Charlie Bingham ready meals

[TheGhostOfTheYearYetToCome]

£9.80 for a pasta ready meal.

I don't know quite what I was expecting but I was so disappointed. Are the curry ones any better?

(Currently looking after someone in end of life care, cooking from scratch isn't possible)

I thought exactly this.

I've tried the veggie lasagne which was really nice and thought I'd look on their website at the other meals. Given how everyone on here lauds them for their superior ingredients I was disappointed.

Also disappointed in the mushroom risotto I had.

The COOK cheesecakes are amazing - especially the mango and passion fruit!

This time last year I was in the same position and was shopping for other family members too. Things that went down well were higgidy pies with micro mash, aldi fancy pizzas, M&S fishcakes with melty middles and micro new pots.

Cook meals were deemed too small!

Hope that helps.

Their veggie lasagne is the best veggie lasagne on the market

@TheGhostOfTheYearYetToCome

Have you thought of farm shops? Where is your person?

Some do the most amazing ready made dishes in foil trays and home made quiches that just need heating up. Local growers also produce the most amazing salads all year round to cleanse the tongue and mouth.

We had the scotch eggs and they were horrible but everything else has been lovely

Cook meals, checkout their website for where there freezers are in shops, garden centres etc. UK wide, far superior to CB and far tastier. (They have shops and they do deliver but I found it easier to buy a stash locally).

the factory is in Sittingbourne in Kent, I use the shop in Lewes whenever I’m local.

Absolutely rubbish, I had a few vouchers and thought I’d buy a weeks worth for quickly meals. So disappointed tasted rubbish, cost a fortune can not think that people who can’t cook keep them in business.

The lasagne is fabulous. It's a treat meal. Bought only on offer and cheaper than takeout.

It might taste salty to you but some people like more salt than others. You said your DH oversalts his food. He doesn't, he puts the right amount of salt in for him. Yes I know, too much salt isn't good for you. But too little salt makes a lot of things tasteless.

What about the ‘cook’ range you can order online…I’ve sent to new mum friends

the CB line is seen as a luxury range of regular food as its oven instead of microwave because of the wood material liner, of course you can decant

but that’s the marketing..it’s a treat so pay extra and take the time to treat yourself

That may be true I’m not a cheesecake person. I’d rather have a Sicilian lemon tart or Tarte Tatin from Waitrose.

But don’t ever buy their Christmas pudding - genuine the worst I’ve ever had. Vile.

I only buy CB when reduced to half price and they're not very good.

Some M&S are good.

CO-OP usually very good.

Surprisingly, some of the Iceland luxury ones are good.

I’ve had the lasagne tonight (Clubcard offer) and it was bloody delicious 🤤

I’m not either, usually - but I make an exception for these cheesecakes! I love both of those desserts from Waitrose too.

Oh, I think all Christmas pudding is the devils work!

As per others, COOK is a much better option. Can easily pass them off as homemade.

That’s fair enough I feel the same about mince pies.

But some Christmas puddings are better than others and this was dire.

My daughter doesn’t like them. She says they’re too salty.
Wiltshire Farm Foods have been very good for the older person I look after. Plenty of veg.

The paella is great. I throw a few extra prawns in it and it feeds us both. I do love the range but they are expensive. OH buys the COOK ones occasionally and they are tasty.

Hardly any meat in the Charlie Bighams chicken curries. I actually ended up counting the lumps of meat out when serving! We get the deluxe butter chicken from Aldi now, it's nicer and has lots of chicken.

Eh?

They are tiny! We are not massive eaters, but a 'serves 1' between 2 of us wouldn't touch the sides!

Much much prefer COOK.

It’s MN, everyone just eats ‘massive salads’ on here. I’m surprised people are admitting to eating these meals!

(And yes, they are tiny)

COOK is great and if you know any new parents they do 10% off for the first year of babies life

I like CB macaroni cheese, comfort food, filling and rich. Lovely!

CB sausage and mash are the best I've ever tasted! Haven't seen it for sale for a few years though at our local supermarkets.