Gregg Wallace programme on TV

Cornucopia

It was always going to be tricky - and they actually said several times during the programme that this was a "practice Christmas".

Good programme, though, and introducing the customer to the dietician seems like a really sensible idea.

Aldi must be really chuffed about winning the Sparkling Wine taste test with £4.79 Cava. Makes up for losing with the Mince Pies.

Christmas Food Unwrapped next (on Monday, I think).

lessonlearned

Good programme. Lots of good tips.

Wonder if Aldi will sell out of cava. :rotfl:

Rainy-Days

Really odd because Aldi mince pies came out top in one taste test yet on this one came bottom!!

Really like the fact that the Cava came out really well. I think it's just bonkers to spend so much on fizz!

Agree totally though with Goldiegirl it was utterly shocking what they were spending - crikey that would be enough for them to have a week or two abroad for the four of them in the new year!

The old point will always win through that if you can do it all yourself you will save not only allot of money but at least you know how it's made, it is fresh and you know exactly what has gone into it.

Thought the canapes and the ideas they came up with for that were really tremendous ideas though! Loved the fish eggs for £2.99 with the smoked salmon never thought of it but will give it a whirl

meritaten

my OH watched this programme (I was on MSE of course), and he couldn't believe how much the were spending - I was virtually getting a running commentary!
I always bought the Aldi Cava - its gorgeous. but then, most of their wines seem to have won an award or two! and no way would I spend £30 odd quid on one bottle of wine!
my OH did say 'Thank god you can cook'! as I do almost everything from scratch.

Living_proof

I couldn't understand either how they could spend so much money, but then again I don't understand why Greg Wallace comes in for so much criticism. I think he is a nice guy, ok, defo southern, but I am a Kent gal originally, so what's wrong with that? It;s so sad that people fret so much about Christmas, and I would go back in a flash to the 60s for something less flash but more family oriented. Say a budget of £200 for the average family, and make do and mend.

meritaten

I do notice that some people have trolleys (or more than one) piled high with food - usually the ready meal type. as if they were stocking up for a siege. while some may be catering for the hordes - I am sure that the average family does NOT need that amount of food. and the supermarkets only shut for ONE day! I dread to think how much is going to be wasted.
I don't actually spend that much more than on 'normal' weeks. even though I have about 14 people for Christmas day lunch, it doesn't actually cost more than a few quid. and I buy in 'extras' over the weeks leading up to Christmas. the biggest spend is probably for the enormous joints of meat I need. Tresco usually supply that for around £30 for the Beef, Pork and the gammon joint. Aldi just don't do big enough joints of meat. and tbh - the meat is usually really good from Tresco.

and as for Christmas 'booze' hmmm, we do buy a couple of 24 packs of lager, a few bottles of cava and a bottle of Jack D for DD! again that gets spread out in the run up to Christmas. Does Christmas take people by surprise? they have to get it ALL in the shopping trip before Christmas?

[Deleted User]

I watched the programme on catch-up TV yesterday and was more than surprised about the amount quoted. Never in a million years would I spend £1400 on two days shopping,its just absurd.

I liked the fact that it showed how easy it really is to 'make your own' stuff at a fraction of the cost.

The poor husband having to work himself into the ground to pay for it all.The wife seemed a little bit clueless I thought and I often wonder what people do with all the 'time saved' by buying ready made stuff.
How hard is it to peel a spud for goodness sake .

The thought that they actually went and bought separate food for Boxing day was more than a bit silly. I think if I was a single Mum trying to feed her family on buttons this year I would be round rifling through her bins on boxing morning.

The husband looked like he was the more sensible of the two and was happy to learn how to cook better ,but what was his missus going to be doing while he did the cooking !!!

I know I am old-fashioned but I think a lot of the filming is a bit OTT to be honest .Surely they cannot be willing to lash out £32.00 on a bottle of fizzy plonk. Must have more money than sense perhaps.

Mr Wallace seems to have cut back a bit on his gurning thank goodness,I'm still not keen on his 'look at me I'm so clever' attitude

The other chap seemed a bit more helpful and came up with some positive ideas for their left overs.

but each to their own I suppose.My DD has a large family and none of us go hungry on Christmas day and she certainly couldn't afford to spend that sort of cash . I too like to cook from scratch and then I know what I am eating ,no nasty chemicals for me thanks

Wednesday2000

I saw this the other night and was amazed by the family and what the parents were spending!:eek:

I think Gregg Wallace was being less annoying so maybe he has read what people say about the way he acts on TV.:D

Ken68

I watched 10minutes, then switched it off.
To think somebody got paid to invent that format.

VfM4meplse

This pair were their own worst enemies! What made me laugh was that the daughter asked her mum for "permission" to serve the cheaper sparkling wine during the Christmas meal. As if she was even bothered! For the price they were paying, they could have taken the whole family out for an expensive meal out and saved the hassle of cooking, which seemed to be a priority. They would also have had enough change for a deep freeze. (Fancy not knowing they could prep their own veg).

They did get me thinking about a cheeseboard, though. I completely lucked out today, as expecting to spend a small fortune on a cheeseboard for this evening - but came across YS cheeseboard packs earlier. 1.2kg for the bargain price of £5.52.