The “most iconic dish” ever created by Tesco can be ordered online for the festive season from Tuesday (November 4). Innovation chefs at the supermarket giant spent five months perfecting a restaurant-quality beef Wellington that is simple to cook at home.
The mature fillet wrapped in a herb crepe with a layer of mushroom, shallow and Madeira wine duxelles, then encased in puff pastry is designed to be a show-stopper for any occasion.
This is timely as research has shown 57% of people who enjoy dining out at restaurants are going to them less often now than last year.
They cite cost, a preference to eat in the comfort of their own home and that they can whip up better dishes themselves, as the key reasons behind this decline.
And nearly 30% of Brits, which rises to around 60% in the 25 to 34 age group, admit to having tried to pass off supermarket meals as their own from scratch cooking.
Latest sales figures reveal demand for the Tesco Finest Chef’s Collection range soared by almost 200 per cent last Christmas compared with the previous year.
Tesco executive chef Jamie Robinson said: “When we were looking at Christmas 2025 we wanted an absolute classic centrepiece, that we know our customers love, which could really stretch the boundaries of the quality possible.
“We started working on the beef Wellington in June and July last year and we had a product we were happy with by last October that we could work with our partners to scale up for this Christmas.”
The Master Chef, who started his culinary career in restaurants under the guidance of Marco Pierre White and has worked with Jamie Oliver to improve the quality of school meals, added that due to the popularity of the Tesco Finest Chef’s Collection, which has until now only been available at Christmas, 12 of its products will be stocked at 160 stores year round.
Jamie said: “I am very passionate about creating a restaurant-quality experience that people can enjoy at home with their loved ones without the additional expenditure of going out.”
Breige Donaghy, director of product development and innovation at Tesco, added: “We know life’s busy but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on amazing food at home.
“That’s why our chefs have created the Chef’s Collection – a range of dishes inspired by restaurant menus and packed with clever techniques that make it super easy to cook something special.”
The beef Wellington, which serves four people, costs £64.90 to £77.33, with other highlights of the Festive Food to Order range including a 30-day matured beef tomahawk steak for £17 to £27 and a salted banoffee cascading star for £13 (all prices quoted with a Clubcard).
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