M&S Christmas Food Ordering Thread 2014

[mumtoone1]

For those of you not aware, the christmas food catalogue from M&S comes out next Thursday 9th October 2014 and also goes live on their website then too.

They are doing an early bird again whereby if you place your order before 10th November and if it exceeds 70 (gone up quite a bit this year) then you can choose between Gold Label Chardonnay (75cl) or Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon (75cl) - While stocks last; substitute available. Wine will be received.

I'm assuming the substitute will be a box of chocolates.

Dates for last orders:

• Christmas - 15th December 2014

• New Year 20th December 2014

I can't wait to get my order in.

Thanks! I love looking at the M&S food guide to see what I can't afford I will be ordering.

I'm hosting for the first time this year so I'm considering getting the whole lot from m&s. Is it actually worth it?

I've ordered every year since I can remember and I find the food of quality and easy to prepare.

the desserts at times can be showstoppers and always tasty.

Only problem with M&S ordering is that when you go to collect your items there are usually at least 50 people in the queue in front of you, all waiting to collect theirs, so it can be a long wait to receive your order.you then have to take said order and put through the tills, so may have to queue thee as well
I have tried ordering for a time slot that is not busy but always end up with a long wait

I did it for the first time last year and it was amazing. We ordered the full dinner and it was so easy to do, took no time at all and made christmas day completely stress free. At first glance it does look expensive but when you look at what I might spend...

...mainly because i wasn't tempted to buy loads of other food like nibbles etc. which means we didn't have a food mountain after christmas so i think it meant we spent less.

Am making a note for next week!

I've never had issues with queues. Must be shop and time specific surely x

Please tell me what items you ordered from M & S for christmas dinner last year (I've never done it but always spend all day in the kitchen ) Turkey? Stuffing? Side dishes?

What haven't I ordered haha. Normally I order; a starter such as Pate, then for main I order Turkey, Veg Selection, Stuffing, sausages wrapped in bacon, Turkey Gravy. and get a couple of puddings. I also get the odd buffet item for christmas eve.

They do a seasonal saver for around 80 which includes all of the above (1 dessert though) and a cheese board. I've never got it though as it normally includes a crown with stuffing that I'm not fond off. I might consider it this year though.

I love the M&S Christmas stuff too. It has completely taken the stress out of the day.
It is delicious too. Loved the chocolate bell thing! Can't wait to get the catalogue...god I am sad!

You can order literally everything - turkey, turkey crowns, hams, salmon, veg and side dishes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, veggie options, puddings. They do some Christmas dinner packages that are slightly cheaper. You can also preorder party food.
We've ordered most years. An early appointment (8ish) usually works well as the other shops won't be open so parking is easy and I go on my own on Christmas Eve.
The kids are a bit older now and I'm thinking of cooking and freezing stuff ahead instead this year. They don't rate the M&S roasties.
It's been great in the past as Christmas Eve we can just potter and lay the table and Christmas Day it's just a case of getting the timings and temperatures right for everything. Trickier than you might think!

I'm hosting for the first time this year. 11 coming ! I 'm not a confident cook so hoping M &S will take the stress away. Asked for the booklet in store yesterday. Women looked at me as if I was mad!

Last year I got the £100 deal and it was fantastic. Made Christmas dinner a little easier ordering it and when I queued for the order the staff were offering Buck's Fizz and sweet mince pies while you waited.

I'm going to my mams for dinner this year so won't be ordering, but next year will do it again.

When you order do you pay then or when you collect?

Thanks! I missed the Waitrose one last year and used Marks instead, IMO it was better!

Jersy you pay a 20 deposit and the rest at collection

Ooooo right ive emailed the M&S franchise over here to see if they are running this promotion too as i am seriously tempted for this Christmas!

I have done the go in and buy and queue, but now we have an M&S 5 mins away I do an early Christmas Eve slot for collecting.... By early I mean 0630h.... And it's fab. There are other souls about at that time but it's all quite slick and maybe one or two people in the queue so pretty much in and out.

I usually buy their stuffed turkey crown and trimmings (stuffing balls, pigs in blankets), gravy, bread sauce and cranberry sauce.

Last year I also bought a.... I can't remember what it was called.... Lemon and raspberry mousse that serves 6 or 8.... I can't remember. Anyway it had to sit in hot water for a couple of minutes and then you poured raspberry coulis over it once decanted onto a serving dish. Well, I decanted it, I served it, and it was gone, just like that, to groans of delight and wishes of a second round (we only had the one). It was real show stopper and an amazing way to end Christmas dinner.

I hope they sell this again this year!!

I'm hosting for the first time and debating whether to buy a M&S or Waitrose turkey crown. Will need to feed 6 meat eaters. I am veggie so really don't want the pressure of cooking the whole bird! Opinion gratefully received....

I can't speak to Waitrose, but M&S turkey crown is yum, comes ready prepped and already in a tray so all you have to do is take it out of the bag and put it in the oven. Miiiiiiinimal effort, it's great!

I just started another thread to say I've booked my Waitrose slot and ordered my turkey (crown)
Can't wait!

Can't wait.

We did this last year and will be doing it again. We got the small deal £60 or there abouts. There were only 4 of us (2 adults, 2 children) but we love roast dinners so ate it for a few days. Could eat it now actually!

This year I've done parc vouchers for m&s (£100 worth) so I know ours is paid for already and I can even get some extra bits to take with us to other people houses or keep for ourselves

Hmm I might do this this year as we've decided to stay at home. Nearest m&s is forty minutes away though.

2 years ago I got home from collecting our order on Xmas Eve to find that the Turkey was off. Bought from the local butcher last year. Have really fallen out of love with M&S Christmas food but their ready prepared desserts are hard to beat.