M&S Christmas Food Slots- Open now!

[BlairWaldorfOG]

Just as the title says.

@Blanketpolicy I was tempted by this but can’t stand popping candy. M&S do a really gorgeous yule log smothered in chocolate fudge (rather than buttercream) It’s not in the book or online, but they always have it in store in December, so I’m sticking with that.

Really underwhelmed with their dessert offerings this year.

I’ve just placed my order. All being well i’ll have a 3 week old baby (C section) So i’m taking a break from hosting this year. We are eating out. However, I can’t be without my turkey sandwiches with my home made sausage meat, apple and chestnut stuffing, so I’ve ordered the slow cooked £32 turkey joint that comes with gravy.

Also ordered the Brie en croute and the Christmas jumper Colin the Caterpillar (At my 4 year old’s insistence)

Thank you so much!!! Ordered! We always host Xmas at ours and I have a 4 year old so I refuse to spend too much time in the kitchen so I've ordered basically everything to just to heat up!!!

So disappointed with Marks this year I excitedly booked my slot went in to fill up my basket and found nothing jumping out, I can't get my head round some of the prices so not ordering, I might need to actually cook this year!

I've had a look and I'm quite disappointed. Seems to be limited selection and really expensive. I think I'll stick with a veg box and a turkey crown / gammon and beef joint from my local butcher.

It's no different to last year or the year before those saying they're disappointed. Don't get those comments at all

Me neither, I’ve booked my order and it’s the same as every year, with slightly different desserts - we’re trying the cheesecake this year for a change.
The only thing I’ve noticed is (when comparing to my previous years order emails) is the creeping price increase on the Turkey crowns.

I’m sure they used to have more choice in terms of party food. They now seem to expect you to use Ocado for that, rather than order it from Marks directly.

I do agree about the creeping increase in the cost of turkey crowns, though.

creeping price increase

All supermarket shopping prices have rocketed this year so not at all surprising.

Has anyone tried the 'Slow cooked' turkey crowns before? We had a free range, normal one last year but I have diagnosed OCD and would find a slow cooked one easier!

Definitely feels like there’s less sides, desserts and no sauces/gravies though (which means a trip in to the store too). Having vegetarians here has always been tricky at Christmas but M and S always does nice cheese/veg based pies etc but unfortunately one of the DDs has also been diagnosed gluten intolerant this year so no more M and S pies 😞

Way fewer sides this year, no sauces, stuffing etc

@Rosesandstars I was tempted by the slow cooked turkey too. We also had the organic crown last year and it was perfect. I went on Ocado and the slow cooked ones had decent reviews, but I wasn't sure if it would be a different texture, I'm sure it has water in it. I'm still on the fence about switching it out.

I've never spotted any sauces or gravies on the food to order over the last few years when I've been doing our order. And I always got in early and rechecked regularly.

I’ve ordered the beef Wellington again. It was £50 last year. £70 now. Better be bloody good again. It was lovely last year but we did have a soggy bottom.

I've ordered the slow cooked turkey but I'm thinking of amending the order as I prefer eating free-range meat and I'm not sure about the texture either!

Another one disappointed too. I've ordered:
Crown
Ham
Caterpillar
Vegetables and sides

I was hoping for more christmas themed goodies for dessert.

We had the Beef Wellington one year. But the pastry was split slightly at the top when I opened the packet, when it cooked the pastry split more and the filling leaked out a bit and it didn't look great but still tasted lovely.

I took a quick photo with my phone before and after cooking and wrote to M&S on boxing day saying it tasted great but the presentation was very disappointing for the price, M&S and Christmas day. They refunded the full price of it!

I found the quality to be bad the past 2 years, finally giving up this year after being an ardent M&S fan! I did check to see if anything amazing to tempt me back, but sainsburys range looks much better. Might pop to store Xmas eve closing though and get some bargains again!

Always had fresh gravy, stuffing and bread sauce. I had it last year and every year since they started. I am assuming it’s because they are partnered with Ocado now. It’s a pain as Ocado not reliable with stock now.

I've looked for it every year when I ordered. Perhaps it's added later as I usually book a slot the day they start. I've just been picking it up in store (often elsewhere). I do love their fresh cranberry sauce.

I still have cranberry sauce in the freezer from last year. This is going to make me sound like a massive twat but I am going to try fortnums this year.

I’m agonising over whether to order Sainsbury’s “Home for Christmas” dessert this year. It looks fabulous. But I’m not hosting this year and not sure if it’ll get eaten? 🤔

Sainsbury’s desserts are much better than M&S this year.

I think it'll be cute to have Christmas eve, but depends how many of you there are I suppose! I might order one instead of getting a tub of chocs which are always disappointing. I agree that their desserts are much nicer.

I was very disappointed with the selection. Definitely felt like there was less choice of sides and nibbly bits which it the main reason I’ve used M&S in the past. Nothing new and innovative either. I’m going to go to Booths this year.