Food & Drink
M&S reveal full Christmas food range including festive Colin the Caterpillar
The M&S Christmas food range can be accessed online from September 26th
Marks and Spencer is already getting in the Christmas spirit as it has just revealed its seasonal food range with shoppers saying they’re ‘so excited’ to see it.
The M&S Christmas 2023 collection includes festive versions of cult favourites including Colin the Caterpillar and Percy Pig, as well as a huge return of its light-up, musical biscuit tins and chocolate boxes.
For the big day itself, M&S will launch the everything-in-the-box £45 Christmas turkey dinner that takes around 60 minutes to cook, making the special feast much easier to make but keeping it tasty.
There’s also a range of party foods and picky bits to nibble on including vegan snowman-faced bao buns, perfect for those who’ll skip the meat on their dinner this year.
Air fryer cooking instructions will be added to the packaging of party foods for the first time this year, as more and more households opt to cook this way during the cost-of-living crisis, as well as remaining on a four-for-three offer to offer value for shoppers.
M&S Cafes will launch their festive menus from November 1st, and the menu will include tasty Welsh Rarebit cheesy crumpets for £4.50.
The turkey toastie will also be back with the added option of adding a pot of gravy on the side to dip them into. Turkey gravy can be purchased for an additional £1.
And what would a dinner be without a delicious dessert to finish it off with? M&S have that covered too with a delicious variety to satisfy your sweet tooth, including a new take on the festive mince pie.
Desserts include new takes on the traditional yule log, as well as chocolate and hazelnut mince pies at £4 for a four-pack. The Christmas Colin the Caterpillar sees him dressed in a cosy icing Christmas jumper as well as a chocolate Santa hat priced £12, and will be available in stores from December 7th.
There will also be a bigger range of hampers than ever before with around 80 to choose from. Hampers will range from letter box ones for £20 all the way up to huge £1,000 ones, containing exclusive M&S goodies.
Shoppers can also get excited for the return of the light-up gin and fizz bottles, as singles or part of gift pack options – available online now.
Party food includes the return of M&S’s ‘best ever’ prawn toast, pulled beef and rosti towers and the viral sensation snowmen steamed bao buns, all priced at £7.50 per pack.
The Christmas food range will officially launch on November 1st though shoppers will be able to access the food items site online at M&S from September 26th. Food orders can be collected in-store from December 21st to 24th. To see the full M&S Christmas food range, click HERE.
Food & Drink
Popular Turkish restaurant set to open second site in Manchester city centre
Manchester is set to boast an exciting new Turkish eatery
A Lancashire-based Turkish restaurant loved for its authentic cuisine is set to open a second venue in Manchester.
Ottoman Bar & Grill is set to be the latest addition to Manchester’s ever-expanding and bustling food scene.
Becoming the second site, it will open at Affinity Living’s Riverside complex situated on the edge of Salford, across from Spinningfields, making it the family-owned eatery’s first in the city.
The family already have a well-established venue in their hometown of Chorley that’s famous among locals – where regulars flock to sample dishes of authentic Turkish cuisine.
The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at its new Manchester location.
Opening in February next year, diners can expect menu highlights including the delicious chicken and lamb shish kebabs, freshly made bread and hummus and specials such as the lamb butterfly – as well as a delightful selection of vegetarian dishes.
The decor will feature elegant furniture against a striking colour theme with vibrant pampas grass, giving the perfect ambience to enjoy an exquisite dining experience for any occasion.
Ugur Ansin, director at Ottoman Bar & Grill, said: “We cannot wait to open the doors to our Manchester city centre restaurant in Affinity Living Riverside next year.
“We’ve built a solid reputation in Chorley for providing the best quality food alongside a second-to-none service.
“My team has invested their decades of experience as butchers and working in Turkey’s top restaurants into Ottoman – creating a truly authentic dining experience.
“Manchester was the natural next step for us in opening a second restaurant, and we’ve got big plans to take our dining experience nationwide in the next few years. See you very soon Manchester.”
