I never set out to be a supporter of Greggs. I was brought up to view them as a cheap and nasty bakers, and not a place to invest my love with. How very wrong was I, and how utterly wrong was the dear parent who thus instilled me.
In all my enthusings today, I shall not even come close to mentioning the two most wonderful and great things made by Greggs. For extra points and adulation, which two items are they?
Today, we shall deal with the Christmas muffin, and the mince pie. (Please turn to page 34b in your workbooks)
My misery at the withdrawal of the Lemon Muffin prompted me to write to Greggs customer services. They wrote back and said the following:
====================================
Dear Mr Curtis,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us with regard to the withdrawal of the lemon muffin.
We are pleased to hear that you like the product and we are happy to tell you that the lemon muffin will be back in January!
We will soon be introducing a Christmas Muffin which is delicious too.
Thanks once again for your feedback.
Regards,
Lynne McGurk
Greggs North East
====================================
So, rest easy, lemon muffin lovers. It will return, more wonderful than ever, in January, if Greggs are to be believed. I was delirious with joy, and so should you be.
That said, what of the Christmas muffin? Well, it is now in production and available from my local Greggorian outlet. What of the taste? One word: Simply amazing.
Imagine a muffin with a toasted coconut top, soft muffin-cake underneath and - nestled in the bottom - a delicious hoarde of sweet mincemeat. It's like a mince-pie with cake instead of pastry. Well, nearly - except quite, quite different.
A mince-pie, on the other hand, is exactly like a mince pie. Greggs mince pies entirely fail to depart from this rule, and in their failure so to do, they perfectly deliver the taste which is part of the wonderful and compeltely smashing tradition of Xmas.
Being of Yorkshire raising (well sort-of - it's a long story), I am inclined to attempt to stuff cheese into mine, before cunningly re-attaching the lid. I believe that this addition enhances the taste of the pie still further.
I am right.
If you like muffins - buy some from here - there are few words to describe them - as you will be stuffing them into your mouth with utter pleasure:
www.saralouisekakes.co.uk
Tel - 01993 864864
You can thank me later!
Posted by: ruth | November 22, 2005 at 11:51 AM
Greggs' two finest items as judged by you are, I believe, Gingerbread Beings (unisex, unlike yours) and Lardy Cake. If not Lardy Cake, then Sugar Nipplebiscuits, possibly.
Posted by: Jason | November 22, 2005 at 12:26 PM
Sorry, Jason, you're worng.
Guess again.
Posted by: AndyC | November 22, 2005 at 01:38 PM
Hi Ruth - at nealy three pounds per muffin, with a committment to buy nine at a time....cripes... I'm not sure anything could be nice enough for that.
Do you live local to them?
Posted by: AndyC | November 22, 2005 at 01:42 PM
They are based in Oxford - we are using them for a promotion and they sent us through some muffins to sample - the chocolate ones have chocolate sauce in the middle - the blueberry ones have sweet cream cheese in the middle, the strawberry ones have real strawberries in the middle with a strawberry sauce.......sold - I might send matt some one day to show much I love him (and then eat them all when he is not watching!!!)....YUMMY! Anyway if you have been a good boy this year santa might treat you!
Posted by: ruth | November 22, 2005 at 04:30 PM
Sounds interesting. As I am not a cheese lover in the slightest, I would be inclined to stuff some clotted cream into mine.
Posted by: Rebecca | November 22, 2005 at 04:47 PM
Unless I am much mistaken, getting cream to stay in that limited space would be quite a struggle. I wish you well, I'd like to see you try.
Posted by: AndyC | November 22, 2005 at 05:08 PM
Me too. Getting back to the 2 Greggs Items Andy Likes Above All Others, are they 1. Almond and Rhubarb Tartlets with a Crunchy Toffee and Chocolate Crumble Crust, and 2: Cowspit Slices?
Posted by: Jason | November 22, 2005 at 06:14 PM
No, Jason, you're still not right.
You're quite wrong.
Please do try again. Be as rude as you like.
Posted by: AndyC | November 23, 2005 at 03:28 AM
At last! Someone else who appreciates the finer things in life. Having struggled with serious withdrawal when Ashington Greggs stopped the Lemon Muffins, I know where you're coming from. And where you're going. Greggs, in January. Get behind me in the queue... :)
Posted by: Frank | November 23, 2005 at 10:24 PM
Oh, too right.
I also hope that Ashington Greggs will be my nearest-to-home-Greggs at that time.
Fingers crossed.
--------------------
...and welcome, Frank. :)
Posted by: AndyC | November 23, 2005 at 10:39 PM
Now don't all shout at me, I have a big problem entering Greggs, anywhere and it is the smell of pasties and sausage rolls cooking. In fact, nausea is creeping up on me now thinking of it. How can I get passed this problem and possibly appreciate the contents of the shop? I really love sweet things and its not fair.
Posted by: Rebecca | November 23, 2005 at 10:42 PM
Well, there's always holding your nose. I get the same problem in either Lush or the Body Shop. Er, not that I know what either of these shops are like, being a man and all. No, really. I'll get me coat.
Posted by: Frank | November 24, 2005 at 09:33 AM
Rebecca, it seems clear that what you need is for someone to enter Greggs for you with a video camera.
They then film all the delicious things you might love and show you the film - maybe in a car or other multi-seated charabang-style vehicle.
Once made, your selections may be safely acquired by your personal shopper and delivered safely to you.
Maybe in some form of low-quality hamper which makes you feel instantly superior in at least four ways.
I hope I've helped.
Posted by: AndyC | November 24, 2005 at 11:35 AM
Thank you Andy, it would be nice to be such a success that a personal shopper would be the norm.
Posted by: Rebecca | November 24, 2005 at 11:46 AM
Oh, wait a minute... someone needs to run an online ordering service for people who can't stand the smell of pasties...
Posted by: Frank | November 24, 2005 at 01:50 PM
Thats the best idea, why can't they all be like me.
Posted by: Rebecca | November 24, 2005 at 04:24 PM
On the subject of Greggs savoury products, has anyone (with apologies to Rebecca) tried the rather wonderful Sausage and Bean Melts? Pasties, but with sausages and (amazingly), beans!
Posted by: Frank | November 24, 2005 at 06:11 PM
Oh God, I am going to be sick. I won't look at this entry anymore..........well I'll try not to....well I might just peek.
Posted by: Rebecca | November 24, 2005 at 09:36 PM
Last time I went into Greggs some woman gave me some condoms when I left.
Does this have anything to do with Lemon Muffins?
Posted by: Ian | November 25, 2005 at 01:07 AM
Yes, Ian.
Yes it does.
Posted by: AndyC | November 25, 2005 at 01:11 AM
Cheese and Onion Pasties...... Every time I return to England, I need to eat their Cheese and Onion pasties and also take 10 scottie cakes home for freezing.
There is a Greggs in Leuven (about 40km from Brussels) but no C&O and SC .... boo hoo !!!
Posted by: Mr Mavin | November 25, 2005 at 12:45 PM
very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce
Posted by: Idetrorce | December 16, 2007 at 02:22 AM