Best and Worst Grocery Store Finds...

[montrealeater]

I'm not sure if anyone will be itnerested in this thread but I've now had the "omg you should try/definitely NOT try X from X grocery at X location" a few times and thought maybe it would be interesting to hear of the finds (and travesties) of others here. I'll go first.

Best: Aroy-D brand from the Jean Talon Loblaws. I had never heard of this brand before randomly buying a can of green curry one night in desperation - is it well known? Either way, their green curry (ready to eat, not paste) is excellent, genuinely better than some green curry I've had in restaurants. The red stuff is great too, I'm just a green curry fiend.

Worst - coincidentally, also ready-to-eat green curry - President's Choice brand, a brand I usually tend to find at least serviceable and sometimes pretty great. This stuff is one of the nastiest things I've ever tasted - something so bad I have been tempted to buy another jar just to force friends to try it so we can then commiserate on its disgustingness. It tastes/feels like vaguely gelatinous chemical-flavoured cream (not coconut cream, cow cream) with a TON of artificial lime flavouring. That's it. I couldnt taste any other spices or ingredients although they are listed. The faux lime flavouring was overwhelming - if I hadn't read the package I would have had no idea what this product was even meant to be, I probably would have guessed some kind of pretend-Mexican chip dip or something.

And now that I've slammed PC I'll say that their canned crab is very good. :)

Anyone else with picks or pans from local groceries?

[catroast]

"Yoga Chips". Now before you call me a crazy hippy, hear me out. Firstly, I have seen them only at IGA on Cote-St-Luc road and at Fressers. The latter is more expensive. These 'chips' claim to be 'popped' apple slices but they are more akin to freeze dried apple slices. I've had freeze dried fruit before and these are significantly crispier. They also come in different flavours - the best being cinnamon. The ingredient list is minimal (i.e., apple, cinnamon). They are very very addictive.

Another product that I really like but that is difficult to find are KIND brand fruit/nut bars. A limited assortment is now sold at Starbucks but the grocery store selection is much better. In particular, the almond and coconut bar is unbelievably good. I've only seen them in the organic section at Loblaws on du Parc and on St-Jacques.

[chilipepper]

Dutch Gourmet thick cut chips at IGA-yum. Like thicker chips normally and these I find tastier and not as greasy or salty as Ruffles thick cut. Tried sea salt flavour only because the other two or three didn't entice(Szechuan and can't remember the others).

[CallAnyVegetable]

They have these at Uniprix drugstores too

[chilipepper]

Oooooh, thanks for the tip!

[10895]

Anybody knows where I could buy bottles of Yoohoo in Montréal?

[Har_Gow_Freak]

GOOD: HERR'S Pizza Chips
This is it! The best pizza chips out there. Although, I can't seem to find any in my area (Le Plateau) Does anyone know where to find some or any other flavours?

AND THE BAD: President's Choice Pizza Chips
I HATE PC WITH A PASSION....Never liked their products and I try to avoid buying them as much whenever possible! These chips taste too artificial...

PS: Wong Wing SUCKS!!!

[porker]

Have you tried the PC BBQ baby back rib chips?
http://www.presidentschoice.ca/LCLOnl...
not bad

[montrealeater]

I am a bit of a PC-nerd but I agree with you about their chips - I don't find the flavours nice, but I do find them way too strong. The baby back ribs mentioned below - I ate them, I didn't hate them, but i wouldnt buy them again. Other 'exotic' PC chip varieties were a total bust. PC sucks at chips and desserts, imo. Their ice cream is crap.

[montrealeater]

I've been testing the PC Black label line and have so far found one product I think is a stand out enough to mention in this thread - the raspberry shortbread cookies. They taste very, very raspberry-y, in a totally non-fake way, honestly they are very good. Almost makes up for the disappointing bacon marmalade.

[Maximilien]

Provigo's President Choice release a series of spanish influenced products.

Olives, oils, nuts (the pistachios are good) and torta de aceite (good) among others.

[SnackHappy]

Just bumping this thread to tell everyone that Winners/Homesense currently has Neuhaus chocolates at a very reasonable price. $20 for 445g of nut and ganache filled bonbons.

