First Time Grocery Shopping at M&S - Is this the best British supermarket?!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Our first M&S was a lovely experience. We tried some great items, but there are so many interesting options that we would just love to know what your M&S favorites are for next time! Have you seen this video of our first time ever grocery shopping in a British Supermarket (Testco)? Watch it now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6GykoaAmrhpmKM

[@martinvegas1327]

You should compare Asda M&S Sainsburys and Morrisons to see which one you like the best👍

[@joannewall5499]

@bobbybigboyyes I agree, prices are fair in M&S but they win hands down in taste

[@jonathonblacker299]

Need also to try Waitrose

[@balcerzaq]

@@jonathonblacker299 Or Booths if north of england.

[@Bunnykims]

Buying lots of nice interesting bits to create a home buffet is known in the North East as a “Picky Tea” and a Marks & Spencer’s one is the best!

[@catgladwell5684]

The wide eyed wonder at things that seem so ordinary is very touching.

[@JOHNTHEWHISK]

To me, it's a bit cringe

[@Freestxne]

As someone who works in food manufacturing and made fresh produce for most of the uk supermarkets over the years and seen the ingredients that go in I will say you definitely get what you pay for when it comes to M&S. You truly are paying for the quality.

[@MysteriousBeingOfLight]

Amen !

[@piee683]

Agree and you’d know it

[@JOHNTHEWHISK]

You are also paying for the brand. The quality isn't always great.

[@chrisstrider]

It’s not just food….it’s M&Sfood❤

[@vicieditsstuff]

Damn right

[@songsmith31a]

The problem at M&S is the best sort of problem - so much choice!

[@laurabailey1054]

When I was in university in Canada they had a M&S and I used to go and buy food from there all the time. Before I went home I would go there to get pork pies for my grandma.

[@Glyn-gq8ts]

We used to have an M & S in Canada but then they closed. Miss the food hall, fabulous foods. Wish you had gravy and mashed potatoes with your toad in the hole, Mmmm

[@Parawingdelta2]

I live in Australia now, but I grew up in Britain (for the most part) in the fifties and sixties. Back in those days Marks and Spencer were known for their inexpensive but quite good quality clothing. The week before I left my family and emigrated (as a parting gift), my father took me to M&S and paid for a whole new wardrobe to take with me. I was like a walking advertisement.

[@GrahamMacdonald-w9o]

I am 67 and have lived in the UK all my life. My parents told me that M&S used to be as you described but I can't really remember that. In the late 1960s and 1970s they sold good quality clothes but were more expensive than rivals like C&A, British Home Stores and Littlewoods (none of which exist anymore in the UK). In the 1980s they really took off with a much wider range of clothes, catering for their traditional market as well as the more fashionable market. After a blip about 20 years ago, when they largely stopped using UK suppliers and charged similar prices for lower quality products made in Asia, they lost a lot of customers. However, having closed many stores in smaller towns (and some bigger towns like Luton and Northampton), their remaining shops are busy again but a relatively small proportion of their customers are under 40. The main exception is food, where younger people do shop from my observation. The larger stores have all got large food sections and there are also many standalone M&S Food stores in smaller towns. As others have written, the food side has propped up the clothes side of the business for some time now.

[@valeriedavidson2785]

​@@GrahamMacdonald-w9o I am 85 and remember M & S since the 1950's. I have always loved it. When all the clothes were made in Britain the quality was better. However the food has always been superb. They have gone right up again with their clothes and it is not true to say that young people do not go in there. They do.

[@valeriedavidson2785]

I left England for Kenya in the 1950's for three years. I used to dream about M & S. I have only left England since for holidays. I still love it and have it on good authority that shopping in England is far better than Australia.

[@phoenixrising5088]

Back in the day everything was made in Britain and everything was pure quality.

[@jacqueline8559]

​@@valeriedavidson2785I emigrated from the UK to Australia. I miss M&S for underwear. That's about it. I'm guessing that, like anywhere, some places have good shops and others don't. In Melbourne shopping is blah, like in the UK, (Walking around small shops, hunting for a coat for hours 😢) We live in Queensland. Here, there are the most fabulous Shopping Malls, where you can purchase anything. There are also Restaurants, Hairdressers, and Cinemas. It's all down to individual perception and preferences

[@joshhancill7273]

I work for M&S and I get 20% staff discount. People say it’s pricey but you’re paying for the quality, but with my staff discount it brings the price down to other supermarkets so I have no excuse but to shop at Marksies 😆

[@alexrowson-brown6568]

I find portion size is small and not everything is better quality like chicken is chicken 🤷‍♂️ The only think I like n&s for is the snacks

[@sarahjscooper]

​@@alexrowson-brown6568 I buy the chicken legs for my dog and the amount of chicken I get off the bone is much more than the Sainsburys 1kg boxes.. even though M&S is only 620g

[@kills26]

@@alexrowson-brown6568 Portion size should be bigger, M&S policy is always to be generous with the customer. I work for a company that makes ready meals and we make ready meals for many customers. The ingredients are not the same, M&S Chicken and Prawn are a higher quality than Tesco's and Tesco is a higher quality than others. Generally M&S quality is the best, fresher ingredients, less frozen stuff, less purees. One thing all ready meals have in common is sugar my god the amount of sugar we put in to food it's insane.

[@PoppyCorn144]

@@alexrowson-brown6568 the living conditions of the chicken matters to that chicken and as a bonus happier livestock leads to nicer tasting meat. So I’m happy to eat less meat at a slightly higher price point.

