[D.Page]

I am a great lover of Robin's Pie & Mash, but, unfortunately, my nearest Robin's, in East Ham, has closed down now. As well as their lovely Eat-In Pie & Mash meals, they used to do a very nice "Robin's Pie & Mash" frozen meal, which I used to buy there, to take home and stick in the freezer, but now that their East Ham establishment has closed down, I am trying to find out whether any Supermarkets or convenience stores near to me stock the "Robin's Pie & Mash" frozen meal.

This is the product I'm talking about:
http://www.robinspieandmash.com/frozen-meals.shtml

The only frozen Pie & Mash meal I have, so far, come across is "Cook's Pie & Mash" frozen meal, available in Sainsbury's. It's not bad, but the meat within the pie is really not great at all. I did contact Robin's and they said that they are currently in talks with Asda about possibly stocking their "Robin's Pie & Mash" frozen meal there. They also said that they do supply some Budgens stores with this frozen meal, so, apparently, they are stocking it. There is no Budgens near to where I live, so that is no good to me, unfortunately.

I would love to be able to buy the "Robin's Pie & Mash" frozen meal locally, but don't know whether any supermarkets or local convenience stores near to me stock it.

Does anybody know if their local supermarket or any local convenience stores near to them stock this frozen meal. Alternatively, has anybody seen any other frozen Pie & Mash meal in their local supermarket or any local convenience stores near to them, other than ""Cook's Pie & Mash" frozen meal?

[MICH78]

Wish i could help, East Ham was my local pie and mash for years when i was growing up, i'm a third generation customer, sad that it's closed down.

Never seen Robins frozen meals in the supermarkts, maybe the Ilford and Wanstead branches sell them, they are not that far from you if you could drive and get home quickly.

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by MICH78

Wish i could help, East Ham was my local pie and mash for years when i was growing up, i'm a third generation customer, sad that it's closed down.

Never seen Robins frozen meals in the supermarkts, maybe the Ilford and Wanstead branches sell them, they are not that far from you if you could drive and get home quickly.

Thanks for your comments. If you look at the bottom of the link I gave, I think it actually says that all pies are packed and manufactured at their Ilford establishment, so, yes, they would certainly sell it there, I would have thought. I don't drive, myself. I could get the bus there but it would always be a case of me going to Ilford just for collecting this meal to put in my freezer, as I don't ever like shopping at Ilford. I know that this is a solution, but I was just wondering if there was anywhere nearer to me which stocked this frozen meal, either by means of a local supermarket or a local convenience store. I hope they secure the arrangement with Asda that I talked about, regarding this product - I have an Asda within walking distance from me.

[MICH78]

Originally Posted by D.Page

Thanks for your comments. If you look at the bottom of the link I gave, I think it actually says that all pies are packed and manufactured at their Ilford establishment, so, yes, they would certainly sell it there, I would have thought. I don't drive, myself. I could get the bus there but it would always be a case of me going to Ilford just for collecting this meal to put in my freezer, as I don't ever like shopping at Ilford. I know that this is a solution, but I was just wondering if there was anywhere nearer to me which stocked this frozen meal, either by means of a local supermarket or a local convenience store. I hope they secure the arrangement with Asda that I talked about, regarding this product - I have an Asda within walking distance from me.

No problem, i'll keep my eyes peeled, let you know if i see the meal anywhere. I hope they do start supplying Asda, that would be great. I have a Manzes near me, which is also very nice and one of the oldest.

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by MICH78

No problem, i'll keep my eyes peeled, let you know if i see the meal anywhere. I hope they do start supplying Asda, that would be great. I have a Manzes near me, which is also very nice and one of the oldest.

Thanks. Please do post a comment here if you suddenly see it being stocked at Asda (or anywhere else), won't you. I will certainly post a comment here if I see it being stocked at Asda, or anywhere else, myself, at any point.

As a related point, I am surprised that supermarkets do not seem to stock any Pie & Mash frozen meal (apart from the Cook's Pie & Mash frozen Meal I spoke about, at Sainsbury's). According to the Sainsbury's staff I have spoken to, it is one of their best selling frozen meals there - especially popular with older folk, they tell me.

