Would I be mad to do the big food shop at M&S, rather than Aldi?

[CharlotteSometimes1]

This will be the first time in 16 years that Christmas will be just us and our young adult dc and we’re all hoping for a chilled out time. I’ve always bought the food from Aldi/Tesco and cooked it all from scratch, but I’m wondering if I should make life easier by getting the lot from M&S, but I have questions. What are the portion sizes like? What’s the quality, will it taste great? I expect it’ll be more expensive, but will it be eye watering? Will it be bombed out and is there a good time to go? I’m happy to pay more for the convenience if it really is easier and tastes good.

The last few years I’ve got the Xmas dinner for 2 from Cook (£42) . Everywhere else has huge portions and if, for example, MiL comes then I just add on a mushroom Wellington. I pick up a few bits from assorted shops with vouchers & points I’ve saved up. M&S is nice for cheese and snacks, Aldi is good for wine and mince pies and Morrisons for the days in between celebrations.

Marks and Spencer’s every time for me at Xmas. You might shell out more but the quality is beyond good.

It’s really not that bad . It’s like any other store and although some things are more expensive- the majority is just the same. For example: their own brand tinned soups and baked beans . Cheap as chips and so much better quality and tastier.
Love M and S .

Yes but don’t buy the ready made stuff there, buy the ingredients & make it yourself. The quality is so much higher.

You could buy the ingredients for a beef wellington from M&S though & make it yourself. It’s just a bit of beef wrapped in puff pastry.

Pigs in blankets are so quick and easy to make, and much cheaper. Plus you can choose quality sausages and bacon. They freeze perfectly too.

And the rest! The duxelles , prosciutto, pâté and some people wrap it in a thin omelette as well. Not just any beef either. Has to be a really good quality fillet. I made one from scratch a few years ago and we all ate late as I severely underestimated how long it would take.

Just goes to show you’re right about individual taste because we absolutely loved those Heston puddings (although we had the larger ones with the orange rather than the clementine). So sad they don’t do them anymore!

M and S red cabbage is good, and cauliflower cheese decent. I don’t think pre made roast potatoes and parsnips will ever be up to the mark.

your money your choice
i know someone who has been this for Years

Not everything is instant in M&S. I’d do a pre Christmas shop and have a look. See what you like.

I have pre-ordered all my Christmas lunch from Booths, apart from the meat as I get that from the local butcher. I do this every year. Expensive, yes, but it is only once a year, and the convenience is fantastic.
It gives me more time to relax, along with everyone else.

We buy our food from M&S. Not ready made stuff, but I’m sure that’s delicious. The quality is reliably excellent and it’s not expensive. We’re picking up the pre-ordered turkey there on Tuesday and will get all of the other food at the same time.

We do have an Aldi but I’ve never bought groceries there. The whole manic till situation puts me off.

I would yes, not the pre-prepared main meal components as it's never been as good as home made when we've tried it but their food generally is such good quality.

Definitely mad at this time of year to do the big food shop at M&S, parking will be a nightmare and the aisles will be rammed.

Instead I would send your driver and your servants to do the shop for you.

We do a combination. Certain things M& S do really well like their cauliflower cheese & stuffing & their puddings.

Contrary to popular belief M&S can actually be priced on par with asda and others. Unless you go for premium premium items.
Someone mentioned ocado above because they sell M&S stuff. My weekly from there was very much sam2 but better quality than asda. Aldi is still bit cheaper than asda but honestly, not that much lately imho.
Go for it

Go for it. You can’t beat M&S for food, especially their fruit and veg (way above Aldi). You get what you pay for and shopping there when it’s quiet is a nice experience, especially compared to shopping at Aldi! What’s not to like?

Isn’t that true of all supermarkets though? I’m in the car park as soon as they open and it’s not that bad.

The mashed potato is very good

If you're buying the stuffed crown £87 (I think) it doesn't have enough gravy.

I had some vouchers so I decided to treat myself to a little M&S shop yesterday.
I got the Honey mustard parsnips, redcabbage and apple, cauliflower cheese, beef dripping yorkshires, cranberry sauce, a yule log, biscuits and a tub of mini yule log type bites. It was nearly £70, so I'll get the rest from Aldi.

I wasn’t too impressed wih the M and S party food this year

I went in this morning, got
pigs in blankets
stuffing balls
Very merry munch tin
cinnamon biscuits
box of biscuits for cheese

Only went in for the pigs in blankets but I got a bit carried away 😬

It’s so expensive 🫣 I was looking at desserts today and the Christmas ones are twice the price of their normal desserts, which are probably twice the price of Aldi/Lidl! Lovely for a treat though.

We have done M&S for years for ease but the prices this year are gulp inducing. Things I remember buying from the Xmas range just a couple of years ago are now double the price, literally. The desserts are extortionate!

I can’t quite bring myself to spend that much. We are getting a turkey crown from our butchers (very good local one) and I think it will be mainly Aldi for the rest.