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Every once and while I of course bring in things myself, so I thought it only right to do a quick fire 'Bits n Bobs' post reviewing some of the more interesting things to make to our tea area recently.
Marks & Spencer Rocky Road
Kcal 355 Fat 20.7g Fat(sats) 15.2g Carbs 38.5g (per bar)
These Rocky Road cakes were on a '4 for 3' deal last time I was in M&S. On the pack they came described as 'Biscuit, marshmallow and sultanas in a rich Belgian chocolate coating' - the first thing that struck me here was lack of cherries!? I wasn't particularly fussed by this myself as I'm not a great fan of them, but I wasn't too sure if this could be classified as a fully fledged Rocky Road without them (to be fair my other colleagues who tried them didn't notice!!). Poor old M&S were always going to be compared to the Heavenly Cakes Rocky Road and I'm afraid to say this didn't match up in any criteria. The chocolate and constituents were of a fair quality, but neither had the richness of the Heavenly Cakes alternative. The sultanas and marshmallow pieces added interest texture wise but failed to create much of an impression in terms of enhancing the taste. I probably wouldn't buy this again.
6.4 out of 10
Tunnock's Dark Chocolate Tea Cakes
Kcal 105 Fat 4.7g Fat(sats) 2.5g Carbs 14.6g (per Biscuit)
I have to hold my hands up straight away here and admit that I'm a bit of fanboy of these. I've been buying them for years now and they happen to be a pretty staple purchase whenever I do my weekly shopping in Sainsbury's (annoyingly my Tesco doesn't stock them). For those that haven't seen a Tunnock's Tea Cake before (where have you been living haha!), they are described as 'biscuit bases, topped with marshmallows covered in chocolate'. To cut the long story short, I like these dark chocolate ones just a bit more than the original milk chocolate variety that are more widely distributed. In comparison I think the unsweetened nature of the 'dark chocolate' balances the sweetness of the mallow centre a little better. Just like the milk chocolate ones, I don't find them the most satisfying of snacks but there is just something so comforting about them that makes me buy them time and time again - it must be nostalgia!
7.2 out of 10
The Co-Operative Fairtrade Chocolate Brownie
Kcal 320 Fat 12.6g Fat(sats) 6.0g Carbs 34.6g (per brownie)
Just like the Rocky Road cake above, this poor, poor brownie was always going to be compared to the Heavenly Cakes milk chocolate brownies I had the delight in reviewing a few months ago. It will be more fun for me to try and pull out the advantages that this Co-op brownie has over the Heavenly Cakes offering, rather than me just be totally blunt and say IT DIDN'T TASTE AS NICE haha! So what sort of case can I build!? Well ... for a start it was Fairtrade - 41% Fairtrade sugar, 4% Fairtrade cocoa powder, 7% Fairtrade Cocoa Mass and 1% Fairtrade cocoa butter ... hurrah for equality!! Secondly it only cost me 75p - so there was an obvious price advantage over Heavenly Cakes. Thirdly when I bought it I got to eat it straight away - no waiting in the post my brownies thank you very much. Sadly I would like to say those three things make it a superior product, but unfortunately not. In my opinion this brownie was nowhere near as rich, or as insanely indulgent in it's chocolate delivery. It will do a good job if you fancy a brownie on the impulse, but if it is the highest quality you're after look in the direction of Heavenly.
7.8 out of 10
Marks & Spencer Milk Chocolate & Caramel Layered Cookies
Kcal 180 Fat 9.4g Fat(sats) 5.5g Carbs 22.2g (per biscuit)
Save the best until last!? Would I really do something like that :D ??? ... Of course I would! You can now find these 'biscuits topped with a layer of caramel, crisp rice and milk chocolate' in a M&S near you, and I was lucky enough to snaffle a few boxes of them on a introductory £1 offer. If you factor in the likes of the new Cadbury and Mikado biscuit offerings, the chocolate biscuit market has been pretty active recently in terms of new products available in the last year, so these were going to have to be something special to make them stand out from the rest. Frankly ... they were! They were tremendous! The chocolate was thick and took a substantial grip on the taste, whilst the caramel layer was more creamy and Dulce de leche like, rather than being just sugary, syrup gloop. The biscuit bases were also very tasty with their shortbread, buttery flavours - even the outer bits of chocolate puffed rice were fun looking and proved to be just a nice touch. Looking at the calories you probably don't want to go replacing these with your daily custard cream, but if you are after some 'posh biscuits' to bring out for the guests round your house I'm sure these will go down tremendously.
8.7 out of 10
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30 comments:
Oh my word those biscuits look so amazing that I actually want to buy some right now. A trip to M and S might be in order sometime soon...
Woah you have some nice looking things on show today Jim. The rocky roads looks especially delicious, as does that brownie.
I think I need to get myself to marks and spencer sharpish lol.
How have I never come across this Rocky Road? I'm a bit of a M&S fiend myself, I love buying their salads for my lunch.
If they sell them in my local one I will have a taste of the rocky road. All in the name of research of course lol.