If you don't know Neuhaus, they are one of the top industrial Belgian chocolate makers. Right up there with Corné Port-Royal and much better than Godiva, IMHO.

http://www.neuhaus.be/

[deadchildstar]

Did you see them at a specific location? They're my mom's favourite - she orders them direct from New York sometimes. I was in Toronto last year, and you could only get them at a Yorkville gourmet shop. (They are excellent chocolates!)

[SnackHappy]

The ones I saw were at the Dix30 location. A 445g cardboard box for $20 and a 365g tin box for $30. The chocolates inside are the same. No booze, no cream, just nuts, praline, ganache and caramel and all very good.

[cherylmtl]

If you can't find them at Winners, Holt's usually brings them in this time of year - however, they are substantially more expensive...

[deadchildstar]

OK, thanks for the tips. (Holts in TO stopped carrying them several years back, but I'll check here if I don't find them elsewhere).

[cherylmtl]

They usually have them at Christmas time. When their prices went up astronomically a few years back, I stopped buying them as gifts - but I am pretty sure they still carry them.

[hala]

I saw them last week at the Alexis Nihon Winners, next to the cash registers.

[montrealeater]

Went to this Winners today and they had 4 boxes left ($29.99) - I bought 2, so there are 2 left. :)

[hala]

You must have stopped by right after me. All the talk about the highlights festival has me craving belgian chocolate. I got the last cardboard box (36 pieces for 20 dollars).

[deadchildstar]

I possibly scooped the last one - 8 pc for $13. No other Neuhaus left.

Popped into Holts too - they *do* have them here! And yes, expensive. $46 for 17 pc (or, $51 for 17 pc in a fancier box).

[hala]

Wow! Neuhaus is great for the price Winners is charging (the big box comes out to 55 cents a piece), but their chocolate is so not worth the price Holts is charging. The pralines are yummy, but sweet and their outer shells are pretty thick.Plus, if I'm paying 3 dollars a piece, I want to be able to choose which pieces I get.

[deadchildstar]

If you ever find the cornets anywhere - they're all gianduja, piped into a little gold foil swirl like a mini-ice cream cone - let me know. I don't think they actually come in those pre-packaged boxes (maybe in the bigger ones). On the Neuhaus website, it's 90 euro for 36 cornets. Wow! They are really good, but now I know why they call them Cornet d'Oré!

[hala]

Their gianduja is pretty good. No, I have not seen the cornet anywhere. If I see it, I will let you know.

[montrealeater]

If these are at one Winners, are they likely to be at another? I'm not sure how Winners works/stocks. I would love to pick some of these up at this price but the location as mentioned i pretty far away from carless me and I know there are other Winners locations closer. I may call them if no one knows...

[porker]

If'n you're @ Winners, look for Covered Bridge potato chips in the burlap bag
http://www.coveredbridgechips.com/pro...
Sometimes they gottem, sometimes they don't...
Creamy Dill and the Sea Salt & Vinegar are pretty good.

[westaust]

A large selection of Covered Bridge chips can be found at Avril (Quartier Dix30) but not in the burlap bag

[SnackHappy]

I haven't seen them at Winners in a while, but the regular non-burlap ones are now better distributed. I've seen cardboard displays chock full of them in a few IGAs, and at a fraction of the price at Winners.

[porker]

Mrs Porker first saw this brand @ Winners, in the burlap bag. She tells me they were $5 reduced to $2.99, so thats why she bought them (plus suckered by the burlap bag). I never saw them much anyplace else. She advises me that they are indeed more expensive now ($2.99 probably an intro price?) and run $4-$5.
We'll have a look at Avril and IGA. Just leaving out the (decorative but semi-useless) burlap should drastically reduce the price.
Thanks.

[deadchildstar]

was at Winners today (Alexis Nihon), and they do have them (no burlap?) - didn't check the price though.

[hala]

If you are still looking for covered bridge potato chips the new nut depot that opened on De l'eglise in verdun (close to Wellington street) has boxes and boxes of them.

[Moedelestrie]

For those in l'estrie the Intermarche in Ayers cliff has them.

[ios94]

Tau carries Covered Bridge chips, non sure about the burlap bag though.
Are the chips in the burlap bag any different than the regular ones or is it just a packaging difference.

[porker]

"Are the chips in the burlap bag any different than the regular ones or is it just a packaging difference."

