Shepherd’s pie, commonly referred to as cottage pie in Ireland, is a popular Celtic dish. It is commonly found on menus at Irish pubs, either made with beef or lamb. While I typically review the dish as part of my review of Irish pubs (except for instances where it is made with lamb), I want to try different prepared “TV dinners.”
The first one I tried was Chef Ramsay’s shepherd’s pie. It
has ground beef, peas, carrots, and cheesy mashed potatoes. The instructions
are to microwave the dish for four and a half minutes. This dish only has
microwave instructions, so those without a microwave will struggle to make it.
There is no need for additional plates or bowls- the bowl it
comes in is meant to be the serving dish. This makes it convenient for those
who may be traveling. However, it does not come with any kind of silverware.
These meals rarely turn out how they are pictured. However, this
was barely even held a candle to the picture. They look super watery. Luckily,
they did not taste as watery as they look, but it still was not a great taste.
I did not buy my shepherd’s pie as my grandmom picked it up
for me when she was at the store. If I had to guess, I would have said that the
shepherd’s pie costs $5 maximum. However, I just looked up the price, and it is
currently $6.99 at the store she would have gotten it from. I am unable to tell
if she got it on sale or not.
In my opinion, the shepherd’s pie did not live up to this
price. It did not taste good, and it was not particularly filling. If Chef
Ramsay had eaten it, he would have some choice words with it. It feels like you
are paying for the brand name of this shepherd’s pie.
Overall, this shepherd’s pie is basic but not particularly
delicious. It is good for a quick pinch of a meal, but it is not something I
would go out of my way to eat. It was easy to cook since you did not need to
put it in a bowl or on a plate. You just need a spoon or fork.