Be Excellent To Each Other
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/

Mince pie review season
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8887
Page 2 of 5

Author:  Trooper [ Mon Sep 30, 2013 17:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

The world ends.

Author:  Mimi [ Mon Sep 30, 2013 17:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

So, what's the best type of pastry for a mince pie? Puff or short?

Author:  Trooper [ Mon Sep 30, 2013 17:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Short, no contest.

Author:  Cras [ Mon Sep 30, 2013 17:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Short, always!

Author:  Mr Dave [ Mon Sep 30, 2013 19:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Whichever is in front of me.

Author:  Zardoz [ Mon Sep 30, 2013 19:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

I'm putting you down as a puff, Dave.

Author:  Curiosity [ Mon Sep 30, 2013 20:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Short.

Heston's are puff pastry, and delicious, but to be honest they're not exactly mince pies.

Author:  krazywookie [ Fri Nov 08, 2013 17:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Spar 6 mince pies for a quid. Vegetarian.

Attachment:
WP_20131107_001.jpg


Pastry: short. rather crumbly and dry. Does not take well to a microwaving, disintegration ensues.

Filling: No air gap but filling is shallow with the lid placed well below the upper edge of the casing, in fact the pies themselves are somewhat stocky. Flavor is lacking, the pies are described as fruity and that is at least accurate, the currants are juicy but there is little in the way of peel. No discernible spice is present which is the real letdown.

Description: The picture on the box shows the pies with a glaze, this is not the case in reality.

In addition it was a struggle to pry the pie from its foil case, resulting in multiple crust fractures and even exposure of the filling in one case. Complete collapse was avoided but only through careful handling.

Overall they are a reasonable but forgetful pie that more or less tastes of textured sugar.

a poor showing getting a score of 7/16ths

Author:  Trooper [ Fri Nov 08, 2013 18:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Oooh! Lets see what that does to the leaderboard!

    1. Heston's 4 Spiced Shortcrust mince pies 82/100
    2. Woolworths mince pies 80/100
    3. Asda's standard 78/100
    4. Sainsbury's "Taste the Difference" Brandy Rich Mince Pies 75/100
    5. Tesco finest deep filled mince pies with courvoisier 72/100
    6. Costco mince pies 70/100
    7. Sainsbury's deep fill mince pie 68/100
    8. Spar 44/100

Poor showing from Spar there, well down at the bottom of the table, they've got some work to do to avoid relegation.

Author:  Trooper [ Fri Nov 08, 2013 18:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

The judges are coming back to me... hold on...

Krazywookie, can you confirm that it was actually "party time" when you ate the pies?

Author:  Mimi [ Fri Nov 08, 2013 19:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Trooper wrote:
The judges are coming back to me... hold on...

Krazywookie, can you confirm that it was actually "party time" when you ate the pies?


:DD

I can't believe people microwave mince pies. Tut! Heating should be done in an oven, or with the warmth of love from family and cherished ones at Christmas.

Author:  Mr Dave [ Fri Nov 08, 2013 19:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Trooper wrote:
Oooh! Lets see what that does to the leaderboard!

    1. Heston's 4 Spiced Shortcrust mince pies 82/100
    2. Woolworths mince pies 80/100
    3. Asda's standard 78/100
    4. Sainsbury's "Taste the Difference" Brandy Rich Mince Pies 75/100
    5. Tesco finest deep filled mince pies with courvoisier 72/100
    6. Costco mince pies 70/100
    7. Sainsbury's deep fill mince pie 68/100
    8. Spar 44/100

Poor showing from Spar there, well down at the bottom of the table, they've got some work to do to avoid relegation.


Based on my experiences of food from Spar*, that should be "0.4375 out of 100."

I wonder if they do sliders, it would certainly explain things.

* - barring their mint ice cream.

Author:  krazywookie [ Fri Nov 08, 2013 22:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Trooper wrote:
The judges are coming back to me... hold on...

Krazywookie, can you confirm that it was actually "party time" when you ate the pies?

the pies were consumed at lunch time with a friend and with quantities of fizzy juice, i believe that technically makes it a minor party yes.

Author:  Trooper [ Sun Oct 26, 2014 10:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

It's that time again!

Author:  myp [ Sun Oct 26, 2014 15:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Morrison's deep fill luxury ones were nice.

Author:  Trooper [ Sun Oct 26, 2014 15:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

American Nervoso wrote:
Morrison's deep fill luxury ones were nice.


There is a rating system, you know. Put some fucking effort in.

Author:  myp [ Sun Oct 26, 2014 16:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Trooper wrote:
American Nervoso wrote:
Morrison's deep fill luxury ones were nice.


There is a rating system, you know. Put some fucking effort in.

I'll give them a B+.

Author:  krazywookie [ Sun Oct 26, 2014 18:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Oooo excite, it might be tricky this year as I'm on a health thing. Maybe I'll try for healthy pies? The hunt begins.

for the information of the panel: I WILL be continuing my controversial practice of micro waving, you have been warned.

Author:  Jem [ Mon Oct 27, 2014 10:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

This might be my new favourite thread.

