Re-discovering Lidl

MrsStepford

The Lidl in our town is tiny and though we used to use it a lot when skint, we haven't been there much, since. OH started new job three weeks ago and discovered a bigger Lidl with plenty of parking, has been bult on a housing estate on his new route. Unlike Aldi, Lidl doesn't have a search function for groceries so I can only access the online leaflets with offers. 

Husband is going to do a recce on Thursday or Friday afternoon. 

Is he likely to be able to find grass fed beef, beef burgers without additves and fillers, wild fish and seafood (fresh, frozen or canned), gluten free stuff including biscuits, organic fruit and veg, organic eggs, organic whole milk, nuts and seeds, Parma ham, olive oil, lard, a good selection of cheeses, olives, gherkins, kartoffelsalat (Lidl used to do this amazing potato salad in creme fraiche), good loo cleaner, wild bird food and SOFT loo rolls. ???

Any must haves which don't involve pasta, rice or pastry ?

I'm quite excited to see if he can come up with some well-priced food, especially fish and seafood. 

Thanks in advance x

sarah1972

MrsStepford said:

The Lidl in our town is tiny and though we used to use it a lot when skint, we haven't been there much, since. OH started new job three weeks ago and discovered a bigger Lidl with plenty of parking, has been bult on a housing estate on his new route. Unlike Aldi, Lidl doesn't have a search function for groceries so I can only access the online leaflets with offers. 

Husband is going to do a recce on Thursday or Friday afternoon. 

Is he likely to be able to find grass fed beef, beef burgers without additves and fillers, wild fish and seafood (fresh, frozen or canned), gluten free stuff including biscuits, organic fruit and veg, organic eggs, organic whole milk, nuts and seeds, Parma ham, olive oil, lard, a good selection of cheeses, olives, gherkins, kartoffelsalat (Lidl used to do this amazing potato salad in creme fraiche), good loo cleaner, wild bird food and SOFT loo rolls. ???

Any must haves which don't involve pasta, rice or pastry ?

I'm quite excited to see if he can come up with some well-priced food, especially fish and seafood. 

Thanks in advance x

I have only started going to my local Lidl in the last month and I think they really do vary store to store but this is what I have found for some of your points,

Can’t say I’ve seen organic veg in my Lidl, 
grass fed beef https://www.lidl.co.uk/c/grass-fed-beef/c2230 although again, not noticed it in store but then again I’ve not looked for it (hubby works for a butchery that supplies trade) 
Never seen burgers with fillers 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I only make my own
Yes to wild caught caught fish although I buy mine elsewhere
Gluten free- is called just free but in my local it’s very very hard to find
eggs & milk - not noticed 
Parma ham and great charcuterie in store
lovely selection of cheeses 
never seen bird food and wouldn’t buy Lidl loo roll 

jon81uk

If you want burgers without added breadcrumbs etc just make your own, put some mince in a burger press and push hard, season them and you are good.

Teapot55

They definitely regularly stock the following:
gherkins whole and sliced 
sunflower seeds 
pumpkin seeds 
prawns 
almonds
walnuts 
cashews
olives green and black and stuffed 

PLRFD

jon81uk said:

If you want burgers without added breadcrumbs etc just make your own, put some mince in a burger press and push hard, season them and you are good.

Absolutely also a sprinkle of dried herbs and a piece of cheese in the middle is good.

Cornucopia

MrsStepford said:

The Lidl in our town is tiny and though we used to use it a lot when skint, we haven't been there much, since. OH started new job three weeks ago and discovered a bigger Lidl with plenty of parking, has been bult on a housing estate on his new route. Unlike Aldi, Lidl doesn't have a search function for groceries so I can only access the online leaflets with offers. 

Husband is going to do a recce on Thursday or Friday afternoon. 

Is he likely to be able to find grass fed beef, beef burgers without additves and fillers, wild fish and seafood (fresh, frozen or canned), gluten free stuff including biscuits, organic fruit and veg, organic eggs, organic whole milk, nuts and seeds, Parma ham, olive oil, lard, a good selection of cheeses, olives, gherkins, kartoffelsalat (Lidl used to do this amazing potato salad in creme fraiche), good loo cleaner, wild bird food and SOFT loo rolls. ???

Any must haves which don't involve pasta, rice or pastry ?

I'm quite excited to see if he can come up with some well-priced food, especially fish and seafood. 

Thanks in advance x

I would have thought all or most of those.   The only issues off the top of my head would be:-

- organic fruit & veg (there is some, but not particularly extensive)
- kartoffelsalat (not sure they still have this)
- wild bird food (this may be seasonal)
- eggs (general supply issues)

MrsStepford

Showed OH the link which @sarah1972 posted and spotting that the car park wasn't heaving, he nipped into Lidl for grass-fed steaks. They look FAB so we are going to try them tonight. 

@Cornucopia the kartoffelsalat is now called Meadow Fresh potato salad with crème fraîche and the tub size has shrunk massively, but it's still the same recipe 😍 Just the best shop-bought potato salad that I've ever had ! 

@jon81uk @PLRFD yes home-made n burgers are better, but OH is working full-time (started new job 3 weeks ago) and is having tests at hospital, so try got conserve energy.

I discovered some Aberdeen Angus burgers at Iceland, which are just beef, salted and pepper which we really like. 

sammyjammy

Yes to eggs and milk, I only ever buy organic.

MrsStepford

Verdict on the Lidl grass fed steaks. Decent size and thickness, plus fat for flavour. Realistically, no steak will be grass fed in UK and ROI in winter as cattle come in during winter. These would be better in spring and summer. But for a luxury casserole in winter these would be melt in the mouth diced up in a slow cooker. Will def buy again, especially in summer.

MrsStepford

DH takes packed lunches to work (staff restaurant is expensive rubbish) and sits in his car, blasting radio in his department's car park so that he doesn't get interrupted.  I looked at Lidl online leaflets and picked out these, available to Wednesday. Has anyone tried them ?

* Deluxe Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP 250G 2.79
* Sol & Mar sliced Piquillo peppers with garlic 290G drained 99p
* Deluxe Beechwood-smoked duck breast slices 90G 3.49
* Deluxe Barber's Somerset Truffle Cheddar 200G 2.49
* Deluxe white asparagus IGP Navarra 580ml 3.99

I reckon this is easily enough for the two of us for lunches with salad bits I have in the fridge and works out at just over £1 each per day.

But are they any good ?