The Royal Wedding on Friday has triggered the production of huge amounts of commemorative tat souvenirs, as well as some rather nicer food and drink offerings. Here is a quick round up of what is in the supermarkets and elsewhere.
Asda
A limited edition Quality Street tin for £7, also the extra special occassion wedding style fruit cake, covered with marzipan and royal icing, which you could cut at the same time as the happy couple have their cake! £10 to serve 20.
Co-op
Some pretty pink cupcakes (sorry I do not have a price). Their entire frozen food party range is on a 3 for £5 offer, with lots of champagne and wine offers in store with Janisson Carte Blanche Champagne at just £12.99.
Also for the first time, the Co-op will be playing live radio in all their stores, so no staff or customers will miss any details as the wedding happens.
Marks & Spencer
Some fun non-food bits and pieces, I applaud their realistic expectations of the weather with the Royal Wedding brolly for £15.
Morrisons
Everything you need for a street party from their Market Street Deli, all made and ready to go. Items include: Sandwich platter £6, Cupcakes £5 for 12, Royal Windsor Red Cheese £9.99/kg.
Sainsburys
As well as party food, and the Pieminster pie below, Sainsburys have some delicious Wedding cake ice cream, containing spiced fruit, sponge cake pieces, royal icing and a marzipan ripple at £3.39/500ml.
Also in stores is a range of Union Jack paper plates, cups, flags and bunting for your party, and a Kate and William tee shirt.
Tesco
If commemorative china is your thing Tesco have a fairly tasteful Kate & Wills plate and mug for £5 each.
Also in store are 2 for £3 and other offers on a wide range of party food.
Waitrose
A gingerbread bride & groom, perfect for children, or to take to parties for £1.
Following the success of last year’s hidden orange pudding, Heston has combined trifle and Eton Mess to make a pudding fit for a King or Queen. £13.99, serves 10.
The Waitrose Royal Trifle combines layers of strawberry compote, scented with orange zest, with crumbled amaretti biscuits. Celebratory Marc de Champagne has replaced traditional trifle sherry and classic custard has been swapped for cream infused with saffron strands. Taking inspiration from Eton Mess, the Heston from Waitrose Trifle, is crowned with a ring of meringue sprinkled with an edible confetti of rose petals, caramel almonds and dried strawberry jewels.
Prestat have a Union Jack box containing 15 truffles for £15. An great gift to take to a party, or to treat yourself to. I especially liked the seasalt caramel and the passion fruit.
I wrote about Pixley Berries cordials earlier this year and, to celebrate all things British on Friday, they have come up with the idea of an English Kir Royale, using Pixley Berries, Herefordshire pear Cider and English Strawberry bitters! This sounds quite delicious, and a vast improvement on the odd pint of snakebite and black I may have sampled in my younger days. The cordials are available from Waitrose, and Marks & Spencer sells a ready mixed Herefordshire Cider blackcurrant made with Pixley Berries.
I usually make puddings, but if you run out of time before the party, Tesco are stocking Gu Pudding’s chocolate and raspberry pots. Price £6.50 for 9 pots of raspberry compote topped with rich chocolate ganache.
Pieminster have created two limited edition pies; a sweet one (above) containing chocolate and pear available from Waitrose, or a beef and mushroom savoury pie, on sale in Sainsbury’s.
Both were delicious, and the perfect size for two, I was especially impressed with the pastry.
Thanks to everyone that supplied me with samples.
What are you doing for the Royal Wedding?
I sent my sister-in-law some of the worst tat I could find, I hope she takes it in the spirit it was intended! (she’s quite excited about the wedding) Also hope it arrives in time.