Luxury Ranges of Pates
CASTLE MACLELLAN
The publicity material for MacLellan luxury pates suggests something superior and of very high quality, for hassle free up-market summer snacking and dining alfresco. So I and my family were really looking forward to doing the taste test. The summer was actually missing – it was pouring with rain. So we prepared salad and a range of different breads and did some serious testing in the kitchen.
The range is produced from the finest Scottish ingredients, and comes in five varieties:
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Rannoch Smoked Duck Pâté with Bramley Apple Jelly -
A deliciously smooth duck liver pâté with pieces of Rannoch smoked duck, complemented by locally produced Bramley apple jelly and aromatic tarragon.
This was my daughter-in-law’s favourite, and we all enjoyed it. But for my own personal taste I would have preferred a little stronger favour.
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Chicken Liver Pâté with Scottish Heather Honey -
A smooth, rich and creamy chicken liver pâté enhanced with the sweetness of Scottish heather honey.
Very moreish this one, and vanished first. A real family favourite - thumbs up from everyone.
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Scottish Smoked Salmon Pâté with Lemon Juice and Horseradish -
A blend of Scottish smoked and poached salmon, enriched with cream, lemon juice and horseradish.
This one had a very subtle taste, not to be eaten with anything that could mask the flavour. As with smoked salmon, I found it best with just brown bread and butter and nothing else.
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Luxury Orkney Crab Terrine with Lemon Juice and Galloway Mustard -
A luxurious blend of Orkney crab enriched with créme fraiche and enhanced with lemon juice and locally produced Galloway mustard.
As we live by a fishing village and regularly eat fresh crab, we were ready to be very critical, but this was a lovely smooth pate with a delicious taste.
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Oven Roasted Mushroom Pâté with Garlic & Thyme -
A rich, creamy, oven roasted mushroom pâté made with full fat soft cheese and créme fraiche, and seasoned with a hint of garlic and thyme (suitable for vegetarians).
This one really surprised me! It was the one I expected to like least, as mushroom pates have never impressed me in the past. But this was a beautiful pate with just the right mix of flavours, and was actually my favourite – I was the one scraping the tub at the end.
So, the final verdict – an excellent range of delicious pates. I only wish we could have benefited from the full effect by having a proper English picnic. If the weather obliges we may well just do that!
Castle MacLellan pâtés are available in supermarkets throughout the UK including ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose as well as independent stores priced from around 99p to £2.35