Supermarket food that's much better that you expected: pls name.

When talking about Lidl, I forgot to mention their humous, which is the best ready-made we've had, if you like it grainy. Also their shortbread fingers and version of jaffa cakes are delicious and good value.

At Tesco, we've discovered the halal range of chicken (they do other halal meats as well, but we like the chicken), though this is not available at all Tescos. It's extremely flavoursome (is that a word?) and leaves fat (NOT water!) when cooking - reasonably priced, too!

I have noticed a definite increase in the numbers of posh(ish) cars in Lidl and Aldi car parks recently. More value conscious 'middle class'?

There isn't an Aldii or a Lidl near me, its all Waitrose and Sainsbury's...damn!
I do get to Asda and find their Extra Special range just as good as more expensive supermarkets. Ditto their fresh meat and the bakery. I save loads while others turn up their noses and go to Marks or Waitrose, the fools!

Called in at my local Aldi this p.m. They have lots of lovely Christmas puds but not the aforementioned specimen. I asked, and they said they had not seen them yet, so may be in stock at a later date. Boo hoo!

Wow! What a great thread! I've been taking notes as I read through. We know Aldi and Lidl from our trips to Germany and were delighted when they arrived in the UK. Their philosophy is "no more than one of everything". If it's the right item at a value-for-money price, why have anything more? I find all the choice in supermarkets confusing, wasteful and completely unnecessary. Who needs a whole aisle of jams and things to spread on bread?

That said, we don't have an Aldi near us (sadly) but can recommend Lidl's Formil range of laundry products. Their DeLuxe range seems to be made by the same company that provides Tesco's Finest, and at a cheaper price. I love the DeLuxe chocolate cake - so rich and moist and chocolately! In the same range, the fish pie (freezer) is wonderful and serves 2 generously. Parma ham is excellent, their Eridanous creamy yoghurt is divine and (if you like goat cheese), the chevre is unbeatable. We also like their Coquette brand of chicken soup (in a tin) - almost as good as home made.

Just noticed arty grans message , great minds !

Just noticed Aldi came second in a blind Christmas pud tasting competition Waitrose first Fortnum and Masons came 29th .so it's Aldi for us this ChristmasDay

phoenix [frustrated and hungry emoticon]
Chances are I won't be able to remember what I'm looking for anyway

I am a little bit !

Just back from Lidl, but without the steak & kidney puddings that I mentioned up there ^^^^^^

Why? because they've sold out. The very nice lady on the till said "Oh yes, they never stay in stock for very long, the staff buy quite a few of them when they come in as they are so good" The assistant manager joined in with "I have had one on my lunch break every day for a week!"

AND they will probably not have any more in for about 3 months!

Article in the Telegraph today - Good Housekeeping survey of Christmas puddings put Aldi's orange-topped Christmas pudding second behind Waitrose, which was top, and ahead of Fortnum and Mason (disappointing apparently). We had one last year - it was delicious. I expect they'll fly off the shelves now, so I'd better get my skates on!

Hi the cheap own brand potato salad and coleslaw is lovely in Morrisons and there own cheap brand crisps are lovely for a treat at 38p for 6 I think. Great Ideas here will be looking out for these now.....

Right, off to Lidl in a little while, have emailed a friend to ask if she needs anything, she asked me to pick up a bottle of Lidl's own Amaretto type stuff. Apparently her husband likes it in his morning coffee!

(I've got a £5 off if you spend £35 voucher!)

Deedaa - I'm hungry

Aldi are really good for Mortadella, Milano, Breasola and \\i really like their sliced Pancetta. The Parmigiano and Grana Padano are good too. Lidl has good fruit & Veg, especially Abate Pears when they're in season. A couple of years ago Lidl had some Fragolino wine in for a few weeks - reminded me of holidays in the Veneto. In Italy Lidl sell packs of chunks of Grana Padano which are great for nibbling but sadly I've not seen them here. When Lidl or Aldi are having an Italian week I always buy the jars of Amarene cherries in syrup. They keep for ages in the fridge and are a fraction of the normal price. Lidl had a lovely Colomba for £3.99 at Easter ( Carluccio's about £13!) and Aldi have just got in a great Panforte for £2.99 - I couldn't buy the ingredients for that. Sorry about the Italian bias, but why would you buy anything else?

jeni if you have a Waitrose near, they seem to sell mini haggis most of the year.

Aldi do a chocolate fudge cake (think its in thr frozen part) someone brought me the orange flavoured one..and I thought who can I give this to? as I don't like orange flavoured stuff..but!!!! guess who ate the majority of it yes twas meeee.....warmed in the mocrowave for about 5 seconds and topped with whipped double cream the Aldi chickens are soooooooo juicy even I cant dry them out by cooking them too long1

Jeni In the past I've bought (at great expense mind you) mini haggi at The House of Bruar - I don't know if they'd send them by post .
Last week I bought a pair of creme brulee from Asda for £1 - served in dinky little glass dishes - a bargain!

Talking of swede, it will soon be St Andrews night. I have my haggis, imported by my brother from Scotland waiting in the freezer! You used to be able to mini haggisis but no longer! Unless any one living up there can tell me different.

Aldi frozen dessert ranges are excellent value. Plum custard puddings and various lovely strudels. Their cheesecakes look good as well. They are very worth sticking in the freezer.

Aldi Chocolate "Moser Roth" brand, really special dark chocolate some with sour cherry filling and some with chilli, among other flavours. Aldi also sell exceptionally good value, pure maple syrup and really excellent pure virgin olive oil.

jo5, it might have cooked quicker if it was! We gave up in the end, life's too short and electricity too expensive to waste on recalcitrant vegetables.

Was that a book?

Forgot to add their rump steak at £3.99 for 2 good sized steaks has never disappointed.

In fact, the only thing that I have ever bought from Lidl that did let us down was "The Swede That Wouldn't Die".

I bought one recently too! There was a really good deal on large beef joints (they had one a while back on large pork joints) I cut the beef in half and put one section in the freezer. We have eaten both bits now, and very good they were too, as was the pork.

We also buy chicken joints from Lidl, I use their packs of thighs for my spicy lemon chicken, goos quality and good value.

Bought a Lidl vacuum packed beef joint for Sunday (hung for 21 days). It was absolutely delicious. Cost about £12.50 and enough for 6 people. Blasted on the outside for 20 mins then cooked at 190, it was very tender. Recommended

Ella it's the season for it, isn't it? They also do a chicken & leek one, which is good, but not as good as the steak & kidney.