I take it you are partial to a good ol' East End Pie & Mash! Have you tried this "Cook's Pie & Mash" frozen meal, from Sainsbury's? It isn't bad, it's just the meat isn't anything like as good as the Robin's pies.

[MICH78]

Originally Posted by D.Page

Thanks. Please do post a comment here if you suddenly see it being stocked at Asda (or anywhere else), won't you. I will certainly post a comment here if I see it being stocked at Asda, or anywhere else, myself, at any point.

As a related point, I am surprised that supermarkets do not seem to stock any Pie & Mash frozen meal (apart from the Cook's Pie & Mash frozen Meal I spoke about, at Sainsbury's). According to the Sainsbury's staff I have spoken to, it is one of their best selling frozen meals there - especially popular with older folk, they tell me.

I take it you are partial to a good ol' East End Pie & Mash! Have you tried this "Cook's Pie & Mash" frozen meal, from Sainsbury's?

It is really strange, especially in the South East areas with all the ex Londoners and considering there are ready meals of nearly every other variety.

I haven't tried Cooks so was interested in your review. I was only looking at it in Sainsburys this past weekend. I noticed the meat content was not that high, although it was under £2 so good value. I might give it a go one day, but when you are used to Robins and Manze's you become hard to please!

[ecco66]

Manze have a delivery service and you can freeze their products apart from the eels:

http://www.manze.co.uk/

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by MICH78

It is really strange, especially in the South East areas with all the ex Londoners and considering there are ready meals of nearly every other variety.

I haven't tried Cooks so was interested in your review. I was only looking at it in Sainsburys this past weekend. I noticed the meat content was not that high, although it was under £2 so good value. I might give it a go one day, but when you are used to Robins and Manze's you become hard to please!

Yes, it is very good value. To be honest, there have been many occasions where I have gone to buy it at my local Sainsbury's and they are temporarily clean out of it - such is it's popularity! If only they put better quality meat in it, I would probably be quite satisfied with it, even if that meant the price going up a bit, as a result. You don't get much mash, so it's a good idea to make some extra mash and mix it together with the supplied quanitity of mash. For the ultimate meal, as long as you are not watching your weight, I suggest getting two and putting everything on one large plate - with copious amounts of vinegar (of course), and a pinch of salt and pepper!

The only advantage about the Cook's meal (from my point of view) is that, for some unknown reason, the amount of total carbohydrates are far, far less with the Cook's frozen meal, compared with the Robin's frozen meal. This is very handy if you are diabetic, like me.

All this talk about Pie & Mash is making me hungry

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by ecco66

Manze have a delivery service and you can freeze their products apart from the eels:

http://www.manze.co.uk/

Thanks for that. I will have a look at their menu and prices. Nice one!

[MICH78]

Originally Posted by D.Page

Yes, it is very good value. To be honest, there have been many occasions where I have gone to buy it at my local Sainsbury's and they are temporarily clean out of it - such is it's popularity! If only they put better quality meat in it, I would probably be quite satisfied with it, even if that meant the price going up a bit, as a result. As it is, it's not nearly as good as the Robin's meal, but not bad. You don't get much mash, so it's a good idea to make some extra mash and mix it together with the supplied quanitity of mash. For the ultimate meal, as long as you are not watching your weight, I suggest getting two and putting everything on one large plate - with copious amounts of vinegar (of course), and a pinch of salt and pepper!The only advantage about the Cook's meal (from my point of view) is that, for some unknown reason, the amount of total carbohydrates are far, far less with the Cook's frozen meal, compared with the Robin's frozen meal. This is very handy if you are diabetic, like me.

All this talk about Pie & Mash is making me hungry

I'm with you on that one, i always go for the double pie and mash as i don't have it that often anymore, so might as well have a treat when i do. I think the Cooks meal is popular with a lot of the elderly customers who don't have a local shop anymore or can't get to one. They tend to eat smaller meals.

Well i like to watch the carbs, but just for weight reasons, so i guess that is one plus point to Cooks

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by MICH78

Well i like to watch the carbs, but just for weight reasons, so i guess that is one plus point to Cooks

Do let us know how you find the Cook's frozen meal, if you decide to try it. If you draw the same conclusion as I do about the meat, maybe we could start a petition for better quality meat within Cook's pies! Then, who knows, it could take the country by storm!

