&
Just desserts
On November 9, 1989, the people of East and West Germany began demolishing The Berlin Wall, finally ending years of hardship, while thousands were reunited with loved ones. Here at The List, however, November 9 brings excitement for a somewhat less monumental reason - National Pudding Day.
It celebration of this oft I overlooked annual event. we
decided to host a blind tasting of some of the best tinned microwavable puddings our High Streets have to offer. After all. it‘s that time of year when the nights are drawing in. the cardies are emerging from the closet. and a
Aunty’s Chocolate Puddings
Tesco (£1 .27 for two) 00
Mark Robertson It smells like cocoa powder rather than sugar. Maxine Cadzow It's moist. Graham Robinson Too moist for my taste.
Robin Lee The chocolate sauce is good but the rest of it doesn't taste of much.
Pudz Syrup Sponge Sainsbury’s (£1.49) 0
MR It's absolutely unbearably sugary.
MC It smells funny as well.
AR It's actually not got much of a taste.
MR Just sugar! And the Custard's got the consistency of spunk. GR Did that have any sort of shape at any point? Or have yOu been beating it off the wall?
RL It‘s just really gritty.
MR Gritty sugar is not the way to go is it?
102 THE LIST 2— 16 Nov 2006
pudding just won't cut it unless it‘s steamed. Five of our most enthusiastic amateurs in this field rated a range of these products. from the brand new Ptldl. label at £1.49 to Marks & Spencer‘s ‘organic' range.
Would the more expensive. stylishly packaged sweetmeats
M&S Organic Syrup Pudding
Marks and Spencer (£2.29 for two) 000
MR This one's got a better flavour but the consistency's not great because it's really powdery.
RL There's enough sauce to stop it from going too dry though.
MC The sauce is quite sweet and the puddings sour. so they complement each other quite well. But I think there's better to come. RL I didn't like the way the sauce didn't soak into the sponge at all. GR Well, I'd give that a four. I liked that!
Heinz Sticky Toffee Pudding
Farmfoods (90p) 0
MR It's not exactly rockin' on the presentation front. And sponge you can chew is always fairly alarming.
RL More sugary than sugar as well.
MC It's very sweet.
AR It has a nasty. sort of metallic aftertaste too.
RL It tastes like they've put artificial sweetener in it as well as sugar. MR That’s the first sponge today to actually frighten me.
[ EAT&DR|NK
prevail? Or. would bargain basement wonder Simpson‘s Chocolate Pudding defy the odds to become the critics‘ favourite? Only one thing was certain: there were going to be a few burnt
The tasting team in action
tongues by the end of the day in The Lisr‘s office.
Sweet Tooths: Maxine Cadzow, Robin Lee, Allan Radcliffe, Mark Robertson and Graham Robinson
Simpson’s Chocolate Pudding
Farmfoods (60p)
MR Rubbery, I believe the term is. RL It certainly doesn't look the most appealing, does it?
Allan Radcliffe That smells like soup!
GR It doesn't smell that bad . . . until you get right up close.
MR Are you sure this isn't roast beef and yorkshire pudding in a tin?
MC That doesn't taste like anything.
M&S Sticky Toffee Pudding
Marks and Spencer (£2.29 for two)
0000 (although Graham could only stretch to 00 )
RL I know what this is because I had it for pudding the other day. MC Smells sweet. but not sickly. MR it tastes more like proper toffee than any of the others. This is really the best so far.
AR I'm quite reassured by something that's got fruit in it.
GR Well . . . I don't like that at all. It's just too rich.
MC I would eat that! The rest I would bin and feel sick after.
Maxine’s Homemade Cake
Maxine's Kitchen (£2 approx) 0...
RL On first look I'm thinking. 'dry spongefl
MC Liking the raspberries. though. GR Too much sponge though. MR Because it doesn't have a glucose topping like the other ones. it actually tastes like a sponge cake. I think it would be nice with a lemon sauce or something like that.
MC Or cream!
Pudz Chocolate Pudding
Sainsbury’s (£1.49) 00. (although Maxine gave it a resounding 000..)
RL There's a bit of a skin on it. MC Oh, I like the smell!
MR It's very bitter. It's really really bitter chocolate.
AR It's quite moist.
MR lt's chocolate pieces with a chocolate sauce on top of a chocolate sponge . . .
MC It tastes like chocolate mousse but in a nice . . . chocolatey way. RL I think it’s good but it could do with something else. another ingredient. for a change of flavour.