Costco's Kirkland House Brand Gets some Bon Appetit Love

One of my wife's co-workers was telling us that it was worth the 45-minute drive to one of the MD area Costco stores that sells alcohol because the Kirkland brand booze was as good and way cheaper than any big name brand. I've always been a fan of their house brand foods and I try to buy as much of my fresh meat there as possible because unlike a grocery store they turn it over so frequently.

Turns out we're not the only ones who love us some Kirkland brands... no less an authority on good grub that Bon Appetit recently heaped praise on, yes, Costco's house brand spirits, snacks, salmon and more.

You'll Have to Pry My Cold Dead Hands from the Self Checkout Lane

I do not ask a lot of my grocery stores: have some reasonably nice produce; a deli kiosk is always a plus; don't gouge me on the organic milk; a decent coffee selection would be good; and, for the love of god, throw me a self-checkout line or two.

And I don't mean the restrictive self-checkouts like they installed when ShopRite took over the nearby SuperFresh and pushed it way down on my preferred stores list. (Never has a store plummeted so far, so fast in my soon-to-be-published THG's Grocery Power Rankings.)

Give me a self-checkout. With a conveyor belt. I promise I'll be fast and efficient. Probably more so than 90% of your employees. No offense folks.

So what does my wife send me? An article about how self checkout usage is down and that some stores are phasing them out for lack of use.

Hey, stores that plan on getting rid of self checkout? Let me know where you are... so I never shop there!

THG's Six Pack – Premiere Edition

Entertainment Weekly has their Must List. Golf Magazine wants to hip you to items on The Front 9. Even sister publication Exploitation Retrospect has their own junk culture and fringe media cheat sheet known as The Dirty Dozen.

So what's a poor food, drink, travel and fun blog/zine/website to do?

Why, start our own checklist of the things we love, of course!

Welcome to the first installment of THG's Six Pack, a weekly roundup of a half-dozen things we love from the worlds of food, drink, travel and fun. Reality cooking shows, snacks, recipes, new items, restaurants and more are all fair game. Who knows? We might even throw in – as we did below – a Dishonorable Mention or two. Got something you want us to check out? E-mail me or see the sidebar for our PO Box address.

Let's get started...

1. The Dapper Don of Reality Cooking Shows – I may have started watching FOX's Master Chef (a home cook version of Top Chef) because of Gordon Ramsey... but after a season and a half I'll gladly admit that it's restaurateur/judge Joe Bastianich (aka Joey Polka Dots) who brings me back week after week. Whether he's arriving at a challenge on a European scooter, questioning a contestant's ingredient choices or fixing a cook with his steely, withering glare, Bastianich has emerged as a household fave who – like Ramsey – should have three or four shows on the network. All Joe! All the time!
2. Boxed Wine is OK! – I was drinking boxed wine back in the 80s, though more out of convenience than any desire to blaze trails. Frankly, it cut down on trips to the liquor store and meant that a White Trash Cooler (half Mountain Dew, half boxed white wine) was just a refrigerator away. But now it appears that oenophiles are learning what I already knew – it's okay to drink boxed wine! Sure, you might have to put a paper bag over your head or pay some college kid to grab a box of some table plonk you don't want your wine snob friends seeing you hoist into the car, but isn't fresh wine without the hassle of a corkscrew totally worth it? And if you don't have a corkscrew you don't have to worry about this happening.
   
