Heston Blumenthal has sparked fury amongst Christmas food fans as they reacted to the release of his latest twist on a festive mince pie.
The 56-year-old chef is known for his out-of-the-box ideas when it comes to food, but some appear to think he has taken his imagination too far this time.
Heston has paired with Waitrose for another year to release a range of Christmas foods and snacks but one in particular has divided shoppers.
The chef, who owns The Fat Duck in Berkshire, has created a festive mince pie with a bizarre twist as its made of a three-cheese pastry and filled with pear and fig mincemeat.
A description of the pies on the Waitrose website reads: "These irresistibly moreish mince pies were inspired by one of Heston as own favourite recipes, Eccles cakes with potted Stilton a very Heston combination, with sweet and savoury bringing out the best in each other.
"Like the original recipe, they bring together the flavours of a festive cheese board: the buttery puff pastry is laced with Cheddar, Emmental and Italian hard cheese and the mincemeat inside captures the taste of a Christmas chutney, with plump vine fruits, figs, Bramley apple, a splash of Ruby port, candied pears, nutmeg and ginger. Delicious served warm with Heston's Tipsy Potted Stilton."
The mincemeat includes a mix of sultanas, currants, raisins, apple purée, sugar, glucose syrup, tapioca starch, glace diced pears, dried figs, ruby port and lemon and orange peel.
Heston's mince pies are prices at £3.50 for a pack of six on the Waitrose website.
However, some foodies appear to think Heston has gone too far with his latest weird and wonderful Christmas creation.
One reviewer wrote on the Waitrose website: "I expected a savoury pastry and chutney type alternative filling. The filling is sweet. They are like putting cream and jam on a cheese scone. I like both but not together. Absolutely vile!"
Another added: "I bought these as I do like Heston's ideas. But this is not one I'm afraid.it didn't look like a mince pie ok I couldn't taste anything of the cheese anf fig etc. Definitely not on my repeat buy list. If it doesn't look like a mince pie it won't taste like one." [sic]
"To be fair I concentrated on the description of the filling and missed the bit about the cheese pastry. Too much pastry, too cheesy and barely edible. Only my Dad ate them but he'll eat anything," a third said.
Meanwhile, shoppers took to Twitter to vent over the mince pies, too.
"Heston Blumenthal 'Christmas Pies' in Waitrose .. pear & fig in a triple cheese pastry They're not f**king mince pie…" one fumed.
Another added: "The @waitrose Heston Blumenthal mince pies use puff pastry. But that’s not the controversial bit. It’s cheesy puff pastry. A cheese straw / Eccles cake cross over. Inside is a (v good) pear, fig and port mincemeat. Waitrose has paired this with a ‘tipsy potted Stilton’. Mistake".
And a third said the festive food resembled a sausage roll.
"Heston/Waitrose Pear & Fig mince pies...more festive chaos from Heston & his band of mad Beatrix Potter-esque characters.
"Today we have this weirdly hench Santa mouse preparing the pastry..?! And they're mince pies but look like sausage rolls. OK got it? Good," they wrote.
And another added: "It's a simple rule £Waitrose. Do NOT let Heston anywhere NEAR an innocent mince pie."
But, some defended Heston's latest creation as one shopper wrote on the Waitrose website: "The cheese makes the pastry incredibly crisp and light. The filling is wonderfully moist, and the smell as you take them from the oven is divine. All the qualities that should be in a good mince pie, but so very rarely are."
Another added: "Was excited to try these more than different variant's in the past because of the ingredient's and the puff pasty twist. The fruit combination coupled with the cheeses go so well together, theres not too much festive spice going on which makes a change and the puss pastry elevates it. There are a light sweet tasty treat with a difference. As usual Heston from Waitrose does not disappoint! Thank You!"
"I really enjoyed these mince pies, so moreish," a third insisted while another wrote: "Bought these out of curiosity really, but completely hooked! The packaging says best heated up, but they were eaten so quickly I need to buy more so we can try them warm!"
