans, Frey Bentos Pies and spam fritters.
Her two guests took care of pudding (Vienetta, spotted dick and custard, and ginger cake) and drinks (Sunny Delight and Buck’s Fizz).
Murgatroyd asked, “Do you think we missed anything? a classic?” Some commenters answered the question, volunteering frozen lasagne, curly fries, smash potato, corn beef hash, spaghetti hoops, beans on toast, choc ices, and artic rolls.
However, most people commenting appeared to be taken aback by the theme and those engaging with it.
“How many of you grew up on a council estate?’ asked debt collection expert Patrick Raywood.
“Council estate meals sounds so demeaning to people living there. Some people who have mortgaged cant even afford those food[s]” said mental health assessor Rose-Marie Macintyre.
Others said it was “A rather derogatory and discriminatory theme”, “Very unkind” and a “Pretty tasteless post – and I am not talking about the food”.
“This is tone deaf”, said LLM Law CPO Beverley Borkowski. “It’s 80’s tea-time classic at best, no need for the label”.
“I am hoping the theme chosen was not taking the Michael out of folk from council estates”, said another commenter.
It’s not clear if Gunnercooke partner Russell Davidson was reacting to the meal or the theme when he posted his response: “??”
Murgatroyd replied, “ive thrown up twice so far”. “I’m not surprised”, said Davidson.
Murgatroyd’s assumption that council estate tenants ate poorly was also critiqued. “I think you will find the food you describe is not unique to any one social demographic. Rather insulting to those families who provide healthy meals for their children”, said actuary Richard Shaw.
Rail consultant Ray Smith recommended that people laughing along should visit “a Facebook group called Council Cuisines that showcases excellent actual meals prepared and eaten by council house residents rather than the stereotypical junk food described in this post
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