top selling /tasting festive foods?

sukysue

Am just thinking what does everyone recommend to buy that is really nice for xmas? Only I do appreciate a lot of ppl can't always have time /are able to do their own cooking even though I know you can't beat it .....so anyone any ideas? You know things like the best tasting mince pies ,christmas pud ,champers,sausages,crackers etc etc like the reviews that you see in the papers sometimes.

Sujamjen

I can recommend M & S christmas pud (the £4.99 large one) I bought a small one and had it for lunch on Friday and it was delicious - booze and fruit and no nuts!

sallypurple

Lidl do excellent Stollen, really moist with loads of Marzipan.

Alikay

I like the M&S pork and chestnut stuffing, and Aldi's frozen turkey crown.

cabra1

My usual little christmas treat is a
box of Charbonnel & Walker chocs.
way too expensive,but ooh they do
taste good.

But also agree the M&S xmas pud
is lovely.

ti1980

The larger M&S stores are doing tasting sessions every day at lunchtimes so you can sample for yourself some of the Christmas food/drink and see whether you like it.
They usually sample a different product each day, depending on how much stock they have.
The Cranberry and Clementine Fizz is lovely (slightly different take on Bucks Fizz) and that is 2 bottles for £6 at the moment.

I have also seen them sampling Christmas goodies at my local Sainsburys so I think this is something they are probably doing in a lot of large food places. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and it gives you the opportunity to try something new in a lot of cases.

newcook

Alikay wrote:

I like the M&S pork and chestnut stuffing, and Aldi's frozen turkey crown.

Hi! I have never cooked xmas dinner before and have no idea how much to expect to pay for turkey crown but have been told that Aldi do really great prices... how much are they in Aldi? need crown big enough for 6-7 peeps:eek: am only cooking for me and OH but we both love turkey curry and will use meat for buffets etc

kaja86

newcook wrote:

Hi! I have never cooked xmas dinner before and have no idea how much to expect to pay for turkey crown but have been told that Aldi do really great prices... how much are they in Aldi? need crown big enough for 6-7 peeps:eek: am only cooking for me and OH but we both love turkey curry and will use meat for buffets etc

I've just bought one in Aldi today!!!;)
They are £7. I bought one last year and it fed 7 with loads left over as there is no waste. Make sure you buy one early as they go quickly!!!

I would recommend anything in Aldi for great taste and great prices. Their mince pies, nuts, chocolate (Dairyfine-yummy!!!) and of course their mulled wine!

Hope this helps:beer:

competitionscafe

Observer food monthly mag did a Xmas taste test in yesterdays issue:
The best and worst Christmas food
Matthew Harris , head chef at Bibendum, chooses the best mince pies, stollen and puds while his brother, Henry Harris, chef-patron at Racine, selects the top hams and Stilton ...
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/foodmonthly/story/0,,1948204,00.html

Times did mince pies and Xmas puds recently:
M&S luxury mince pies came first, Waitrose ones came last but for puds Carved Angel was first, Waitrose 2nd and M&S last:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,632-1889197,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,632-1889197_2,00.html

Best mince pies I had last year were from Valvonna & Crolla in Edinburgh:
http://www.valvonacrolla-online.co.uk/cgi-bin/valvonacrolla.storefront

Watch out for trans-fats (hydrogenated vegetable oil) in many mince-pies and stollen, etc.

Best ready made mulled wine I tried last year was M&S, followed by Sainsburys, but both were far too sweet for my taste..homemade is easy and much nicer, the Seasoned Pioneers pouches of mulled wine spices are good but I add half the amount of sugar they suggest!

Nicest Stollen I had last year was from a stall at the German Christmas market in Edinburgh.

Would be interested if anyone finds any more taste tests from papers, mags etc...

ti1980

Magazines like Woman, Woman's Own and Best etc tend to have a few reviews for Christmas food at this time of year. They usually give ratings out of 5 or out of 10. I sometimes have a flick through in the shop but I don't usually buy these magazines anymore unless I'm taking a long train journey and then I will treat myself.

ashli_2

M & S chocolate biscuit selection is fantastic, they have become a chirstmas staple in this house.