Page 4 | What food from Waitrose do I need to try?

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 2025-01-21T00:00:15+00:00

I've never shopped at waitrose, apart from popping in for an emergency water bottle, kind of thing. I'm an Asda/Lidl budget shopper 🤭 I've got a voucher to use there for an online shop, £15 off of an £80 shop. So which food would you recommend i buy? Which food tastes amazing and is a must try? I'm thinking of venison, never had that Is the pasta superior? Any seasonings? Do share x Edit, spelling

Jayne35 · 22/01/2025 13:58

They do a lovely steak and ale pie, frozen. Usually cook pies home made as the shop ones are not great but this one is.

Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:57

KnickerFolder · 22/01/2025 13:52

If you want fresh tomatoes, I recommend the Waitrose Pome Dei Moro tomatoes. Isle of Wight tomatoes are more expensive and the quality varies, especially at this time of year. Excellent but not as good as the Waitrose ones. They are one of the things I miss now that Ocado stock M&S instead of Waitrose.

Thank you, I've added them 😊

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Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:56

NoodleDoodleDandy · 22/01/2025 13:44

Speaking of their essentials range:

Washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, fabric softener and the powder for throwing in with white and coloured washes are all excellent. As are the baby wipes.

Random but are the baby wipes those ones with no plastic in, so the texture is awful?

I'll stock up on laundry stuff as I'm low anyway

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Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:53

dappledgreyandwhite · 22/01/2025 07:23

I find other other things so much nicer too. The cashmere loo roll is the softest on the market for instance.
Every single member of staff is unfailing polite, so it’s a pleasant experience. If there is ever a problem, they genuinely look to assist rather than a surly exchange.

I find other supermarkets cold and lonely places, but everyone greets the customers in my local Waitrose, and it feels very welcoming even first thing in the morning, and they are extremely nice people on the whole.

Ooo I might have to try cashmere toilet roll - ill use a little and keep the rest for guests

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KnickerFolder · 22/01/2025 13:52

If you want fresh tomatoes, I recommend the Waitrose Pome Dei Moro tomatoes. Isle of Wight tomatoes are more expensive and the quality varies, especially at this time of year. Excellent but not as good as the Waitrose ones. They are one of the things I miss now that Ocado stock M&S instead of Waitrose.

Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:52

Didimum · 22/01/2025 07:23

A good few people here trying to piss on OP’s parade. She has a voucher, she’s excited to use it – let her, without having to make miserable comments that smack of reverse snobbery. It’s neither here nor there what you think of Waitrose.

I am excited 🤭, I'm gonna have to empty things out of my basket at this rate

The sheer number of different pastas and cooks ingredients stuff!

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Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:46

RosesAndHellebores · 22/01/2025 06:49

The meat and fish are excellent. If you can pop in at 4pm on a Sunday there are often superb reductions.

Will try this - love a yellow sticker meat item

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KnickerFolder · 22/01/2025 13:45

If you are using the voucher for your normal weekly shop, my advice would be:

The essentials range is excellent and very good value, often better value than other supermarkets for equivalent quality.

The fruit and veg is better than most supermarkets and lasts longer.

BUT branded items are often more expensive than other supermarkets so check and don’t waste your voucher on them if they are more expensive.

The “unique” lovely things that you can’t get at other supermarkets tend to be more expensive/luxury brands/foods.

Their own brand wine at £5.49 is very drinkable!

NoodleDoodleDandy · 22/01/2025 13:44

Speaking of their essentials range:

Washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, fabric softener and the powder for throwing in with white and coloured washes are all excellent. As are the baby wipes.

Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:42

Icantfindanewname · 21/01/2025 20:12

Their lemon curd. I have conducted extensive research of other brands, and ranges within the brands, and nothing touches it. Top tip, if you are opening a jar to add to buttercream (recommended), or make into tarts, DO NOT lick the spoon. All of a sudden, the jar will be empty 😛

😄😄 thank you, noted

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Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:38

jolota · 21/01/2025 14:24

I do the bulk of my shopping from tesco but the fruit from waitrose is so much nicer imo, so we buy that from there as well as a few odd bits I can't get from other supermarkets that I particularly like but I wouldn't buy anything branded from there as even on offer I find its more expensive than when on offer at other supermarkets.
I never order enough to buy online though but my mum does and has a real problem with delivery slots & so much stuff being out of stock when it comes to delivery.

Agree, the branded stuff doesn't appeal to me, looking forward to trying their fruit

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theotherplace · 22/01/2025 13:38

Mwnci123 · 21/01/2025 00:22

Waitrose coffee shortbread. Lovely stuff.

Oh this does sound nice!

Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:36

SnowFrogJelly · 21/01/2025 01:14

Second the coffee shortbread
They do great salads
Lots of nice fish
Great selection of wine
And it might sound funny but their tinned tomatoes with olive oil and garlic are the best

I always buy the cheapest tinned tomatoes and I think that's why I'm not enjoying my meals

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Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:35

Eraclea · 21/01/2025 20:25

Lemon yum yums as mentioned upthread

Sea salt feuilletine chocolate

Isle of Wight tomato boxes (my store stopped selling them after getting me hooked sadly)

Sicilian lemon tart (the no. 1 version)

Tofuwieners - yes, they’re pretend ultra-processes meat and ludicrously expensive, but I love them and have never seen them
anywhere else.

