A self-proclaimed "breakfast buffet burglar" has detailed her family's methods for saving money on holiday lunches by utilizing food from the morning buffet. Rosie Green, an assistant editor, explained in a recent article that her children have been trained from a young age to pack items from the breakfast spread for consumption later in the day, thereby avoiding the cost of purchasing additional meals.
Green's strategy involves arriving at the breakfast buffet prepared with necessary supplies. She recommends bringing a roomy beach bag, a small towel, Tupperware containers, and sealable sandwich bags. The operation begins with selecting a discreet table, ideally in a corner, to observe staff movements and assess which food items are suitable for transport and storage in warm weather.
The objective, according to Green, is to secure a main meal, a dessert, and an afternoon snack. This typically involves constructing sandwiches using bread from the buffet, buttered at the table, with fillings like hard cheese or sliced meat, chosen for their ability to withstand lack of refrigeration. Items prone to spoilage, such as tomatoes or mayonnaise, are generally avoided. For dessert or snacks, drier options like muffins, pain au chocolat, or yogurt pots are preferred, as moist items can become unappetizing. Hard-boiled eggs are also a favored item due to their natural packaging.
After consuming some of the breakfast offerings and ordering an additional hot beverage to buy time, the family members discreetly place the packed food into their bags. A towel is then used to cover the containers in the beach bag to conceal the contraband. Green notes that while her mother, due to age, is excused from participation, other family members play roles, including a lookout to alert the group if staff approach too closely. Tactics for deflecting suspicion if "clocked" include using "pretty privilege" or feigning innocence.
Green humorously acknowledges that the plan's success can be undermined by male family members who tend to eat their entire haul before midday, necessitating the purchase of additional food. Despite this, she maintains that the experience instills resilience and ingenuity in her children, and the smuggled snacks like a "dry cheese sandwich eaten surreptitiously poolside tastes like god’s own food."