I'd say its worse than that....
Its exactly the same bag of chips which is inserted into a burlap bag. So you buy the product and pull the bag of chips out of the open-ended burlap.

You open the bag of chips, taste a few, turn the burlap bag over in your hands and say "this is a nice souveneir".

The burlap bag hangs around the house for a long time while your spouse wants to know what you're gonna do with it. You say you're going to make a wall hanging or a frame or something out of it. This satisfies your spouse just enough...
Weeks then months go by and you don't do anything with the burlap bag. It gets trickier to keep your spouse at bay on the issue.

The first snowfall hits and you're worried about snowtires, but then a lightbulb goes off and you figure the burlap bag can somehow be used as christmas gift wrapping or somesuch.

So you tell the spouse of your great idear and you hear deadpan:
"That thing? I threw it out."

[ios94]

lol...sounds about right.

[Moedelestrie]

Midgarden the new fair trade and eco-friendly store in downtown Stanstead (Rock Island) will carry the complete covered bridge line. They will be open between Thursday and Sunday.

[unlaced]

I am really enjoying Commensal's Indian Lentil Soup - it's a fresh, refrigerated soup, 800ml for about $4.50, and it is delicious! I have started keeping a pack in my fridges at work and home, it makes such a quick and convenient lunch!

[tah1234]

Have become addicted to Chapmans brand frozen yogurt - cappucino flavour. I wish it came in smaller containers.......

[SourberryLily]

Best: Ling ling Potstickers (bought at costco) - Man these are good. I often buy dumplings from Marche Hawai but these are awesome.

Worst: Social tea cookies at Marche Hawai. I've never tasted anything so bad. Tasted, and i am not exaggerating, like cardboard or paper. A weird, non-floury sugared taste. I don't think the starving children in africa would eat it....

[SnackHappy]

Where are you buying Ling Ling potstickers? I haven't seen those in years. I've been buying O'Tasty dumplings as a substitute.

I really like the O'Tasty ones as well as Wang and a couple of other Korean brands.

[SourberryLily]

I find Ling Ling at Costco in Laval, on the 440. Like everything at costco though, it comes and goes, but they tend to be there often enough in the frozen aisle.

Where did you buy O'Tasty? If you say they are good, i'd like to try it

[SnackHappy]

I get the O'Tasty dumplings at various East Asian grocery stores. I know Hawaï had them a while ago. The Asian market next to New Jing Hua in Brossard has them. The last time I bought them was from a little shop on Promenade Ontario.

Interestingly enough, the last time I bought Ling Ling dumplings it was at the Costco on the 440. I now go to the ones on the South-Shore and I've never seen them there.

[crispy1]

I have always been a lavish spender ESP. Where food is concerned. Recently, I have adopted a more frugal attitude and Coaticook ice cream has been a revolutionary discovery for me. My kids love the cotton candy flavor and orange flavor. I have grown fond of the pistachio. Who knew you could get such great quality for a fair price. This week it was on special at Metro Westmount 3.99 for the large container. Happiness!

[C70]

Coaticook ice cream.. local product, no gums and fillers, YUM. The pistachio is out of this world.

[kpzoo]

Love Coaticook vanilla. Totally natural-tasting and good value.

Also recommend Maya tortilla chips, available at grocery stores and made locally. They also have a store near the Jean-Talon Market but I haven't been.

-----
Jean-Talon Market
7075 Avenue Casgrain, Montreal, QC H2S, CA

[ScoobySnacks20]

All Coaticook is pretty fantastic IMO, never disapointed.

[cherylmtl]

Maya sells their own salsa at their store too, which is pretty good...I think they have a regular and a hot version.

[kpzoo]

Nice - thanks for the tip. I was at the market today and would have popped into Maya but they were closed.

[montrealeater]

I recently tried a few Coaticook flavours on the recommendation of this board (I was specifically looking for pistachio) and I agree - the pistachio is very, very good. I ate it shamefully fast. Moved on to the - not sure of the official name - vanilla with butterscotch swirls - and didn't really care for it at all. It tasted like 'cheap' ice cream to me, and that's weird because I know the brand uses only the best ingredients.

That pistachio has made me a loyal customer, tho.

