Mark & Spencer Christmas food slots

[Crumbelina]

Come and join me if you're starting to wonder when the food slots will go live. 👀

Last year the slots were released on Tuesday 23rd September, so they should be coming soon ...

I'm also here for any M&S Xmas food chat. The chocolate pine cones made me very happy last year. 🌲

The trifle. Ohhhhh the trifle….

Shamelessly hopping on to ask for recommendations? I usually cook a whole spread from scratch for Xmas, but we have a seriously ill child this year and I’d rather fling a few trays into the oven and spend the rest of my time with a Buck’s Fizz playing games with the kids 😀

Sorry to hear about your child. 😥 I read a lot of threads last year and people seems to love the meat but weren't that impressed with the roast potatoes, the red cabbage and pigs in blankets. That said, the honey parsnips and the Brussel sprout gratin were highly rated!

I decided to order a turkey crown, sprout gratin, honey parsnips and the chocolate pine cones (also amazing!). I made my own red cabbage (Delia recipe is the best), pigs in blankets (cocktail sausages with some pancetta wrapped around them) Nigella Clementine cake (so easy!).

I really want to see the catalogue so I can drool over it and see what new things they have for 2026. 😊

Shamelessly marking my place. I am excited. And now want to re read our high brow critiques of the puddings!!

Some other random thoughts. I really liked the Big Mix tin (much better than Roses or Quality Street). And the shortbread biscuit house tin that lit up.

Pine cones are the best... I will try the trifle this year but worried it will only be me that eats it!

Just seen I still have a nut roast in the freezer and thought oh I should have that soon, now seeing this thread realised it's been there quite a while!

Was unsure when I bought it but the sticky toffee trifle was a game changer. Definitely getting that again this year. Disappointed with the lemon panatonne dessert last year so won't repeat that. Feel I need to try the pinecones.

Ooooh… I think I’ve found my people 🤣
we did our own deserts last year. Perhaps this will be the year of the pinecone!

One tip. The chocolate pine cones are amazing. The new white chocolate passion fruit ones were a bit of a let down (from what I read).

I'm such a saddo I still have the paper catalogue from last year. 🤭 Happy to look things up if anyone has any questions. 😄

Placemarking! I will be 38 weeks pregnant on Christmas Day and I’m keen a) to get organised well in advance and b) to have much more ready made stuff than normal although think I draw the line at missing out on homemade roast potatoes 😅

Thinking about getting the pinecones since I can’t have Christmas pudding so glad to hear they are well reviewed!

The Big Mix chocolates are bloody wonderful but sadly, I didn't manage to get a tin by the time I realised how nice they were. Ended up buying 3 boxes by the time Christmas and NY were over.

I didn't bother with a turkey last year but bought the box of trimmings and veg. We also got 2 of the sausage roll wreaths. Speaking of which - does anyone know if the Sainsburys one is comparable? I think it was a fair bit cheaper.

DP works for Waitrose and got lots of discounted bits, including a completely free giant nutcracker dessert after we'd got one for £3!

I have been given £80 in M&S vouchers over the year thst I usually save towards 'naice' M&S things for Christmas. I love just swanning in and having my shop done for me but equally we are supposed to be on a budget this year 😪

I'm the same! I have to make my own roast potatoes but I peel them the night before and put them in water. We like to see friends in the park on Xmas morning and drink Champagne. So morning prep needs to be minimal!

We liked the side of smoked salmon.....delicious....

They havr the big mix tins in store now. Are they really that good? Fed-up with the tradition of buying ever smaller quantities and poorer quality each year!

They really are. Chocolately and chunky with nice fillings. Like Christmas chocolates used to be!

100% agree with this! 👍🏻

The M&S Big Mix Chocolates are nicer than Roses and Quality Street but my only gripe about them is the lid is difficult to remove. 🤷 I hope they don't change to paper wrappers either!

Ooh does anyone know when the food catalogue comes out? I missed it last year!

I always get the turkey from there and some sides. Last year I dilly dallied too much and missed the veg boxes. Feel too expensive but when it came to it I wanted them and was too late 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

I always do my own roast potatoes!

I asked a store assistant at the weekend, she said mid-late September for the M&S Christmas food catalogue. 🎄

Does anyone know the date that the Booths Christmas Food book is out?

I have to drive an hour to that store but the book is worth it! 😁🎄 If they ever change it from being a hardback book, I will complain! 😁🎄

I cannot wait for the Xmas food, I always buy a pack of mince pies the same time the catalogue comes out 😁.

We went for beef last year and it was delicious, then we usually get some 'healthy' fish for Christmas eve, the lobster tails are always a treat, or the side of salmon.

I'm just hoping that it won't all be hot honey flavour, or pistachio desserts!

I've seen a sneak preview and unfortunately it is 'pistachio, honey and salted caramel heavy'. Still lots of nice things though!

I like your mince pie tradition though!

Do you eat a mince pie while perusing the catalogue? 🎄

Jumping on too!

We’ve had the venison roast a few times and it’s always delicious. We usually get the luxury sides collection which is nice, but you do have to decant the roast potatoes and parsnips into larger trays or they won’t cook properly.