[@songsmith31a]

My sister worked at the Torquay town branch some years ago and had the same staff discount. She did put on some weight though!! I do know she was sad when leaving her job! M&S always had a good name.

[@arriesone1]

After watching this video I think we Brits should feel pretty proud of our M&S’s wonderful range of ready meals! (Not forgetting they also do a great range of raw meats to cook ourselves)

[@lisesolberg5301]

After all these years, the term "ready meals" has made it across the pond. America really is behind in many areas.

[@JOHNTHEWHISK]

Yes be smug like you normally are

[@19ThePurplePython93]

Love how enthusiastic and bubbly you two are staying on our little island. Please come back and stay longer 🥺

[@lotuslandmusic7770]

I go to the UK every year (from Canada); it's my favourite place. And I LOVE the supermarkets. On my last morning, before heading to Heathrow, I always go to the Tesco and Sainsbury, and I nearly fill a suitcase with treasures. My kitchen spice rack is stocked entirely with Tesco-brand herbs and spices, and it makes me smile every time I open my cupboard and see them.

[@JOHNTHEWHISK]

@@lotuslandmusic7770 🤮

[@truthseeking-t7l]

The duck fat and goose fat is perfect for when you are roasting potatoes. They go super crispy! Perfect for a roast dinner.

[@AndyJarman]

Very east European. The Poles and Croatians swear by it.

[@leohickey4953]

@@AndyJarman They're right. Once you've had your spuds roasted in duck or goose fat, you'll never go back to vegetable oil.

[@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131]

​@@leohickey4953 Also good for home made schnitzels !

[@jonm4989]

I notice the majority of posts mention that M&S is expensive, but personally I feel when you take into account the quality of produce it’s actually good value. For years the food side of M&S has propped up the whole business and it’s because it’s so popular. I’m pleased you enjoyed your M&S visit and must say that store was massive; I haven’t come across many of the products you viewed in that Chester store.

[@peterchapman3740]

Exactly

[@TimmyMagic]

You get what you pay for & I always feel it’s quality in there so buy it.

[@Paul-hl8yg]

Its quality but you pay for it!

[@mehitabel6564]

M&S is a treat for lazy cooks and people in a hurry. I have done a 'cheats dinner party' from M&S before. However, M&S is still not as good as the superb fresh produce at my local farm shops here in the Cotswolds, if you are a keen home cook. I can always, always taste the preservatives in ready meals.

[@Ds-zv6oo]

Personally I've found theirs no difference from M&S to Tesco Finest. If anything M&S is way overated. It's similar to Waitrose in the fact that because something is more expensive it's better without actually being better quality!! Its strange as most ranges come from the same producers but with slight differences in packaging but vastly different price tags.

[@marksandspencer]

Yes it is! It's an unwritten rule that you havn't been to Britain until you've tried a Percy Pig... glad you enjoyed! 🐷🙌

[@theshiftybloke4672]

Is everyone ignoring the fact that M&S just replied to this video?!

[@autumn5852]

I’ve lived in England all my life and I’ve never even heard of a Percy pig 😳

[@stephenbarrett8861]

@@autumn5852can confirm for me also.

[@crackpot148]

​I first heard of Percy Pig when I was 4 years old. I am 76. Sure enough there weren't any Percy Pig sweets back then and the variety of sweets was very limited because sugar was still being rationed. There was also a Percy the bad chick in another book among our first readers in infants school along with Dobbin the horse, Daisy the cow and lots of other named animals in tales of old farmer Lob's farm.😊

[@stumpali]

This is making me proud to be British 😊

[@bob56gibson]

Years ago I worked in a large bakery which supplied a lot of supermarkets. But when the time came (usually in the extremely early morning) to do the Marks and Spencer run. There was a long pause. Recipes changed, and a crew from the store would oversee everything. They also had the power to reject the whole run. Cost more? Yes. But that's OK

[@personalcheeses8073]

I worked in a factory that made M&S clothes and yes they used to come out and check. They didn’t want us making for other companies, so we had to lock orders for other stores away when they visited

[@madelinebryson]

Rhinestones in cornfield near sheffield England do this

[@BackToNature123]

That's reassuring that they take additional steps like that

[@elainemcguinness3962]

My ex worked in a pop factory and the same thing happened there. Whenever the line changed to an M&S product a team turned up to inspect the cleanliness of the line, the labels and the product. Thats what we're paying for.

[@simonwallis1787]

Ocado does m & s home deliveries. My grocery bills are ridiculous !

[@staffordshirelass6711]

When Mum got into her 90's she began to rely upon ready meals, M & S were so superior. Most supermarkets ready meals were just meat and potatoes they usually had a selection of veggies with them and in reality when you considered the quality they were better value. The shelf life was shorter as there were less preservatives and the variety was vast. Her favourite was the Salmon with watercress sauce and baby new potatoes mine was the hake with roasted tomatoes other supermarkets had a few curries a few chinese cottage pie etc just bog standard stuff she never got bored. Roast pork with cider gravy was another favourite. She really enjoyed their meals. On her last day on earth just shy of her 94th birthday she went there on her scooter and did her weekly shop. Hale till the end on M&S food I never had any worries about her appetite. She had brain hemorrhage very quick the way she would have wanted it totally independent to the end.