[kpzoo]

I find that some of the flavours, like vanilla, are great (I'll have to try pistachio sometime) but others are not as good. Too bad they're not more consistent.

[Moedelestrie]

The problem with ice cream that does not contain all those gums emulsifiers and fillers is that ice cream is an item that has a very limited freezer life. Come to Coaticook to sample what fresh ice cream is like. Vanilla is a safe bet because its turnover is so rapid. Try the maple. If more people realized that Coaticook is the best value of ice cream in North America and its quality is superb perhaps its time in the freezer case would be shortened.

[kpzoo]

A visit to the Coaticook ice-cream plant (and the suspension bridge) is definitely on my to-do list for the summer!

[Werzoth]

Where can you find Coaticook ice cream?

[Moedelestrie]

It is found in most supermarkets I visited in Montreal. I also found it at Akhavan. The IGA here in Stanstead carries it but I think that you should be able throughout Quebec.

[C70]

Both my local Provigo and Metro have it, it's everywhere, thankfully.

[westaust]

The cherry ice cream is really good and one of the only brands that makes cherry ice cream afaik (cherry garcia is cherry but also chocolate so out of the scope)

[rwarren]

I would put Coaticook on the yuck list. When I worked in Cours Mont Royal, periodically there would be free tasties of the ice cream in the elevator lobby. all the flavors tasted like whipped air to me. Pistachio was never one of them -- the choice was vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and maple.

For the yum list, I nominate the Marina Del Rey Orange Mango frozen tilapia, available at IGA. Very tasty, with tons of sauce. I recommend it with couscous to soak up all the liquid.

[SnackHappy]

Coaticook is tons better if you let it soften and stir the air out of it. Otherwise the texture kinda blows.

[Werzoth]

Just bought Coaticook Pistachio at my local IGA and you are right, it is very very good! Thank you for the suggestion!

[montrealeater]

Isn't that stuff awesome? I have a thing for all things pistachio and i was so. happy. to find that brand and flavour (on the recommendation of this board). Incidentally I want to withdraw my negative review of the vanilla/butterscotch ripple Coaticook ice cream. I mixed it thoroughly before eating (I gotta have my ice cream dense and thick) and I think the butterscotch ripple made the vanilla seem too sweet/fakey. When I later tried it without mixing it all up, the vanilla was yummy, better than Haagen Dazs, imo, which had been my go-to vanilla.

Next up is the cherry (cherry cheesecake?) flavour of Coaticook icecream, I am looking forward to trying this.

[westaust]

It's just cherry! Exactly why i love it, cherry ice creams with cherry chunks

[montrealeater]

Westaust, can you tell me the location where you get your cherry Coaticook? I haven't seen it around yet...

[Werzoth]

My IGA did not have the cherry flavor when I looked =/ Only had vanilla, pistachio and maple.

[kpzoo]

Lots of "black cherry" flavour Coaticook at the Provigo on Monkland tonight, if that's what you're looking for.

I tried the maple sugar flavour - very nice. Little crystals of maple sugar embedded in a sweet maple base.

[kpzoo]

I see on their flavour list they do have a "Gâteau au fromage et cerises" - if I see that one anywhere, I'll let you know.
http://www.laiteriedecoaticook.com/pr...

[Werzoth]

Went to the Métro supermarket near the Montmonrency metro and they had lots of flavors (including the Gâteau au fromage et cerises) :

I remember these :
vanilla
maple
cherry cheesecake
pistachio
blueberry
strawberry
black cherry
mint and chocolate
orange
chocolate
double chocolate

..and they had some more but can't recall all of them.

[kpzoo]

You hit the motherlode!

[SourberryLily]

I haven't had pistachio in a long time....
mmm

[montrealeater]

Kpzoo - did they have a good selection of other Coaticook flavours? I am considering a special trip out there for the black cherry and it would be more worth my while if they had some other less common flavours to try! Also, this is completelyr andom, but have you seen St Albray cheese at this Provigo? That's also on my current 'damnit, can't find it locally' list. :)

[kpzoo]

They had a few other flavours but darned if I can remember which - I was focussing on the cherry. ;-) I do recall that they were out of vanilla, but maybe they've replenished by now. It's a very small Provigo but they definitely had a few flavours. If you have a car, while you're out in this neighbourhood you could also maybe swing by Akhavan and Loblaws, which both carry Coaticook.

re: cheese - sorry, no idea. However, Maitre Boucher up the street on Monkland has a big cheese selection so you may want to try there. (Assuming you've already tried the cheese shops at Atwater & JTM?)

