In related news, you can listen to some people playing the adventure below, although there will of course be spoilers:
Monday, December 19, 2022
Mid-Price-Vinter
My 2019 winter solstice themed adventure Midvinter is on sale for less than one dollarpound, from now until the end of the winter solstice itself, at DriveThruRPG!
In related news, you can listen to some people playing the adventure below, although there will of course be spoilers:
In related news, you can listen to some people playing the adventure below, although there will of course be spoilers:
Wednesday, December 07, 2022
Mince Pie Fest 2022: The Results!
As I said yesterday, there is still more testing to come, for some special categories, but the main ratings are done.
Over 20 different varieties of mince pies have been tasted and tested -- well, just tasted, I'm not doing anything else with them, except for an early attempt at a mince pie milkshake that, reader, did not go well -- and a clear favourite emerged, and early too. But first, the runners-up:
Asda, Tesco, and, er, Asda produced some solid 4 out of 5 pies, and each is a good alternative if you can't find the best ones, which are...
Once again, COOP rules the roost, which I think may almost be a pun? Last year's winners were an excellent 4.5 out of 5 in 2022, er, too. Last year they sold out super quick and were difficult to find, so keep your eyes peeled!
Congratulations COOP. Feel free to send me free mince pies, or food vouchers, or cash.
But wait! There's more!
Also a 4.5er was this boozy beast from Asda:
I cannot in good conscience proclaim it a joint winner because I'm not sure it's a proper mince pie in the spirit of the competition, but it is very nice indeed, and I'm going to get at least two for the Chrimble period. I will not be sharing.
Also very tasty, but the complete opposite in girth, were these lovely pies from Sugarlumps:
Useless to most of you, but if you're in the greater Brighton area in the run up to Indiana-Jones-on-BBC1-Season, then make sure you grab some.
And now, for those who care, stats!
Here's the top five from 2021:
(Believe it or not, I was going to just test last year's top five this year, but oops.)
This shows us that COOP has maintained its quality for the most part. M&S seems to also have kept up, but 2022 has been a disaster for Iceland and Sainsbury's. There may be other things to learn from this data, probably something like how I'm more strict this year, but I'll leave that to the statisticians.
There will be more mince pie content on the way, as we delve into some special categories, but for now, off you go to buy your minceys!
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
Over 20 different varieties of mince pies have been tasted and tested -- well, just tasted, I'm not doing anything else with them, except for an early attempt at a mince pie milkshake that, reader, did not go well -- and a clear favourite emerged, and early too. But first, the runners-up:
Asda, Tesco, and, er, Asda produced some solid 4 out of 5 pies, and each is a good alternative if you can't find the best ones, which are...
Once again, COOP rules the roost, which I think may almost be a pun? Last year's winners were an excellent 4.5 out of 5 in 2022, er, too. Last year they sold out super quick and were difficult to find, so keep your eyes peeled!
Congratulations COOP. Feel free to send me free mince pies, or food vouchers, or cash.
But wait! There's more!
Also a 4.5er was this boozy beast from Asda:
I cannot in good conscience proclaim it a joint winner because I'm not sure it's a proper mince pie in the spirit of the competition, but it is very nice indeed, and I'm going to get at least two for the Chrimble period. I will not be sharing.
Also very tasty, but the complete opposite in girth, were these lovely pies from Sugarlumps:
Useless to most of you, but if you're in the greater Brighton area in the run up to Indiana-Jones-on-BBC1-Season, then make sure you grab some.
And now, for those who care, stats!
Here's the top five from 2021:
(Believe it or not, I was going to just test last year's top five this year, but oops.)
This shows us that COOP has maintained its quality for the most part. M&S seems to also have kept up, but 2022 has been a disaster for Iceland and Sainsbury's. There may be other things to learn from this data, probably something like how I'm more strict this year, but I'll leave that to the statisticians.
There will be more mince pie content on the way, as we delve into some special categories, but for now, off you go to buy your minceys!
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
Tuesday, December 06, 2022
Mince Pie Fest 2022: Morrisons The Best
Oh ho! That's a bold claim. I'll be the judge, Son of Morris.
Right away, there's an explosion of powdered sugar that goes everywhere, turning your surroundings into an appropriate snowy scene. A bit of a pain if you're wearing dark colours.
The pastry is sweet and juuuuuust on the right side of firm, and the filling is bursting with flavour. It's fruity and juicy and there's a strong taste of something a bit like Parma Violets in there, that I can't quite place. While strong, it's also a flat and mellow flavour, and I prefer the zing of citrus or a boozy punch in my pies, so these are never going to be my favourites, but even so I can taste the quality.
The Best? I don't think so, but I acknowledge that someone with different tastes might. 4 out of 5.
These are the last of the mince pies on my testing list. We're done!
Well, not quite, there will be some other scores to quite literally settle, but the main testing is done. You can go back and find my favourites if you want, but I will post an announcement of the winner very soon.
(Tomorrow, it will be tomorrow.)
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
Right away, there's an explosion of powdered sugar that goes everywhere, turning your surroundings into an appropriate snowy scene. A bit of a pain if you're wearing dark colours.
