M&S Christmas food

[Whentoseekhelp89]

This year we have somehow ended up hosting both sets of grandparents, and with a baby and 3 year old - we are NOT faffing about in the kitchen!

Ive placed an order for M&S Christmas food, which covers everything we’d need for Christmas dinner.

Just wondering, for those who have used it before, is it different to the in store products you can buy? They all say they serve 6-8, but are they tiny portions or are they generous?

I’ve read some reviews on the Ocado app and some folk are saying certain things aren’t as good as the Xmas versions so I’m guessing it is different to the readily available stuff in store?

General stuff isn’t always great, like the cauli cheese is watery and bland but I have ordered the Cornish cruncher cauli and assuming it’d be…. Tastier? Would the cauli cheese be the same as the one in store?

I think they might pimp them slightly (like add a topping) and also redesign package. Operations wise it makes zero sense to redevelop full recipes. So I’d be very surprised. I’m also almost certain Sainsbury’s use the exact same suppliers so you can probably get identical products a lot cheaper there.

We bought everything from the M&S Christmas Food range last year and I'm not sure it was worth it. The collection process was incredibly busy and stressful (though about as well organised as it could be from their end), and if I'd known I could have just walked into my local M&S at a more convenient time and buy the same things off the shelf, which seemingly I could have, then I wouldn't have bothered. The veg assortment and stuffing were big disappointments in particular - though they are large, we had loads of leftovers from 4 of us. This year, we've ordered our turkey and dessert (will send DH to collect this time!) and the rest I'll just go into store and buy myself.

We decided to treat ourselves to m&s food last Christmas & we were so disappointed. Most of it was tasteless, some was inedible. We complained but they didn't want to know. It definitely wasn't the special meal we had all been looking forward to.

I discovered M&S Christmas food a few years ago and I’ve not gone back. I love that I don’t have to cook, peel and chop forever and I think the turkey is amazing. The desserts I’m not sure I’m too keen on. Still try the new ones though.

Their Oakham slow cooked Turkey joint is bloody delicious. It says it serves 6 which is probably accurate as we demolished it between 5 of us. It was literally just put in the oven and no faff and came out spot on perfect. I’ve ordered two this year. I don’t think their veg packages etc are really worth it for the price but they are tasty. Tesco cauliflower cheese is just as tasty for half the price.

We normally order the turkey, maybe a side or two (which I think is a bit pumped up as pp said) and then buy the rest in store/make something. I find it much easier to do this when hosting. We normally order a bit more but then have plenty of leftovers for Boxing Day.

The only thing I didn’t like in recent yrs was the carrot and parsnips mash.

I've ordered M&S Christmas food in the past and our experience is that the meat and fish options are generally excellent with generous portions. Desserts can also be good and some have the "wow" factor, but I usually find them too sickly after a big meal.
Less so the veg dishes, which we've found to be disappointing quite frankly. Carrot and swede mash watery and tasteless, cauliflower cheese thin and bland etc. Aunt Bessies frozen roasties are just as good and much cheaper.
My recommendation would be to order the starter and meat/fish items, possibly the dessert too if there is something that takes your fancy, but source the veg and other accomplishments elsewhere, or do that part of it yourself.

I've been buying the stuffed turkey crown for decades and it's perfect for us, always get the extra large, regardless of how many of us there are. I just pick one up as soon as they are in store.
I'm yet to find any supplier that matches home made toasties or veg though.

Can I just clarify this, as I have never hosted as many people as I am this year and normally I'm a go to the shop on the 23 and pick up the necessaries. Christmas Food shops online - can I buy that same stuff instore? Or do I need to have a Christmas Food shop booked?

Tried it last two years and it is all a bit meh and tasteless although great turkey. Portions are pretty regular. I have moved over to Sainsburys Christmas food to order this year.

We've been ordering for five or six years and always really enjoy the simplicity and the quality. The 6-8 size is likely to be too small for 6 adults and a toddler unless you all have tiny appetites. We always order 10-12 for a household of 4 (with no small kids) and it's enough for the day with a small quantity for Boxing day sandwiches.

There are items (most I think?) that you can buy in store and others that are exclusive to food to order.

Mostly you can buy the same things in store, with the exception of the desserts which are almost always sold out.

Always been disappointed tbh.

Just a word of warning, we were one of those unlucky sods that ended up with a rotten turkey with the pre-booked M&S Christmas Food two years ago.

Can I recommend Cook for a ready-made Christmas option? They deliver (so no mad collecting required) and their food is delicious. We've been really impressed in the past. Their ready meals are much nicer than M&S in my experience.

Christmas Dinner 2024 | Order Xmas Lunch & Food Delivered COOK

Oh god, maybe I should cancel most of it then!

I make a great cauliflower cheese, I can’t stand the hard cauliflower with watery bland cheese sauce most supermarkets have to offer.

They didn’t have things to serve 10 really, and not keen to order 2x which would serve 12, for 6/7.

I’ve gone for the below -

Cabin cake
Caramel trifle
Sausage roll garland
Small turkey crown for children

Angus rib of beef
Dauphinoise pots
Roast potatoes
Red cabbage
Cauli cheese
Brussels
Parsnips
Cauliflower cruncher
Pigs in blankets
Stuffing balls
Cheese board
Charcuterie board

We’ve had Christmas food from COOK for many years. Excellent quality and so easy as all you need to do is open the oven!

To be fair here, most supermarkets have had customers with off Turkey or chicken every year. Last year was Aldi all over tik tok. It will be the same again this year.

I have had no issues with their food OP. I order because I have been to my local, fairly small M&S and been disappointed with what’s been left on the main shelves when I have been in. Possibly just my timing though.

I really like their cauli cheese. Never had a watery one. Always loads of sauce and it cooks really well.