[westaust]

Last time i bought some at Loblaws either Angus or Lasalle, don't remember which one exactly

[mikjomom1]

Thank you thank you for posting this - I am a pistachio ice cream lover from way back and based on these posts, I picked up Coaticook pistachio at my local Loblaw's this past weekend. The colour was bright green (as it should be LOL) and it tasted exactly the way it should. The texture was good, and you can't beat the price. Will go back for the Black Cherry.

[porker]

Along with the canned won ton soup I mentioned above, I wouldn't touch grocery store cola. OK I never tried PC cola, but I shudder when remembering Steinberg Cola...
http://www.canmuseum.com/Detail.aspx?...
Kinda turned me off Brand X colas for life.

[SnackHappy]

PC Cola is actually pretty good. I saw somewhere that it's the same recipe as Virgin Cola. The product is made by Cott's. I don't mind Metro cola either, but then again I think RC cola is just fine.

[kpaxonite]

Cotts black cherry soda is my favourite soda. Aside from really small scale companies that make amazing sodas (like spicy ginger beer and another that makes the best cream soda ever) that is.

[Shattered]

They serve Cotts at the smoked meat joints. And I like PC and RC cola, too - actually RC was my fave. Can you get it in Quebec? I've never seen it.

[SnackHappy]

RC Cola is available, but it's not everywhere. I see it in deps and small grocery stores I don't think I've ever bought it at a large supermarket.

According to wikipedia RC Cola outside the US is made by Cott's.

"In 2001, all international RC-branded business were sold to Cott Beverages of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and is operated as Royal Crown Cola International which handles RC Cola products outside the United States. In the U.S., distribution is still handled by Dr Pepper Snapple Group."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RC_Cola

http://www.rccolainternational.com/
http://www.cott.com/

[porker]

Hey maybe someone'll bring back Kik...

[TheSnowpea]

My thumbs-up goes to PC Blue Menu Mango Peach Frozen Smoothie Bars, which I find very satisfying despite being low-cal.

My thumbs-down goes to Brasseurs de Montréal's La Chi Orientale white beer. So nasty tasting, that after having each tasted one from the six-pack, we let the last four languish for months... I tried cooking with it, again it was awful, so the rest was poured out into the lawn. It's supposed to be flavoured with ginger, which was its appeal. At least the lawn enjoyed it.

[kpzoo]

You just reminded me to give a thumbs-up to PC peach-mango salsa. Very tasty if you can't make homemade.

[Ghostquatre]

are you serious? I love La Chi Orientale. Although I wouldn't consider it a real beer, it's still pretty awesome to me

[TheSnowpea]

Well, maybe I got a soured or off batch, because it was horrid! I like beer (not a passion for me, after all I'm a cocktail girl) but this was egregiously bad.

[SourberryLily]

Hmmm, i had it too and i liked it.

Perhaps yours was bad or simply, you just don't like it ;-)

[Maximilien]

"Brasseurs de Montréal's La Chi Orientale"

It's a fine beer, fine for a sunny afternoon near a pool and hot babes in tight bikini.

I'm not certain that it would do when it's -20 in january ...

M.

[ScoobySnacks20]

In those conditions, even Coors would be drinkable. I'd even eat veggie burgers.

[hungryann]

I have a great recent find: Originale Augustin ice cream. I tried the tire d'erable and banana graham and they are great. The maple taffy is especially addictive. I keep going back to the freezer for one more taste ;)

[kpzoo]

Sounds intriguing, hungryann! Where do you find that? Any grocery store?

[hungryann]

I got it at the PA store in Laval but Ipresume other stores carry it. Here is their website:
http://www.lebelfoods.com/ice-cream/o...

[kpzoo]

Thanks! I actually found the site yesterday and spent several very pleasant moments drooling at my computer. ;-) I'll keep an eye out for it.

[montrealeater]

I'm gonna try this, too - the banana graham sounds wonderful...thanks for posting it.