[@janebaker966]

If I say that's a lovely story it sounds cruel of me but that's how it was with my auntie and yes it's so great that many people remain active and witty to the end. I just love to think of your Mum,just like my Auntie,all neat and spruce going to the shops and just being in the moment then off on that Big Adventure.

[@RaspberryRippler]

My mum loved the pasta ready meals and sandwich fillers. Her 80th Birthday cake was ordered from M&S. She went very quickly after a brain haemorrhage at 82, here one day, gone the next. The food hall brings back lovely memories. Best wishes to you!

[@gaynorross9783]

Aww, I worked in ms food hall in Brighton for years and I could practically do the elderly customers shopping for them , I knew exactly what each of them bought every week 😊

[@fayesouthall6604]

Sorry for your loss but what a lady.

[@tracy6568]

🤗

[@malcolmross8427]

You cannot go wrong with M&S foods!

[@MarcZedex]

Fair play. I used to volunteer at a food bank that got all of M&S end of day/day after end-of-date stuff that we'd hand out. Probably the best food-bank in the world.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Wow, that does sound like nice food for a food bank.

[@cireenasimcox1081]

I think that's one of the nicest story I've heard about Marks & Sparks. Just because Life dealt a person a bad hand doesn't mean that they must be "punished" by having always to eat the crappy food that's all they can afford even for the kids. Comfort food - the pies, Yorkshire puds, the thick gravy that doesn't come powdered out of a box - must bring them, however briefly, the same warm feeling it does to other people! I know these guys had barely touched down before they went to M & S, and were knackered so the whole idea was not to have to cook...but next time I hope they either go into the Veg. section, or the rice/salads/ pasta/cous-cous sections, or the stacks of different kinds of salads or, even better, find a market - because, obviously, one doesn't eat these prepared meals on their own. To shop in a Farmers Market means the right person is getting paid for their work & worry. And you get to bite into a strawberry, or plum that actually has juice in it! Or cook a potato that came out of the ground yesterday in its skin (we say "jacket"😊) because it tastes nutty and full of flavour. Promise you guys that with things (like those vegan "chicken") you can serve them as part of a Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Polish...whatever, meal by serving with rice/pasta/salad/vegies...add a few herbs & spices and all the flavours will just burst in your mouth! (Oh and got a giggle out of watching two adults in the Sweety aisle and buying Percy Pigs😄😄).

[@richardbierman9856]

Where is it? I"ll move there!

[@LexAngel]

M&S and Waitrose are our high end supermarkets, but you do get what you pay for. For an extra pound or two, the ready meals are far superior to Tesco/Sainsbury's/Asda/Morrisson's.

[@t0rn]

Went looking for this comment and found it 👍🏻 agreed. Love Aldi for some essentials but Waitrose for everything that shines with better quality.

[@OnASeasideMission]

If you want above and beyond, try Harrods, Selfridges, or Fortnum & Mason. Super quality. Super varieties and ££££ For endless variety and sensible £.. Try Borough Market.

[@shaunbyrne9037]

The Toad in The Hole traditionally has a rich onion gravy with it . 🙂 . If you make your own , seal / brown the sausages in a frying pan transfer to a baking tin , add the Yorkshire batter and bake . Make the gravy in the same pan you sealed the sausages in to get the meaty flavour into the gravy . Its generally a main meal in itself served on its own with gravy or with the addition of whatever veg takes your fancy .

[@joyfulzero853]

The temperature of the baking tin is vital.

[@eliza-mariahchamberlain2389]

Vegetables are vital!

[@susiep9297]

Definitely needs vegetables

[@iamtoooldtocare]

⁠only baked beans will do.🥹

[@macweed3358]

@@iamtoooldtocare i thought i was the only one

[@norahdenovan8658]

I love M&S food, it always makes me happy walking through there ❤

[@debsidoo1008]

I use Goose fat for my Christmas dinner roast potatoes . I don’t like pork pies but I think most people would eat them cold with a buffet or in a picnic etc. All our food prices have increased in the UK and still are. I would normally serve toad in the hole with nice thick onion gravy, mash and fresh veg.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thanks, Debsi!

[@michellejames9718]

In burton on Trent you could go in to one of the pubs and order a pork pie ( always eaten cold never had a warm one ) they would give you a tea spoon of English mustard with it and you wash it down with a scrumpy cider (still and cloudy) I miss it !

[@daviddouglas6610]

The jelly in a porkpie is the best part

[@tonys1636]

@@michellejames9718 Scrumpy in a Burton pub - sacrilege !

[@philb2085]

I only know ONE nutter that heats up pork pies 😂

[@marjoryross2754]

I was salivating as you walked through the store. My children vaguely remember M&S in Canada. On our 2019 3-generation trip to the UK we hit M&S in Oban. We were all like kids in a candy store. The food is just so good and the quality amazing.🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@fayesouthall6604]

We are very lucky to have a big selection of excellent food. Lots of supermarkets have upped their game

[@kw8757]

I think we in the UK take it for granted that we can just pop out and buy a vast array of excellent food, I've traveled the world and it's surprising how many first world countries are lacking in the availability of good food. I've visited Canada by the way and it is stunning and the people were incredibly friendly. 🇨🇦

[@alexandertarver5154]

The more I see you guys the more convinced I am you need to live in the UK or even Europe!!! I love how you react to our world! You will always be welcome!

[@xvsupremacy7190]

Well Dwight Mc Guirre did live in the UK for 5 years 😜 !

