Mince Pie Appreciation

I don't know, I didn't like those ones though. They just had too much of a hint of pine toilet cleaner or pine urinal cakes for my liking.

cook up a little packet of pine nuts to go on the top?

What have we become?

Connoisseurs

wtf? If anyone ever invents a time machine I’m going back in time to stop this bullshit.

Breakfast of champions. The Dirty.
20 seconds in microwave, dollop of creme fraiche.

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Continuing my supermarket ratings...

Tesco finest All Butter Pastry Mince Pies with Brandy & Port. Been eagerly anticipating these all week. Story goes something like this: no access to Tesco on Monday, forgot Clubcard on Tuesday, remembered Clubcard on Wednesday but forgot I put it in my 3 year old's pocket, finally had everything in place on Thursday (today). Anyway, a bit disappointed. There isn't anything I don't like, there's just nothing that really stands out. The pastry isn't noticeably buttery tasting, the filling is neither sweet or tangy and I wouldn't be able to tell you that there was brandy or port in there. The only real thing that stands out is they are a very good looking pie compared to the others. So they're ok but I wouldn't rush out and buy them.

My supermarket list so far (best to worst):

1. Waitrose Brown Butter with COURVOISIER VS Cognac IN SHOUTY CAPS
   
2. M&S -FOOD- COLLECTION mince pies in the gold box
   
3. M&S C L A S S I C All Butter
   
4. Waitrose 6 All Butter
   
5. Tesco finest All Butter Pastry Mince Pies with Brandy & Port
   
6. Sainsbury's 6 straight-up no bullshit deep filled
   
7. M&S festive iced topped
   
8. Waitrose 9 mini all-butter (didn't like)
   

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Strong work. I picked up a pack of SHOUTY CAPS yesterday of the back of your review, gonna crack into them this evening. Also passes a Conditor so grabbed a couple of their MPs. Bit meh tbh, great buttery pastry but the filling was a bit stingy, no booze to speak of.

THE WINNER

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference mince pies with all-butter pastry, £1.50 for six

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/nov/26/super-messy-but-incredible-uk-supermarket-luxury-mince-pies-tested

You expect us to take the word of some MSM 'pastry queen' ahead of our own Jonny69? You're dreaming, pal.

To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed in Jonny69. It's almost December and he's still not given us a review of the TTD Sainos buggers. Mainstream pastry queen reckons they beat the SHOUTY CAPS but I need to know if that holds true on the fixed gear mincer scene.

epic work @Jonny69 - holding out until December. but will benefit greatly from your rigourous research. big thanks dude

Tbh it's like the coffee scene in Pulp Fiction. It's because Mrs69 has been going to Sainsburys and she buys shit. I'm hoping to do those and Asda this weekend. I need to know now too!

I don't have a Safeway Morrisons or Co Op nearby so I can't do those two. I might just skip the Aldi ones based on that review. The Lidl ones I had last night were pretty disappointing with claggy, under-baked pastry and stingy filling. They're in a fairly strong last place and I'm reluctant to actually finish the box.

My supermarket list so far (best to worst):

1. Waitrose Brown Butter with COURVOISIER VS Cognac IN SHOUTY CAPS
   
2. M&S -FOOD- COLLECTION mince pies in the gold box
   
3. M&S C L A S S I C All Butter
   
4. Waitrose 6 All Butter
   
5. Tesco finest All Butter Pastry Mince Pies with Brandy & Port
   
6. Sainsbury's 6 straight-up no bullshit deep filled
   
7. M&S festive iced topped
   
8. Waitrose 9 mini all-butter (didn't like)
   
9. Lidl Deluxe 12 All Butter Mini Mince Pies (really not great)
   

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/nov/26/super-messy-but-incredible-uk-supermarket-luxury-mince-pies-tested

Super-messy but incredible is my dating profile.

I tried the Co-op luxury all butter ones. Tasted quite boozy, not a big fan.

Can you put Iceland on the list? I tried both their regular and luxury range and both were decent. I preferred the latter but keen to hear the thoughts of a connoiseur and see where they fit in to your list.

Confirmed: SHOUTY CAPS are tasty

Just invested in a box of Spar's finest - they have a suspicious star shaped bit on the top like a few others, almost like they're all made in the same place 🤔

Anyway- not bad, nothing special - filling a bit dense, quite a strong orange flavour coming through.

My wife reminds me that the Aldi frangipane ones topped our list last year, they were good - must see if they have another batch this year.

Thumbs up for these. Good size, crisp buttery pastry and decent amount of filling

In Norfolk, so unsure about potential differences in bakeries

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Got them last year, Morrisons Congleton, bakery obviously used a teaspoon rather than tablespoon for the filling. May try my luck again next Wednesday.

Yeah, I know the pastry is prepared off site, but don't know if your amount of filling is subject to the whims of a particular person in store?

Next week I'll find out, then again, may cave, and nip round this afternoon.

Take these with you

Or I could just pry the top off a couple and peek inside.

"Official mince pie inspection. Go about your business!"

Thats a bold claim that appears not to be backed up by published research. Worth refering to the ASA in the interests of consumer protection?