Friday 1 November 2013

Have Marks and Spencer got the Pie Factor?!

Marks and Spencer Gastro Pub Pie Range Review

The Pierateers arrrrgh always searching from the crow’s nest for a pie bargain to be had, so when I was informed of a 3 for 2 pie offer in Marks and Spencer the Pierate Ship plotted a course down to our local store. While the 3 for 2 offer extended further than just pies, we have our eyes firmly on the pies at Pierate HQ!



Marks and Spencer 3 for 2 pies
Marks and Spencer 3 for 2 pies

Now before you say anything about the picture, I'm sure you've spotted the anomaly in the photo. Sure, all the food items called themselves pies on the boxes... but really, are they really all pies? We'll get to that later!

So are you sitting comfortably and ready for the first ever Pie Factor?!


Let's welcome down Pie Factor contestant number 1...


Marks and Spencer Gastro Pub Beef and Ale Pie Review
Marks and Spencer Gastro Pub Beef and Ale Pie

What's your name and where are you from? I'm the Gastro Pub Beef And Ale Pie from Marks and Spencer.

And what do you do? I sit in the Gastro Pub chilled cabinet, hoping people want a pub-like meal without heading to the pub.

And what do you think you can offer us tonight? Well, I'm a top crust pastry pie, covering tender chunks of beef alongside rich ale gravy, roasted mushrooms and smoked bacon.

Oh... well don’t get me wrong... I mean the buttery puff pastry was delicious but... just a top crust? That's right... no side and base pastry with me. But the colour of my pastry is very golden - more golden than you find on the box!

That's very true! The filling is very good to be fair to you - though with no sides and base I can't really comment on your capacity!
Point taken. But the content that is there is good, right?

It is. The beef is very tender - I've got to give you that - and you did have a nice ale flavour through the gravy. However there were very negligible pieces of bacon in your act, which is disappointing when you name them on the front of the box as a main ingredient. I've got to dock you marks for being a top crust, I'm sorry to say, and at £6.99 as a meal for two you don’t score that well for cheapness. But the good news is – with a score of 5.4/7 - you're through to the next round! Congratulations!


And for Pie Factor contestant number 2...


Marks and Spencer Gastro Pub Aberdeen Angus Steak Yorkshire Pudding Pie
Marks and Spencer Gastro Pub Aberdeen Angus Steak Yorkshire Pudding Pie

What's your name and where are you from? I'm the Gastro Pub Aberdeen Angus Steak Yorkshire Pudding Pie from Marks and Spencer.

And what do you think you can offer us tonight? Well I'm a Yorkshire pudding filled with nice tasty steak and topped with a shallow layer of sliced roast potatoes.

Ok, and what part does pastry play in your act? Pastry? Oh no, I don't have any pastry...

Sorry?! I thought you said you were a pie?! Er... yeah... the box says pie on it...

***Into walkie-talkie: Security, contacting security. We have an imposter in the Pie Factor...***

(On a serious note though, the Gastro Pub Aberdeen Angus Steak Yorkshire Pudding Pie from Marks and Spencer was a tasty food item, with delicious, tender steak and crisp Yorkshire Pudding. However the potato was slightly lacking, the meal was a bit small for one person and it most certainly was NOT a pie! Unfortunately yet another food item trying to jump onto the “let’s call it a pie” bandwagon!)


In summary then, with two contestants out of five eaten and rated so far, there is a clear nul points to the Gastro Pub Aberdeen Angus Steak Yorkshire Pudding Pie – which with no pastry we simply couldn’t rate – and a solid 5.4/7 for the Gastro Pub Beef And Ale Pie. However I have high hopes for the fully encased beauties I still have left to eat! Tune in next time for our next instalment of the “Pie Factor!”

Marks and Spencer Gastro Pub Beef And Ale Pie
Score: 5.4/7
RAS


See where this pie ended up in the Pierate Pie Rankings or find other pies of a similar flavour.

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and let us know your thoughts!


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