[@missmerrily4830]

@@davidholgate123 I endorse what you say, having been an immigrant to another country for nearly 20 years at one time, before moving back home. But your argument should never deter anyone from taking that chance in my opinion. Anything can and will happen in life and now I'm nearing the end of mine, I would have hated to be sitting in my rocking chair saying "I wish I'd taken that opportunity". Sure it's different as an immigrant to being a tourist, sure you need much longer than you think to feel comfortable and at home in your new location, sure it's difficult when the time arrives to move back to your original home for whatever reason, but don't let that stop you doing it. And let's not forget that Americans and Brits share a similar language. Many people have a new one to contend with in their new countries too.

[@MichaelGGarry]

@@davidholgate123 UK emigrant here and 15+ years in (Singapore in my case) still enjoying it greatly. Miss family of course, but moving back would only really be a consideration for retirement really.

[@judithmaca1570]

@@missmerrily4830 I so agree, having lived in the Netherlands for nearly five years from my early twenties. The one drawback is that thereafter one feels an exile from the other country, as there are always aspects of the OTHER country that one yearns for!

[@jedimike1402]

Love that you went to Chester, hope you had fun, it's my favourite day out destination.

[@Kari_B61ex]

I just love M&S food. The food is always top quality - As a single woman (children are now adults) I buy a lot of their meals for one and meal deals. Meal deals are a side, a main, a dessert and a bottle of wine! They're great value. I also love Percy Pigs and hide them away from my grandchildren! 😅

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

we ended up with some Percy Pigs a few more time during the trip. They didn't last that long. 😂

[@SH-zr4sp]

Hi, did you notice that the M&S food has virtually zero additives unlike the food in the US!! Exceptionally amazing ready prepared food!!! Enjoy it all. X

[@matthew6994]

And GM free

[@MysteriousBeingOfLight]

This !!

[@JOHNTHEWHISK]

Food goes off here within 2 days, including bread. so you are constantly having to buy more food. i'd rather have the additives.

[@GlasgowSkyline]

M&S is generally seen as more expensive but they do have good meal deals. They have a famous “dine in for two” deal which was £10 for 2 mains, 2 sides & 2 desserts. On special occasions like Valentines its £20 and includes better meals and wine. I hope you filmed more of Chester!

[@tenniskinsella7768]

Gromarks hsve actually.got good value food

[@peterc.1618]

Some of the ready meals had red price tags (usually some sort of special offer) but they seemed to ignore that.

[@francesmarie2131]

Salad Cream was what the Brits used instead of mayonnaise for decades before mayonnaise was a thing here. The first ready-made commercial product was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1914, when it was used as a salad dressing and a sandwich spread. Historically, salad cream, often mentioned in Victorian sources, consisted of "hard-boiled eggs puréed with cream, mustard, salt and vinegar". Commercially made Mayo came onto the market much later. Salad cream is much more acidic so works well in sandwiches with fillings like egg, tuna, or anything flat tasting and bland.

[@tracielillytan1530]

You are a girl after my own heart. I lived in NYC for 18 years and am still loving my trips to M&S for food shopping now I’m back in England…I love this food.

[@seantynan1]

It's not just a food hall, it's an M&S food hall.

[@jennetscarborough5145]

I had a brief look in the comments, and it doesn't seem like anyone explained the Deli pots. Yes they would typically be used for filling Sandwiches, using whatever style of bread (Baguette, Ciabatta, Wrap, Bap, Sliced, etc) but they could also be used as Jacket Potato filling, or served as part of a Salad. Sometimes in the Summer, my Mum plans a Salad for dinner (as opposed to serving a simple salad as a side to a main dish), and typically it includes either Potato Salad, Pasta Salad, Rice Salad, or Couscous Salad, or possibly a couple of them, plus a usually meat or fish based option, often with a mayo type dressing (Tuna Mayo, Prawn Mayo, Coronation Chicken, etc) as well as assorted prepped salad veg (including the basics of Mixed Salad Leaves, Tomato (dressed with a little Olive Oil and Cider/Wine Vinegar), and Cucumber, as well as adding things like Grated Carrot (especially good dressed with a little Orange Juice), Pepper, Radish, Spring Onion, Avocado etc), sometimes a cheese (such as Feta), and usually some toasted nuts or seeds or those crispy dehydrated Fried Onion pieces to add some crunch. Everybody chooses which elements to add to their plate, so it's easy to adjust to individual preferences.

[@ednammansfield8553]

You can't go wrong with M&S for their food products. Better quality than supermarket brands in my opinion. A bit more expensive though but well worth it.

[@johnwaldron7490]

I’m from the home of the pork pie Melton Mowbray, also affectionately known as pork pie town, always eat it cold with Branstons Pickle and our also famous local cheese Stilton. To be really adventurous try the aforementioned items with celery,pickled onions,coldslaw,ham, grapes and a doorstop size hunk of bread with butter, it’s called a Ploughmans lunch, mostly served in pubs, very filling and yummy.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Alright, well now I want a pork pie with Stilton. That sounds fantastic.

[@jimkessler2001]

Hi from Fife, Scotland ! Pork pies are only eaten cold. If you heat them up , they disintegrate. They're like a kinda paté , often eaten as a bar snack, with good mustard , or Branston pickle, or both . I like a dash of Tabasco, too. xx James

[@MontytheHorse]

Hello fellow Fifer! Can’t say I’ve ever heard of someone ever heating up a pork pie. Quite fancy one now! 😂

[@wahiba]

Heat a pork pie and serve with hot mushy peas, tinned are fine. Top with mint sauce.