Author:  flis [ Sat Dec 06, 2014 16:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Nom nom mince pies!!

Waitrose Deep filled shortcrust mince pies

P: 15. Nice looking pie, box could be better. Would benefit from a picture of a mince pie on it!
T: 10. Too much pastry; bad meat to crust ratio. The meat was nice but not incredibly flavourful.
F: 10. The meat portion isn't exactly stingy but the pie was only half full... Don't call it deep fill if it ain't; it scores poorly for promising and not delivering.
S: 15. Quite large but too much of that is pastry and air.
C: 18 £2 for six so quite cheap.

Mr. Kipling Exceedingly Merry mince pies

P: 17. Pretty decoration on the pie. Box is as you'd expect from Mr. Kipling, it's the smallest, flimsiest box of the lot but does it's job. And has a picture of a pie.
T: 13. Too dry. The meat was flavourful.
F: 9. The meat portion only half fills the case, which is quite shallow.
S: 13. Would be a great size if they had more filling.
C: 20. £1 for six (on offer).

Waitrose All butter mince pies

P: 17. Nice large box, very pretty decoration. But the pies are boring looking.
T: 19. Lovely pastry and very flavourful filling. A lot less liquid then the other fillings.
F: 18. Completely full to the top!
S: 18. Good, large size and all in proportion.
C: 17. £3 for six so the most expensive.

Author:  krazywookie [ Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Asda extra special mince pies.

£1 for 4 pies

packaging: just a plastic tray, perhaps underplaying itself to make the pies seem to support themselves. You know what i mean. 0.1¥

filling: tasty good filling, moist fruitful flavour with a hint of Frankenstein and mir. 0.8¥

filling to crust ratio: "deep fill" no. A smear in the bottom of the case. Poor. 0.5¥

pastry: excellent pastry with a good bite and a fine taste. 0.7¥

couldn't test for latent temperature coefficient due to the microwave being in a different room sorry folks. Also, on phone so can someone else average up the scores?

Author:  Goddess Jasmine [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 15:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Joan's came home with these.

From Aldi, price unknown.

Very sweet, I had two. Bloody lovely, I could eat the whole box in one go. Moist, tasty, sweet.

Nom out of nom.

Author:  myp [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 15:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Not mince pies. Get out of this thread immediately!

Author:  Mimi [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 15:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

The fillings seem to suggest it IS a mince pie, but with added extras. I think they are allowed as though not ‘traditional’, if we only went with what originally a mince pie contained they’d also be full of meat.

Jazzy, I think you need to test another two, this time warmed in the oven, so we get the full taste test.

Author:  Mimi [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 16:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Then have one warm and one cold, side by side comparison, to find out which is the best eating method, just so that we know how to maximise our enjoyment potential if we happen to buy some. Do it for SCIENCE.

Author:  Joans [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 16:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

The box describes them as a twist on the traditional mince pie.

Author:  Findus Fop [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 16:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

I had my first mince pie of the season yesterday. From Gail's. Very good - extremely tangy and generous filling. Price, a very seasonal "How fucking much?!"

Author:  myp [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 16:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Mimi wrote:
The fillings seem to suggest it IS a mince pie, but with added extras. I think they are allowed as though not ‘traditional’, if we only went with what originally a mince pie contained they’d also be full of meat.

Jazzy, I think you need to test another two, this time warmed in the oven, so we get the full taste test.

Mince pies with meat in are excellent.

Author:  Curiosity [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 19:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Lonewolves wrote:
Mimi wrote:
The fillings seem to suggest it IS a mince pie, but with added extras. I think they are allowed as though not ‘traditional’, if we only went with what originally a mince pie contained they’d also be full of meat.

Jazzy, I think you need to test another two, this time warmed in the oven, so we get the full taste test.

Mince pies with meat in are excellent.


Only if you love animal torture and the destruction of the environment by the meat and dairy industry, you heartless capitalist monster.

Author:  Goddess Jasmine [ Sun Nov 12, 2017 19:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Mimi wrote:
Then have one warm and one cold, side by side comparison, to find out which is the best eating method, just so that we know how to maximise our enjoyment potential if we happen to buy some. Do it for SCIENCE.

Challenge accepted!

Author:  DavPaz [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

My first mince pie of the season has been consumed. Handmade, puff pastry top. Lots of icing sugar.

8/10

Author:  Mimi [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Puff pastry mince pies are ace. My Nan used to make them. Russell’s Grandad does now, for which I am forever grateful.

Author:  Mimi [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

I've got a pack of four 'Asda Best' or whatever they are called that my friend told me to buy because she read they came out top.

To be honest, as they are baked in store they all looked really inconsistent in the actual colour/amount of dusting, etc. I hope they are OK though as we'll be having them Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so it will be too late if they are awful.

Author:  Mimi [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Goddess Jasmine wrote:
Mimi wrote:
Then have one warm and one cold, side by side comparison, to find out which is the best eating method, just so that we know how to maximise our enjoyment potential if we happen to buy some. Do it for SCIENCE.

Challenge accepted!

Sad reminder of the final challenge that saw Jazzy off, never to be completed.

