With Britain entering its “too hot to cook” era, we’ve rounded up the M&S food and drinks getting our office through the heatwave. From freezer staples and picky bits to cooling drinks and no-cook dinners, these are the products GH staff keep buying on repeat – complete with honest reviews and serving suggestions (no judgement). Because when it’s 33C outside, all rules go out the window.
“This dip is elite – there’s no other way to describe it. Made with Greek yogurt, barrel-aged feta and heaps of fresh herbs, I’ve been known to eat it straight from the fridge with a spoon.
For a slightly more refined no-cook dinner, I spread a few spoonfuls onto a plate, top it with sliced chicken breast and a handful of rocket, then finish with a generous glug of extra virgin olive oil. Et voilà – dinner.”
“When it’s 33C and the thought of scooping ice cream feels like too much admin, but you need something cold immediately, these frozen strawberries are the answer. I pop one (ok, two) in my mouth every time I walk past the freezer.”
M&S Only 8 Ingredients Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
M&S Only 8 Ingredients Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
“A recent discovery of mine is good-quality dark chocolate ice cream sprinkled with Tajín – the chilli-lime spice normally reserved for margarita rims. Absolute game-changer.
I love this M&S ice cream because it only contains eight ingredients, so I feel relatively healthy when I'm on my second bowl.”
“My current heatwave obsession is the M&S Juicy Vitamin Water. Fruity, refreshing and not too sweet, it’s the only thing stopping me from buying a £6 smoothie every afternoon. Perfect for when water just doesn’t quite cut it, it absolutely must be served ice-cold.”
“My go-to can't-be-bothered-to-cook snack is the M&S Red Pepper Pitta Chips with one of their dips – either the Chicken Shawarma Dip or the Fully Loaded Mexican Style Dip. Once the bag’s open, all self-control disappears.”
“When I’m treating myself to a picky bits tea, this is the first thing going in my basket. The problem is, it rarely makes it home before I’ve finished the lot. With juicy chicken and an outrageously moreish satay dip, it’s protein-rich, top-tier summer snacking – and just enough to tide you over until your next meal.”
M&S Chilli & Coriander Marinated King Prawns
M&S Chilli & Coriander Marinated King Prawns
“I categorically refuse to put the oven on in this weather, so a no-cook dinner is non-negotiable. I’ve been eating M&S’s marinated prawns tossed with watermelon chunks (yes, I’m not chopping anything either), tahini and plenty of lime.”
“My husband served me an ice-cold martini with one of these pinchos balanced on top. If we hadn't already tied the knot, I would have married him on the spot.”
“Essentially the best bit of a Cornetto, I scatter these over vanilla ice cream whenever I can’t face dealing with melted cones. The kids are obsessed, and I get through significantly fewer wet wipes.”
“I demolished a jar of this over the weekend – it’s insanely good with sausages. I used it to make a ‘pizza dog’: a sausage baked inside pizza dough with a generous dollop of this relish. And yes, I plan on making it again immediately.”
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