[chilipepper]

IGA in St Henri has sea salt and lime Crispy Minis ...am hooked. (Other folks too I guess because they seem to sell out almost all the time.) They and the Alexis Nihon IGA also have the spicy chili ones...not so hooked. Spicy but after two or three, I've had my fill. They're also finally stocking unsalted Miss Vickie's ...for a tasty crunchy no salt snack.

[randa_h74]

I saw a big bag of Cool Ranch Doritos (the blue bag) ONCE at the Provigo an Mt Royal and St Urban. Yummy!!! Sadly they were no longer there the next time I went :(

[buspirone]

Cool Ranch Doritos spotted this weekend at the Angus Yard Loblaws.

For a while I thought there was some kind of Quebec law against these - they never made it into la Belle Province!

-----
Belle Province
20 Rue Brunet, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC J3G4S6, CA

[randa_h74]

Aren't they the best?!?!? Saw the little bags at the dep in Central Station! Hopefully no need to stock up every time in go to ON anymore!!

[jonhall]

I saw them too at the Lablaws in Vaudreuil. I was walking past and suddenly saw them and had to get a bag. I didn't see them the week after though so hopefully it wasn't a one time thing.

[foodie8]

Oetker frozen pizzas - http://www.oetker.ca/en/product/frozen
I love these and stock up when they're 3/$10. I tried the Pannebello line recently and wasn't impressed. The thin crust ones are a great quick, on-the-go dinner fix.

Pita Break breakfast pita - http://ca.ozerybakeryinc.com/products...

[hala]

+1 on the Aroy-D red and green curries. I usually keep a can + 1 bag of frozen asian veggies + some nice fish in my freezer for an emergency fish curry dinner. With Couscous, I can have a delicious dinner on the table in about 15 minutes. I make a duck and (fresh) pineapple curry with the red one. mmmm.

I am not a huge fan of canned food, but I always have Aroy-D coconut and curries in my pantry.

[montrealeater]

Yep, that's exactly what I do - keep a few cans on hand to throw together a last minute supper. I recently just bought the coconut cream (milk?) from the same brand in a big tetra pak looking thing, and it was great. I love finding little obscure brands like this that kick ass.

I remembered another brand I randomly picked up one day at Loblaws and came to love. Refried beans - not the Old El Paso or the no name brand, it's in a yellow can and is a product of Mexico (if anyone wants the specific brand I can find out, but I've forgotten it as of this moment) - best canned refried beans ever, almost a different food entirely to the aforementioned common brands. It may be the generous amount of real lard. :)

[mtlalex]

At Loblaws - and seemingly only there - the frozen snails packed in garlic butter in real snailshells inported from France.

It's real old-school stuff, but like cheese fondue, there's a reason these were popular dishes before they went so completely out of fashion - in the case of snails by taking shortcuts with the canned ones, not bothering to pack them in shells etc.

So good I even bought a set of the special snail tongs on ebay.fr.

I keep worrying that they are going to stop carrying them, but they've had them for a few years now.

[porker]

Loblaws has slider buns, hamburger buns about 2 inches across. They have the matching burger patties, or you can make your own, but they are quite impressive at a BBQ - the wife just did these this weekend. Everyone was asking where to get the buns.

[hungryann]

IGA has them also with sesame seeds; the Compliments brand.

[chickenbruiser]

La vielle europe has the best old cheddar and at a decent price.

[kpaxonite]

You should try anything and everything from Eden and La Vielle Europe... and perhaps La librarie Espagnole

[Moedelestrie]

Be sure to try the Black Sesame ice cream at Eden. Excellent suggestions.

[kimberleyblue]

Never, ever buy meat from Super C. Any meat. Ever.

[kpaxonite]

why? (I dont shop there although my mother always says the meat is an amazing deal)

[SnackHappy]

What happened? I've always found the (none frozen) meat at Super C to be good quality. It's essentially the same meat as Metro. I've bought chuck blade roast there to grind up for burgers. amonst other things, and I've always been very pleased with the quality and flavour of the meat.

[socialhvn]

What's wrong with SuperC? I think there are grocery stores that are well managed, and others that are not, no matter the chain.

I started shopping at the superC next to atwater market 2 weeks ago and I am pleased! The fresh produce is fresh and cheap (cherries, berries are my faves. Also the tomatoes are really good tomatoes...)

