Cathedral City’s party range at Iceland (Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
Cheese is a surefire hit at any Christmas gathering. The festive season is synonymous with indulgence, and Cathedral City offers the perfect opportunity.
Their television adverts always leave me craving cheese on toast, so I was thrilled to sample their frozen food range available at Iceland.
I put their party food to the test to determine the best options for your Christmas guests, and one item should come with a warning – for ‘true’ cheese fans only, reports the Mirror.
Cathedral City Our Cheese and Ham Potato Boats 258g – £4.00 (available on 3 for £10).
Who doesn’t love a hashbrowns? Especially when it’s filled with a cheesy sauce, ham, and a dusting of grated cheddar, courtesy of Cathedral City.
Don’t miss… Something was missing from my Iceland £25 Christmas dinner in a box
Cathedral City Our Cheese Ham Potato Boats (Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
The hashbrowns are delightful, and the cheese is wonderfully creamy, resulting in a rich party snack. The hint of ham is detectable, although they could have been more generous with it.
These potato boats, which are quick and easy to prepare in an air fryer, will be a hit with hungry guests on a chilly winter evening. 6/10.
Cathedral City Our Mini Cheese and Bacon Quiches 194g £3.50 (available on 3 for £10).
Ideal party food often comes in bite-sized morsels, and these mini quiches fit the bill perfectly. The pastry is pleasantly short and thin, just as I prefer.
The cheesy filling is delicious, but the bacon flavour was somewhat lacking. However, the saltiness was a nice touch.
If you hadn’t mentioned the bacon, I might not have noticed it. 6/10.
Cathedral City’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bites and the Mini Cheese Bacon Quiches (Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
Cathedral City’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bites 280g are priced at £3.75 and are part of a 3 for £10 deal.
These mac ‘n’ cheese bites are quite good, as one would expect from Cathedral City. They feature a delightful herby crust with perfectly gooey cheese in the middle.
The pasta noodles maintain their shape, unlike some other mac ‘n’ cheese bites that can be overly soft. Are they the best mac ‘n’ cheese bites I’ve ever had?
Not quite, but they’re worth the price and would make a welcome addition to my Christmas party spread.
8/10.
Next up is Cathedral City’s Triple Cheese Loaded Doughballs 380g, also priced at £3.50 and included in the 3 for £10 offer.
Cathedral City Our Triple Cheese Loaded Doughballs (Image: Rebecca Koncienzcy)
If you’re a fan of Pizza Express doughballs, these will be right up your alley. The bread is soft and light, coated in delectable garlic that fills the air when you open the oven.
These doughballs are indulgent and buttery, perfect for sharing with friends. The triple cheeses provide a comforting warmth on a cold festive evening, proving once again that garlic and cheese are a heavenly combination.
8/10.
Lastly, we have Cathedral City’s Cheesy Fondue Dip 200g, exclusively available at Iceland and The Food Warehouse for £3.50.
Be warned!
This product is strictly for die-hard cheese lovers. I’m not sure if it was due to the amount of cheese products I’d sampled by this point, but this fondue dip certainly delivers on its promise.
The fondue is so luxuriously thick, creamy, and cheesy that it could easily tip you over the edge if you underestimate its richness.
It boasts the distinctive flavour of Cathedral City, but there’s room for personalisation with your own choice of spices.
A dash of black pepper or paprika could elevate it further. Paired with a hearty crusty bread by a roaring fire, it transports you straight to the Swiss Alps – that’s where they fondue, isn’t it?
A solid 7/10.
The Cathedral City range can be found at Iceland, both in-store and online, alongside the TGI Fridays party food selection, which I’ve reviewed here. They also offer Iceland’s own festive treats, including the Christmas dinner in a box for £25 and what Iceland claims to be the UK’s largest tempura prawns, measuring a whopping seven inches.
