Walk into a supermarket in the run up to Christmas and you do not expect to walk out with the makings of a restaurant style dinner for under 15 pounds. But that is exactly what a UK shopper says he pulled off at Aldi, and he came away so pleased that he put “Michelin 5 star meal” in the title of his video.
The cook behind the channel M dot R cook and vibe started in the aisles. “I’m in Aldi, it’s kind of the Christmas season,” he said, “and they’ve got some special things here that I think are really cool and we should try out.”
His first stop was the steak, and it was a cut most shoppers will not have tried.
The Steak Nobody Sells
The cut is called picanha. He explained that it is used a lot in Brazil and that it is the part that sits above the rump. He said he had never seen it in any other supermarket, yet there it was at Aldi. The pack he picked up was the Specially Selected British Wagyu 8 oz picanha steak. “As you can see,” he said, “it’s all about the fat on it.”
That strip of fat is the whole point. Later, once the steak was cooked, he called picanha his favorite steak and said the fat is just different. “That’s how you want it with every bite.”
The Mac And Cheese With A Lobster Twist
Then he spotted something else. “Look what they got: lobster mac and cheese.” It was another Specially Selected item, priced at 6.49 pounds, described as lobster mac and cheese with king prawns in a creamy cheddar sauce. He was honest that there was only a bit of lobster in there, along with a bit of king prawns, and he said he did actually check the ingredients. That is the kind of plain talk a shopper appreciates.
To round out the plate, he added asparagus tips. Nothing fancy, just something green and fresh next to all that richness.
How It Turned Out
The real test is always the cooking. He said the mac and cheese had a really nice crunch on the outside and did not taste “ovenny,” his word for it. “I’m actually really surprised with that,” he said. He added that he had tried a supermarket mac and cheese before and did not like it, so this one won him over: “I really, really enjoyed that.”
The steak was a hit. The asparagus got the highest praise of the three: “amazing.”
His verdict was simple. “I’ll be honest with you, it’s restaurant style. If I went into a restaurant and ordered lobster mac and cheese and came out and tasted it, I’d be like yeah, you don’t have to go far for good food.”
Doing The Math
On cost, he said the dinner came to about 15 quid, which is where the “under 15 pounds” in the title comes from. He also made the point that the portions stretch. By his count, the asparagus and the mac and cheese could each feed two people. The steak, he said, was another seven pound or so. So for two people, he put it at around 20 quid, and added, “you’re laughing.” Then came his promise: “that was amazing.”
A fair note: he did not state the steak price very clearly, and “another seven pound” was the closest he came. Prices at the shelf can change, especially around the holidays, so check the tag before you plan the budget.
Copy The Idea At Home
You do not need to be in the UK or shop at the same store to borrow the idea. The trick here was putting together a few simple pieces and letting each one do its job.
- Pick one star. Here it was a well marbled steak. Spend a little extra on the main event and keep the rest simple.
- Use a ready made side to save effort. A prepared mac and cheese gives you a rich, comforting side with almost no work. Read the ingredients, as he did, so you know what you are really getting.
- Add something fresh. The asparagus tips were a simple addition and, by his account, one of the best parts of the plate.
- Watch the texture. He liked that the mac and cheese had a real crunch on the outside, so judge it by texture and not only by the clock.
- Cook for two. By his math, the sides covered two people, which is where the savings add up compared with eating out.
The Bottom Line
Is it really a Michelin meal? That title is clearly a bit of fun. But the point he made is one many of us understand: a good dinner at home, with a steak he loves and a side that surprised him, can feel like a night out for a lot less money. His closing line sums it up: “Michelin five star meal for under 15 pounds from Aldi, you can’t go wrong.”
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