SUPERMARKETS are battling for shoppers’ love and money with a range of dine-in meal deals as Valentine’s Day approaches.
It can be hard to find the best match but Good Housekeeping magazine has put romantic dishes from Aldi, Co-op, Marks & Spencer (M&S), Morrisons and Tesco to the test – here is how they score.
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Rather than going out, supermarket brands are trying to tempt couples to mark Valentine’s Day from the comfort of their own home with a range of dine-in deals.
Meal deals are on offer from Aldi, Co-op, M&S, Morrisons and Tesco.
Deals often include a range of starters, main meals, desserts and drinks and can work out cheaper than a restaurant.
There is also the benefit that you don’t have to make a reservation.
It can be hard to choose which deal to go for but Good Housekeeping magazine’s latest Valentine’s Day taste test has sampled each to help find the best match for you.
Here is how the supermarket Valentine’s Day meal deals ranked.
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Best Valentine’s Day meal – Aldi
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Aldi is offering couples a three-course meal with a wine pairing for less than £10.
There are four set menus to choose from including fish and vegan options, which will be available in Aldi stores from February 9.
It also has a special heart-shaped meal deal, with three courses including mini garlic pizza breads, lobster pasta and pancakes – all in love heart shapes – and a bottle of Prosecco.
Good Housekeeping sampled dishes including lamb shanks, Wagyu fillet steaks, and vegan beef burgers.
Aldi impressed the panel, scoring 92 out of 100, with its range of romantic Special Buys– perfect for curating your own menu.
Prices start from as little as 99p, with mains costing up to £7.49 and including Wagyu beef steaks and Scottish oysters.
Runner-up best Valentine’s Day meal deal – M&S
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The M&S Dine in for £20 Valentines menu is back from next week.
Loved-up shoppers can order a starter, main, side, dessert and 75cl bottle of prosecco or a chocolate selection as an alcohol-free alternative.
Dishes include melting camembert, sirloin steak as well as aubergine steaks for vegans.
There are more than 30 products in the M&S Valentine’s range which means there’s more than 200 different menu combinations you and a loved one can cook up on the day.
The delicious range will be available for shoppers to pick up at M&S from Monday February 9.
The Good Housekeeping taste testers tried dishes including the leek and cheese soufflé, salmon en croute, aubergine steak and love heart churros.
It gave M&S a score of 91 out of 100 due to its choice and vegan options.
Best budget Valentine’s Day meal deal – Co-op
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The Co-op Valentine’s Day meal deal is made up of a starter, main, side, dessert and 75cl bottle of wine or non-alcoholic alternative.
It costs £12 without alcohol and £15 with a bottle of plonk.
Dishes will be on sale in-store from February 9 for a week only.
The Good Housekeeping panel tried dishes including garlic and parsley sharing bread with camembert, Hereford rump steaks, vintage macaroni cheese and dark chocolate and raspberry velvet tortes.
The supermarket scored 83 out of 100 for a budget feast.
Best seafood selection – Morrisons
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Morrisons shoppers can dig into a £15 Valentine’s Day three-course meal for two, including seafood, steak and vegan options from February 9.
For example, you could pick up a two-pack of scallop and king prawn thermidors, which would usually set you back a fiver, or choose a roasted mushroom pate if you’re vegan, usually priced at £4.
Good Housekeeping’s panel tried dishes including the scallops, prawns, roasted mushroom vegan pate, beef wellington and raspberry lemonade.
The supermarket scored 78 out of 100 and tasters praised the “impressive range of seafood dishes – including a scallop and king prawn thermidor and rolled sole stuffed with smoked haddock – make for the perfect dinner a deux.“
Best range of dishes – Tesco
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Tesco’s romantic offering this year features calamari, duck breasts and heart-shaped potato croquettes.
Dishes will be available from February 9.
Its £15 meal-for-two includes one starter, one main, two sides, a dessert and the choice of a full-sized bottle of Tesco Finest processo, wine, a four-pack of Peroni beers or a non-alcoholic alternative.
Good Housekeeping tested dishes such as feta and red pepper tartlets, a camembert sharing heart, duck breast portions in raspberry hoisin sauce and a chocolate love brownie.
Tesco scored 78 out of 100 for its choice, especially the make-your-own romantic burger kits.
It follows Valentine’s Day meal unveilings by other stores including Sainsbury’s, and Asda – which is also flogging a £1 engagement ring this year.
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