I tried all the supermarket Valentine’s Day meal deals – the winner was similar to M&S and nearly half the price
THEY say the best way to win over a heart is through the stomach - but did they mean a Valentine's Day meal deal?
Every year supermarkets battle it out to entice customers by offering tasty and tempting meal deals for couples looking to stay in and celebrate at home.
There are lots of dishes to fall in love with, including heart-shaped Panna Cotta, mouth-watering sirloin steaks and even a lobster thermidor.
All of the deals we tried included a bottle of prosecco but you could swap it for a non-alcoholic drink or bottle of wine.
Most of the Valentine's Day menus on offer include a starter, main and dessert.
Some also came with a delicious side such as potato dauphinoise, garlic bread or green vegetables.
But which meal deal hit the spot? Adele Cooke investigates.
Morrisons
- £15 with a More Card
- Starter, main, side, dessert and prosecco
- Available from February 10
My winner! I tried the scallop and king prawn gratins, rump steaks, dauphinois potatoes, raspberry panna cotta and prosecco.
The scallop and king prawn gratins were identical to the M&S version - but this works out much cheaper.
The steak with pink peppercorn sauce was delicious and soft and the dauphinois potatoes were rich and creamy.
I think the portions were generous given the low price point and the panna cotta hearts hit the spot when it came to dessert.
The berry compote on top was tangy without being bitter and it melted in my mouth.
The prosecco was lovely too. I don't think this can be beaten on quality for the the price.
Score: 5/5
M&S
- £25
- Starter, main, side, dessert, Prosecco
- Available from February 10
M&S is known for its posh nosh but £25 is expensive and I was expecting big things.
I tried the king prawn and lobster thermidor gratins, fillet steak beef wellington, cheesy greens bake, two become one chocolate praline heart and conte prosecco.
The lobster thermidor included several large prawns and had a sauce which was similar to a thousand island dressing.
I thought the prosecco was lovely and fresh, with a fruity twang.
The beef wellington was sizeable and the pastry was flaky and the meat was soft.
I liked the chocolates - but it felt like an anti-climax to my meal.
And I was disappointed with the cheesy greens bake, as it was just broccoli in a sauce. What a let down.
Score: 4/5
Waitrose
- £20
- Starter, main, side, dessert, prosecco
- Coming soon
From posh supermarket Waitrose I tried the prawn cocktails, chicken Kyiv, green vegetable medley and melt in the middle chocolate pudding.
The prawn cocktail pots were filled to the brim with shellfish in a silky dressing.
I enjoyed tucking into them while sipping my prosecco, which paired beautifully.
The chicken Kyiv portion was generous and the meat oozed with garlic butter.
I liked the vegetable medley but I think you'd still need some chips or a jacket potato to go with it and that would cost extra.
The chocolate dessert oozed out of the pudding and it was the star of the show.
Score: 3/5
Asda
- £11.97
- Starter, main, two sides, pudding, Cava
- Available from February 6
Asda’s meal deal was very generous for the £11.97 price tag.
I tucked into the cognac prawn cocktail, sirloin steaks, chips, melt in the middle Belgian chocolate puddings and Cava.
The prawn cocktails were very similar to the Waitrose version and had a similar cognac flavour.
I enjoyed the sirloin steaks, which had smoked garlic and pink peppercorn butter.
The chips were nothing to write home about but did the job.
There are several other sides on offer, including a vegetable medley and dauphinois potatoes.
I was very impressed with the melt in the middle chocolate puddings, which looked identical to the Waitrose ones.
They were equally gooey and indulgent and helped save my meal.
Score: 3/5
Aldi
- £12.22
- Starter, main, dessert and Prosecco
- Available from February 10
Aldi's meal deal costs just £6.11 including a bottle of wine or Prosecco, which is a right bargain.
I tasted the semi-dried tomatoes and mozzarella pizza, share the love garlic bread, raspberry cheesecake slice and Costellore prosecco.
I was slightly underwhelmed with the pizza and garlic bread, which I think would fail to impress a discerning date.
Both were perfect for a weeknight dinner but failed to set my pulse racing.
There are several options in the deal, including the heart shaped pasta with lobster and duck breast with plum and hoisin sauce which may be more show-stopping.
But the cheesecake looks beautiful on the table and is adorned with heart-shaped decorations.
It’s fruity with a soft cheese filling and buttery biscuit base.
Meanwhile, the prosecco was delicious but overall this meal was a bit of a flop.
Score: 2/5
Co-op
- £10
- Main meal, side, bottle of wine
- Available from February 5
The Co-op’s Valentine’s deal is a bit basic - but maybe an option for those on a budget.
I tried the vintage cheddar mac and cheese, roasted garlic and parsley flatbread and prosecco.
The flatbread was quite thin, which meant it was crunchy rather than soft when I bit into it.
I enjoyed the mac and cheese, which had a rich and creamy cheddar cheese sauce and crunchy mozzarella crumb.
The prosecco washed the meal down well but I was a bit disappointed by the value of the meal for the price point.
Score: 2/5
How to save money on Valentine's Day
ADELE Cooke, a senior consumer reporter at The Sun, explains how to save money on Valentine's Day.
If you're not careful Valentine's Day can end up hitting your wallet.
I explain how to avoid the traps.
AVOID THE SET MENU
As February 14 falls on a Friday this year, consider going out for a meal on Saturday instead.
This is because many restaurants insist that you must order a set menu on Valentine's Day, which can be very expensive.
Usually this is not the case on other days.
Some of the set menu items may also be on the regular dinner menu, so you can still order them without paying a premium.
LOVE IS...FINDING A DISCOUNT CODE
If you do want to go out for dinner on Valentine's Day then look for restaurant deals on The Fork.
This website shows you all the restaurants with special offers and deals in your area.
If you're eating in this year, you could save money with one of the dine-in-for-two options above.
Check the individual cost of each item in the deal to ensure you're making the biggest saving.
Keep an eye out for discounts and vouchers in the run up to February 14.
Some companies run special promotions in the lead up to the big day.
Check websites such as Groupon, which offers special dining options or experiences.
DON'T OVERSPEND
It can be easy to fall into the trap of overspending when it comes to spoiling a loved one.
But if you do, you'll be causing yourself long term financial pain.
I'm sure if you have a chat with your partner and explain what your budget is before February 14th then you can both be on the same page and you'll avoid disappointing them.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Facebook group to share your tips and stories
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