M&S food - what was good and what wasn’t?

[Oppositioblue]

Beef Wellington overall was good. The duxelle was a bit strong but the beef was delicious. Wouldn’t buy again though. Very expensive. It was £70 and only fed 3 of us with just pastry leftover.

We also had the prawn and lobster cocktail to start. The fish was delicious but the cocktail sauce M& used wasn’t nice. We had a bottle of cocktail sauce in the cupboard thankfully so we scrapped off the sauce and added our own which was much better. The tomato balls in the starter weren’t nice. This is a definite no as a repurchase next year.

We also bought a Christmas colin to have over the coming days. He’s good!

Pigs in blankets which came with stuffing balls were wet and slimy.

Red cabbage far too sweet and sickly.

Sprouts (with bacon and garlic ) ok - I'd get them again.

Luxury (or whatever they call it) yule log looked good and went down well with the children.

Luxury Xmas pudding and brandy butter both very good.

Loved their mince pies.
This time, I bought a whole chicken and chicken pies, from a butcher, for Xmas Day. Will always buy meat from a butchers from now on.

Pigs in blankets not great - the blankets fell off!
Dark chocolate torte (bought because it was dairy free) was delicious, although I do think £15 is a bit steep, even at Xmas!

😂😂😂

Oh yes the Merry Berry Cherry jam was really nice, we had it on our croissants for breakfast yesterday.

I was disappointed that there wasn't a trifle in the Food to Order desserts this year. I ordered a Tesco Finest one instead and it wasn't as good as the M&S one usually is.

Forgot we had the M&S Brie en croute on Christmas Eve, with more pigs in blankets from the party food collection. Would say the party food PIB were better than the ones that came with the stuffing balls.

I added the turkey juices to the tub turkey gravy.

@EwwSprouts if it didn't have wheat in the ingredients (and it must by law highlight this) then it would be fine. Lots of GF things aren't labelled as GF, always go by ingredients.

I bought most of the meat from Waitrose, this year, but I bought gravy from M&S and have enjoyed it (particularly after last year's disappointment of a pot with a bust seal and a thick blue film on it)

Colin Caterpillar was delicious as ever
Pork and cranberry stuffing was good

Yes - loved the jam. Bought at beginning of December to put away for Christmas Day but couldn't resist trying a bit and ended up having some every day! It was finished well before Christmas Day. Will definitely get again!

I thought the frozen Raspberry roulade was delicious.

The fresh cranberry sauce was very tart and nobody really liked it, won’t get that again and DH wasn’t impressed by the red cabbage (I don’t eat it).

We had the churros stars desert on Christmas Eve - the churros were ok but a bit doughy and the chocolate sauce was mouldy!

We have some other bits still to try today and in the next few days.

Stuffed crown on the bone: lovely
Veg pack: hit and miss - the swede and carrot mash was awfully watery as others have mentioned. The sprouts and parsnips were good.
Venison: TINY when meant to be for 6. I laughed when given it in my box at the shop - couldn't believe the size of it.
Colin cake: very dry - needed lots of cream and unfussy DS11 didn't bother after a taste.

T-Bone Road of Beef including a side of fillet and side of sirloin - Serves 8. Delicious but not worth the price and definitely wouldn't have served 8 (6 at a push so way to expensive for the size of joint).

Parsnips - Good

Potatoes - Good

Cauliflor Cheese - Good

Giant Prawn Cocktail - Good

Yule Log (with popping candy) - Good

Pigs - Slimy and a bit tastless...

Yes, we had pigs with Beef.

Most desserts are may contain peanut, really M&S? How do other stores manage not to blanket cover/disclaimer almost everything? It’s lazy.

Seafood starter in shells was excellent (prawns, scallops and chorizo I think)

Turkey crown stuffed and wrapped in bacon also good and didn't take long in the oven. Pork with crackling was also enjoyed although DH gave me a doorstop rather than a thinner slice that would have been better.

Desserts - toffee and pecan roulade was lovely, raspberry one hasn't been touched (yet) and the kids enjoyed the Rodney individual chocolate cakes.

I would agree with you but I'm pretty sure I ordered a GF labelled one (image in the catalogue) and Mum is a particularly susceptible coeliac as it was undiagnosed for many years. Stock is one of those things that might be made in a factory where wheat is used in other products. Can we not buy an unadulterated turkey any more? They'd even put sugar in the stock! Might have to go direct to a local supplier next year.

Aberdeen Angus sirloin on beef (serves 6) - was very easy, very tender, juicy and tasty, 3 generous portions could nicely serve 4, I would have been embarrassed by the portions if I had tried to use it to serve 6! The red wine jus that came with it 🤮

Potato dauphinois - tasty but needed more substance/potato and less sauce

Chocolate pine cones - ds's firm favourite every year, still tasty but much smaller this year (ds ate 2 in a portion instead of one which makes them very expensive). They are lighter/less dense which was actually nicer, but the reduction in size vs cost means I will think twice before buying next year.

Tripe yule log - havent started yet

Trifle - bought off the shelf, haven't tried yet

I have been to so many stores looking for the refills, managed to get 2- one of which is hiding at the back of the cupboard… literally my favourite thing ever. Next year I am going to start buying it as soon as it comes out…

I'm anaphylactic to wheat, rather than coeliac, so have to be equally careful, but have stayed safe always trusting the product label as online listings are often incorrect. M&S are generally very good at precautionary labelling and make clear if something is not safe for coeliac/wheat allergy. But, yes, it's frustrating when we want something plain and it's been fancied up!

The "our best ever trifle" was delicious. Nobody but me likes trifle but I will happily eat this all to my self. Really nice raspberry and custard.

Turkey gravy was good. Red cabbage fine, I think we just got the regular one not a fancy Christmas one.

I'd like to register my dismay at the Very Merry Munch. I was so looking forward to it and when I opened the tin the bag you get is flipping tiny!

We don't get everything from M&S, just some bits. Our meat and fresh veg came from Riverford and was all great. We lucked out with the delivery date being close to use, I don't have the freezer space usually.

I buy their Connoisseur Christmas pudding every year - it’s fantastic. I’ve tried Fortnum, Harrods and other high end puddings, but M&S is still the best.

The gluten issue is one of the reasons I went to Waitrose because the labelling seemed to be clearer. That and the dairy which M&S seem to sneak into everything. I can tolerate tiny amounts of dairy but would rather it was only where I expected it and not in my meat or a Thai green curry, for example.

I've actually not tucked in to most of the stuff we've bought yet as having a get together tomorrow, but we had some star shaped galette waffles for breakfast and they were disgusting! Even slathered in Nutella my daughter binned hers. Was very disappointed they had no very merry munch or vegetarian marshmallows available in store :(

No, it’s not. I’m just me who has been on mumsnet for about 18 years. No relation to marks and spencer, I work in farming. Anyways I am hosting for quite a few next year - relatives from New Zealand are coming. I wanted to know what was good and what wasn’t so I can look back my notes and order without questioning what I am buying nexr year.