The Sunday Roast meal

[TheAppletons]

So I've had many of these over the years, in various countries, some good and some not so good. When they're good, it's a great meal.

It's my understanding (however flawed it may be) that this is a decades long tradition, predominantly British and Irish, and originated as an after church family meal.

My question is: in Britain/Ireland, is it still a tradition that's in practice? Mostly, when I've sampled the meal, it's been older folks at the pub/restaurant. Perhaps that's an income related issue, dunno.

Do the younger families in your home countries still prepare the Sunday roast meal or is that something of a previous generation?

[Roadman]

We had one last night. I'm a Kiwi but with Pom and Irish bloodlines and every Sunday in winter we had a roast when I was growing up. Oldest daughter was home from varsity semester break with her girlfriend and youngest daughter had her girl friend staying a couple of nights during school holidays so in total five thai females and as it is mid winter they requested one of my roasts. Roast veges including potatoes, kumara (a sweet potato), yams, parsnip, and pumpkin. Throw a clove of garlic in amongst the roasting vegies. Mashed potato (creamed with butter and cheese) too as my daughters love it. Yorkshire pud and the gravy made from the meat drippings off the rotisserie grill. Peas and corn. And Bluff oysters as an entree - expensive but a shout for oldest daughter for again acing her papers for the semester just finished.

A roast is one of their favorite winter falang meals and they mow it down. Had with a bottle of Moet champagne that the real estate agent gave us who sold us the near new home we have moved into. Oldest daughter has just about got it sussed in putting one together so thats not a bad outcome for a passing through of a cooking tradition.

[bartender100]

OP what do you eat,on a Sunday? I think you will find when a British family eat together on a Sunday they will have a roast dinner, whats your point really?

[pgrahmm]

Coming from Mass. in US with an east coast menu - roast usually was served once a week.....But do not remember which day but Sunday makes sense.....Scottish family lines......

By that time we were on the west coast and many things diet changed....but not that.....

[TheAppletons]

OP what do you eat,on a Sunday? I think you will find when a British family eat together on a Sunday they will have a roast dinner, whats your point really?

I asked a question. It's the last sentence of the OP. When one asks a question it's generally to find out information, not to make a point.

To answer your question, I have no traditional meal that I eat on Sundays. It varies.

Edited July 13, 2015 by TheAppletons

[smokie36]

Not these days....the world has moved on....cremated meat disguised with bisto just don't cut it any more.

[sipi]

The last time I had a Sunday roast lunch was in 1972 after church.

From memory it was great.

[Crazy chef 1]

It is not a typical British thing it's all over Europe and has its origin when meat hasn't been affordable each day.although people used to work 6 days 12 hours and Sunday has been the only day the entire family had a meal together...

I actually like this idea but my son can't eat the meat at the moment due of not existing teeth...but when he gets older I would like to implement this ritual...

[Crazy chef 1]

The last time I had a Sunday roast lunch was in 1972 after church.

From memory it was great.

Church or meal???

[sipi]

The last time I had a Sunday roast lunch was in 1972 after church.

From memory it was great.

Church or meal???

Lol.. Meal.

[sipi]

It is not a typical British thing it's all over Europe and has its origin when meat hasn't been affordable each day.although people used to work 6 days 12 hours and Sunday has been the only day the entire family had a meal together...

I actually like this idea but my son can't eat the meat at the moment due of not existing teeth...but when he gets older I would like to implement this ritual...

I think it is a good idea, especially in this day and age. Or at least a Sunday bbq together.

[Crazy chef 1]

It is not a typical British thing it's all over Europe and has its origin when meat hasn't been affordable each day.although people used to work 6 days 12 hours and Sunday has been the only day the entire family had a meal together...

I actually like this idea but my son can't eat the meat at the moment due of not existing teeth...but when he gets older I would like to implement this ritual...

I think it is a good idea, especially in this day and age. Or at least a Sunday bbq together.

BBQ's are for Saturday than you have the entire Sunday to sober up...

