Top five shop-bought starters and canapés for Christmas 2014
Over five weeks, the BBC Good Food team blind-tasted hundreds of supermarket products to create the ultimate best buys collection. Discover our pick of the best nibbles, smoked salmon and starters.
£2.65, from Lidl
Best... Premium range smoked salmon
M&S Scottish smoked black treacle-cured salmon
Rich and sweet-tasting salmon, with nice depth and an attractive dark colour. Not overly smoky, but still an interesting flavour.
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£9, from M&S
Best... Lazy starter
Co-op baking Camembert with red onion chutney
A large cheese that melts down to a thick, dippable sauce, and comes in its own case, ready to bake. The chutney is tasty and not too sweet, so all in all a balanced and hearty festive cheese.
£5, from Co-op
Best... On-trend canapé
M&S American-style BBQ pulled pork stacks
Pulled pork has been one of the breakout dishes of 2014 and these cute bites are right on-trend. The little squares of toasted brioche are topped with a slice of cheese and sticky pulled pork, then finished with a tangy red pepper pearl.
£7 for 10, from M&S
Best... Vegetarian nibble
Waitrose paneer and coriander bites
These vibrant, fragrant green triangles taste light and are an inventive alternative to the standard party offering.
£5.99, from Waitrose
For more taste-tested products, equipment rundowns and buying advice, visit our review section, plus our Christmas kitchen contains everything you'll ever need for perfect festive feasting.