Have You Tried Costco Lasagne? Alternative take-out suggestions?

[Wafer_thin]

Hi, everyone. I'm hosting a small birthday party, but at the last minute found out that I won't have time to cook, so I'm exploring various options. Someone mentioned to me that the frozen lasagne at Costco is really good, but I've never tried it. Have any of you? Regardless, does anyone have any good take-out recommendations for a party of 8? West LA or South Bay would be best. Thanks!!

[paulpaez]

Got to recommend the chicken pot pie by Costco over the lasagna. Mushy and lacked flavor and I usually like many of their prepared foods. In the south bay, The Appetizer has good lasagna, but it's up the hill in Rolling Hills so it may be a haul.

[laliz]

I've never tried or considered Costco's lasagne, (or chicken pot pie w/butter; or turkey rollers) but after reading this thread I will try them all. Thanks.

[perk]

Let us know what you think!

[ocshooter]

Not every Costco has it, but the rotisserie chickens are great. Pick up a pair, quarter them, add in a few sides which are abundant and a starter or two, again too many options to pick one. I am usually not a big fan of supermarket sushi, but the trays that they have there are edible. Well, not the tray...

[maudies5]

A friend of mine did exactly as you suggested with the Costco rotisserie chickens. She served them at a dinner party and everyone raved about her delicious "homemade" roast chicken.

[westsidegal]

i served their rotisserie chicken at a party for 60 people.
it was very good, but cutting it up into serving pieces was not as easy as one would think.
it is slippery and it was difficult getting the skin not to tear during the cutting process.

[ocshooter]

Use kitchen shears. I find it a lot easier than a knife.

[westsidegal]

that's what we used.
still wasn't easy for warm chicken for 60 people.. . .

[alexa52]

Is there a ZanKou near you? They have the best chicken. Comes with hummous, pickled carrots, an amazing garlic sauce and pita. Of course they have other options too but this works great for a crowd.

[westsidegal]

you might also consider the catering menu from c & o cucina/ c & O trattoria in venice.

they supplied many of the christmas parties i attended this year, and the food seemed to please everyone.
n..b., though, this is not high-end chowish food; this is crowd-pleasing reasonably-priced food that goes down easily and doesn't require portion-control for the party to come in at budget.

[aliris]

I second C&O's and disagree with costco. It's not inedible by any means, but I wouldn't write home about it either. C&O's little cutie bread thingies are lots of fun. For a special occasion I'd spring more for C&O. While a step above other frozen lasagna's I agree it's still just that. Godd you're doing a taste test first.

[sparkareno]

I agree that Costco lasagna is great. Since you mentioned the South Bay--I was at a Christmas party this year & the hostess had bought a big tray of lasagna at Pasta Kitchen in South Redondo. It was also excellent---everyone loved it--very homeade tasting.

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Pasta Kitchen
1888 1/2 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

[Wafer_thin]

Wow! Thanks for all of your suggestions and ideas. I've picked up a Costco lasagne to try it out ahead of time (family will be the toughest critics!). Regardless, all of your other suggestions sound great, and I'll probably use them at some point for other occasions.

[sunshine842]

actually, most of Costco's prepared stuff is anywhere from good to bordering on excellent.

I brought their turkey roll-ups for a work lunch (I returned from a business trip that morning, so didn't have time to make anything) -- and people begged me to bring them for the next potluck. (this particular place was like working in a church social - we had potlucks once or twice a months, and somebody ALWAYS was bringing in pies/cakes/cookies/bagels -- no wonder we signed up for a workplace Weight Watchers program!)

[jesstifer]

I've been there, done exactly that. Costco's frozen lasagne is very good for... frozen lasagne. What about a big Pollo Loco family size situation? Everybody loves Pollo Loco. Unless you're trying to pretend you cooked the lasagne yourself, cuz everyone will recognize Pollo Loco. ;-)

[perk]

Another Costco option is the large chicken pot pie. It's really very good. Even better if you brush it with a little melted butter.....

[bulavinaka]

Thumbs-up on wienermobile's rec. Mendocino Farms' sandwiches (and salads) are really good. Haven't tried Costco's lasagne, but monku's word is Word.

[monku]

Thanks.
If you get the Costco(Kirkland) lasagna get the 6 pound not the two 3 pound lasagna package. Stouffers frozen 6 pound lasagna is pretty good too. It wouldn't surprise me if the Costco lasagna was made by Stouffers because until Kirkland had their own lasagna they sold the Stouffers brand.

[maudies5]

I can enthusiastically recommend the home made Lasagna at Guidi Marcello. Definitely call ahead to see if the lasagna is available. They offer a delicious lasagna which is very light and offers meat. The other lasagna is vegetarian. Also, delicious. My preference is for the one with meat. This is home made and truly delicious. I have served Guidi's lasagna to my most critical audience; my family. They loved it. Did not try the veg one.

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Guidi Marcello
1649 10th St, Santa Monica, CA

[monku]

Thumbs up on the Costco lasagna.

[ipsedixit]

I'm going to second the rec for the Costco lasagna.

It's a hefty 6 pounds and comes it at under $15. Hard to beat that for both price, quantity and quality.

[wienermobile]

They have a nice catering menu for small parties at Mendocino Farms in Marina Del Rey.
http://mendocinofarms.com/catering-menu/