3. Halloween Candy Makes an Early Appearance – It won't be long before Facebook and Twitter will be filled with people complaining about cold weather and the fact that Christmas decorations are in stores. Sensing this ever-shorter window of opportunity, Halloween candy makers have already started stocking convenience stores and supermarkets I frequent. Though I doubt anything will beat last year's "Candy Blood Bag" I did get a kick out of the Gummy Werewolves being sold at Wawa. As old pal and fellow Joey Polka Dots fan Joe McNulty quipped, "Full supply of daily vitamins and gypsy curse".
4. Fast Food Wine Pairings – I'm not sure what I enjoy most about Snooth's series of articles in which they pair wine with takeout from the likes of McDonald's and Burger King. Maybe it's the tongue-in-cheek, yet serious, approach they take to the subject. Maybe it's the useful information I can use during my next Filet-O-Fish craving. Or maybe I just like the horrified comments from humorless wine snobs. Eh, it's probably a little bit of each. Keep it up Snooth, but please tell me what I should serve with the hammy, cheesy, burger-tastic Double R Bar Burger!
5. Tostitos Hint of Pepper Jack Tortilla Chips – I'm usually pretty change averse, so when I find something I like I tend to beat it into the ground. Like tortilla chips. Lately (and when I say "lately" I mean since they were introduced) I've been buying the Tostitos Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips, which have a slightly over-the-top blend of lime and salt that goes great with sitting on the patio drinking beer and shooting the breeze with friends. But when I discovered that our latest bag had gone stale I found myself digging in to a bag of Hint of Pepper Jack flavored chips that my wife bought while I was out of town. Oh, Pepper Jack Tortilla Chips... where have you been all my life?! These are a crunchy, creamy, cheesy, spicy taste sensation.
6. Five Ingredient Fish Tacos – Fish tacos have been a somewhat recent addition to my culinary maturation. I was introduced to them when my wife and I were first dating and I accompanied her on a trip to Cabo for a friend's wedding. That trip was one great food find after another, but I really fell in love with fish tacos. And why not? I love fish, I love tacos. Marrying the two – whether the fish is grilled, seared or battered, the toppings spicy or cool and creamy – has been an ongoing adventure. Our newest fave is – like many of our go-to recipes – torn screaming from the pages of Cooking Light. Though I felt they could have used something cool and creamy like a little sour cream or guacamole on top, this was an easy weeknight dinner that gave us a chance to use some fresh jalapenos from our summer garden.

Dishonorable Mentions: I love the bright, cheery and tasty (usually) sodas from Jarritos, but their "Jamaica" variety was a complete bust. The hibiscus flavoring made it taste like red prune juice and gave the drink an aroma that can only be described as "musty" or maybe "old person's garage" ... Our local SuperFresh recently closed its doors and re-opened as a ShopRite. Let's just say that my first trip was not overly positive. The layout is familiar but the store seems claustrophobic and exceedingly bright, checkout clerks were overly aggressive in trying to rush me out the door, and the produce section was both poorly stocked (no strawberries on a Friday afternoon in August?!) and off-putting (I picked up at least three containers of "fresh" fruit that were significantly moldy). I'll have more about the area Supermarket Wars in the weeks to come.

Nothing Beats Homemade, But...

We all know that nothing beats real homemade mac & cheese. But what if you're in a pinch or – like me – just have a craving for some comforting, belly-filling, artery-clogging cheesy pasta goodness?

Check out the results of Bon Appetit's recent supermarket mac & cheese showdown – but before you do, tell us what's your mac & cheese of choice when you're in a pinch?

REVIEW: Morningstar Farms Chipotle Black Bean Burgers

My previous experiences with "meatless" burgers, sausages, dogs and patties have all pretty much ended with a mix of disappointment in the product and a gnawing craving for the real thing. So it was nothing short of a GIANT leap of faith when I purchased the jumbo box of Morningstar Farms Chipotle Black Bean Burgers at Costco a couple weeks back.

Not that I'm going all vegetarian on you or anything like that. But even I'll admit to enjoying nights that feature almost no cooking on my part and I figure it never hurts to push away from the cavalcade of pit beef, sushi, burgers, ribs and pulled pork that has recently been my life.

For me, just making the purchase of a 12-pack of 1/4 lb. anything represented a classic "good side and bad side play tug-of-war". On the one hand I had a coupon, so the money-saving, cost-conscious gene I inherited from my folks was doing a jig. On the other hand, the part of me that vividly remembers tossing out package after package of icicle-caked frozen foods from my parents' basement freezer after they moved out of my childhood home tends to paralyze me with fear every time I set foot in Costco or buy more than four cans of soup at one time.

But after spending the better part of the weekend prepping, cooking, having and cleaning up from our annual cookout and suffering from the soul-crushing boredom of a day on jury duty, I felt like it was time to bite the bullet and give Morningstar Farms the old college try.

Seriously – how bad could they possibly be?