[@leeedsonetwo]

This is nonsense, I worked at a butchers who made peis including pork pies. Took a pie home for lunch and heated it up so the gelletin melted and then ate with baked beans - better than any other meaal.

[@maire1889]

@@MontytheHorse Raised in the UK living in the USA would love a pork pie miss British food

[@gdparry2727]

Pork Pies and Scotch Eggs... gotta have cold. I like to remove the egg, sprinkle a little salt+pepper and maybe a smidge of mustard then put the egg half back in. Pork pies with a good slather of mustard too.

[@michaelbailey8729]

Pork Pie cold with Branston Pickle. Toad in the hole warm with garden peas, mash potato and onion gravy.

[@michaelaaylott1686]

I’m British but have lived in Spain since 1991, and years ago, coming on holiday to England and walking round UK supermarkets seemed like being in wonderland - so you can imagine how we felt about M&S! A dream come true! But seeing the sheer amount of ready meals there in your video was a bit shocking, a sign of how lives have changed, with nobody seemingly having time to cook even simple things like vegetables. It can’t be healthy, can it? Of course, if it’s an occasional treat, no problem; but I don’t think I’d be buying shepherds pie then. Here is Spain supermarkets are also offering more ready meals now, but nowhere near like in the UK. The emphasis is still more on ingredients.

[@jwi1085]

Ready meals weren't healthy back in the 90s, but so much better now in many cases

[@richardlaundon]

Tuna and Sweetcorn is a much loved staple for sandwiches or best on jacket potatoes. Sort of a go to filling along with the humble beans and cheese :D

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

We'll have to try it next time.

[@richardlaundon]

@@TheMagicGeekdom easy to make yourself and probably cheaper. Just a can of tuna, can of sweetcorn and a generous amount of mayonaise 😁

[@johnburton3865]

Personally, hate Tuna with sweet corn, which usually comes drowned in mayo. Yuk. All ingredients fine, but the combo sucks.

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

@@johnburton3865 way better than beans

[@Perksofbeingglow]

@@richardlaundonalso really nice with chives or a bit of red onion+ squeeze of lemon :)

[@helenmick5053]

caramelised onion gravy would work really well on the toad in the hole

[@spongebob9822]

M&S is amazing value in my opinion, usually shop there when I have a some spare cash. Brilliant ready meals and food in general. Love your videos, you are both a fabulous and respectable couple, welcome to the UK 🇬🇧💙👫

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thank you so much!

[@spongebob9822]

@@TheMagicGeekdom thank you both for your content and letting us into a little part of your world. I see your in Chester, my favourite city in the world 👍👍

[@BigC1290]

Word 💯

[@alexandrasmith7682]

If you go to the Help Desk, and explain you are American visitors and don't have a £1, then they have a special token which means you can use a trolley. Yes, Deli Fillers are for sandwiches, jacket potatoes, toast. Cottage pie is beef, Shepherds pie is lamb, Cumberland is beef but with cheese on top of the mash. Yes, all the M&S Food Halls have lots of ready meals and snacks. Pork pies are normally cold and served with pickles, salad .... You can also make a Ploughmans by adding cheeses, bread, butter, .... There's normally a section with hot pies like steak and onion, chicken and ham, cheese and onion. My favourites? All the little afternoon tea cakes!

[@richt71]

Toad in the hole is usually served with thick onion gravy. I'd have it as a kid with mash and peas. Yum! Yes the better quality pies are amazing. Yes the tuna and sweetcorn is a sandwich filler or baked potato filling.

[@karenpenny3973]

M&S may be bit pricier, but the quality is top rate. The food is fresher, lasts longer, and is just higher quality than other places. Their prawn mayo sandwich is an iconic work lunch, and a Colin the caterpillar is the only shop bought cake we buy.

[@slimofbonar1978]

The deli fillers are good for sandwiches but also as a filling for a baked potato 🥔 👍🏻

[@keeperofthecheese]

That Toad in the hole was CRAVING some onion gravy

[@tonyspencer692]

Pork pies best cold. And the duck and goose fats are for roasting potatoes.

[@ninamoores]

….and lots of English mustard!

[@lechatel]

I like my pork pie to be slightly warmer....not over-heated but left in a warm place like a sunny windowsill for an hour or two. It makes they jelly in them much more unctious. A lot of things are much better if taken out of the fridge well before eating. Tomatoes are another example.

[@francesjones9644]

You are both so nice. I’m glad you liked the M & S food, it’s a little expensive but rarely disappoints. Oh, welcome to the UK by the way and safe journey home.

[@chrisdyson9141]

Toad in the hole is best with loads of onion gravy! You can also add mashed potatoes and veggies as a substantial meal for a cold winter day.

[@gibbothemonkey5540]

Onion Gravy seconded. Some sort of potatoes and some peas as well

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thanks for the tips!

[@ethelmini]

Surprised M&S didn't push some on the same shelf, pretty sure they do ready made sachets

[@geordiegirl164]

It’s so lovely to hear and see how excited you are. It’s great you are having such a wonderful time in the UK 💕💕💕

[@wildwine6400]

Their gastro Scotch Eggs in the fridge section are my favourite 😍You have to put them in the oven for 14 minutes as they are soft boiled, to heat the yolk. Cold yolk would be nasty

[@cjc201]

I love them too

[@maryandrews4097]

Onion gravy is the traditional accompaniment to Toad in the Holel. According to my mother, the "toads" were originally pieces of beef steak.

