54 replies to this topic

[nickloman]

Aldi is being suggested as a gourmet food destination? Really? I have to admit I'm far too much of a snob to even consider going there. Although funnily enough I did once ask a taxi driver in Essex to take me to the Audi garage, and he took me to an Aldi headoffice, somewhere near Chelmsford.

[Pam Brunning]

How sad to have such a closed mind.

[nickloman]

Ouch

[nickloman]

http://www.telegraph...-vegetable.html

[david goodfellow]

I was too poor to be a snob when I was young

So old habits die hard and even though I can now afford whatever I want (within reason)I still seek out a bargain.

Aldi's veg section is simply unbeatable value especially on their top offers, and its all(or mostly?) Great British produce by smaller growers. Whenever I stroll through Tossco's and see the same stuff at twice or three times the price it makes my Scottish blood boil.

I also pop into other stores like Sainsbury's to see how Jamie's getting on

[bainesy]

Aldi's veg section is simply unbeatable value especially on their top offers, and its all(or mostly?) Great British produce by smaller growers

Now - is that true? Seriously, I had no idea - one opened near me about a year ago, and I had a quick (and vain) look for some interesting bargain euro-type tinned food/charcuterie, but didn't even think to look at the fresh produce. I walk past it very day with barely a glance. And now I feel stupid.

[Harters]

I also pop into other stores like Sainsbury's to see how Jamie's getting on

Ah, you'd enjoy Waitrose then.

Piccies of St Delia everywhere - that's the Delia who, when slated over her "Cheat" book, said she had never taken money for "sponsoring" a product.

Of course, that was then and now is now. Big difference. Innit.

[bainesy]

And the same Delia whose "seafood risotto" using fish soup instead of stock, frozen seafood and garnished with gruyere and rouille, is, unsurprisingly at one and the same time revolting but also clearing Waitrose shelves nationwide of jars of fish soup.

[Harters]

Mrs H made the seafood risotto. It's certainly not something she'd want to repeat in a hurry. The problem wasnt actually the risotto (mix was pretty flavoursome) but the frozen seafood mix. It's mainly squid rings which, in spite of following the cooking times to the letter, came out very very rubbery.

I like the strongly flavoured fish soup. I'd not seen it in the UK before, but have bought jars from Carrefour in Calais when we've been passing through the port.

Edited by Harters, 14 May 2010 - 02:02 AM.

[nickloman]

It's from Le Touquet, innit. Perard. I wouldn't have ever thought of using it as a risotto stock, and I don't think I've changed my mind after recent events. Eat it as a soup :)

[Pam Brunning]

Hey what is wrong with making fish stock with some good old fish bones rather than all this tinned rubbish - of course Delia is still cheating, always has been.

[Harters]

It's from Le Touquet, innit.

Yep. There used to be crab soup that we got in Carrefour that I think was from the same people, but I havnt seen it on the last couple of trips. Bloody lovely, it was (IMO, of course). I'm planning a photographic trip "over there" in the autumn and think we might base ourselves at Le Touquet for a couple of days.

Edited by Harters, 15 May 2010 - 01:21 PM.

[eatenmess]

anyone been chowing down on the purple asparagus? lovely family run farm near me do loads of the stuff, nice raw in salads or very quick flashes on bbq or griddle.

absolutely crap loads of asparagus round worcestershire, but still the supermarkets insist on serving the crap from else where. ah well, least every tom dick and harry arent robbing my asparagus!!!

[nickloman]

I haven't seen any (not that I've been looking hard). Where's the farm near you?

I really think the supermarkets should say the date/time the asparagus was picked, as this makes a huge difference to the taste.

Or just buy them it from farm shops where you know it will be just picked, and eat it same day.

[Duncan]

I really think the supermarkets should say the date/time the asparagus was picked, as this makes a huge difference to the taste.

In today's paper I saw an advert from Tesco claiming that their asparagus takes 48 hours from farm to shop.

For some reason that doesn't make me want to rush out to visit Tesco, I think I'll continue going to the local farm shop where not only is it picked the same day, but once picked the bunches spend their time upright in water (or they also do PYO for the purists).

[eatenmess]

nickloman-

the farm is called Red Top Farm and is run by The Robinson family. its in harvington near kidderminster on the A450 just before the dog pub, which i do not recommend on any occasion!!!

£2 a bunch i thinks

Edited by eatenmess, 17 May 2010 - 02:56 PM.

[nickloman]

Got some epic green and purple asparagus from Revills at the weekend. The lady seemed quite surprised and pleased when I told her I'd driven all the way from Birmingham. This time I sliced it lengthwise on the mandolin and served with papardelle and Berkswell, very nice indeed.

I know the pub you mean I think - isn't it called the Dog Inn - which conjurs up various images... I think if you continue in that direction you get to Bakewells Farm who did our Xmas duck and also can sell you duck hearts by the dozen, always a welcome treat!

[nickloman]

And by the way, to show that I am open-minded, I popped into LIDL. There was some sparrow grass for £1/bunch with a UK flag on, so fair enough. But the veg was generally in a sorry state (mould on the rhubarb) and the selection very limited.

Edit: hmm, I realise I went to the wrong place, I should have gone to ALDI not LIDL .. my bad!

Edited by nickloman, 07 June 2010 - 05:53 AM.

[dougal]

And by the way, to show that I am open-minded, I popped into LIDL. There was some sparrow grass for £1/bunch with a UK flag on, so fair enough. But the veg was generally in a sorry state (mould on the rhubarb) and the selection very limited.

Edit: hmm, I realise I went to the wrong place, I should have gone to ALDI not LIDL .. my bad!

The Lidl £1/bunch stuff that I've had was really pretty damn good on the taste front. Better than I expected from its slight floppiness when raw - which I think is probably due to an excessive effort to to stop it drying out.
But very good cooked.
Generally, the veg in my local branch isn't exceptionable - either way. But this might vary from branch to branch. When things go on silly cheap special offer, they sell out fast. And as with a market, the time of day that you shop may make a significant difference!

I'd advise being very selective when shopping at Lidl. You simply cannot generalise. There's some best-of-breed stuff, and some real dross. But at least its hard to make an expensive mistake !

[Pam Brunning]

Old age is a terrible thing Nick I am told sometimes you can even forget where you'r going!

Edited by Pam Brunning, 07 June 2010 - 08:42 AM.

[Harters]

I'd advise being very selective when shopping at Lidl.

Agreed - but we always seem to do much better there than Aldi.

[Andrew]

Is it my imagination or is the English asparagus particularly good this year? The bunches we have tried (from Tescos and Sainsburys) have been excellent as have the portions tried in various restaurants (ranging from high end to our local 'gastropub'). It seems to have even more flavour than usual this year.

[Harters]

Funnily enough, we were saying the opposite, only the other day. That said, we've been away for a few weeks and havnt eaten as much as usual, so w emay have just been unlucky.

[Andrew]

Or I have been lucky. Having said that the really good stuff we have had has been in the last 7 days and not earlier in the season.

Andrew

[ermintrude]

I think its probably one of those things these days best eaten in Jersey, supplied by a local trusted farmer. The stuff I've had from supermarkets doesn't seem to justify the massive price tag.

That's because the supermarket ones are pre washed and not covered in loam and it takes all the flavour away http://forums.egulle...ls#entry1806630

Edited by ermintrude, 11 June 2012 - 06:49 AM.