While none of the other meat-free burgers I've tried were truly awful, I must admit that I've never been in any big rush to try any of them again. And sure enough, a quick check of our freezer yielded half a package of ice-encrusted Boca Burgers from some long-ago cookout. (The Freezer-Cleaner in me trembles just typing that sentence.)

After giving the package a final long, hard look and deciding to make a mini-pulled pork sandwich just in case they sucked, I popped the burgers in and followed the very specific timing instructions as close as possible. The package recommends baking in the oven and flipping the patties over halfway through the 23 minute cooking time but even I'm not so anal about following package directions that I would set the timer for 11:30. And I'm pretty anal when it comes to recipes, cooking times and directions on foodstuffs... don't even get me started on expiration dates.

Once the 23 minutes was up I topped each burger with a slice of Sargento Reduced Sodium Pepper Jack Cheese – again, in case they sucked – let the cheese melt and then popped them onto awaiting buns.

Much to my surprise – and relief – I can safely say that these are my favorite meatless burgers of all time. Granted, that's like being voted the prettiest Kennedy girl but you get the drift. While these certainly aren't going to make me forget Tessaro's in Pittsburgh or even the exquisitely cooked burger I recently had at Iron Hill Brewery in Mt. Laurel, NJ they had a nice crisp exterior that led to a soft center, all flavored nicely with corn and chipotle. Plus, at just 7 grams of fat per serving I won't feel bad about firing one up for lunch.

I'm not sure I'm quite ready to go down the vegan Hickory BBQ Riblet road yet, but I'll keep you posted.

Lost in the Supermarket

I'm what you'd call a bit of a supermarket nerd. While most people balk at the idea of grocery shopping and attempt to combine all of their purchasing into one weekly trip, I'd go every day if I could. Or, if my wife would let me.

One of the single greatest times in my life was my post-college years spent in scenic, historic Haddonfield, NJ. Not because of the bucolic setting and carefree existence of a fun-loving zine publisher. Not even the fact that my post office box – frequently overflowing with zines, CDs and movies – was just a Whiffle Ball blast away. Instead, it was the proximity of the local supermarket that made this picture postcard setting so hard to leave.

Living in Haddonfield was like spending a couple years in France for my roommates and me. There was no menu planning, bulk buying, coupon clipping or meat freezing. Hell no! With the Acme just a couple blocks away we could swing by practically any time of the day or night and indulge whatever culinary – and I use that term loosely – whim struck us. And if that whim somehow included such items as Kraut Juice or bricks of lard, the Acme was only too happy to oblige.

Granted, daily trips to the Acme did have their drawbacks, including a relationship with grocery store staff that was perhaps too familiar. But that seemed more a problem for my female roomie than me.

These days, demands on my time are a bit more increased than they were at the tender age of 23. Work, home life, child care, free time, etc. all add up to a schedule that almost demands more pre-planning and less dilly-dallying. Thankfully, I'm usually able to squeeze in an extra trip or two under the more mundane guise of grabbing a needed ingredient for that night's dinner or getting some cash for the sitter.

And with the grand opening of an all-new Giant store just up the road, local supermarketers have given me yet another reason to stop, shop and, occasionally, save.

Up until recently my grocery shopping was largely a two-store affair. SuperFresh usually received the largest portion of our weekly grocery budget, thanks to their convenient location near the post office and Office Depot as well as the closest Starbucks.

Wegmans still makes a play for me but being a fickle shopper with no allegiance I've found myself less satisfied by my trips to their lavish Hunt Valley store. Yes, the prepared foods remain great (especially the Mediterranean bar, sushi, meatloaf and macaroni salad) but the store lacked little things, including self-checkout lanes (which they rectified during a recent remodeling) and double coupons, not to mention the nagging perception that I was spending more and saving less each time I shopped there.

Sure, the store boasted nicer produce than SuperFresh, a better selection at the nearby liquor store, and a handy Redbox for renting and returning DVDs. But that couldn't assuage the feeling I got when I looked at my receipt and saw bonus "savings" that barely added up to pocket change. Maybe the everyday prices at Wegmans were competitive with what I was saving as a SuperFresh "Bonus Card Member" but it sure never felt that way, and each drive home from the store was filled with festering guilt.

