The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Saturday
Tesco Finest
Tesco has been upping its game in the premium ready-meal department with some clever development chefs: its next-level classics are worth seeking out. Try the cod and chorizo fish cakes or the Belgian chocolate mousse as well as these.
Finest Wild Garlic Chicken Kiev £4.80 for 385g
I thought we were calling them “Kyiv” now, but in every other way this retro-meets-wild-food mash-up could hardly be more on trend. It works too, with a craggy, crunchy crumb coating around the whole chicken breast and green-flecked butter within.
Finest Pork Chipolatas £3.25 for 12 or 375g
These are made, we are promised, with prime cuts of British pork, and the sausages certainly cook up nice and evenly. The texture is meaty and nicely nubbly with a well balanced flavour that has hints of spice. Lovely with a roast but worthy of your breakfast plate too.
Finest Piccobella Tomatoes
£2 for 220g
Most supermarket tomato varieties are exclusive to one retailer, and Piccobella is Tesco’s premium brand cherry tomato. Lovely looking trusses of marble-sized toms with a sweet flavour that make them temptingly easy to nibble.
Finest Vintage Cheddar £3.80 for 300g
Too often mature cheddar tastes as if it is taking the roof of your mouth off, but this 24-month-old corker is powerful but mellow, with a hint of crunch and flavours of nuts, caramel and Bovril. A great all-rounder ‘house cheese’.
Finest Lasagne
£4.25 for 400g
Cooks up bubbling and browned, with lasagne sheets slipping over the rich sauce rather than sitting in a stodgy lump. The pasta has kept a bit of bounce, and there’s a nice nubbly texture to the ragu.