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Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
I compared Heinz mayo with supermarket versions (my favourite might surprise you)
Condiments are a great addition to many dishes, and choosing which one to pair with your food can take a second or two, but for me, mayonnaise is usually a good option. Whether I'm having a burger and chips or enjoying a salad, I find myself reaching for the mayo, and sometimes I'll be a little bit more adventurous and have an extra sauce with it too. As someone who doesn't like spicy food, mayo has been the solution when I've needed something to cool it down. While I always find myself reaching for cheaper mayo, specifically Aldi's own brand, I thought it would be interesting to see if I am missing out on anything by not paying for the usually more expensive big-name brands. I compared four different mayonnaises (Image: Newsquest) The prices and bottle sizes are accurate at the time of writing, but may change. First of all, I gave Hellmann's mayonnaise a try. It was one my family had in the cupboard, but it can be bought in Aldi for £2.49 for a 430ml bottle. My first thoughts were that the bottle was difficult to squeeze, and it takes a bit of time to actually get some mayo on your plate. The flavour was quite strong and I'd say it had a bit of a sharpness to it, which isn't really what I'm looking for when eating mayonnaise. It's not one of my favourites – you can see my overall thoughts below. Next up was Sainsbury's own brand, and my first impression was poor since the mayonnaise seemed to be separated in the bottle. I decided to give the bottle a shake, but when it didn't make things any better, I thought I needed to give it a real chance and do the taste test. The taste of this mayonnaise reminded me of the one that is sometimes offered at takeaways or at takeaway trucks. While it tasted a bit like salad cream (weird, I know), this mayonnaise had a strong flavour but was nicer than the Hellmann's version. It was easy to squeeze out of the bottle too, so that's a bonus! I then tried Heinz mayonnaise, which was on offer with a Nectar card, so the £2.20 bottle cost £1.10 instead. This mayonnaise had quite a sharp taste, and I'd even say it got the tastebuds tingling, which I'm not sure I want when opting for a bit of mayo. The Heinz bottle felt like it was made from a thicker plastic, but easy to squeeze, and I was surprised to see the mayonnaise comes out from a smaller opening, so it may take you longer to get the desired amount of mayo. Thinking about it, this is probably not the worst idea since we've probably all had a sauce explosion and ruined our dinner at some point. At the same price as Sainsbury's, this Aldi mayonnaise has a much more subtle flavour than the rest, but it does the job – when I want mayo, this is the kind of mayo I'm looking for. Aldi's mayonnaise did have some flavour, of course, and it was to my taste. The bottle was decent enough too, and easy to get out of the bottle. Recommended reading: I compared Heinz tomato sauce with supermarket versions (this is the one to avoid) Co-op offers members 25 per cent off their shop after cyber attack - how to claim 'Amazing' Cadbury chocolate bar is 'closest you'll get' to discontinued treat Which mayonnaise won the taste test? My favourite mayonnaise still remains as Aldi after the taste test since it does the job for me. I wouldn't be against having any of the others again, but none of them wowed me enough to make me permanently change from my usual Aldi mayo. Having said that, if I wanted a mayo with a bit more flavour, Sainsbury's would be my pick.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
I tested supermarket burgers – the £2 winner scored 10/10 and it's perfect for a summer BBQ
THE sun is out and there's nothing quite like the sizzle of a burger over hot coals. Supermarkets have really upped their game with the burgers they offer - it's no longer about a skinny patty in a bun. 10 There are wagyu burgers or Aberdeen Angus quarter pounders. But with so many to choose from, how do you know which to pick? Lynsey Hope has worked her way through dozens of delicious patties. Here she shares her verdict on some supermarket best-sellers: Aldi Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus Beef Quarter Pounders (454g) £4.49 for 4 (£1.12 each) Beef content: 95% Nutrition per burger: 206 calories, 12.8g fat, 0.4g sugar, 0.85g salt Aldi's were a little lacking in meaty flavour, though I loved the bouncy texture and they had a good amount of fat, without being greasy. An impressive meat content and no nasty