I have a problem with Aldi: there’s not enough branches around Dublin. In particular, south-east Dublin, and the Dun Laoghaire area. Their range easily wipes the floor with Lidl’s offerings, but I find myself having to travel all the way to Nutgrove to get those goodies.

Aldi recently picked up 12 titles at the UK and Ireland’s Great Taste Awards – imagine my delight when a box containing steak, cheese and honey arrived via courier. Jean and I split the swag, and we’re currently working our way through it.

I called over to Jean the other night and we had the steak dinner to end all steak dinners. Aldi’s Specially Selected Irish angus rib eye steaks, dry aged on the bone for 14 days, cost €11.99 for two. Perhaps not enough to feed a family, but a very affordable and very worthwhile treat. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again:

Excellent value… Served with some home-made chips, I was completely and utterly taken aback: this was easily one of the most tender, juicy and tasty steaks I’ve ever tried. I know. Steaks from Aldi.

Jean and I also gorged on green beans, roast asparagus, fried onions, and no less than three sauces or condiments: garlic aoili, pepper sauce, and horseradish. Washed down with few glasses of red and devoured in front of Pixar’s Up (history’s greatest movie), this is surely the true meaning of Monday night.

I’m also liking:

• Lynch’s farmhouse bread. At just 99c a loaf in Aldi, it’s much cheaper – and as good as or better – similarly seeded brown sliced pans.
• McGrath’s Reserve teabags (€1.69 for 80 teabags). Winner of two well-deserved stars, it’s like no tea I’ve ever tried before. Everyone knows that loose is better than bagged, but McGrath’s teabags really stand out. Sweet and smooth, firm and gentle, I can’t recommend them highly enough. The only downside is that it appears to be very far removed from Fairtrade.

Special buys

This week, I’m tempted by the Greek specials at Aldi this week, which include:

• Greek delicacies: vine leaves stuffed with rice, baked giant beans in tomato sauce, potato salad with carrots and green peppers (280g) – €1.70
• Greek salami (200g) – €2.49 per packet
• Greek extra virgin olive oil (250ml) – €2.99

There’s also – randomly – kites, shoes, and sports clothes. Click here for details.

The price of the Super6 continues to fall; you can pick up a selection of fruit and veg for just 39c.

Related posts:

1. Product reviews: Aldi opens in Sandyford
2. Aldi Product Reviews
3. Product reviews: Summer at Aldi