LOVE AT FIRST BITE
We tried out Greggs’ £15 four course Valentine’s Day meal for a first date – to see if love can blossom over a Sausage and Bean Melt
VALENTINE'S Day is usually where romance goes to die.
There's overwhelming pressure to enjoy an overpriced meal in a stuffy restaurant, with the tables so tightly crammed together you can hear every syllable of the couple next to you's argument.
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But everyone's favourite high street bakery, Greggs, has different ideas for your amorous arrangements - a four-course fine dining experience packed full of pastry-based delights and all for £15 per couple.
As a fan of a sausage roll and a yum-yum, I jumped at the opportunity to test out the alternative Valentine's Day dinner.
After securing a date with dashing 6'3" Walthamstow lad Andrew, I booked a table for two at Greggs Stockwell, in south London.
First dates are always daunting, so with an anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach and unattractively sweaty palms, I headed in to meet my date.
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The Greggs I know and love was still in place; the baskets of Quavers, the Lucozade-stocked fridge, the instantly recognisable scent of the steak bake, but there were also roses, heart shaped balloons and a polished hostess waiting to greet me.
Serenaded by the stunning cellist positioned next to the doughnut cabinet, I made my way meet Andrew.
Each of the eight tables in the cafe section of the double fronted bakery was set up with crisp linen cloths, candles and a single red rose.
I discarded my coat and settled in, trying not to let the photographer and videographer, distract me from enjoying the company of my date.
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We surveyed the menu and were surprised to see we weren't just going to be eating four items from Greggs' normal range.
The bakers have given their classics a posh upgrade with a selection of canapes to start including a bite sized steak and blue cheese en croute and a pork and puff pastry slider - all served by a team of cater waiters especially drafted in for the occasion.
The dish was offered up on a chic slate with the delicate morsels all beautifully presented.
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The highlight was a melt-in-your-mouth "bechamel toasted honey cured ham squares" (cheese and ham toastie) that oozed flavour.
But I wasn't sold on the tomato gazpacho (a Spanish soup served cold) that tasted a lot like a cold portion of Heinz tinned soup - although it turned out to be Greggs own.
Having eaten light all day to save space for the feast, I wolfed down my food, ready for the main - a pre-ordered Sausage and Bean Melt. My favourite.
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Andrew ordered the same (soooo much in common) and we both tucked in to the pastry encased cheesy, bean and sausage parcel.
It was served up with "oven roasted spiced potato slices" (wedges) and "a garnish of Apollo and spinach leaves and sunblush tomatoes" (salad).
Andrew was easy to talk to and I had well and truly eased into the evening by the time the dessert made their way over - "A brochette of miniature doughnuts paired with a rich butterscotch flavour dipping sauce".
The bloke's opinion: Andrew's thoughts on the date
How would you rate Greggs as a date location?
I couldn't have asked for a better place.I've been such a huge fan of Greggs for pretty much my entire life so to have such excellent treatment felt like a huge privilege.
What did you think of the food?
It was brilliant to have Greggs classics with a romantic modern twist. The sausage and bean melt with a puff pastry heart on it was a nice touch. The donuts to finish were a touch too dry for my liking but the petit fours as the fourth course more than made up for it.
Did you enjoy the date?
Absolutely - great food, better company, and though it was slightly unorthodox, the pressure was off as soon as the first sausage roll came out. I knew then I was fully in my comfort zone.
What would you give the date out of ten?
9/10. Highly recommend and would do it all again in a heartbeat.
In an attempt to embrace the romance of the situation, Andrew delicately dipped one of the small doughy rings in the sauce and fed it to me.
My visions of seductively biting into the doughnut were completely scuppered when I under estimated its size and went for the whole thing in one.
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Unfortunately the volume of dough - which was a bit dry - made the whole lot hard to swallow and resulted in more of a "woman attempts eating challenge" look than the flirty-sexy I was going for.
Doughnut down and water guzzled, we went on to have a hot chocolate and petit fours; chocolate, raspberry and almond, and millionaire shortbread bites.
They were delicious. The perfect way to end a brilliant evening.
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Overall my experience was excellent. The food surpassed expectations and at £15 for two people is an absolute snip.
Andrew was the ideal companion and we agreed to meet up again for a second date - probably not in Greggs and definitely not with the cameras.
The team at Greggs made the evening fun and were very attentive, they even let me take the gorgeous bouquet of roses from the front desk away with me (although they're not usually offered in the package)!
As I got home and put them in water a small card fell out with one of the waiter's numbers scrawled on it.
So if things don't work out with Andrew, at least I know I have options.
MOST READ IN FABULOUS
If a sausage and bean melt doesn't tickle your pickle, you may be interested to hear that in January people were going mad about this Greggs full English breakfast bake.
Plus, earlier this month we brought you news that the Greggs Valentine’s Day meal sold out in 20 minutes – and customers were NOT happy.
If you didn't manage to book a table don't panic. This is how to make a romantic Valentine’s bouquet out of Greggs doughnuts.
Greggs are offering loved up couples the chance to enjoy Valentine's Day in one of five stores across the UK
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