[@ocl4586]

So glad you guys seem to be enjoying your trip back to the UK! Always look forward to your uploads.

[@andyrjs]

If you like your cheese, you need to try the M&S cheese scones from the in store bakery. You can eat as is but warm, haled & buttered is heaven. With toad I would have potatoes (mash or boiled), whatever veg I fancied (peas always good) and a good helping of onion gravy.

[@rayoflight6505]

They are opening more M&S stores and food halls around the UK this year. Just read that the other week. Nice to read about success and not closures. Keep the high street alive!!!!

[@TheVaughan5]

From what I understand they plan to close some High Street Stores and open new ones in shopping centres. I hope I’m wrong, this is the last thing the High Street needs, more closed shops.

[@catherinebarlow3079]

They closed our main m and s couple years ago open just food Hall on out skirts of our city very hard get if you don't drive

[@lauraholliday9343]

The 3 for £8 section is my favourite because it encompasses so many things, I love the halloumi and courgette triangles and feta parcels, prawn pots, honey smoked salmon, soo good on some warm bread. I just love going to M&S for a little snack especially in the summer when having picnics!

[@sapphire22011]

Do they still do their Wensleydale cheese and carrot chutney 🥪? Haven't been in a M & S for years after they left our town and next store is 50 miles away. Have searched high and low for the carrot chutney to make my own version of the sandwich and can find it nowhere

[@garyyork1942]

Enjoyed the video. The UK supermarkets have more of a variety of ready meals than here in the US. Our "ready meals" are usually just frozen dinners. I lived in the UK for two years and got used to the convenience of just bringing them home and warming them instead of having to thaw them out. I enjoy walking around the grocery stores when I'm there and looking at what they have. I'm going to be visiting the Manchester and Leeds area again in March and I'll be hitting the stores when I'm there.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Jealous that you're going to be in Manchester in March. 😁 Hope you have an amazing time.

[@flyingfox7854]

Be sure to hit the Pubs as well … 👍

[@spanishdncr71]

I’m from Manchester and have been living in the states for 25 years now. I go home every year usually for Christmas and M&S and Asda are always at the top of my list for a shopping trip.

[@revengenerd1]

Difference likely is most UK rfeady meals are fake food ie more chemical/processed than anything else.

[@SalfordSoldier]

@@TheMagicGeekdom I’m from Manchester and it’s crazy for me to hear they’re jealous of someone going to Manchester😂

[@deadjester]

Yup, deli fillers are sandwich fillers, just put it in a roll/bap/sub/baguette/2 slices of bread. Tuna and sweetcorn is a safely tasty filler. Pork pie eat them cold with a little English mustard, some english cheddar, stilton, or red leicester cheese, and a beer or wine. Cheaper to make yourself. But M&S is pricey even for ready meals.

[@angeladavies898]

Hope you enjoyed Chester! M&S food is generally more expensive but higher quality than the other supermarkets in the UK. I love the original Percy pigs, they are my favourite x😀

[@MontytheHorse]

I was in Chester in October last year. Lovely place. Discovered the charming Albion pub.

[@Kevin-si1es]

Hi Angela nice shop in chester I am from prenton

[@lotuslandmusic7770]

I have been visiting the UK every year since 2010, and I visited Chester for the fist time last year. I loved it! Only 13 seconds into this video, I saw the clock, and instantly exclaimed, "Chester!"

[@johnmunro4952]

Most other supermarkets do a couple of "best" ready meals., but no one can match M&S for quality or variety of them. Back in the 90s my girlfriend and I used to get £35 each in M&S vouchers as a Xma bonus. We used to blow the whole lot on food and drink!

[@garstangterrier501]

M&S is a luxury treat in my household. Pizza meal deal goes down very well. I agree they are alot more expensive however the quality is mile's better than other standard UK supermarkets. They are really specific about where their ingredients are sourced from, and who they use for supply. I work in food manufacturing and their food standards are second to non. To be an A list supplier takes alot of work even for very simple ingredients.

[@CMOT101]

Jeremy seems like such a nice and gentle man. And he is always smiling on your videos

[@rikmoran3963]

M&S have always done great food. They used to be considered expensive compared to normal supermarkets, but the quality was always much higher. I've seen some recent articles that showed people have been finding M&S food cheaper than their normal supermarket as they have done a better job at keeping their prices down. That may be because it is mostly all M&S own brand and they can control costs. Waitrose is also a great food store, they used to run the food hall for John Lewis (I think they still do). They have some really nice stuff in there, although I would say M&S has the edge as it seems to have a larger and better range of items in my opinion.

[@MontytheHorse]

Waitrose and John Lewis are part of the same company, IIRC.

[@Steve326]

M&S obsession in everything puts me off..

[@newtube7187]

What a delightful couple.

[@Kimllg88]

Europe and especially Asia have very upmarket food halls. Tokyo is incredible. Food is an art!

[@wild.endeavours]

I discovered your channel recently and am loving going back through all your videos! I'm a Brit living abroad and everytime I go back to the UK I have to go to M&S for 3 things that I can't find anywhere else. Percy pigs, wasabi peas, and stuffed vine leaves! I think the wasabi peas and vine leaves are things you either love or hate but they're definitely unique to M&S!

