CONOR POPElooks for value for money in chicken liver pate
Marks & Spencer's Chicken Liver Pate €2.19 for 170g, €12.88 per kilo
HIGHS
This is a gentle introduction to pate and ideal for people who don’t particularly like the stuff. It has a mellow chicken liver flavour and a mild sweetness thanks to the small amount of Madeira in the mix
LOWS
In comparison with some of the top-rated options it was a bit bland. It is made with 31 per cent pork fat which seemed high and had an aftertaste which lingered a bit too long for our liking
VERDICT
A gentle introduction
****
Fallon & Byrne Chef's Home-mde Pate €4.25 for 175g, €24.28 per kilo
HIGHS
Who needs toast? This is so nice you could just eat it with a spoon. Made with chicken livers, brandy, cream, smoked bacon and onion, and unidentified herbs and spices, it’s the business. Sealed with a thick layer of butter, it’s rich, smooth and remarkably light and airy
LOWS
Availability is going to be a problem for people not within striking distance of Fallon Byrne and it’s not cheap
VERDICT
Excellent
*****
Profi Poultry Pate €0.79 for 131g, €6.03 per kg
HIGHS
This pate found on the shelves of our local Tesco is cheap and the flecks of paprika are mildly interesting – to look at if not to taste
LOWS
We don’t want to be excessively mean but we just can’t escape the fact that it smelled like cat food and had the texture of a greasy, meaty mousse. Nor were we impressed that the two biggest ingredients in this “poultry” pate were water and pork fat
VERDICT
We’re not for Profi
*
Avoca Chicken Liver Pate €4.75 for 180g, €26.39 per kg
HIGHS
Thick and meaty. The butter which seals in the pate is flecked with red and black peppercorns and it grew on us with each bite
LOWS
We had to buy two batches as the butter in the first had melted and fused with the pate in a not entirely pleasant fashion. It is aimed at the same market as the Fallon Byrne pate and while not bad, it wasn’t as nice. Its meaty texture might be off-putting for the faint of heart
VERDICT
Priciest and meatiest
***
Excellent *****
Great ****
Fine ***
Below par **
Awful *
