The ChileFoundry » Marks & Spencer

ChileFoundry Newsletter – News and Articles from November 2011

Hot Juan — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:48:45 +0000

This month we hear news of another possible World Record breaking Chilli – HP22B at 1,474,000 SHU’s

Things are starting to get busy for the Chilli Retailer on the build up to Christmas, we are hearing of mega shippments arriving, and possible shortages due to such high early demand. We will be running a series of articles in the first days of the month highlighting some of the best offer and gift products available for chillie-headz, so there is lots to look forward to in December.

News & Info (in reverse order of appearance)

Fire Cracker From Greenhouse Sensation

Reviews (in reverse order of appearance)

Tan Rosie - Hot Aubergine & Mushroom Pate

Recipes (in reverse order of appearance)

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Marks & Spencer – Harissa Paste

Hot Juan — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 09:32:07 +0000

Marks & Spencer Harissa Paste

Marks & Spencer have not done very will in our review so far,we have always like the quality of their product, but some how they have missed point and made things so lame that they lack any flavour and warmth.

Well Harissa comes from North Africa/Middle East and there are probably as many family recipes and variation out there that would could just do a blog on Harissa. Having looked at the ingredients list I am pleased to see all the essential ingredients included, maybe not in the order I was expecting, but it is a good start.

This one certainly looks the part with it bright red and yellow label, the the top of the lid is some pictures of chillies and some intelligible writing but on popping open the lid, I can smell Mint, a lot of mint, then Coriander and finally Garlic and Ginger, I have had Harrisa with Mint before, but I don’t remember the smell being that strong.

The initial taste is also instantly of mint, for the English, this is starting to taste like a warm mint sauce, it is not having the effect I was expecting from a Harissa, which is a hot, garlicky, salty condiment that I normally add to couscous as on it own it overpowers in all directions.

Ingredients: Red Pepper, White Wine Vinegar, Sugar, Cumin, Ginger Puree, Extra Virgin Olice Oil, Dried Mint, Water, Garlic Paste, Mint, Coriander, Lemon Juice, Salt, Crushed Chillies, Rose Petals, Lemon Paste, Black Pepper.

I would not like to say this does not taste very nice, I am enjoying spooning it out of the jar, it is just not what I expect of a Harissa, I think M&S could have done a lot better than this, people who by Harissa tend to know what they are buying, and this may well be a bit of a disapointment.

On the other hand this may be of some use at the weekend with my roast lamb!

I think I would have to say, don’t buy this, get a proper version from an local ethnic shop, or order a jar of the excellent ChilliPepperPete’s Harissa Paste that we reviewed a while ago or you could even make your own by following our simple recipe.

Flavour	*****~~~~~
Heat	**~~~~~~~~
Packaging	********~~
Value	***~~~~~~~
Overall	****~~~~~~

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Marks & Spencer – Smokey Chipotle Salsa

Hot Juan — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:24:33 +0000

Marks & Spencer – Smokey Chipotle Salsa

I don’t think I have ever seen a salsa with sugar as the first/main ingredient and the headline ingredient Chipotle Chillies are only a half or one percent.

On opening the salsa smells of sweet corn and tomato, it is a rich looking mixture with pieces of sweet corn, onion and pepper skin well spread throughout.

The taste is very sweet, like a tomato sauce, but much sweeter, there are hints of warmth from the chilles and mustard, but this is far too sweet, I think this has been targeted at the alcopop generation, this is salsa, but not as we know it.

Ingredients: Sugar, Sweetcorn (20%), Red Peppers, Water, Onions, White Wine Vinegar, Tomato Paste, Concentrated Lime Juice, Cornflour, Mustard Powder (Mustard Flour, Wheatflour, Turmeric), Sea Salt, Chipotle Chillies (0.5%), Smoked Paprika, Ground Turmeric, Ground Ancho Chillies.

We have two more chilli products from M&S to review in the next few months, but neither has such a high percentage of sugar in it.

Like most M&S products the packaging is excellent a small 205g stubby jar, with Mexican style insignia on the labels and that rough printed lettering

I cannot find this on their website www.marksandspencer.com, but it is available in the food hall.

Flavour	**~~~~~~~~
Heat	*~~~~~~~~~
Packaging	********~~
Value	*****~~~~~
Overall	****~~~~~~

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M&S Launches Healthy Pepper

Hot Juan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:35:33 +0000

Marks & Spencer has launched a new pepper they are naming the ACE pepper, so what is so special about this pepper?

This pepper contains half the vitamin A all the vitamin C and half the vitamin E our bodies require each day.

The pepper was discovered in Israel and has been developed by M&S in Waltham Cross. It is described as being a darker red and slightly longer that the normal bell pepper, with a lovely sweet flavour.

We will let you know more once we have collected some from our nearest M&S