I cant find the lemon yum yums 😩

Got the tart on the list, I love lemon tbh

I'll try some tomatoes - i really want to use fresh ingredients to cook this year

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Bollihobs · 22/01/2025 13:35

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:28

Im doing my usual shop using the essentials range

Then I'm adding seasonings that you dont get in asda, breads, ice cream, some of their fruit

Wine - i did find an orange wine, really want to try it

The Waitrose Essentials range is excellent - both food and non-food items are good value and good quality products.

Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:32

dappledgreyandwhite · 22/01/2025 06:41

I did once shop in Tesco, and not to be unkind but this was my experience, none of the vegetables or fruits taste of anything at all. It’s like they freeze all the taste out of everything.

There was row upon row of ready meals, junk food but I couldn’t find all of the ingredients to cook anything from scratch.

I am not a fan of ready meals and walking around there gave me a very indication as to why there is an obesity crisis in this country.

Edited

For me, fruit has never really been nice but its always because I've bought cheaply

I now think fruit isn't horrible, I've just been poor 😄😄

I've put some candy grapes in and I want these expensive mangos and oranges

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Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:29

Pipsquiggle · 22/01/2025 06:56

Hi I have worked at a lot of the supermarkets (buying/ strategy roles). Currently at Waitrose.

I would look at areas you like e.g. bakery and get a couple of items that look enticing and see if they are worth the price difference to you. Some products are more expensive some aren't.

IMO a few of the stand out areas are:
Protein
Sausages
Deli
Cheese
Wine (I won't buy wine anywhere else now)
Anything on the counters
Bakery
Ice-cream
Home baking
Cooks Ingredients
Dried Pasta

WR does have normal brands but also more niche ones like Gymkhana and Ottolenghi - I haven't tried these but heard customers rave about them.

WR essentials tends to be better quality than other supermarkets mid tier ranges.

I like ottolenghi and have wanted to try his stuff so I will add some

I've done this, the essentials range for pasta etc looks good to me

Will also get home baking ingredients to stock up my shelves

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Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:28

Im doing my usual shop using the essentials range

Then I'm adding seasonings that you dont get in asda, breads, ice cream, some of their fruit

Wine - i did find an orange wine, really want to try it

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Original poster

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/01/2025 13:26

Sorry for being slow to respond all, but I appreciate the responses

My shopping trolley is over £140 now 😄😄😅

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Elphame · 22/01/2025 13:24

Bollihobs · 21/01/2025 18:46

Nowhere near as dear as Co-op.

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That is true! Co op prices are a complete rip off and it's much lower quality than Waitrose.

The only thing I buy in there is their Chipsticks and that's a rare treat as they are as unhealthy as you can get!

ServantsGonnaServe · 22/01/2025 12:41

Kalamata olive bread

LindorDoubleChoc · 22/01/2025 12:31

Forgot to say earlier - Waitrose is one of the very few places you can get coffee ice cream.

We get a Waitrose delivery about once a month and the rest of the time shop mainly at Lidl or Sainsburys. If we had a Waitrose nearby I'd be in there all the time! The aisles are wide, the shelves are stacked immaculately, the floor is clean, the staff are cheerful, they have plenty of check-outs open and don't expect you to self check-out a trolley shop, it's not freezing cold. Obviously you pay for this with slightly higher prices.

I've just done my order this morning and added about 10 things from this thread that I haven't tried before, so cheers to you for starting it OP.

Pipsquiggle · 22/01/2025 09:35

deeahgwitch · 22/01/2025 08:05

I'd like a Waitrose in Ireland.
Can't see it ever happening now with Brexit.
John Lewis was to come but it never happened and with the rise in online shopping and the demise of many department stores it won't happen either.
House of Fraser and Debenhams closed their stores in Ireland in 2020.

@deeahgwitch
I went to a posh Dunnes in Cork last year - that felt Waitrosey

Parker231 · 22/01/2025 09:10

dappledgreyandwhite · 22/01/2025 06:41

I did once shop in Tesco, and not to be unkind but this was my experience, none of the vegetables or fruits taste of anything at all. It’s like they freeze all the taste out of everything.

There was row upon row of ready meals, junk food but I couldn’t find all of the ingredients to cook anything from scratch.

I am not a fan of ready meals and walking around there gave me a very indication as to why there is an obesity crisis in this country.

Edited

The large Tesco stores usually have everything - what were you looking for?

Pottedpalm · 22/01/2025 08:44

DoloresODonovan · 21/01/2025 01:03

and the staff are more sullen

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Well that’s just not true at my local Waitrose. There’s a mix of long standing staff who are welcoming and friendly and then a young bunch who come in around 4pm, mostly local sixth form students, who are enthusiastic and very competent.