ingredients to bulk them out, so I felt this was a quality product for the price. Excellent value and a generous size. Taste: 3/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 7/10 Morrisons The Best Quarter Pounder Burgers (454g) £5 for 4 (£1.25 each) Beef content: 48% beef, 30% beef chuck and 17% brisket Nutrition per burger: 277 calories, 18.9g fat, 0.2g sugar, 0.77g salt These burgers are made with a mix of chuck and brisket, and they looked chunky and meaty so my hopes were high. They browned nicely, but I thought they were a little chewy and didn't have loads of flavour. Some of the meat broke apart a bit after cooking. They are a cheaper option, costing just £1.25 each and they are a decent size, but there is nothing particularly special about them. They would be easily livened up with sauces and toppings, though. Good for serving en-masse. Taste: 3/5 Value: 3/5 Total score: 6/10 Tesco Finest Wagyu Beef Burgers (340g) £5.25 for 2 (£2.62 each) Beef content: 86% Nutrition per burger: 297 calories, 20.1g fat, 1.4g sugar, 1.05g salt 10 Wagyu beef is known for its buttery tenderness, but I found these a little grisly. The flavour was meaty and rich but the texture put me off. The meat is what I can only describe as stiff. I thought they were overrated for the price. Taste: 2/5 Value: 2/5 Total score: 4/10 M&S Food Our Best Ever Burger (340g) £5.25 for 2 (£2.62 each) Beef content: 93% Nutrition per burger: 432 calories, 35g fat, 0.3g sugar, 1.50g salt M&S' burgers were expensive, but worth it. They look appetising and smell and taste meaty. The beef is succulent. The seasoning is delicate and they crisped up perfectly. These could almost pass as homemade. Quite fatty and it oozed out on the barbecue, but they tasted lovely in a bun. Taste: 5/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 9/10 Ocado Quarter Pounder Beef Burgers (454g) £3.75 (93.7p each) Beef content: 96% Nutrition: 236 calories, 14g fat, less than 0.5g sugar, 0.70g salt The cheapest burger in this test, they definitely offer a tasty and wallet-friendly option. The beef content was ok and they weren't too fatty when cooked. The texture of the meat was a little chewy compared to some pricier burgers but there was no gristle. Not bad for a budget option. Taste: 3/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 7/10 Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Dry Aged Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers (340g) £4.25 for 2 (£2.12 per burger) Beef content: 90% Nutrition per burger: 313 calories, 19.6g fat, 0.9g sugar, 1.10g salt Really tasty premium patties which are made with 14-day dry-aged Aberdeen Angus beef - a delicious mix of rib, rump, brisket and chuck steak. They are seasoned with rosemary and have a rich, mature flavour. Not the cheapest but they were reasonable value for a premium burger. If I could only buy one variety of burger all summer, it would be these. Great job, Sainsbury's. Taste: 5/5 Value: 5/5 Total score: 10/10 Waitrose Native Breed Beef Quarterpounders (454g) £6.55 for 4 (£1.63 each) Beef content: 95% Nutrition per burger: 223 calories, 15.10g fat, less than 0.5g sugar, 0.69g salt Lightly seasoned and a lovely meaty flavour. They didn't fall apart during cooking and I loved the subtle hint of sea salt and black pepper. They were less fatty than other options. What would put me off from buying these is the price. Whilst delicious. I'm not sure they are worth £1.63 each - that's quite a lot if you are throwing a barbecue for the masses. Taste: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 8/10 Exceptional by Asda British Quarter Pounder Beef Burgers (454g) £4.48 for 4 (£1.12 each) Beef content: 94% beef Nutrition: 212 calories, 14g fat, less than 0.5g sugar, 0.67g salt A decent juicy burger that I thought was good quality for the price. I'd have liked a little more seasoning, but the texture was bouncy and nice. They did fall apart a bit on the barbecue which made them a little messy to eat, and a little more seasoning would have improved the taste. Taste: 4/5 Value: 4/5 Total score: 8/10 Lidl Deluxe Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers (340g) £3.69 for 2 (£1.84 each) Beef content: 95% Nutrition per burger: 377 calories, 28.5g fat, 0.2g sugar, 0.75g salt Lidl's burgers had a juicy texture and were seasoned with sea salt and a crack of black pepper. At 95%, they had the highest meat content of all the burgers in this test and tasted like a quality product. The burger held its shape well whilst cooking and I loved the rich, mature depth of flavour. The meat is quality and that's the overriding flavour from these.