Rxxx
Posting on a bank holiday? Loving your dedication to the cause Jim lol
RR - Never had this before and not a massive fan of that kind of thing.
Teacake - I've had the milk chocolate ones but never even seen the dark choc kind.
Brownie - So many people make brownies nowadays. I like the starbucks one.
Cool superpost! :D Well, Rocky Road isn't a particular favourite with me so Id never buy this, even if I shopped in M&S all the time lol
I have yet to ever, and I mean ever, see a Dark Tunnocks product be it the Wafer or the marshmallow teacake - theyre very elusive to me but theyd be nice to try if I ever do see them! The teacakes are nice though, I just dont get on with the wafers.
The brownie looks nice, and I've probably had it before when my supermarket became the Co-op briefly lol now its sainsburys and its pretty awful but never mind (i havent worked out how you can make a shop twice the size but stock less then Somerfield & the Co-Op stores that occupied the space as it was prevously but there you go lol)
Thoe M&S biscuits look very nice indeed, will have to look out for those the next time I do happen to be passing the store, theyd make a nice treat. They wouldnt last five minutes of course :P
Those layered cookies looking devilish. Anything more than a quid for four cookies I think is a little expensive but if you say they as good as they are then they could be worth a try.
On a separate note all the shops near are all flogging off those Cadbury biscuits for dirt cheap. They can't have sold very well I don't think.
That brownie is awesome. I used to buy like one a day when I had to pass co-op to work. I don't any more though so I really miss it :(
Since when have Tunnocks made anything that is dark chocolate?
I've never seen those dark chocolate teacakes. We always just buy the milk chooclate ones, I got to try them sometime.
You haven't ever done a four in one review before, it's a lot a reading for one day lol.
Not that I am complaining, I'm loving seeing your thoughts on all these different biscuity things.
I think those cookies look amazing but I can imagine those bobbly bits could get annoying. Knowing me I would make a right mess of things.
Great reviews today Jim.
I love Tunnocks teacakes and the snowball things they make but for some reason my mum doesn't buy them all that often.
Don't you think they are really traditional British produce? Tunnocks isn't the first thing I think of when I think of typical Brit foods but they are about as traditional as they come nowadays.
Thanks for the reviews.
You sure like your M&S don't you :)
It's a bit of a shame that you have to rate everything against Heavenly Cakes now because it seems everything you try just isn't as good.
You should try taking price in to perspective more. The HC stuff may taste better but its probably three times dearer money wise.
Yep I've had that rocky road slice and I didn't think much of it either. What I did think was tres cool was their new honeycomb tiffin thing! Trust me Jim it's amazing, give that a review sometime please.
Yep I've had that rocky road slice and I didn't think much of it either. What I did think was tres cool was their new honeycomb tiffin thing! Trust me Jim it's amazing, give that a review sometime please.
That marshmallow thing couldn't look any better. I want one right now.
Well this isn't any good to me at all :) I really fancy some of those marks and sparks cookies now but they are going to be shut all day because of the bank holiday aren't they :( unfair!!!!
Jim have you ever tried the dark chocolate caramel wafers that Tunnocks make? I've seen you have reviewed the normal ones somewhere and I think you liked them.
Personally I think the dark chocolate ones are even better. Knowing you I reckon you would think so to.
Cool review Jim. I needed some extra reading to sink my teeth in to on a bank holiday weeknend, lol I'm twiddling my thumbs already and it's only the morning.
I've had the teacake thing before and I would have given it a 7/10.
I've not had any of these but if your pictures are anything to go by I think I need to change that pretty quickly.
The cookies and the brownie are the ones that stick out for me. They book look delicious, especially the cookies.
You have to love Marks and Spencer. Their clothes are for old people but their food halls are amaze.
I have teacakes a lot when I want a low calorie chocolate thing. They are quite low in fat compared to a normal chocolate bar.
The only problem with them I find is that they aren't very filling. I could always easily for a second one lol.
I can add my endorsement to tunnocks tea cakes. They aren't something I buy that often but I do really like them.
Curiously enough I never come across the dark chocolates one any longer. In fact I think they have completely stopped selling them in my local supermarket. We just buy the milk chocolate ones anyway.
Nice reviews + brill photos.
If you are looking for things to review for another post like this can I suggest you buy a brownie from costa coffee? Their own brand brownies are superb, I always get one when I go in their for hot chocolates.
Lol Jim both the brownie and the rocky road things have best before dates in August and July :-) Are you sure you haven't poisoned yourself LOL. Are you still with us all?
I saw those biscuits last time I was in Marks but they weren't on any sort of deal. I think they were £2.49 for a pack so I left them well alone.
As good as white chocolate and lemon cookies sound I can't justify spending that much on just biscuits. I could be tempted by that rocky road thing. It looks well nice.
Dx
Grrrrrrrrrrr looking at the site is just torture sometimes. I could eat any one of these four things right now.
That picture of the tea cake is mega tempting.
Lovely jubbly reviews Jimmy. You're fast becoming a reviewing man of all hats .... well all sweet tasting hats. I will have to give those cookies a try, they look deadly.