[@juliaknight2623]

Love you guys, another great video. Definitely try toad in the hole with mash and gravy. You guys should try the m&s minced beef short crust pastry pie, cheddar cheese and smoked bacon crispbakes and for dessert strawberry & clotted cream sponge roll. (Trust me) so good!

[@JOHNTHEWHISK]

27 year expat watching. Oh, it's just soooo cute to see you two being complete tourists. Most ordinary people in the UK cannot afford to shop at M & S.

[@geosword6]

Oooohhhh!!! You almost picked up from their Indian section!! Their Indian stuff is sublime. Get a curry to match your tolerance of spice, get a rice and a few naans. Cold white wine. Heaven. Easily the best UK supermarket for Indian food - in my opinion obvs. I also find find going first thing in the morning is when they put the yellow stickers on. Can get a right bargain there if you time it right.

[@johnjanland4788]

You make me feel so homesick and appreciative of England. Now living in N Idaho thanks, JML

[@crxmsxnn7540]

You definitely need to try the “our best ever handcrafted sausage rolls” it’s a m&s own item! Heat them up for a minute and they come out so good!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Sounds great!

[@jademulrooney9209]

The pork and apple ones are my personal favourite, with the crumbly topping!

[@thomasellison6097]

So funny to see Americans going around M&S, we just take all of this for granted NOW I live in the US and long for M&S food, thank you for sharing your experiences

[@peckelhaze6934]

Tuna and Sweetcorn is one of my favourites, especially with white pepper added. It is sold in most stores, including German. Coronation Chicken is lovelly as well.

[@bennewnham4497]

Travel is good for everyone. It really does expand your horizons and make you aware of how things are done elsewhere in the world.

[@johnwelch5132]

In lockdown M&S was a couple of minutes from my apartment. Pricey, but it became my corner food store. I lived well from their meals. And staff were and are great. Can’t go wrong with their foods. Those cheese straws two boxes for two quid. Can’t go wrong. And good wine selection 😊

[@MetropolitanStudiosLondon]

There's only one thing for me in M&S - the profiterole dessert. The best thing ever.

[@azby7933]

As soon as you picked up the Melton Mowbray pork pie I felt you were going to be confused whether to eat hot or cold. I've never known anyone heat one - they are only ever eaten cold as they are fully cooked. I don't like them but they are never hot!

[@mattbentley9270]

Wow im starving now, glad u found all the yummy food, M&S food is the best.... wish I could afford to shop there every week, it is an occasional treat for most people

[@pauldryburgh6346]

The Italian, some curries and some Chinese are my favourite ready meals. Things are a bit tight money wise currently so I go late to get the reduced items. Coupla days ago it was two Chinese meal boxes for 2 for £8 instead of £26. The paella that you showed is one of my favourites too when I was able to get. Best sandwiches too.

[@beverleybrown5365]

You would have Yorkshire puddings on Sunday roast beef, I do yorkshires in a muffin tin, roast rib of beef, roasted veg, home made cauliflower cheese , creamy mashed potatoes( husbands job, butter and cream to mash) with beef gravy from cooked beef, family favourites. Recipe for Yorkshires- 2 large eggs, 100 g Plain flour, 100 mls milk, Salt &Pepper and oil or goose fat, cover bottom of each muffin hole with oil to 1cm, mix all ingredients together for 10 minutes until no lumps and lots of air has been incorporated together and leave to stand in large mixing bowl for at least an hour. Oven on highest heat it will go, place muffin tin on top shelf for at least 10 minutes until oil ( I use goose fat because it can go to highest temperature without burning) is very hot , poor the Yorkshire mixture into a pouring jug, after 10 minutes take out muffin tin and HALF fill each muffin hole quickly, don’t leave oven open!. When muffin tin has mixture in put back on top shelf, Yorkshires ready in 15-20 minutes, DO NOT OPEN DOOR OF OVEN TO LOOK FOR 15 MINUTES, light brown and big there cooked.👍😜

[@adrianmcgachie]

I will be honest, I live in UK but rarely venture far for grocery shopping so haven't been in that many M&S food halls, but even I did not realise how good the ready meals and side ingredients looked! (As an addendum, my father worked for a food supplier to M&S and he never divulged any trade secrets but he did say with some admiration that M&S work with their suppliers to ensure the absolutely highest standard of quality that can be attained, very strictly!)

[@davidsanderson4442]

You can’t go wrong at Marks and Sparks!

[@robfarmer9272]

Mannn You cannot go wrong with M&S all butter mince pies. They should sell them all year round.

[@zhu05107]

Cheese twists yes absolutely classic choice

[@lynjones2461]

Marks and Spencers food is so delicious and no it's always been on the expensive side but the quality is superb and I don't mind paying for the things I like xx

[@Bbill2k2]

M&S is known to be more upmarket often fancy packaging with descriptions to draw you in. Generally they tend to be better quality then other supermarkets but sometimes it’s a placebo affect from clever marketing. Aldi and Lidl have eaten into this area massively in recent years, having previously been considered cheap lower class. Some items are reasonably priced, their essential range is competitive with cheaper stores. Ready meals are probably 20-30% more then your average supermarket. Inflation is hitting many hard in the UK everything has risen, food being the fastest being energy prices. A packet of M&S fancy crisps at £2 will often be 70-80p in Aldi. Often these are manufactured in the same factory with different packaging. Very few in the UK would do a full shop in M&S, it’s more a treat, their 2 can dine range for say £15 is popular Friday/weekend treats rather than a take away

[@karenlouise9339]

If you like prawn mayo sandwiches, I would 100% recommend the M&S ‘our best ever’ prawn mayo sandwich. It’s elite. Also, the fondant fancies are the M&S version of the infamous French Fancies that mr Kipling does. Staple at a kids bday party in the 90s haha

[@eviltwin2322]

The goose or duck fat is usually used specifically for roasting potatoes, specially for christmas dinner. Pork pie is almost always eaten cold.