The Sun
08-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
I tried supermarket Pizza Express dupes – my £1.99 tastes just as good as the original and it's HALF the price
SUPERMARKET shoppers love reaching for a Pizza Express pizza - but can you find an own-brand one that's just as good? They can be pricey when compared to supermarket own brands. 8 At the moment a Margherita will set you back between £4.35 - £6.00 depending on where you buy it. Natasha Harding tried six supermarket brands and compared them to Pizza Express Margherita pizza - and rated them all out of 30. Pizza Express Margherita Pizza Per 100g: calories, 263 fat, 8.7g sugar, 3.4g salt 0.93g 8 If the secret to a good pizza is in the dough, then Pizza Express hits the spot. The base cooked to perfection and it was a good size for two people. There was a good amount of topping and it cooked evenly in about 12 minutes. However, there are other pizzas that taste just as good for a fraction of the cost. Taste: 8/10 Value: 5/10 Overall rating: 6/10 Out of 30: 19 You can now buy the 'world's first air fryer pizza' in Tesco & people are saying they are perfect for lazy cooks Carlos Stonebaked Pizza £1.99, Aldi, Aldi Per 100g: calories, 308 fat, 10.2g sugar, 4g salt 1.09g 8 It cooked nicely in 12 minutes and was big enough to feed four people. The base was deliciously crispy and the cheese and tomato topping tasted authentically Italian. I haven't tried this flavour from Aldi before, but absolutely will in the future - my winner - and less than half the price of Pizza Express, that's dinner sorted. Taste: 10/10 Value: 10/10 Overall rating: 10/10 Out of 30: 30 Cheese & Tomato Pizza Per 100g: calories, 298 fat, 9g sugar, 2.6g salt 0.76g Good value and a perfect size for two. I wasn't so keen on this one as I thought it was a bit bland and there wasn't enough cheese to tempt my tastebuds. However, my daughter and her friend loved it and she's asked if she can have it for tea regularly. At that price, I'm happy to oblige - and if I join her, I'll add extra cheese on my half. Taste: 8/10 Value: 10/10 Overall rating: 7/10 Out of 30: 25 Stonebaked Margherita Pizza Per 100g: calories, 238 fat, 7.7g sugar, 3.9g salt 1.09g It cooked well in just over 12 minutes and the generous size means it would satisfy four people, especially if you add a couple of sides. The topping was plentiful and the fact that you're getting a lot of pizza for your money means that this is a good staple for a family if you're unsure what to serve up for dinner. Taste: 9/10 Value: 7/10 Overall rating: 8/10 Out of 30: 24 Chef Select, Stonebaked Margherita Pizza £1.99, Lidl Per 100g: calories, 254 fat, 8.6g sugar, 2.3g salt 1.08g Another well priced pizza but I wasn't so keen on the taste. The tomato had an intense, slightly synthetic taste that I couldn't get away from. The cheese was generous and tasted great - and it cooked to perfection. If you like a stronger taste sensation, it might be one for you but it's not one I'd be keen to buy again. Taste: 6/10 Value: 10/10 Overall rating: 7/10 Out of 30: 23 Classic Margherita It cooked nicely in just over ten minutes and looked very appealing once it was ready. It was generously sized and the base was just the right consistency of being thick enough but crispy too. It was oh so cheesy which hit the spot for me - I'd definitely buy it again if I needed a cheese fix. Taste: 8/10 Value: 7/10 Overall rating: 8/10 Out of 30: 23 Essential Cheese & Tomato Pizza Per 100g: calories, 260 fat, 8g sugar, 4.6g salt .75g I felt a bit let down by Waitrose offering as the Essential range is fantastic. The base was a bit thin, and it could have done with some extra toppings as it felt a bit lacklustre. If I was to buy it again, it would be as a base to add some extra ingredients to. Taste: 6/10 Value: 6/10 Overall rating: 6/10 Out of 30: 18
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
We tried Singapore's best-rated Ipoh hor fun
