Ooh, new Waitrose in my area, recommend me your favourites please!

[dazedandblue]

A new Waitrose has opened near me and I'm heading over for a browse today. I haven't stepped foot in one for a long time!

What are your must-buy items? Best own-brand stuff, hidden gems, things worth the extra cost? Also any bakery/deli/cheese counter recommendations?

Basically don't want to just wander round aimlessly and miss the good stuff - give me your Waitrose wisdom!

I am clearing out a load of books and the crates their watermelons come in are absolutely perfect. And free. And helpful greengrocery assistant carried four to the car!

Their packs of Camomile Soap are lovely , there was a whole long thread about the advantages of soap v shower gels so I gave it a try .
4 bars for £2.40

Cheese soufflé - they are so good. Need to make a sauce to go with them though.

Coffee beans
Falaffals
Williamson tea - it’s really good
Dragonfly vanilla rooibos (much better than Tetley’s)
Spanish omelet containing spinach
Kri Kri Greek yogurt - same as Fage but much cheaper

Def the herby pork and apple pie with their own brand cheese chive and red onion coleslaw!

So jealous, OP!!! Ours closed a few years ago sadly 😥 Definitely check when they do 'shit shelf' days and times - I kept my freezer full on discounted meat etc. for years, highly recommend.

Dark French mustard (own brand), Williamson earl grey tea bags

I know there are mostly classed as ready meals but so useful to keep in the freezer:
Own brand battered frozen haddock fillets - great quality fish, crispy batter
Frozen Portuguese tarts
Mozarella stuffed pork meatballs in tomato sauce
Saag chicken curry
Battered chicken sweet & sour
Essentials mixed tinned grapefruit - never had a bad tin
Guernsey butter - best in the world imho
Lemon or apricot fruit fool

Love Waitrose & am very lucky to be able to get a delivery for £2 but only once in a while.
Also visited the Alderley Edge branch last week as in the area - husband stayed in the car park to count the Bentleys - 3 in 20mins!

Waitrose cheddar cheese, strength 6

No 1 Dominican chocolate ice cream & chocolate/cherry ice cream

The pack of 2 charantese butter croissants

If you have cats, I've been told the own brand chicken & duck tins are to die for!

Essentials mixed tinned grapefruit - never had a bad tin @CaroleSP

I have had a bad tin of Waitrose own brand grapefruit! All the grapefruit segments were covered in white bits - they looked disgusting.

Asda tinned grapefruit is much better. I refuse to buy tinned grapefruit from Waitrose ever again after that.

The coffee shortbread was AMAZING and I’m just about to try the white chocolate ice cream. What a brilliant thread!!

So glad you like it @Urh You can’t go wrong with any of the No 1 range.

I popped into my local branch this morning and picked up something new that hadn’t been mentioned here yet - Belazu truffle and artichoke pesto, and most of the contents of the jar have already gone. It is fabulous with fresh pasta and veg, also on toasted sourdough bread.

8 pack of fever tree tonics.

Had you had the other treats? I have only made it to the candy kittens this month as Tesco sent some £8.00 off a £40 shop vouchers so I have been there instead.

I love the waitrose jam yum yum and sensitive bubble bath.
Also the bean frozen mix and frozen Soffrito

OMG what is this!! I need to put it on my list for next time! It sounds bloody delicious!!

So I’ve ended up going back for more!
Still love the No1 fennel salami!

New (to me) items are buttermilk pancakes (for DS), rosemary and sea salt focaccia, No1 baba ganoush, pork and nduja meatballs and No1 passion fruit and mango ice cream.

the ice cream was not a hit with DS and he prefers the mango sorbet.
The rest has not been sampled yet!

They sell double yolk eggs. Double cream brie from the cheese counter

I love their sourdough ham and emmantal baguettes or the roast beef and horse radish. Apart from those, I prefer Morrisons!

This is a bit boring but I like their fruit and veg. I’m not sure that it’s better than M&S but it is different and good quality. And I love the very convenient Scan Pay Go.

Duchy Organic Vanilla Ice Cream
Ottolenghi Chilli Sauce, it jazzes up anything, I had some with local honey this evening
Croquantes de Cordes in the biscuit aiske
Findlaters Smoked Salmon pate
Own brand Gazpacho

If you fancy a bottle of very special but not horribly expensive fizz, they sell Graham Beck sparkling Rose. It’s South African, I first tasted it in Cape Town, and Waitrose is the only supermarket I’ve found it in, it’s perfect!

Waitrose is our main supermarket and I do think their fruit and veg are better than others. Meat is good as well, a good selection of price options.

I love their frozen pastries, the Essential range is good, I don't think I normally buy the upmarket pasta for example.

Get the MyWaitrose card for each adult, even if it just for the coffee. There aren't a lot of benefits but as we mainly shop there, we get the little treats for free.

Many thanks to whoever recommended the delicious organic Terre di Fiano red wine. It’s the only wine I’ve had for a long time that hasn’t left me with a headache the following morning.

Not Waitrose own label but I love the Ottolenghi sauces and marinades and I can't get them anywhere else.

Fresh soffrito bought when it's reduced and chucked in the freezer are a staple. Also frozen edeame beans which I can't get in Sainsbury's.

We've recently had an M&S food open nearby but I prefer Waitrose because it feels more to do with actual cooking.

Their mustard piccalilli is so good, always have that with a cheese board.

I love their No1 pizzas
No1 Greek yoghurt
Fruit always good quality
sourdough bread