Before, I shopped at the Metro on notre-dame, which didn't have the freshest produce and is by far the most expensive grocery store I have been to (coupled with the metro in Westmount, althought THAT one has a better selection and food is more fresh). Then, I switched to the Loblaws in NDG. Wow, what an awfully managed store. The food isn't fresh, they don't restock until their items are almost expired (sometimes I go weeks looking for my brand of yogurt, then suddenly they stock a lot of it but its all about to expire). On top, Loblaws didn't even carry Esker water, ugh!

I wasn't sure if superC would live up to the standard.. I guess it might have some stigma to it like maxi (lol which I admit I would never want to shop in), but finally, I tried it, and its great!

Kimberly at which SuperC did you shop at, and what was wrong with the meat?

[SourberryLily]

Well, she might be refering to something i know they did in the past.

Wash their meats with vinegar so old meat would not smell. I doubt/hope they don't do this anymore. Anyways, i would have to agree that their meat is not the best quality, and tastes like nothing.

[SnackHappy]

Are you saying this was a chain-wide practice or specific to one or a few locations? Like I said before, I've always found the meat at the Super C's I've frequented to be very good. Maybe it's an issue with turnover. I don't buy meat at my local Maxi because it never looks very good and the selection is limited, but I've been to other Maxis where the meat section was very different in a good way.

[westaust]

It varies at lot from location to location, when i was living in sherbrooke, the Maxi&Cie was miles ahead of the Super C across the street in terms of freshness and quality.

However, now i'm back in Montreal, and I agree with you that the Super C near Atwater market is very good, especially when you compare it to the Maxi in Verdun.

[SourberryLily]

When i was a teenager, 10 years ago, in Laval (im not sure if i should say which one in Laval), they did this.

I know this because all the teens on the block worked there or the Jean-Coutu next to it (i was at the pharmacy). There wasn't an IGA across the street back then, so no competition. Later i THINK i heard it in the local news, but my confirmed source are the workers.

I do not know about other super C but this was 10 years ago so likely a lot has changed since then (for good or for worse)

[Werzoth]

@SourberryLily : I live near that Super C and I never go there to buy anything, to me it is just bad so I doubt it has improved over the years. I'll even go to Maxi (god forbid) before going there.

[porker]

I'm still waiting to hear from kimberlyblue....she gets us all riled up and leaves us hanging...hehe.
Anyways I know plenty of people who wash poultry with vinegar in the hopes of killing bacteria. I assume there are people who might wash any kind of meat (beef/goat/pork, etc) for the same reason. I don't know how effective nor how appropriate it is as bacteria will be killed in the cooking process anyway.
As for old meat, I can certainly see how a commercial outfit might want to try to salvage what they can from meat which is heading south. But I feel it should ultimately be "buyer beware"...I hope the average meat buyer can tell the difference between wholesome and questionable cuts of meat based on sight alone.
I'm not trying to defend Super C, but I find a blanket statement somewhat dubious. I agree that Super C might not always have the best quality, but I feel this can be said of many supermarkets. As for taste, I think its hit or miss at most supermarkets as well. Bottom line tends to be price and whats easiest to sacrifice for price? Quality and aging (taste).
Just my 2c...

Just remember, never, ever eat Campbells canned soup. Any kind of soup. Ever.
{;-/)

[Werzoth]

It really seems to be a "case by case" as well. Seems some Super C are better than others, same with IGA or Loblaws or any other. If you have a good one near you, be happy and enjoy it !

Now if only the Jean-Talon market would be right across the street here in Laval, that'd be awesome !

[SourberryLily]

Psst, there is Marche 440 and recently les Marche Gourmand. In the summer, Marche 440 gets quite big and can rival with Marche Jean-Talon on many points!

I haven't been tothe marche gourmand in a long time i can't report on how well its doing. It seemed pretty quiet last time i went.

[socialhvn]

um what are you starting now with campbells soup? ?

