I was lucky enough to try the M&S Taste Range a while ago, which was absolutely delicious (and not even considering they were microwave meals, just delicious in general) so when I was contacted asking if I wanted to try their Christmas Party Range, I couldn’t say YES PLEASE fast enough.
I picked up five different things from the range, but there was so many more options available, from mini smoked salmon bagels (aka probably heaven) to pork crackling straws, mini burger and hot dog sliders, antipasti’s and more. I couldn’t get a glimpse of the whole range as there was about six middle aged women fighting to get to the front! Awkward. I feel like I’m going to get to 40 and turn crazy over Marks & Spencers, although honestly if I had the money I’d definitely shop there all the time now!
Oriental Rice Squares
I have to admit I thought Christmas party food would be Christmas related, but clearly I was wrong. These little rice square things get put in the oven, then topped with either the sweetcorn relish or the mushroom relish, then garnished with the strips of chilli. I was checking out the calories and thought it was 250 per square and nearly had a heart attack before realising I was looking at the kilijoules. Thankfully, they’re only like 50 each. Phew!
I definitely preferred the mushroom relish over the sweetcorn salsa, but I’m not a fan of sweetcorn really. Both were really nice, and the chilli had just the tiniest kick to make them more interesting. Beware if you do buy these, as they are impossible to stack nicely. According to Scott, a lot of places actually take stock photos when the food is cold, or even sometimes of fake food, to get such perfect photos! It’s like the photoshopping of the food industry!
Red and Green Thai Crispy Dim Sum Prawn and Fish Selection
These were absolutely beautiful. Crispy filo pastry, with either red thai sauce and a juicy prawn, or green thai sauce with some form of meaty fish. The thai sauces were perfectly flavoured, and the fish and prawns were lovely and meaty. Even Scott, who doesn’t like Thai curry that much, enjoyed these as the flavours weren’t overpowering.
Cheeseboard Truffle Selection
Honestly, get these even if you aren’t throwing a party. You will just die. There is goats cheese in a beetroot coating, goats cheese in a garlic and chive coating, and Cornish cruncher with balsamic onion. The goats cheese and beetroot was my favourite, as the sweetness of the beetroot really complimented the sharpness of the goats cheese, but the other two were still absolutely delicious. I’m not even ashamed to say we ate them all in one day between the two of us.
Mini Vol Au Vents
I didn’t realise people even did vol au vents anymore, I definitely feel that was more of a thing in the 90s? I only tried the salmon ones as I’ve stopped eating meat, but they were lovely – I think the sauce used was like a creamy parsley one which complimented the salmon beautifully, and the pastry stayed crispy and morish. Scott tried the chicken and bacon ones and loved them, apparently the bacon ones were extra delicious.
Steak and Chianti Topped Polenta
I didn’t try any of these but Scott loved them. He was so excited to try polenta as his chef mate says it’s really good (or something along those lines) and apparently it didn’t disappoint. He did say the topping wasn’t as strong as he’d have liked, but that didn’t stop him eating every single one happily!
Like most of M&S food, these aren’t the cheapest out there… They’re around £5 per box I think? But you do get the quality you’ve paid for, it’s no Iceland value packs if you get where I’m coming from. Unless you’re mega rich, I’d say probably keep it for smaller get togethers rather than large parties, as people are going to eat a LOT of these in a short space of time.
You can get an idea of the party food here but I’ve checked it out and I’m pretty sure they do smaller, and therefore cheaper, portions in store so just head in next time you’re near!
