Recipe to Riches

[Pushka]

I kind of exploded mine too. They are rather delish. I also like the slight texture of sugar maybe? They're also quite large. Blew the diet but I had been to the gym tonight. Probably won't buy again.

 

[joda]

Thanks for the great review! I would have replied sooner but can't log in from the iphone app - so needed to wait to be near a real computer :mrgreen:. In the end i procrastinated and didn't buy any, I love chilli/spice foods and was a bit worried they would be small and bland. I think if they come back I will definately give them a go! My local store always seems to have the same amount of stock of the different winning products each week, and each week they sell out - so If sales have anything to do with winning I have no idea how they will differentiate - as they all sell out the same quantity. anyway thats a whole different issue. again, thanks for the review!

 

[AngieP]

Shopped today and saw that chilli con carne are now $2.99! I bought a couple and am tempted to go back for a few more as I liked it! Still 50 points per product?

 

[rainbowgirl]

Shopped today and saw that chilli con carne are now $2.99! I bought a couple and am tempted to go back for a few more as I liked it! Still 50 points per product?

I must check out my local Woolworths today. If they are at that price for a full meal then buying them sounds worthwhile for us, and the bonus 50 points would be great. The 50 points promotion is still going provided you got the initial email. I think the expiry date of the offer was sometime in November. It didn't say anything about having to buy the specific item in a specific week.

 

[Mattg]

Am I the only one who noticed the amount of times they referred to the Chocorn on tonight's episode as premium? Obviously they kept repeating this so they can charge more, but I wouldn't have thought that popcorn covered in chocolate would be a premium product, nor expensive to make!

 

[Pushka]

I'm not a fan if popcorn so not even trying this time.

 

[markis10]

Am I the only one who noticed the amount of times they referred to the Chocorn on tonight's episode as premium? Obviously they kept repeating this so they can charge more, but I wouldn't have thought that popcorn covered in chocolate would be a premium product, nor expensive to make!

I thought last night was a little unfair, clearly they are going for a high price point rather than popularity, it would have been nice to see a pensioner (on a single pension) get the 10k with what was clearly a more popular dish.

 

[markis10]

Wont be rushing out to buy any:

 

[Pushka]

Wont be rushing out to buy any:

Do they have no concept of what money people have in their budget to spend on lollies? Or do they think we are just sill sheep who will go out and buy something just because it has been on TV and we have some sense of "ownership"

Major Fail woolies!

 

[whatmeworry]

Wont be rushing out to buy any:

That is a "premium" ripoff!

 

[samh004]

Shopped today and saw that chilli con carne are now $2.99! I bought a couple and am tempted to go back for a few more as I liked it! Still 50 points per product?

I saw this too, and picked up a couple boxes. Now to wait and see if the points post. If they do, this could turn into a shopping run at that price!

Recorded the show last night as I was out, but so far, the show is still bugging me with the little things, like the macaroon lady not brining her daughter to the kitchen for whatever reason. If she's official taste tester and she can't be there then how are you going to get it spot on? And the raspberry slices could have been perfect if the lady was given more time to familiarise herself with the equipment. It seemed though that they'd already upsized their ingredients this week, perhaps the producers noticed after a few weeks that it was probably a good idea to give them a heads up on that front!

As for the chocolate popcorn, as simple as it is (though what could be simpler than raspberry jam between 2 layers of shortbread), at the start of the program it went through all the stuff he went through perfecting flavours, and while he was in the commercial kitchen he mentioned the science of heating and cooling to get the perfect crystal structure, which would affect crunch and taste and all sorts. It wasn't just popcorn smothered in chocolate, there's more to it.

However, the price is getting ridiculous!

 

[Pushka]

As for the chocolate popcorn, as simple as it is (though what could be simpler than raspberry jam between 2 layers of shortbread), at the start of the program it went through all the stuff he went through perfecting flavours, and while he was in the commercial kitchen he mentioned the science of heating and cooling to get the perfect crystal structure, which would affect crunch and taste and all sorts. It wasn't just popcorn smothered in chocolate, there's more to it.

However, the price is getting ridiculous!

Except that people don't really care about the science behind the product. And maybe he over engineered it anyway?

 

[samh004]

Except that people don't really care about the science behind the product. And maybe he over engineered it anyway?

Good for the judges to choose him though.

I liked that he knew what he was talking about, whether it was BS or not

As always though, it all depends on the taste test.

 

[Mattg]

I couldn't even find them at my local Woolies this afternoon. :shock:

 

[Pushka]

I had to go to two Woolies today as one didn't stock Roti bread. They didn't have any either. The second store did. It was near the checkouts. The first 2 shelves (of 5) were empty but I think that was fake. This is a really quiet store (the locals don't want a Woolies so they are boycotting it) and there's no way they would have sold that many.

I also notice that on the package there is a translation in French. Sure Woolies, you are exporting it to France?

 

[samh004]

I find I always have to ask where they're keeping the current weeks product. Several times I have walked right past it, as they clearly don't advertise it well enough. It never catches my eye.

That said, I have a box and shall be doing my sample/taste test tomorrow afternoon, and shall post results after that.

As for previous weeks recipes still counting, especially the chilli con carne as it's so cheap right now, my points have posted for that purchase so if you liked it, I'd get in to a store and buy buy buy. Not too bad value 50 points for $3.

On another topic, still food though, I'm very dismayed to find that Woolworths has somehow lost distribution (or given them the flick) Mr Kipling products, especially their fruit mince pies I love so much. I've been looking for a few weeks now as usually they start appearing in September, but they're not even listed online, and now I can only get them at Coles!

So woolies, listen up, I know you think your bakery department can copy anything, but your fruit mince pies really suck and for as long as I can buy them (usually until just after Christmas) I'll go through a box a week, but not from you this year. Very disappointed I'll have to step foot in Coles... but you know, maybe I'll see other products while I'm at the competition I wouldn't have noticed otherwise. Your loss perhaps. I am but one, but I know what quality is, and I think others do too.

 

[Pushka]

I have never been able to eat mince pies as I thought they were made of mince meat. Yet I quite like the odd pie, especially Vilis. Go figure!

 

[Rox]

As for the chocolate popcorn, as simple as it is (though what could be simpler than raspberry jam between 2 layers of shortbread), at the start of the program it went through all the stuff he went through perfecting flavours, and while he was in the commercial kitchen he mentioned the science of heating and cooling to get the perfect crystal structure, which would affect crunch and taste and all sorts. It wasn't just popcorn smothered in chocolate, there's more to it.

However, the price is getting ridiculous!

The heating & cooling to get the crystal structure right is referred to as tempering the chocolate, and this has to be done to any chocolate that you are planning to eat alone or as a coating. Properly tempered chocolate should have "shine" and "snap" . There is a surprising amount of science to chocolate.

 

[samh004]

The box is quite distinctive.



However it doesn't look nearly as sophisticated on the inside.



The popcorn retains its crunch despite I'm sure the long lead time in making it. It's not stale. The chocolate is rich, and quite filling, more so than I thought.



From the left you have white chocolate with macadamia, milk chocolate with hazelnut and dark chocolate with fleur de sel.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks samh004 So do you think it was worth $7.99?