[Patsycat]

In the olden days it was quite common, after church the men would go to the pub and the women would go and start the lunch.

Nowadays, not so much.

I did roast a chicken last summer for Sunday lunch in Scotland for the family, with all the trimmings. It was good. But i made a mistake - I forgot the gravey!!

This year, I'll try not to forget!! Or, perhaps, i won't be asked to cook!!! My family are rather picky.

When i was a kid, my parents would blackmail me into going to Church. With the promise of a pizza afterwards. They probably thought that at least one of their heathen children may enjoy going to church. Nope, didn't work. Pizza was good, though.

Edited July 13, 2015 by Patsycat

[SantiSuk]

I'm guessing that less than 5% of the population (that kind of order) would eat a roast meat dinner on a Sunday now in the UK.

I'm guessing the figure was of the order of 50% 50 years ago. Too many alternatives too easily available now. Cooking with raw ingredients seems to be the reserve of the professional classes now.

Everyone is eating huge portion sugary junk food and becoming horribly fat. 30% clinical obesity by 2030 is now predicted. Can't believe how the population looks on the streets these days when I revisit. Get a grip you slovenly fat git Brits! Shove the PC fattist apologists into the North Sea and tax the cr@p out of sugar or you are all going to be sick and poor as church mice in another 50 years.

[An appalled Brit! Rant over]

[smokie36]

I'm guessing that less than 5% of the population (that kind of order) would eat a roast meat dinner on a Sunday now in the UK.

I'm guessing the figure was of the order of 50% 50 years ago. Too many alternatives too easily available now. Cooking with raw ingredients seems to be the reserve of the professional classes now.

Everyone is eating huge portion sugary junk food and becoming horribly fat. 30% clinical obesity by 2030 is now predicted. Can't believe how the population looks on the streets these days when I revisit. Get a grip you slovenly fat git Brits! Shove the PC fattist apologists into the North Sea and tax the cr@p out of sugar or you are all going to be sick and poor as church mice in another 50 years.

[An appalled Brit! Rant over]

Yes when I see pizza delivery places in small towns and their bikes running around I shake my head.

25 years ago we hadn't heard of Bariatric surgery in the UK.

Now its the fastest growing area...no pun intended.

[NoshowJones]

In the olden days it was quite common, after church the men would go to the pub and the women would go and start the lunch.

Nowadays, not so much.

I did roast a chicken last summer for Sunday lunch in Scotland for the family, with all the trimmings. It was good. But i made a mistake - I forgot the gravey!!

This year, I'll try not to forget!! Or, perhaps, i won't be asked to cook!!! My family are rather picky.

When i was a kid, my parents would blackmail me into going to Church. With the promise of a pizza afterwards. They probably thought that at least one of their heathen children may enjoy going to church. Nope, didn't work. Pizza was good, though.

I know this is off topic, as a cat lover myself, I was looking at your Avatar, but I have never seen a cat with ears like that before.

What breed is it?

[Patsycat]

Big Ears Breed!! I don't know, probably some rare breed that costs thousands to buy and maintain. I shall have a wee google later on, and try and find out. Rather cute. Can you imagine playing ACDC at full blast - those things would be twirling like a helicopter!!

Another thing about roast dinners in the UK decades ago, was that the meal would last for the rest of the week.

[HooHaa]

In the olden days it was quite common, after church the men would go to the pub and the women would go and start the lunch.

Nowadays, not so much.

I did roast a chicken last summer for Sunday lunch in Scotland for the family, with all the trimmings. It was good. But i made a mistake - I forgot the gravey!!

This year, I'll try not to forget!! Or, perhaps, i won't be asked to cook!!! My family are rather picky.

When i was a kid, my parents would blackmail me into going to Church. With the promise of a pizza afterwards. They probably thought that at least one of their heathen children may enjoy going to church. Nope, didn't work. Pizza was good, though.

i went to catholic sunday school for mcdonalds.