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.

That's terrible! What did you do?

There was a similar thing in our local Wholefoods 2 years ago with a whole batch of pre ordered fresh turkeys being off (and given to customers). Apparently the manager shrugged "what do you want me to do" and there was a mad rush on the supermarkets for replacements.

I think I might try this this year. Anyone got any specific recommendations?

Is there a veggie option, do you happen to know? I'm going to have to do traditional and vegetarian, this year.

This could be a live saver for me. First time doing it for me and our rented home has a very small kitchen with a not huge oven.

DH will be working and I'll be wrangling 2 under 4's as well as being a smiling host to my parents and Gran.

Thanks OP!

minkah I'm wondering that too. We are a veggie house. I never do the m and s dine in for 2 meals as it always seems such rubbish value for the veggie option compared do the bargainous meat options.

Yes veggie options. They do a big nut loaf and a mushroom roulade x

Can you order the catalogue online ?

Mumtoone1 thankyou.

This thread going to prove to be very helpful to me I think!

We picked up at 7.30. Home about 8am and realised the problem and called the store. They took one off the shelf for us but were panicking massively as they were worried it was a huge batch problem. Not much of an apology though.

indy that's awful. I once went to a butchers and got an off turkey and it's put me off for life too. I've never had an issue with m&s though. Unfortunate one off by the sounds of it.

We always get the mushroom Wellington and honestly it's one of the nicest veggie options I've found. Quite large too and last two years was only £7

Inspired by behoove I booked a waitrose delivery for my turkey, and will add stuffing, prepped veggies and a showstopper dessert when they become available. I'm happy to cook (for 8-10, probably) but would rather potter in the kitchen making pigs in blankets than dash around the shops.

I might pass, this year. Don't like either of the free wines!

I ordered the salmon joint, last year, for £30. It was massive. I ended up cutting off the tail 1/3 for another time and shoving it in the freezer and shoved loads of the cooked salmon in the freezer on boxing day for lunches - I found a piece last week (and hoyed it!)

Hoyed?

I'm another one hosting for the first time (8 adults 2 children) and already starting to panic a bit. Am seriously tempted especially as an M&S Simply Food has opened just a couple of miles down the road from us.

Sorry. M&S would bar me if they heard me say that out loud :o
www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hoy#hoy-3

I bought everything from M&S last year.
This year I am only going to get the meat and dessert as the trimmings weren't all that special, Hoping the passionfruit mousse is available this year.

Will get Tesco finest duck fat roasties, pigs in blanket from butchers.

I have to say I think their food is great and far nicer than waitrose.

I did read a couple of years ago they were one of worst for adding rubbish to make it taste nice, but they over hauled their act a while ago.

we had a three bird roast one xmas and it was to die for.....

this year am tossing up another one or a goose from somewhere...

I also used to hang round on xmas eve and get reduced goods, like organic turkey for 12 pounds down from 40 !!! but too many people do it now, its a bun fight...

their deserts are pretty amazing too.

I'm getting a catalogue from M&S as soon as ours get them in store and its the same offers as you guys get!

Hope the Opera cake from last year makes another appearance!

M&S Christmas dinner is a tradition now, MIL pays and I order and cook!

this year we're eating out, but i told DP last night that we're ordering one of these saver deals from m&s next year if we stay at home, i told him i'd still do my homemade stuffing and add garlic and rosemary to the roasties. he looked at me as if i was a full on lunatic.

so excited for the catalogue on thursday, hoping there'll be an amazing dessert in the magazine for christmas eve.

was a little bit disappointed with their party food last year, it was too similar to the previous years. hoping for something a bit different this year.

Found the catalogue in store today (London). My husband will spend a ridiculous amount of time cooking (as usual) and we won't order anything, but some things look really nice. There is a cranberry& clementine pudding which looks beautiful, plus the passion fruit mousse and also a white chocolate snow bombe which would look like a fabulous snowy mountain with a few model snowmen/ sledges shoved on top.
Vegetarian main options are:
1.Parsnip, Camembert& mustard pithivier (puff pastry)
2.Roasted butternut squash, almond and pecan nut roast
3.Mushroom Wellington in puff pastry

Wow Roslet your lucky finding a copy early! I'll check my local store tomorrow in that case!

Last year there was one MNetter who managed to persuade one of the staff to give her the Food Catalogue early
"I'm not meant to let you have this" he said, meaning 'keep it a secret' - which she did, apart from everyone on MN