Author:  Jem [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

I might have mentioned this before so apologies if so but a friend of mine runs a mince pie review blog which might be of interest!

https://mincepiereviews.co.uk/

My recent favourites are the Asda brandy buttercream topped ones. Nice pastry, decent amount of mince meat and a good buttercream. Even the luxury Co-Op buttercream ones aren't as good, as the amount of mincemeat is poor.

Author:  Grim... [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

What does your friend have against Mr Kipling?

Author:  Jem [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Grim... wrote:
What does your friend have against Mr Kipling?

https://mincepiereviews.co.uk/2017/mr-k ... ie-review/ ??

Oh wait, that's from 2017.

Author:  Trooper [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 12:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

I shall be contacting my lawyer and expecting a royalty.

Author:  Mimi [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 12:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

I may have written this before, but I used to work with mince pies, a LOT. So much so that I ended up hating the things, but time heals and all that.

So, here's a thing. Many manufacturers that make mince pies use ways to deal with the Christmas demand. Specifically, they freeze them to work up a volume of pies.

So, the production and distribution goes something like this:

- First wave of mince pies go out into shops with a pre-Christmas use-by.
- Mince pie production continues: shops top up but some quantity is syphoned off for freezing
- Last two-three weeks before Christmas: production continues, none frozen, previously frozen defrosted to box and sell.

Sometimes, if you find your pastry casings have what looks to be a wet leak around lid, this can be a sign they've been previously frozen. It really affects the taste and texture as the ice crystals that form in the freezing process can fracture and break the bonds in the fruit.

So, grab a box the second they appear in shops and eat them down. After that, if you can find pies that have the date that you need that say 'suitable for home freezing' it is generally a good indication they have not yet been frozen and thawed. But don't freeze and thaw them.

Ignore the above if you like your pastry casings a bit less crumbly and your fruit more mushy, which some might.

Author:  MaliA [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 13:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

At work, Greggs are a country mile above anything else, followed by Mossies

Author:  Grim... [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 13:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

NOT A THING

Author:  Cras [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 13:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Not any sort of thing at all.

Author:  Goddess Jasmine [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 18:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Mimi wrote:
Goddess Jasmine wrote:
Mimi wrote:
Then have one warm and one cold, side by side comparison, to find out which is the best eating method, just so that we know how to maximise our enjoyment potential if we happen to buy some. Do it for SCIENCE.

Challenge accepted!

Sad reminder of the final challenge that saw Jazzy off, never to be completed.

Ha! I did actually do this! But I can't remember the result. :-|

Author:  myp [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 19:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Goddess Jasmine wrote:
Mimi wrote:
Goddess Jasmine wrote:
Mimi wrote:
Then have one warm and one cold, side by side comparison, to find out which is the best eating method, just so that we know how to maximise our enjoyment potential if we happen to buy some. Do it for SCIENCE.

Challenge accepted!

Sad reminder of the final challenge that saw Jazzy off, never to be completed.

Ha! I did actually do this! But I can't remember the result. :-|

Then there's only one answer: do it again!

Author:  Hearthly [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 20:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Custom PC has you covered.

Attachment:
pieo.JPG

Author:  Joans [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 21:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Lonewolves wrote:
Goddess Jasmine wrote:
Mimi wrote:
Goddess Jasmine wrote:
Mimi wrote:
Then have one warm and one cold, side by side comparison, to find out which is the best eating method, just so that we know how to maximise our enjoyment potential if we happen to buy some. Do it for SCIENCE.

Challenge accepted!

Sad reminder of the final challenge that saw Jazzy off, never to be completed.

Ha! I did actually do this! But I can't remember the result. :-|

Then there's only one answer: do it again!

Fortunately, I've bought some more tonight.

Author:  Findus Fop [ Thu Nov 21, 2019 10:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Which?'s mince-pie reviews are in (via the Guardian)

1. M&S Collection Mince Pies £2.50

2. Iceland Luxury Mince Pies £1.89

3. Asda Extra Special All Butter Luxury Mince Pies £1.50

4. Waitrose No. 1 All Butter Mince Pies £2.50

5. Aldi Specially Selected Mince Pies £1.35

6. Tesco Finest Mince Pies £1.75

7. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference All Butter Mince Pies £2

8. Lidl Deluxe Luxury Mince Pies £1.79

9. Co-op Irresistible Luxury Mince Pies £2

10. Morrisons The Best All Butter Deep Filled Mince Pies £2

11. Spar Luxury All Butter Mince Pies £2

Author:  MaliA [ Thu Nov 21, 2019 11:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Well.

Author:  Dimrill [ Thu Nov 21, 2019 12:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Just got back with some sloe gin minces, blackforest crumble minces AND salted caramel crumble minces from the Aldis. Nom nom

Author:  DavPaz [ Thu Nov 21, 2019 12:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Mince pie review season

Dimrill wrote:
Just got back with some sloe gin minces, blackforest crumble minces AND salted caramel crumble minces from the Aldis. Nom nom

Please to be reviewing thanks. Will be at Aldi later.

Page 2 of 5 All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/