[porker]

Its kind of tongue in cheek...but relates to a story from my late father-in-law.
He was a ship's-gunner in the US navy during WWII. His ship was in port in California and he was broke (onboard gambling), so he got himself what he called a GI job - a day's pay for a day's work - at a Campbells soup factory. His job? Along with about 20 other, severely hung-over servicemen, was to stir big vats of cooking soup. Lets just say more than just veggies ended up in the vegetable soup that day.
He didn't eat Campbells soup until the early 70s almost 30 years later.
"Now its all different", he'd say "Its all modern..."
hehe, kinda like SourberryLily's "....but this was....years ago so likely a lot has changed since then (for good or for worse)..." {;-/)

[celfie]

nowadays with production lines very few humans go anywhere near the product

[porker]

Where there's a will there's a way ;-)

[porker]

Yeah, KB, enquiring minds want to know, whats up with the Super C?

[porker]

I wouldn't necessarily say "best", but quite tasty and somewhat different, President's Choice BBQ Baby Back Rib Chips (potato chips available at Maxi).

Worst - Don't remember the brand, perhaps Wong Wing, but pretty much any can of won ton soup - don't be fooled by the enticing picture on the can, its pretty lousy. "It tastes/feels like vaguely ...chemical-flavoured ...with a TON of artificial ... flavouring. That's it. I couldnt taste any ... ingredients although they are listed" would also apply here.

[Moedelestrie]

The most amazing find on a recent grocery trip (I live on the Quebec/ Vermont border) is Cabot Hot Habenero Cheddar Cheese. Cabot can be relied on to provide quality product but the Hot Habenero is truly amazing. The cheese is is amazing the taste is amazing but the heat is many levels above anything I expected in the dairy case of ordinary supermarkets. I normally have at least 10 bottles of hot sauce in the fridge which I use on a daily basis but I was not prepared for the heat but must say the flavour is exquisite. There is nothing on the label that warns of the heat but I suggest caution and a cold glass of milk on standby. If you like quality american cheddar and like a good bit of heat if you have a chance grab a bar.

[porker]

I love the Cabot habanero! For once, a truly fiery (not dumbed down) concoction. I always pick some up when in the states. They have two "types" and I can't find out why: in the more gourmet section where it is sold by weight (and always more expensive), and in the dairy section with all other cheeses - standard size and one price.

[ScoobySnacks20]

That sure is hot! Too much for me. Good to taste, but I don't envision myself eating a portion's worth.
On the other hand I fell in love with the Sage Cheddar. Better than the english stuff I get from Atwater IMO

[Shattered]

PC makes some great snack foods! Their chicken wings are awesome, especially the tandoori flavour. I also had their deep-dish Chicago style chicken & mushroom pizza a while ago - man, has grocery store pizza come a long way! It was honestly better than alot of takeout I've had. Lastly, their frozen mixed Indian nibblies (mini-samosas, pakoras, etc) were surprisingly good, too; would buy them again when craving Indian in a pinch (ie. snowstorm).

Valentina's Mexican hot sauce is a nice recent find, thicker consistency and more complex taste than the usual Frank's/Louisiana style hot sauce.

Worst: Sleeman Clear beer. So disappointed one of my favourite brands made this undrinkable water. I've made the mistake of eating Wong Wing soup, too.

[lagatta]

I got some Valentina's on sale this week at the Parc/Jean-Talon Loblaws, for just over $1. Very nice.

[Shattered]

I tried the PC Flavours of the world potato chips recently - chips are one junk food I basically only eat if someone else brings it to a party, not cause I don't like 'em but I like 'em too much and have enough Romados and poutine in my diet - and holy mack, they're good! The Stampede ribs was good, a notch above regular bbq, but the best was the Jamaican jerk chicken - easily hottest chips I've eaten. Anyway, I went through 3 large bags in 3 days, so I'm off chips again, haha. (other flavour was Greek, it was like a more garlicky sour cream & onion.)

[porker]

If you're looking for some heat, maybe give Blair's Death Rain Habanero chips a try
http://extremefood.com/shop/product.p...
I think they have them at the Atwater Market (the carry-all store with the hot-sauce wall near the fishmonger).
Kettle cooked (extra crunch), which I'm not a big fan, but they ARE hot!

[davekry]

Not sure if they have them at Les Douceurs du Marché, but they had them the other day at the bulk store next to Premiere Moisson in the market.

[westaust]

They definitly have them at the bulk store near Première Moisson, that's where i bought some last time in Montreal.