My childhood was defined by a few routines, one of them being family dinners at the OldTown White Coffee 3 bus stops from our home every other weekend. The only thing I'd order is their Ipoh hor fun, in all its fragrant chicken, silky noodle glory. However, this review isn't about OldTown. As far as I know, not many stalls in Singapore sell Ipoh hor fun, let alone specialise in it. So imagine my surprise when I came across JM (Sisters) Noodle House Traditional Ipoh Hor Fun with a 4.9/5 rating and 192 reviews (at the time of writing) standing proudly below its name. No way lah… a near-perfect review? Shucksss, guess there was nothing I could do but go down and verify what is allegedly the 'most authentic bowl of Ipoh hor fun in SG' for you dear readers out there. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been on the North-East Line upwards from Little India, and this trip at 10am on a Wednesday puts another finger down. Located at The Promenade @ Pelikat in the Kovan-Hougang area, I was praying this bowl of Ipoh hor fun would make my journey as a Westie worth it. With only one dish — the soup variation of Ipoh Hor Fun — on the menu, you know it's legit. I opted for the Regular Set (S$9.30), which comes with a bowl of Ipoh Hor Fun regular (S$7.80) and a canned drink. Top up another S$1 for the large bowl to satiate your hor fun cravings. When my buzzer rang, I headed to the counter to retrieve my order from 1 of the 2 friendly sisters running the store. It came with a circular marbled tray supporting my bowl of piping hot noodle soup; how thoughtful of them! Enough yapping, I dived head-first into the broth. It was clean and fragrant with the classic chicken stock base that carried a slow-cooked sweetness, all without the support of MSG. It's nostalgic in the way your grandmother's chicken soup is when you stay home from school with a fever — simple yet deeply soothing. However, the layer of oil coating the top of the bowl started to get a little cloying towards the end of my meal. The noodles are where their 'best-rated' title stems from, in my opinion. These narrow flat rice noodles resembling kway teow are imported straight from Ipoh, staying true to the OG absurdly silky texture that glided down my throat with no effort at all. Each strand was soft but not mushy, posing as the perfect conduit for the broth's flavour. Ipoh Curry Mee 怡保咖喱面: Tasty curry CCF & Malaysian-style delights worth travelling to Yishun for Topping-wise, JM Noodle House doesn't go overboard, offering just the usual suspects. The main protein, a modest heap of shredded poached chicken, is tender and juicy, free from that dry, stringy texture you sometimes get with poorly handled breast meat. The shreds also soak up the broth beautifully, which serves to enhance that delicate chicken flavour further. There were also 3 mini de-shelled (thank goodness) prawns. They might look unassuming, but don't underestimate their prowess because they packed a surprising punch of umami while remaining sweet and springy. I had to ration them so that my perfect last bite had a prawn, too. Hais, if only they gave more! The fried shallots and chives that crowned the dish lent a subtle crispiness and vegetal note respectively, breaking up the richness of the bowl and finishing it off with perfect colour and balance. My only gripe about this meal was that the soup was a tad bit oily, but regardless, I scraped the bowl clean. #Beasted. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for the little things, but the fact that the sisters took the time to plate each order with a smile and greet each customer personally warmed my heart. I'm no Ipoh-rian, but this cosy 16-seater space and the back-and-forth conversations in Cantonese made me feel like I was visiting a relative's kitchen rather than a restaurant. The price is a little steep compared to your usual hawker stalls, and the eatery is quite a distance from my house. But would I visit again? Absolutely — for the nostalgia and sincerity that define Ipoh hor fun at its best. Expected damage: S$7.80 – S$10.30 per pax Order Delivery: Deliveroo Fatty Ipoh Noodles: Huge portions under $7 of crispy hor fun, moonlight hor fun & XO fried rice The post We tried Singapore's best-rated Ipoh hor fun appeared first on
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Food blogger slams trendy new cafe for ‘annoying' problem
