Value for money

This week Pricewatch takes a look at coleslaw

Liston’s Coleslaw €5 for 330g €15 per kg

Liston’s is a popular upmarket deli on Dublin’s Camden Street and while we were initially a little underwhelmed by this and most concerned at the dearth of mayonnaise, our reservations quickly dissipated. It wasn’t long before we were won over by its cabbagey goodness. It is fresh tasting and crunchy and the large chunks of apple add an unexpected dimension which pleased us no end. It actually tastes wholesome in addition to being tasty. The parsley looked nice but offered little by way of flavour and the red onion wasn’t at all overpowering. Price and availability are undoubtedly a concern.

Verdict: Lovely *****

Marks & Spencer Traditional €1.49 for 255g, €6.62 per kg

This is very good and one of the best supermarket-bought coleslaws you will find. It is always going to struggle to compete with freshly- made options such as those from Liston’s and Fallon Byrne and the vegetables in the mix taste quite processed, but it still towers above the somewhat feeble challenge laid down by Dunnes. It gets the balance of cabbage and carrot spot on, is nice and creamy, the mayonnaise is nice and the price is about right.

Verdict: Good value, good quality ****

Fallon & Byrne Coleslaw €4.34 for 334g, €14.49 per kg

While the people in Liston’s have gone with a less-is-more approach to the mayonnaise the folks over in FB have definitely adopted a more is more policy and their coleslaw is absolutely drowning in the stuff. At least it is good quality. Apart from the mayo, the most discernable flavour is red onions so you might want to be careful who you kiss or sit close to after eating a tub of this. We’d have liked more carrot and a little less white, and mostly flavourless, cabbage and we’re not really sure what the tiny slivers of chives brought to the party. It is almost as dear as the dearest option and equally hard to locate.

Verdict: All about the mayo ***

Dunnes Stores Simply Better €1.29 for 250g, €5.16 per kg

This made us sadder than any coleslaw ever had a right to do. While it is the cheapest of the products tried this week – in fact it is just one third of the price of the priciest one – and the most widely available, it is still very disappointing and we won’t be racing back to buy another tub. It had a slightly yellowy colour which was a little off-putting and we wondered about the the quality of the mayonnaise used in the mix. We could possibly have forgiven these failings if the vegetables weren’t ridiculously soft which, unfortunately, they were.

Verdict: Poor **