5 Best summer dessert
What we were looking for: A summer dessert that looked lovely and tasted real. Something we could slip onto our best plate for a lunch or dinner-party pud. WINNER Aldi Specially Selected Summer Fruits Cheesecake (£2.99/532g). The fruit topping on this is perfect, fresh tasting, and not too sweet. A crisp base and restrained layer of cheesecake makes this indulgent without being over the top. HIGHLY COMMENDED M&S St Clements & Orange Marmalade Sunken Cheesecake (£4.50/565g).
11 Best BBQ show-off product
What we were looking for: a star BBQ product to show off with this summer. WINNER Asda Extra SpecialWagyu Sirloin steaks (£31.04/kg).Wagyu beef has a marbling of fat through it that bastes it as it cooks, and these steaks were tender without being too soft, and juicy with a good crust when cooked. Their flavour was pronounced but not too strong, which makes them a steak with all-round appeal.
13 Best summer soup
What we were looking for: a light, summery soup, ready to eat cold or heated. WINNER M&S Pea and Mint Soup (£2/600g). This soup had a real flavour of fresh peas that we loved.The mint added a ping of herbal flavour and the texture was light but still substantial enough to make it a useful product for a summer lunch box, a light supper, or even a dinner party starter.
12 Best pork pie
What we were looking for: a pork pie that could be easily transported to a picnic and that’s designed to be served cold. WINNER Tesco Finest Hand-Crimped Melton Mowbray Pork Pie (£3.50/440g). This is a proper pork pie with a texture of chopped meat, a nice spicing of white pepper and a thin layer of jelly (which seems to be increasingly rare in pork pies). The crust is crisp on the outside, with a natural flavour, and it cuts well. HIGHLY COMMENDED M&S Hand-Crimped Bacon, Apple & Potato ‘Fidget’ Pork Pie (£3/250g).
14 Best summer bread
What we were looking for: a loaf to share at an alfresco lunch or on a picnic. WINNER Asda Chosen By You Spicy Cornbread (£1.40/280g). This yeasted cornbread has quite a kick (supplied by jalapeños and dried chillies) and is studded with whole sweetcorn.An interesting accompaniment to salads and good toasted or barbecued.