Maggs
Omg that marshmallow thing looks epic. Where can I buy them?
I love marshmallows!!! Can't believe I've never seen them before. You have so many nice things up today.
Great review Jim. How do you find the time to eat and write about so many yummy things? If I looked at half of these treats I would probably put on a stone lol.
If you are looking to review some different sort of chocolate things you should get some muffins reviews out there.
Those M&S cookies look fantastic.
As for brownies, fresh is usually best. I'm really fussy with them, I hate them if they're too squidgy and if they're too dry.
PART 1
Claudia
Well for what it is worth they come with a ChocolateMission seal of approval :D I think I need to try the other two now to see how they match up.
David
Thanks David. I think I have my whole readership visiting M&S now. See you in there :D
Rachel
Some of their newer salads are interesting but I tend to always go for their sandwiches myself. The chicken and sweetcorn one is my favourite, though they used to do this crayfish one which was sublime.
Nick
Indeed! I thought you all might have the time to read through a few product reviews today.
Glad you enjoyed them.
Alan
Thanks chap. I value your seal of approval.
If you do happen to come across the dark chocolate tunnocks stuff give it a try! It isn't half bad!
I highly suggest those M&S biscuits. They have only just come out so I would think they are going to be around for a while.
Justin
Honestly these M&S biscuits are worth paying just a little bit extra for.
I know what you mean about seeing those Cadbury biscuits on offer all the time. It seems the Turkish ones are the flavour that are struggling.
Anon
Thats a shame. Perhaps you could make a special trip.
Colin
Since they have been around I believe. The only place I see them nowadays is in Sainsburys or Waitrose. They are worth checking out if you haven't ever seen them.
Lucy
I think I may have done a few times already you know. I'm glad you approve of the multiple product approach though - there are plenty more in the pipeline.
Katie
Thanks for the nice words.
Have I never reviewed the Tunnocks Snowball? Well there is a glaring whole in my reviews. I will make sure I buy a pack next time I'm in the shops.
Totally agree about the Tunnock's thing. I don't think they get enough credit from people. They have been around for so long now, they are like you say very iconic.
Duncan
Guilty as charged! I do Marks & Spencer. They are just top quality when it comes to a lot of their food stuff.
I know what you are saying about HC being a high benchmark but hey - you got beat the best to be the best. I do take price into consideration with these sort of products! Mostly because they are the only ones I actually have to buy nowadays :D
Estelle
Haha I think you will find I have already written my review about that honeycomb tiffin. If the review isn't up already it should be in the next few weeks.
Anon
Thank you! Please leave your name next time.
Harry
I thought most of the shops were operating Sunday hours on a bank holiday? I know Tesco were - I was in there earlier :D
Eric
I will have to check the archives chap. I'm 100% sure I have reviewed the original milk chocolates ones ... maybe not the dark! If I find a review I will post the link.
PART 2
Nigel
Thanks I thought you all might appreciate something a little larger to read today. It's great to hear my efforts are appreciated.
Clare
Haha indeed their clothes are well old school but if you make a beeline for their food departments you are certainly in for a treat.
Like all brands/manufacturers they have a few poor products but generally their quality is very good. A little birdie tells me that a lot of their confectionery is made by Thorntons you know!
Alicia
Indeed they are pretty low in all the nutritional info aren't they. They are probably one of the better options if you are watching your diet and that sort of thing.
Paul
Please do add your endorsement to my own :D
The dark chocolates ones are certainly rarer, I think that is a function of most peoples preference being with the milk chocolate option.
Andrew
Thanks Andrew, these posts are quite a bit of effort to put together but they seem to go down well.
I will see what I can do about the Costa Coffee Brownie! I'm more than happy to give it a try.
Tricky
Haha don't worry about that! The review queue is about a month long so these things take a while to come up.
Daisy
At full price they are pretty expensive, but even then I think they could be worth it from time to time.
I will buy the white chocolate ones next and get a review up. In the mean time I hope you give them all a try and let me know what you think of them yourself.
Alison
Oh dear I'm kinda sorry to hear that :D It's good that my reviews are well received but I don't want anyone feeling 'tortured' by them.
Maggs
Thank you Maggs. Horizons have certainly been broadened in the last few months. The rules have always been that if it contains chocolate then it is fair game :D As ever I'm open to suggestions.
Mysterio
The 'epic' marshmallow things can be found in most good supermarkets. Try the chocolate biscuits section.
Tim
I'm a busy man Tim :D No seriously it's a pleasure writing these reviews and I of course couldn't possibly eating all of these to myself. Many of the products you see featured in posts like these end up in my work tea room so I often just try a bit of everything.
It looks like my tea room will be seeing some muffins soon ;) request noted!
Thanks for the feedback today everyone. I'm glad you have continued to be positive about the review format. Individually these things aren't worth writing a single post about, but together I think they make for a nice varied combination of products to feast your eyes on. As ever I am very open to suggestions so keep them coming.
JIM
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