DADDYCOOL'S MINCE PIE DISCUSSION AND RATING 2007!

[DaddyCool]

Hello laaayyddee's, I'm back with my mince pie rating and discussion forum. I missed last year as I was out of the country and stuck with only mince pies from my local bakery which tasted too much of cinnamon and not enough of brandy.

Let me remind you ladies that the taste testing is based ONLY on LUXURY mince pies and not bog-standard ones. Also, if you eat Mr. Kipling pies, you should be ashamed and you have no place to take part in this discussion ()

ok, well the start of this year's taste testing was delicious but a little disspointing as I suspect 1 company is making pies for various supermarkets.

My first taste test was Tesco Finest. Historically an unusual pie which sported a very thin, saucer like shape and very light soft pastry. This year's was different. Pastry was similar but it was a deep filled pie as opposed to it's old saucer like shape.

The dissapointing bit was that on my second taste test, the 'Asda Extra Special' pie, I found that other than the little snow flake punched into the top, IT WAS THE SAME PIE!

Both quite nice pies but I'm dissapointed with the standardisation of these pies.

Btw, I thought Waitrose Luxury pies were the best in 2005 with M&S a close 2nd.

Opinions please.

oooh I was calling for you to start this quite recently . Good to have you back.

I can report on M&S, Waitrose and Sainsburys.

Isn't that interesting about the mince pie manufacturer - I'll have to look out for that.

M&S classic mince pies - nice dusting of sugar on the top, delicious filling. Thumbs up from all the foxes.

Waitrose (haven't got box so can't check the exact name) - filling the best so far. Just the right amount of alcohol. Pastry delicious.

Sainsburys - v popular in this house, lighter than the other two I reckon.

For me, at the moment, it's a toss up between Waitrose and M&S but we buy lots of the Sainsbury ones because we tend to go through them so quickly iyswim.

(How you settling by the way?)

Haven't bought any yet, but will watch with interests. I think the morrison ones that Lulu advertises with "fresh" cream look a bit yuk. Can you test these for me, as I would be intersted to see if they taste as naff as they look

duchy original ones are nice but cost the earth? the waitrose own brand mini mince pies are scrummy.

I was thought Sainsbury's (the orange shop as my boy calls it) were pants but I haven't tasted this year's offering yet.

I just remember the Waitrose ones being the very best.

Duchy's - Yes, I recall the pastry being superior but the filling a little dissapointing.

(we're settling ok, new job and new house which I'm doing alot of work on and I think we bit off a bit more than we could chew but we're nearly done it for moving in. We miss Canada a little though)

Oooh! A bit early in the Pesto household, for mincepies, but can't wait to get stuck in start sampling next week. Good to have an excuse.

My own home made (with homemade mincemeat) are rather yummy, but I don't suppose you are near enough to come and try them.

Ooooh my favourite thread! Welcome back DC!

The 2007 research project has been underway since early November and the following conclusions have been drawn:

Waitrose Mini Butter Mince Pies - the supreme winner in 2005 & 2006. Again never failing to bring a smile to the lips and several inches on the hips. Extra point for being small as LOs love the size too. Light pastry and a generous, not too sweet filling ensures that the pastry:filling ratio is spot on despite the size of the pies.

M&S Classic - I'm sure these are much improved on previous submissions. Superb pastry with a light dusting of crunchy sugar. Very fruity filling too. A definite contender for the 2007 award.

M&S Mulled Wine - awful, awful, awful. Visually enticing (festive star motif on the tops of the pies) but the pastry was sweaty and doughy. The filling is a congealed blob of brown sweet jam. I'd rather have a Mr Kiplings offer than one of these.

lol... excellent submission pennies.

omg its greta ot have this back

watirose all butter

its great to see you tbh

cod - you can add it to your consumer research.

interesting to see the waitrose support. I recall quite a bit of disagreement on waitrose back in 2005 including my colleagues.... but they were all bloody peasants anyway so what do they know

oh yes dc and i will ahev a turret at mn towers.

oh ai sm sadly pleased he is back

what did kylie think of it?

Is it only supermarket ones???

IMHO Starbucks mince pies are the dog's wotsits.

Deep...and rich....and buttery...and crumbly..

Ha! She wasn't very keen on mince pies as far as I could remember. I think she opted out. My french colleague like the M&S ones and some teenaged bottom feeder actually preferred the bog-standard 'classic' ones from tescos. He was punished accordingly.

aaahh, now that's interesting. I think Starbuck's food lets them down in general BUT I HAVE had a starbucks pie and thought them to be rather nice. So yes, I can concur.

a turret? Seriously? what exactly is your new role??

a,the nadine baggot
you cna haev a stool
ill heva the swirly chair

I too have heard promising things of the Starbucks ones. Last year DH claimed to have bought one for me but ate it himself on the train home.

LL - I fessed up in 2005 because I could get away with it as was v.v. pregnant at the time.

I did have something of a pastry obsession though and had conducted a similar experiement with eccles cakes (Greggs won, but they don't do them anymore .

DH seems to have picked up the gauntlet this year by being first to bring home samples which he has suggested are all for the benefit of my research.

Can I ask if the tastings are done on a cold mince pie or are they dolled up in any way ? Only ask because I have downed a few packs already (tesco bog standard - the shame of it ) warmed up and with a blob of tescos finest chantilly cream. Will have to get some Waitrose ones now...

yes, the starbucks one was nice. It was freakishly large.

I think starbucks coffee is wonderful and they also do a beautiful accompanying beverage called an 'Egg Nog Latte' to go along with this humungous mince pie.