An Aussie food reviewer has lashed out at a newly opened sandwich shop in Sydney for running out of food before he could try it. Food blogger John-Ray Boukarim said that he visited the newly opened cafe, Bertas, in the Inner West suburb of Marrickville – not once, but twice – and on both occasions the eatery had run out of bread for sandwiches. Taking to TikTok to express his frustration, he explained to his 14k followers that he had planned his 'whole day' around reviewing the food for 'no gain other than boosting their business'. However, when he arrived for the second time, he was disappointed to learn that he and at least 10 other customers had missed out on trying one of their coveted sandwiches. 'Listen, tell me how the f*** you open up a business,' he began. 'You think you would have your operation under control, knowing what stock levels you would need in order to keep up with the demand, yet you still finish and run out of food an hour or two before you shut.' 'F*** off, and stop wasting my time,' the expletive-filled rant continued. 'Don't open up a business unless you know how to run it. Like seriously'. Speaking to Mr Boukarim said that the cafe should increase their bread quantities to avoid this issue in the future, and if they don't sell out by the end of the day, they should donate the rest to charity or use it the next day if possible. 'As a consumer, when a business advertises a time frame of operation, I expect those to be reasonably available throughout that period,' he said. 'For example, a sandwich shop running out of bread an hour before closing raises questions about meeting customer expectations set by their own advertised hours. Why have a business open and closing time? Rather have 'Until sold out'.' He noted that this issue is particularly frustrating when it happens repeatedly, especially on weekends. 'Customers often work Monday to Friday, so their weekends are precious,' he said. 'Imagine planning a nice Saturday lunch with the family, waiting in line, only to be told you've sold out. 'That's incredibly annoying, especially for families with kids. It's a huge waste of their limited family time.' The video quickly went viral, accumulating over 60,000 views as Aussies shared their thoughts on this issue in cafe culture. A spokesperson for Bertas told that they've been amazed by the response they've received from the community after just five weeks of opening — and they're still figuring things out. 'We work out of a compact 36 sqm space with a small tight-knit team, and have up to eight people on deck during busy times,' they said. 'Each one giving their all to serve as many sandwiches as possible, always with quality and consistency at the heart of everything we do. 'Every sandwich we serve is made fresh to order, and we make as much in-house as possible — often starting in the early hours and finishing late at night.' They explained that while demand has exceeded expectations and continues to grow week on week, they're actively working to scale quickly and sustainably. 'This means sourcing more staff, refining operations, and doing our best to ensure we can serve everyone who comes through our doors,' they said. 'We hate having to turn people away, especially as we started this place to offer a high-quality product at an accessible price. This is what starting something from scratch looks like, and we're all in.' Commenters on the video mostly sided with the cafe on this one — saying it's common for businesses in their early days to suffer teething issues. 'You should give them more grace if they're new. They're still learning,' said one customer. 'They have only been open for a few weeks and you think they should have it down pat exactly how much stock they need?' questioned another. 'Even a business that is 15 years old might have weeks they weren't expecting and can be sold out'. Others claimed he made a mistake by going so close to closing time. 'If you want good fresh food, rule of thumb never show up two hours before closing,' another noted. 'You have the right to be upset but maybe go earlier next time,' advised another. Mr Boukarim told this publication that his intention with the video was not to tarnish the reputation of the business but to provide some constructive feedback. Currently, in Australia, 60 per cent of businesses will fail within their first three years of operation, with 20 per cent failing in their first year. He believes that this sort of 'tough love' he provided in his video can help businesses adapt quickly and critically assess their offerings — leading to more success in the future and, hopefully, preventing them from shutting down.
