We review the first of Heston’s festive treats from the Heston from Waitrose range –Heston’s Chicken Liver Parfait.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly! It’s our favourite festive time of the year: September.
Of course this is the month when supermarkets start gearing up for the big Christmas push, with seasonal product lines to fill our bellies and empty our wallets. Waitrose, being no exception to this rush of consumerism, have ordered a vast batch of Heston Blumenthal stock for their shelves. Take a look at this press release for a taste of what to expect.
There’s new stuff like the Heston from Waitrose Earl Grey Stollen, Prawn Mousse Shots, Chocolate and Ginger Caramel Gateau, as well as the now-traditional Heston from Waitrose Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding.
Sent as a form of advance scouting party for these Christmas treats are the Heston from Waitrose Han Hock and Piccalilli Terrine –out of stock at the typically useless Altrincham Waitrose- and this, the Heston from Waitrose Chicken Liver Pafait.
Product: Heston from Waitrose Chicken Liver Parfait
Price: £3.99
Availability: Very Good
THE PRODUCT
The usual classy presentation. You’d probably pay a couple of quid just for that nifty little Kilner jar.
A scientific test (putting them next to each other) revealed it’s exactly the same jar they use for the Heston from Waitrose Rose & Coriander Salt.
Pop it open and there’s a decadent layer of firm yellow butter shielding the precious smooth parfait beneath.
VERDICT
Sweet Jesus! This Heston from Waitrose Chicken Liver Parfait is rich! Smooth, tasty and slightly fruity, but I could barely finish my half of the jar. We served it on some lightly toasted rolls (also picked up in Waitrose). A sharp chutney would have been a better addition to help Cut Through the Richness™.
I’m sure you’re all wondering if it tastes like Heston’s Meat Fruit. The answer is no, I think this is richer and deeper than the famous starter from Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental.
Although, yes, it’s probably exactly the same food that you’d get if you made Heston’s Chicken Liver Parfait Brulee recipe from Heston at Home. And, ordinarily yes, we’d be the first ones to recommend you not waste your money at Waitrose and make your own instead.
BUT, like the Heston from Waitrose Beetroot Spelt Risotto it’s one of those Heston recipes that has a pricey ingredient list and is kind of tricky to make. Unless you are cooking for 6 or more people you might be better off shopping at Waitrose for this one.
I do love making chicken liver pate but doubt mine matches up to Heston’s delicate and rich one! I’ll have to go and buy this to give it a try!
Sorry, where did you buy that???? I want one, just went to Waitrose today and could not find it
Hi Mo,
They had absolutely loads of stock in my “local” branch in Altrincham. We always have to buy our own stuff to review – whenever we’ve asked Waitrose to send us stuff to report on they’ve said no. In fact they’ve even refused to hold stock back for us so we could pick it up and pay for it!
This parfait really is delicious so if you can track it down it;s definitely worth trying. Just be sure to have some sharp chutney to go with it!
I went to Waitrose at Oxford street today and they said it gonna be available later in October. So I checked online, it is also non-available. so saddd
Will keep our fingers crossed for you.
If it’s any consolation I had the staff looking for a good ten minutes but none could rustle up the ham hock & piccalilli terrine, so that’s one we missed out on 🙁
Please check back Saturday, we’ve got a review of the Heston sauces and his brand new steak recipe scheduled 🙂
Hey Mo – you can get the chicken liver parfait in the Waitrose at the Barbican, so you might be in luck there!
It looks great – might try that one soon. Interested there’s another earl grey product coming in from Heston. I bet it doesn’t taste of earl grey just like the others!