[@RNE365]

So funny watching you guys walking around M&S. FYI, Yorkshire Pudding should always have a gravy of sorts. Have you tried a YP with Chilli Con Carne? And for your next shop, might I recommend Waitrose, where the really posh people do their shopping 🤣

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

YP with Chili? 🤔

[@lalunacee9168]

@The Magic Geekdom YP- Yorkshire Pudding Great recommendation with chilli 😋

[@valeriedavidson2785]

Personally I think that M&S food is superior to Waitrose and I have both shops nearby.

[@cooperization]

No contest with M+S V Waitrose-----M+S every time.

[@terry9325]

We always take M&S ready meals to tide us over for a few days when we go touring in our caravan .it’s cheaper than than eating out and in most cases better quality , Waitrose also have good ready meals not to mention Booths , but they are normally found in Northern England ,they are a bit expensive but as I said way much cheaper than eating out .

[@crabc4ke]

Adorable seeing how you find British food. Look forward to more videos.

[@1pixelinthespectrum]

It is higher priced generally in M&S but definitely worth it. I always go round with a basket and find it impossible to fit all I want in it so end up getting a trolley lol. Love your videos :-)

[@elainemcguinness3962]

Buying a ready meal at M&S was a rare treat. Something I couldnt afford to do very often, but when I could afford it, they were always amazing quality and absolutely gorgeous.

[@geekelly000]

I think that M&S cheese scones are delicious and also the giant strawberries and rainier cherries are nice although it's not the season for them yet. When you buy fruit from M&S each and every piece of it will be ripe and consistenly delicious. Some supermarket fruit is a mixed bag so to say, even Waitrose seems to have dropped the ball on that a little bit.

[@devidwobinson8747]

The general quality of M&S food is very very high but there’s also Waitrose and another fancy one called Booths

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

We were planning to do a Waitrose video, but I don't believe we've heard of Booths.

[@draoi99]

I love the Meow Division t-shirt. Made me smile. Colin & Connie sweets are really nice. Try them next time.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thank you!!

[@laybosh6626]

M&S is really good with their own brand products that are just unmatched quality anywhere else. Although they don’t have some big brand names on offer. One thing I can always rely on in M&S is top notch quality of pretty much anything you buy. I’m lucky to live in and area with different grocery stores and I can say that M&S is the only one consistently with top notch quality

[@CoastersandPop]

M&S for me is for a special treat as it’s a bit more pricey than other stores, however I cook a lot at home but the M&S ready meals are usually rather delicious

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

That totally makes sense.

[@gillianrimmer7733]

We have a M&S food hall on our high street - just a 5 minute walk from my house. I usually buy a couple of ready meals for my husband and me once a week to give me a night off cooking. The meals are typically around 50p more expensive than budget supermarkets, but they are worth the extra money. M&S used to be thought of as really expensive, but there's not that much difference in price for basics like produce and fresh meat. I'm a pensioner, but still find a lot of the food affordable- just wouldn't do a week's grocery shopping there. I tend to get a lot from Aldi - tinned/frozen foods, toiletries, cleaning products, tea etc... and call at Marks multiple times a week for fresh stuff. I think Waitrose is the most expensive - but also the place I would choose to shop if money was no object. I buy the toad in the hole regularly for my husband and serve with mashed potatoes, veg and lots of onion gravy poured all over. We also serve meat pies with veg and gravy. Pork pies are usually eaten cold with salad or pickles - but in Yorkshire, where I was born, its eaten warm with mushy peas and gravy poured all over it.

[@British_Stuff]

Mince sauce is used in beef stock gravy for a hint of extra flavour

[@phoenixrising5088]

Everything in M&S food hall is 😋 delicious. .

[@PaulineGaulton]

Ready meals are excellent in M&S, I worked in M&S for 30 years, and I can assure you that the quality of the food is outstanding, yes they are more expensive than most stores, but really are worth every penny! 👍

[@markdickson3820]

Wanamaker’s in Philly had a food hall if I remember correctly when I moved to the US - but it was bought up by Macy’s years ago. Goose fat is rare in the US (best roast potatoes ever, simply a must!), but you can buy duck fat relatively easily (Wegmans’s sells it for instance), duck fat is often used for fancy fries in US.

[@susie2251]

Weirdly, food halls in basements of department stores are also really popular in Japan too!

[@MichaelGGarry]

They have a few in Singapore too, like Takashimaya on Orchard road....

[@lotuslandmusic7770]

And it's funny that they don't recognize that Walmart and Target are department stores with a supermarket in it! (A budget department store, but still).

[@infostudy101]

Spain also has food halls in department stores.

[@ade7163]

Yorkshire puds are usually eaten with a meat, mashed potato, roast potatoes and veg. Any leftovers can be eaten cold with ice cream and a drizzle of your favourite dessert sauce.