[MICH78]

Originally Posted by D.Page

Do let us know how you find the Cook's frozen meal, if you decide to try it. If you draw the same conclusion about the meat, maybe we could start a petition for better quality meat within Cook's pies!

Will do, i feel like buying it tonight instead of the healthy butternut squash soup i had prepared, but will try to resist. We need Jamie Oliver to start our campaign!

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by MICH78

Will do, i feel like buying it tonight instead of the healthy butternut squash soup i had prepared, but will try to resist. We need Jamie Oliver to start our campaign!

healthy butternut squash soup .... yuck! Can't you just smell that vinegar, and that warm pie crusting up just nicely in the oven

[MICH78]

Originally Posted by D.Page

healthy butternut squash soup .... yuck! Can't you just smell that vinegar, and that warm pie crusting up just nicely in the oven

That was a low blow and i'm stuck at work with no access to food

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by MICH78

That was a low blow and i'm stuck at work with no access to food

Sorry, I shouldn't tease!

[Martin Phillp]

Not a fan of the Cook's ready meal. Has to be the real thing from Manze's.

[Mrs.W]

I'm sure i've seen it in Iceland recently. Will check next time i'm in town for you

This company sell the Robin's one and deliver it.

[john176bramley]

Maybe Eastend pie and mash is an acquired taste, but I ate in a Manzes once and I thought it was disgusting.

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by Mrs.W

I'm sure i've seen it in Iceland recently. Will check next time i'm in town for you

This company sell the Robin's one and deliver it.

You've seen the "Robin's" Pie & Mash frozen meal in Iceland? I would love that to be true, but can't imagine it is. Hope you're right and I'm wrong about that!

Thanks for your link. Their prices (including delivery costs) are outrageous. No way on earth I would pay their prices, as it would be cheaper for me to travel to Robin's at Ilford, or their new mobile unit they have set up at Galleon's Reach (near Beckton), and have a proper eat-in. But it is kind of you to provide me with the link, I'm grateful.

[wavy-davy]

Originally Posted by john176bramley

Maybe Eastend pie and mash is an acquired taste, but I ate in a Manzes once and I thought it was disgusting.

Eel liquor sauce or liquor (although it is non-alcoholic) is traditionally made using the water kept from the preparation of the stewed eels.

mmmmmm

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by wavy-davy

Eel liquor sauce or liquor (although it is non-alcoholic) is traditionally made using the water kept from the preparation of the stewed eels.

mmmmmm

Yes, like proper fish dishes, such as 'Cullen Skink' (Smoked Haddock and Potato Soup) is prepared with the boiling of the discarded skin and bones for extra fish flavour intensity to the stock. Big deal.

[Essex Angel*]

'Robins' in Romford have a small freezer with frozen pie mash. If you get a bus to Ilford you might as well travel just a bit further to Romford as the fare is the same.

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by Essex Angel*

'Robins' in Romford have a small freezer with frozen pie mash. If you get a bus to Ilford you might as well travel just a bit further to Romford as the fare is the same.

I don't understand your point. I'm closer to Ilford than I am to Romford. Ilford Robin's do the frozen meal from their freezer too, so why would I travel further, to Romford? Are you saying that because I've already said I don't like to shop at Ilford, you're suggesting I go to Romford, as it has a bigger shopping centre?

[D.Page]

Originally Posted by Mrs.W

I'm sure i've seen it in Iceland recently. Will check next time i'm in town for you

This company sell the Robin's one and deliver it.

Was in Iceland earlier today. Thoroughly searched for Pie & Mash frozen meals. They had Sausage and Mash frozen meal - you may have glanced at that and thought it was Pie & Mash. Unfortunately, they don't do any Pie & Mash frozen meal.

[Essex Angel*]

Originally Posted by D.Page

I don't understand your point. I'm closer to Ilford than I am to Romford. Ilford Robin's do the frozen meal from their freezer too, so why would I travel further, to Romford? Are you saying that because I've already said I don't like to shop at Ilford, you're suggesting I go to Romford, as it has a bigger shopping centre?

It's because you don't like Ilford. I detest Ilford, last time I was there Harrison & Gibsons still existed, mind you I've lived in North Romford for yonks and don't like Romford shopping either. Only go there for Robins pie mash.

Funny thing is we could get Robins frozen in Lanzarote.