The pastry is sweet and juuuuuust on the right side of firm, and the filling is bursting with flavour. It's fruity and juicy and there's a strong taste of something a bit like Parma Violets in there, that I can't quite place. While strong, it's also a flat and mellow flavour, and I prefer the zing of citrus or a boozy punch in my pies, so these are never going to be my favourites, but even so I can taste the quality.
The Best? I don't think so, but I acknowledge that someone with different tastes might. 4 out of 5.
These are the last of the mince pies on my testing list. We're done!
Well, not quite, there will be some other scores to quite literally settle, but the main testing is done. You can go back and find my favourites if you want, but I will post an announcement of the winner very soon.
(Tomorrow, it will be tomorrow.)
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
Mince Pie Fest 2022: Morrisons
Almost in the final stretch now. Which is good. We've all got homes to go to.
The pastry on these tiny pies is firm, but not crunchy -- thank the ancestors! -- but is a bit dry. You'll want a cup of tea with these. Or even better, custard!
(I sit back and imagine the cries of dismay echoing around the interwebs.)
The filling is surprisingly flavourful; there's lots going on and it's all good, with a lovely warmth throughout. There is a strange and suspicious aftertaste, almost like flowers, that threatens to ruin things, but it passes quickly, thank the ancestors. Again.
For "cheap" mince pies, these are really quite good! Shame about the size.
(That's what she said.)
3.5 out of 5.
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
The pastry on these tiny pies is firm, but not crunchy -- thank the ancestors! -- but is a bit dry. You'll want a cup of tea with these. Or even better, custard!
(I sit back and imagine the cries of dismay echoing around the interwebs.)
The filling is surprisingly flavourful; there's lots going on and it's all good, with a lovely warmth throughout. There is a strange and suspicious aftertaste, almost like flowers, that threatens to ruin things, but it passes quickly, thank the ancestors. Again.
For "cheap" mince pies, these are really quite good! Shame about the size.
(That's what she said.)
3.5 out of 5.
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
Monday, December 05, 2022
Mince Pie Fest 2022: The Bastard Kipling
The Bastard Kipling, for the sake of completeness.
And in fairness, not bad. The pastry is too firm, nudging just into the dreaded crispy zone, and is a touch too sweet, but the filling has some good flavour, although it lacks any distinctive tastes. Some stronger spices or a hit of alcohol or citrus would have been welcome.
An Exceedingly Average Cake. Pie. Whatever. 3 out of 5.
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
And in fairness, not bad. The pastry is too firm, nudging just into the dreaded crispy zone, and is a touch too sweet, but the filling has some good flavour, although it lacks any distinctive tastes. Some stronger spices or a hit of alcohol or citrus would have been welcome.
An Exceedingly Average Cake. Pie. Whatever. 3 out of 5.
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
Sunday, December 04, 2022
Mince Pie Fest 2022: Sugarlumps Service
Alas, you will not be able to find these everywhere, as they are local, but perhaps you can bung sugarlumps.service a handful of £50 notes to deliver internationally.
These are lovely little pies, with a proper hearty crust and a rich, tangy filling that's full of flavour. I could quite happily eat an entire box in minutes.
Which is exactly what happened. 4 out of 5.
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
These are lovely little pies, with a proper hearty crust and a rich, tangy filling that's full of flavour. I could quite happily eat an entire box in minutes.
Which is exactly what happened. 4 out of 5.
#MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
Saturday, December 03, 2022
Mince Pie Fest 2022: M&S Collection
More pies, this time of the fancy variety, from M&S. How much more fancy? Read on, MacDuff.
The pastry has a nice crumble to it, not too soft, and not too firm, but there is a hit of an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. The filling is fruity and juicy and there are some vague suggestions of stronger flavours in there, but they never quite come through. It's a tasty filling, but it just feels like there should be something more than just "tasty" going on at this price.
If these are indeed fancier than the previous pies, it's only in terms of price. 3.5 out of 5.
#mincetagram #MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
The pastry has a nice crumble to it, not too soft, and not too firm, but there is a hit of an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. The filling is fruity and juicy and there are some vague suggestions of stronger flavours in there, but they never quite come through. It's a tasty filling, but it just feels like there should be something more than just "tasty" going on at this price.
If these are indeed fancier than the previous pies, it's only in terms of price. 3.5 out of 5.
#mincetagram #MincePieADay #MincePieFest2022
Friday, December 02, 2022
Wakanda Again
Well, Black Panther 2 is an Oscar-tickling drama of family, grief, and loss... but in the MCU. It's an astonishing feat of balanced storytelling, weighty but without ever getting heavy-handed, informed by the death of Chadwick Boseman, but not milking that unfortunate event. But it is also, somehow, a big Marvel blockbuster, although that side does feel almost like an afterthought at times, which to be fair is not a bad thing.
It looks -- mostly -- amazing, it sounds spectacular, and the performances throughout are brilliant. It's not perfect -- there are a couple of elements that feel a bit undercooked, and I would not be at all surprised to see an extended cut appear, perhaps for the home release -- but it is very, very good. If you've been feeling Marvel Fatigue, this may well cure you.
I give it four Sub-Mariners out of five.
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