IT’S the biggest blow-out of the year.
Research shows that more than a quarter of the average family’s festive budget goes on food and drink. And a major chunk of the £200-plus goes on the most anticipated, planned-for meal of the year on the big day itself.
Starting this week, the great Sunday Post festive taste test will take you course-for-course through your yuletide feast.
What’s a cracker – and what’s a total turkey?
Don’t buy anything before you read our verdicts.
M&S Ardennes Pate, £1.50
TASTE TEST: The strong and potent smell gets the taste buds tingling right away. Moderately coarse and chunky, there’s a peppery tang to it. Rich and full flavoured.
VERDICT: ****
Aldi Deli continental Duck and Orange pate, 85p
TASTE TEST: It had a very mousse-like consistency that just seemed to slide away as you ate it. Yes, there was a duck taste, but frankly not a lot of orange.
VERDICT: **
Asda Smooth Brussels pate, £1
TASTE TEST: This was smooth and actually quite substantial. You felt like you were getting a good mouthful. Although a fairly delicate flavour, there was a nice porky after-taste.
VERDICT: ****
Castle MacLellan Chicken Liver Pate with Scottish heather honey, 99p
TASTE TEST: Very smooth and creamy. The honey does add a certain sweetness to it, but it is very subtle, not really giving a distinctive flavour. Understated.
VERDICT: ***
M&S 10 Mini Smoked Salmon Pearls, £3.50 (Currently half price)
TASTE TEST: The presentation of the shell is great, but some described the actual salmon as “sci-fi slime”. Subtle taste. Style over substance.
VERDICT: ***
M&S Scottish maple-cured smoked salmon, £4.50
TASTE TEST: They were really chunky, thick slices of salmon and a just-right depth of smoky flavour. The maple syrup came through nicely. Good texture, too. Subtly classy.
VERDICT: *****
Tesco Soy, honey and ginger salmon fillets, £4
TASTE TEST: You got the soy and the sweetness from the honey, but the ginger didn’t really come through. Felt like a bit of a clash with the salmon and it had an oily after-taste.
VERDICT: **
Lidl Scottish salmon fillets with a tangy sweet chilli marinade, £2.69
TASTE TEST: Really speckled with colour from the topping and the sweet chilli certainly shone through although it wasn’t too fierce at at all. Flaked nicely.
VERDICT: ****
Aldi Thai Style Prawn Selection, £2.49
TASTE TEST: A nice mix of four different canapes. Some more chilli would have added a little zing. Not overly endowed with actual prawns, but an acceptable start to any festive meal or gathering. At just £2.49, fantastic value if you’re trying not to blow the budget.
VERDICT: **
Asda King Prawn Ring with Sweet Chilli Dip, £4
TASTE TEST: A simple, classic dish. Nicely presented and the flavours and textures of the prawns mixed with the chilli sauce really worked. A lovely “help yourself” dish.
VERDICT: ****
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mini Seafood Shells, £3.75
TASTE TEST: Maybe our testers are too fussy as they described these as “too fishy”! Also messy – don’t choose to eat them at a posh party!
VERDICT: **
Tesco Finest 8 Potato Wrapped King Prawns, £5
TASTE TEST: Managed to convert our prawn haters into lovers of all things seafood. Slightly messy but a great combination.
VERDICT: ****
Aldi Specially Selected Christmas Dinner Bites, £2.49
TASTE TEST: Great value, but not a hit. Fatty and bland. Our testers wanted more of a zing from the sage and onion stuffing. They were disappointed.
VERDICT: **
M&S Vol Au Vents, £2.50 (Currently half price)
TASTE TEST: Our testers actually argued over the last tomato and mozzarella vol au vent – so good! The others were tasty but not quite as lovely.
VERDICT: ***
Tesco Finest Canapes Selection, £4
TASTE TEST: Delicious selection of dinky canapes with chorizo, Welsh rarebit and Manchego cheese. Our testers couldn’t get enough of these.
VERDICT: ****
Iceland Chicken & Chorizo Cups, £3
TASTE TEST: Delicious! They cooked slightly faster than recommended so look out for that, but these were considered “lovely wee meaty parcels of pleasure”.
VERDICT: ****
READ MORE
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