Quality of Supermarket Xmas food, M&S any better?

abfmdf

The last few years I have been left pretty disappointed with the quality of food at Christmas.

Buying the "extra special" or "best of" or equivalent range at Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Lidl or Aldi, does not seem to matter the results have been mixed to poor.

Party foods (eg pigs in blanket) and deserts in particular have been poor. Too frequently fatty, sickly or stodgy. Supermarkets seem to cash in with fancy Christmas packaging but poor products.

As I want it to be special this year, I am tempted to go with M&S. But it seems extremely comparatively pricey. I guess the question is do you get what you pay for ? or is it likely to be a more expensive disappointment ?

DPJames

Why don't you make your own pigs in blankets? That way you'll get them just how you want them and you probably save a bit too.

Make all you own stuff, it's brilliant fun. And the smell around the house is awesome, especially this time of year.

KxMx

M&S is by no means perfect when it comes to food.

But I would say they have a much higher proportion of products I return to than any other supermarket.

jayII

WE use Ocado/Waitrose for Christmas food. Their desserts are usually delicious and we work long hours, so having the food delivered is a bonus. We don't bother with pigs in blankets so can't help there.

Lynsey

Don't dismiss the Aldi and Lidl Xmas "goodies".
Some of the top of the range stuff is very good. Not necessarily that cheap (unless on offer), but of a good standard.
Some Aldi Xmas food:
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/product-range/christmas-at-aldi/christmas-food/
The Lidl Deluxe range is also very good.

I agree, make your own pigs in blankets.

Lynsey

Bennifred

Waitrose! The Duchy Originals pigs in blankets have had good reviews this year.

I like their food more than M&S's at any time of year, to be honest.

McKneff

The Lidl Deluxe range is excellent.

kerri_gt

Check out the Cook range at https://www.Cookfood.net (you might have a store near you too) - food always very good although I do prefer to do my own roast potatoes as I usually do about 2.5kg of them.

robin58

All I can say about M&S, very nice food but is a bit more expensive than regular supermarkets (excluding Waitrose, they are in a world of their own on pricing!).

If you can afford it, go for it but go for the more different offerings than what most other supermarkets go with at this time of year.

VfM4meplse

abfmdf wrote: »

As I want it to be special this year, I am tempted to go with M&S. But it seems extremely comparatively pricey. I guess the question is do you get what you pay for ? or is it likely to be a more expensive disappointment ?

Ifbyoubwant to make it special, I would forget pre-prepared food full stop. Either prepare well in advance or take a day off before the party and DIY!

EndlessStruggle

My local Co-Op supermarket has some very nice "Truly Irresistable" Christmas food in, lucky for me no one is buying it this early so they are reducing it to silly prices! My freezer is slowly filling with Christmas food and even better it's on 3 for 2 even if the food is reduced!