Anyone used this scheme before ? Basically the app has a list of local cafes /shops with items coming up to their use by date and you pay for a mystery bag to collect , rather than food going to waste . I collected my first bag today from the co-op.
For £3.29 I got a pack of bacon, bag of celery , 2 mangoes , a tub of ready made mash , packet of mixed salad , several knobs of ginger and six English muffins which I didn’t think was bad and all things I’ll use . I quite liked the unpredictability surprise element too . Almost a bit like ready steady cook
I have heard of this scheme and found out that our local Toby Roast place does this too. However you register with them, but can't collect until 9pm.. I wouldn't want to eat at that time of night
I always feel I should leave them for those who struggle to buy food but they're usually really good. I did take a fruit/veg box in Sainsbury's once as they had loads and no-one seemed interested. I even got expensive exotic fruits I'd not dream of buying normally.
I’ve encountered the scheme and similar but I now avoid mystery bags and boxes of all kinds, living alone if I get anything I don’t really like or just don’t want it will go to waste anyway, like EM I feel I can afford the luxury of choice.
If I were more organised, and certainly if I still rode a bike for collection, I might be tempted to use Olio where you do know what you are going for.
We used it once. What a disappointment. It was the local co-op and the only item edible for us was a lemon cheesecake. Rest was bacon/pork products which we don't eat.
I have since learned that you should check the rating of your store and if it's 4 or under then don't bother. Some stores get a consistent score of 5 and if you're lucky enough to live close by it's a good scheme.
no, i haven't. it would make it uneconomic as the car would have to be used and as we are vegetarian the likelihood would be that some of the produce would be inappropriate.
that is also a lot of plastic waste to deal with!
our upcountry young subscribe to the local 'community larder' for something like that per week and get a huge amount of fresh and store cupboard produce that comes from places like waitrose and sainsbury's that's excess and which the food bank can't use. the subscriptions are then donated to the food bank etc.
Hey Ameew, that sounds like a great deal! I've been meaning to try out Too Good to Go bags, and your experience has definitely piqued my interest. £3.29 for all those items is a steal! I love the surprise element too, it's like a fun little treasure hunt.
Oven bottom muffins are great. They come from round here, there’s another version that is even flatter with a hole in the middle (back stone oven bottom muffins)
I signed up for the scheme, encouraged by someone at work.
Sadly it didn't last long. As I'm not in the city I had to take the car to collect the bag which pretty much negated any savings.
Really pleased with tonight’s bag , for £3.29 . Bagels and bread will be used up for breakfasts . I’m thinking of dicing up the chips tomorrow and airfrying as cheats parmentier potatoes with the chicken .
Would I be ok to use the salad leaves in soup , along with the broccoli . Thinking of adding onion , garlic and maybe pesto too , along with stock
Ah great thank you . I’m not really keen on those bagged types of lettuce and it wasn’t really fit for salad so thought it would be a good use for soup … or maybe a type of pesto ?