Ginsters cheese and onion slice - look at the Dooyoo picture all nice and plump... well imagine that but after someone has stepped on it and that is closer to what you actually get. We all know that that marketing pictures on the packaging rarely reflect what you get inside but blimey why don't they just put a picture of some cheese or something on the packaging instead of misrepresenting the product. Of course if every image that is portrayed in the media or advertising was accurate we'd all have our rose coloured spectacles thoroughly trashed.

The cheesy slice I'm reviewing is called Ginsters Westcountry Cheddar Cheese and Onion Slice, but I presume it's the same as the previous product 'Cheese and Onion Slice' as the latter no longer appears on their website (or Tesco's), however in my opinion as far as I can tell they taste the same.

I've never been a fan of Ginsters and am not generally over fond of pastry as a whole. When I have tried this brand in the past I have loathed the way the pastry was cloying and left a greasy cardboardy scum on the roof of your mouth. Frankly the Ginsters brand has been one that I avoid like the plague, being synonymous in my mind with yucky pastry and undercooked fillings. However I was pleased to find that there didn't seem to be a problem with scumminess (or under cooking) with this item, so hopefully Ginsters have tweaked their pastry a little. I was reintroduced to this brand when the husband came home with several of the cheese slices which had been sold at a reduced price (45p I think) he just can't resist a bargain. They normally cost around £1.89! Which I think is a rather cheeky price to say the least.

The packaging is fairly easy to open, a bog standard cellophane packet, the slice is presented to you in a neat cardboard sleeve so far so good. The actual slice looks kind of anaemic and moist, not two features I necessarily associate with scrummy pastry. The lattice like top layer holds together reasonable well and doesn't instantly collapse the minute you bite into it. The base is thick enough to also hold together well when eaten straight from the pack in the hand. I don't feel the pastry is too overbearing ie too much of it, as there can be in some of these types of goods. However the filling is a little too sparse for my liking. I wouldn't like something so soft and ermm... gloopy to be present in vast quantities but about a third more would be nice thank you. The flavour of the filling is quite nice and you can actually tell it is cheese and onion unlike some of the generic gloop you get in things now. I quite enjoyed this slice gently warmed - not too hot, and this does seem to make the flavours a little more intense. I think this slice when warm goes really well with beans (and) or chips and makes a nice easy 'sit down' meal, but that does take the total calories up a hefty wodge and isn't the healthiest option. If you have time I think the warming process is better in the oven as the microwave leaves it slightly floppy, as it does with most pastry items..

This is quite high in calories, 490 per slice, you could have a full tasty meal for that however we are not always in the mood to fill up or have the time and surroundings to prepare a meal. What I do like about this product and Ginsters in general is that they source their ingredients as locally as possible and their ingredients don't appear to be peppered with all sorts of low grade fillers, colourings and preservatives

The overall taste of this is quite nice, however it's not something I would crave on a regular basis or even go out of my way to buy to be honest but if someone offered it to me or I found it reduced in a shop I wouldn't say no and I can see why some people are fans. A handy but high calorie snack to eat on the go, or even at home if you're really depraved.