Food & Drink
Morrisons is doing half price fish and chips at all of its cafes today
The chippy tea will be available for £3.50
Morrisons is offering half price on fish and chips in its cafés today to mark Black Friday.
The supermarket chain will be dishing up the bargain meals on Friday, November 24th so shoppers can take advantage of a great saving in the huge day of sales.
There’s just one catch – and we’re not talking about the fish – the price of a plate of fish will be slashed by 50% for Morrisons’ More Card holders.
The Fish & Chips meal includes a freshly battered fish from Morrisons Market Street, with a portion of hot golden chips and a side of mushy peas to complete. Usually costing seven quid, More Card holders will get it for £3.50.
Diners at Morrisons café can also add a side of bread and butter for £1 and finish off with a sweet treat of Bramley Apple Crumble for £3.
Chris Strong, Morrison’s Café Buying Manager said: “Bargain hunting on Black Friday can certainly work up an appetite, so why not pop into one of our cafés for the ultimate catch of the day!
“A whopping 50% off our customer favourite Fish & Chip café meal. Available for one day only… you’ll need to be quick!”
The supermarket offered 50% off its fish & chips back in June and shoppers flocked for a fish supper which cost £3.49.
Last week the chain unveiled its new Christmas Menu for 2023 with a variety of festive options costing from £4.
The menu includes the Festive Turkey Feast Toastie (£4.50), The Festive Stack Chicken Burger (£7.00), and two or three course roast dinners with all the trimmings (£10 & £12).
Vegetarian and vegan alternatives also feature on the set menu, so there’s something for every shopper to enjoy.
Families can also continue to take advantage of the Kids Eat Free offer when purchasing an adult meal over £4.50, available all day, every day in Morrisons cafés.
The half-price fish and chips offer will be available in its 395 cafés nationwide on Friday, November 24th 2023 whilst stocks last. The discount is available for More Card holders.
For more information click, HERE.
Food & Drink
Pub chain launches gravy ice cream sundae with FREE carvery for anyone who finishes it
It’s all gravy
A popular pub chain is dishing out a free carvery to anyone who can finish its new limited edition dessert challenge.
Greene King has launched a new limited edition Carvery Sundae – which consists of a sweet ice-cream dessert smothered in lashings of hot savoury gravy.
The unusual take on a sweet and savoury-style dessert will be available for two Sundays only – November 26th and December 3rd.
The challenge is available at 40 participating sites across the UK, including five pubs in Manchester. Those taking part will have to finish all of the the hot and cold dessert to win a free carvery.
Challengers will have a choice of two flavoured sundaes: the ‘Ultimate Ice Cream Sundae’ which consists of two scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, lava cookie, Twix, Malteasers and Smarties.
Or, the ‘Choctastic Sundae’, which consists of one scoop of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, lava cookie, Twix, Malteasers and Smarties. Either choice will of course come with a generous pouring of the brand’s own gravy to top it off.
The pubs that are getting involved in the gravy sundae madness around Greater Manchester include: The Barlow Croft in East Didsbury, Beach in Littleborough, Bee Hive in Bolton, Mottram Wood in Hyde and Red Robin in Wigan.
Sophie Howells, Marketing Manager for Greene King Pub & Carvery, said: “The Carvery Sundae is the perfect balance of sweet and savoury, featuring two types of ice cream, and a wide range of toppings.
“The hot gravy might not be for everyone, but it certainly makes for a unique experience.
“Best of all, if you finish it, you get your next carvery on us. Once you’ve polished off your Carvery Sundae, a team member will give you a receipt to redeem a carvery meal the next time you’re in the pub.”
To take part in the challenge and be in with a chance of winning a free carvery, customers will need to ask for a topping of gravy on their sundae when they order.
The limited edition Carvery Sundae is available on Sunday, November 26th and Sunday, December 3rd at selected sites only.
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