And so, I'd reached a happy medium with my grocery shopping. SuperFresh was firmly ensconced as top dog and Wegmans was a reliable but dispensable sidekick, like Justin Bartha in the NATIONAL TREASURE movies. Not a leading man but a "hey it's that guy"-type you're happy to see when he shows up in the trailer for THE HANGOVER.

Naturally, just when I'd reached this "happy place" somebody had to come along and attempt to ruin everything.

Up until this point my relationship with the area Giant was purely casual. Even below casual, if there is such a thing. Located in a hard-to-get-into-hard-to-get-out-of dying shopping center, the Giant (right) was one of those places I went as a last resort or if I needed one of two things: Bacon Salt or a movie at Redbox. Other than that I had little or no reason to venture through its doors. (I'd be a liar if I didn't admit that I occasionally shopped the Giant simply because one of the area's better liquor stores was right next door.)

In other words, the news that the decrepit Giant was being shuttered in favor of a brand new Giant opening at the rehabbed shopping center up the road meant little to me. At first. But the supermarket nerd in me couldn't help but be lured in by $5 off coupons and the possibilities the new store might hold. Deli kiosk? Hi-tech ordering gadgetry? Who knew what grocery goodies might lay beyond those automatic doors?

When the new store held its grand opening I was kind of jealous that Chris got to experience it first. I pressed her for details as soon as she came home from the maiden voyage. She mentioned there might have been some sort of deli ordering system but that the aisles were too packed to really nail down any specifics.

So, with Ryan in tow I headed out mid-week to see how the store would fair once the big grand opening weekend fanfare had subsided. More importantly, I wanted to know if Giant might be the perfect combination of everything good about Wegmans (superior prepared food, nice produce, excellent international product selection), SuperFresh (easy access, good sales, self-checkouts), and the stores of my dreams (did I mention the deli kiosk?).

Right off the bat it should be noted that a move up York Road did nothing to make Giant easier to get into or out of. The newly renovated shopping center feels like little more than a maze of short parking aisles, speed bumps, control line violators and awkwardly-located stop signs. I've discovered a back way or two into the complex but some enterprising lawyer should open an office in one of the center's few empty storefronts.

But, I can take haphazardly-designed parking lots if the spaces are ample. That is certainly not the case here. In an effort to squeeze in as many spots as possible, there's little or simply no room between cars. And don't forget where you're parked because there'll be no squeezing your shopping cart between cars to get over a row or two. And pity those of us who have gone shopping with our toddler along for the ride. Juggling a youngster and their various books, juice cups and/or stuffed animals while you're trying not to bang the door into the car next to you can be a challenge in the roomiest parking lots. Here it's like somebody is playing a hidden camera prank.

With Ryan (and Curious George) safely belted into a cart I figured I'd fuel up with a quick coffee and make my way through the bright store (an improvement over the frequently cave-like SuperFresh whose dim lighting often feels like a cost-cutting measure). Shockingly, Giant lacks even the most rudimentary of coffee bars, opting instead for a vending machine that appears to dispense a variety of flavored coffees, lattes and espressos for shoppers on the go. I say "appears to" because the vending machine was only accepting $1.25 exact change purchases and didn't have a credit/debit option.

In other words, I was barely ten feet inside the door and Giant already had more than a few strikes against it.

All – or nearly all – was forgiven as soon as I set my eyes upon, yep, the deli kiosk. (Cue the hearts floating above my head as my knees go weak.) A slightly more advanced version of the deli system I fell in love with years ago at Genuardi's in Bucks County, PA, Giant's system also features the ability to save favorite orders and access them with your shoppers card not to mention an order alert system that texts your cell phone when your lunchmeat is ready.

I'd probably like the system even better if it wasn't jammed right up against the deli counter and produce section, one of the busiest areas of any grocery store. I'd love to see Giant take a cue from Genuardi's (or, in a major move, Wegmans!) and place the deli kiosk right inside the front door or in a less high-traffic area but, hey, I'm just glad somebody has stepped into the 21st century!

The rest of my initial trip through the neo-Giant's a bit-too-narrow aisles was uneventful. The aforementioned brightness was a plus but that apparently didn't trickle down to either the customers or employees. Basic rules of the grocery-store-road were thrown out the window and fellow shoppers annoyingly abandoned carts mid-aisle in order to pursue some bright, shiny object while workers took to parking pallets, cut down boxes and product carts pretty much anywhere and everywhere.

I'll give Giant an A when it comes to being more technologically-advanced than the competition. Besides the deli kiosk and self-checkouts, the store also features a snazzy hand-held pricing gun checkout system that lets you ring up and bag your order as you walk through the store. Based on your purchasing habits the pricing gun will even send you limited-time-only offers you can snatch up during the trip. $1 off Ballpark Franks? Don't mind if I do!

Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the process of ringing up my purchases (maybe a little too much) and I'm always keen to bag my order, trying to do both at once taxed even my multi-tasking skills. The system also stressed the nagging Catholic guilt that was drummed into my brain over the course of 13 years of schooling. I found myself repeatedly checking to make sure the gun had properly registered each and every purchase, lest I end up on some Shoplifter's Database, banned from enjoying life's little pleasures like some kind of card counter shown the door at a Vegas casino.

EPILOGUE: Despite their high-tech gadgetry and the arrival of a bonus card emblazoned with their new logo, I haven't been to Giant more than once or twice in the last few months. SuperFresh has won me back with a steady stream of $10 and 20% off coupons not to mention the underappreciated simplicity of a parking lot that requires neither a GPS nor a lawyer on retainer to navigate. As for Wegmans, I love the addition of self-checkouts and – yep – a deli kiosk in the store's entryway, but a recent remodel made the back corners of the store seem like sad, lonely places.

Tabasco Mayo?! Why Am I Only Learning About This Now?!

It wasn't until recently that I became aware of the violently anti-mayonnaise underground at work in our fine country. I can certainly understand the hatred of cilantro, the soapy-tasting herb of doom that has plagued many a Mexican recipe I've wanted to try, but even I have been able to get past that... for the most part.

But I thought anti-mayo nuts were just that. A fringe sect of our society that professed to hate the creamy glue that holds together our various "salads" all the while downing forkfuls of Mom's potato salad and Aunt Barb's macaroni & tuna side dish.

Recent encounters on – of all things – a Eurotrash film message board have convinced me that this is more than a mere sect. This is a movement bent on recruiting nothing less than the leader of the free world to their evil cause! Then again, Obama and Biden both pledge to prefer their burgers cooked medium... yet another piece of information I would have liked to have had on hand during the recent election.

Despite these nay-sayers beating their chests in anti-mayo gloom, I'm glad to see that manufacturers are still pushing the creamy mayo envelope with new and wonderful flavors for us to try. Naturally, we're all aware of Baconnaise by this point, thanks to recent appearances on both Oprah and The Daily Show (just to name a few).

But yesterday, while I was out searching for tartar sauce I stumbled upon McIlhenny Spicy Mayo, "made with Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise and flavored with TABASCO brand Pepper Sauce... TABASCO brand Spicy Mayonnaise features the zesty flavor of south Louisiana."

Since I was in a rush and couldn't find the tartar sauce I was looking for I ended up leaving the store empty-handed, but after discovering this and the store's wide selection of Mexican condiments, cheeses and creams I have a feeling I'll be going back.

Catch the Slider Sensation That's Sweeping the Nation!

I usually get annoyed when Billy Mays is screaming at me about some spot remover or car chamois. But I have to admit that my eyes and ears perked up when the commercial for The Big City Slider Station came on during Iron Chef America:



I'd kill for an infomercial for this!

Fourth Day of Gifties: Grow Herbs and Veggies Year Round

If you're like me and live in a four season environment, the inability to grow fresh herbs and veggies during the fall and winter months is a bummer. And with spring and summer temps that can vary wildly featuring crippling drought or shirt-soaking humidity, just growing something successfully can be a challenge.

For those of us who want access to fresh herbs, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and peppers in July as well as January, the AeroGrow system may be the answer. While the reviews on Amazon aren't a slam dunk (people complain about everything from the noise of the unit to, ick, a caterpillar infestation), I'm intrigued by the dirtless growing system and the fact that you could go away for a couple weeks and not lose all your plants.

This is one of Amazon's Deals of the Day, so the 50% off price reduction is only good if you order today.

Third Day of Gifties: Get Your Baconnaise Orders in Now!

There are few things sadder than a man who has run out of Baconnaise. I know because that man is me.

After getting a sample jar to review I found myself using Baconnaise around the clock. It's amazingly great on sandwiches (especially turkey) and even makes a wicked bacon-ized sour cream dip that can be used on everything from eggs to brussel sprouts. I'm sure there are a zillion other uses and I'm still itching to make egg salad and deviled eggs with it (though I will not try to win Top Chef with them).

If you're planning to give the gift of bacon(naise) this holiday season you need to stop reading and order now. We have it on good authority that demand for Baconnaise is at a premium and we won't even talk about Lite Baconnaise (which is backordered until after the New Year).

The fine folks at Bacon Salt/Baconnaise have also said that regular strength Baconnaise is only available in the Ultimate Bacon Lover's Gift Pack and Combo Packs until after the New Year, too. So if you plan to show your love with the gift of bacon, get those orders in now. Friday, December 19th is the last day to place orders for delivery in the US in time for Christmas.

Want to stay on top of the latest Breaking Bacon News? Follow the people behind Bacon Salt and Baconnaise at Twitter.

Better Late Than Never... Meet 'Ham on the Street' Host at Wegmans

For my money, one of the more engaging hosts on The Food Network of late has been George Duran who hosts the 'Ham on the Street' program and I believe took over the hosting duties at 'The Secret Life Of...'.

Naturally, because I like Duran and enjoy his shows I never see him on the air anymore – it's nearly impossible to sort through the clutter of shows hosted by Alton Brown (who has gone from charming to irritating in record time), Bobby Flay, or a member of the Deen family. Frankly, I don't even know if 'Ham' or Duran are still on the network.

If you happen to be at Wegmans in Hunt Valley this Monday maybe you can ask him yourself. Duran will be demonstrating dishes from his new book – Take This Dish and Twist It – and signing copies after the demo. Unfortunately, the 6 PM start time makes it kinda tough for me to make it so I'll have to rely on one of my trusty readers to do the legwork for me.

Mmmm, Vigilante Candy

While on our way to see the new INDIANA JONES flick at the drive-in last night we stopped by the local Wawa for the usual: a couple Italian hoagies, some Diet Lemonade Iced Tea, chips and Gummi Bears.

As I headed over to use the no surcharge ATM (just one of the many benefits of Wawa), I noticed a display featuring Christian Bale in the famous cape and cowl of The Batman. Upon closer examination it turned out to be a candy display featuring not one but two types of DARK KNIGHT-inspired treats.

According to the package the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is in the shape of the Bat symbol while the Kit Kat has a "Special Designed Bar Inside". Haven't opened 'em yet but here's a quick scan of the package outside...

While doing your grocery shopping this weekend be sure to be on the lookout for specially marked boxes of Cheerios featuring stunt figures of your favorite psychotic, masked vigilante and homicidal maniac.

Coffee Good. Starbucks Bad?

Going away this holiday season? Make sure you can still get an independent cup of coffee by punching your destination zip code into Delocator. It'll also help you find other indie-minded establishments wherever you're going.

Shopping for the Gourmet in Your Life: THG's Holiday Tip #1

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us it's time to turn our attention to the gift-giving season that's rapidly approaching. For the last couple years I've made suggestions of various stocking stuffers for your food- and drink-loving friends and family and this year is no exception.

Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some great items that I've enjoyed (or am currently enjoying) as well as some stuff I'd love to try.

First up, though, is my recommendation for a great on-line gourmet goodies shop. Back in September I was desperately searching around to find Vosges gourmet chocolate bars for Chris's birthday. The company's own website was out of the most intriguing ones – like the Bacon Bar – and with the new addition to the family it wasn't as easy to parade all over town looking for a retailer that carried them.

After much looking around I finally discovered The Meadow, a Portland-based gourmet shop specializing in salt, chocolate and wine that also had an on-line store. I had some questions about the bars and the response I got was friendly and informative. I ordered the items and they were shipped quickly and well-packed, arriving in plenty of time for gift giving.

The website is informative without being pretentious and prices are in line with what you'll pay elsewhere on the web.