Costco food finds - 3rd quarter 2011 [old]

[greygarious]

Rebooting for July-September. Since different stores have differing inventory, please mention your store location.

[Berheenia]

October 1 Dedham MA

Got a huge bag of John Wm Macy's cheese crisps for 7.85 in the back of the chips area.

[azveggieguy]

Yow! My smallish northern Arizona store, which is probably a few months behind everybody else, just brought in Kirkland-branded blue cheese. Not quite as pungent as I prefer, but pretty tasty and @4.50/lb a gonga deal.

[Rella]

We just saw for the first time in our store at Winchester, VA. East and West sync.
We bought, too.

[ChandraNH]

Yasso Greek Yogurt bars. They are in the frozen section, near the ice cream. Come in a pack of 10 for about $10 bucks. Strawberry and blueberry flavors. Really good. purchased some yesterday. Let them soften for a few minutes and they are creamy dreamy. Only 70 calories, quite a bit of protein and low on carbs. Hope they keep selling them. they appear to be made by a company in Massachusetts so for th rest of us, it appears Costco is the only place to get them. Think it's what I'll have for breakfast in the mornings

[ChandraNH]

KC store has duralex picardie (made in france) glasses. set of 18 (6 of each of three sizes) for $24. saw them today when I was in.

[Leepa]

These have been my go-to everyday glasses for the last twenty years or so. They're practically indestructible. I don't think I've ever broken one. And I hand wash everything in a porcelain on cast iron sink. Every other kind of glasses I have are long gone from breakage.

[givemecarbs]

Thanks chandra and Leepa, because of you both I now have some gorgeous new glasses. Got the colorful mugs too by a different company. Found them both at the Montgomeryville Pa Costco. Also saw the shearling boots and knit deerfoam slippers while I was buying Cedarlane chopped vegetable and barley soup in the refrigerated prepared food section. The soup was very good, light and healthy since my hayfever is really flaring up right now. I passed on the Paula Dean stuffed french toast I saw there. Anyone try that? Doubt they will be sampling it anytime soon.

[suzannajoy]

No Fage Yogurt at the Sand City, CA store. When I asked someone stocking the referigerator, he said he didn't know if they were going to carry it anymore as Kirkland now had their own yogurt. Anyone tried the Kirkland brand and did you like it?

[Rella]

Yes, I like it. I would buy it every time if I had the choice between it and Fage, particularly now since there is such a price differenc.

Don't they also have Chobani - or is it just in flavors and small containers?

[ediblover]

Do have Chobani. Also saw a Fage variety pack for the first time today. 12, 4 flavors. Strawberry-Goji, Blueberry-Acai, Mango-Guanabana, Cherry-Pomegranate. Talk about your super-fruit medley. Also marks the first time I've ever heard of Guanabana.

[greygarious]

Guanabana is soursop, which I recently discovered in canned form at an Asian market.
It's related to cherimoya. I loved it - tastes like banana, pineapple, and strawberry.

[treb]

I've tried it and it's excellent, tangy like Fage, my Costco carries both but, the Kirkland is clearly a better value.

[sobon2]

Fage is back at Sand City. Bought 7 in case they change their mind. I found no comparison between Fage and Kirkland. I can eat Fage straight but not Kirkland.

[greygarious]

As usual for the Nashua NH store, I was unable to find any of the products recommended in this thread which appealed to me. On a whim, I bought the Gold Coast Lobster Spread. I don't know if it's new or not (they have crab too, and maybe shrimp). It's essentially a very finely ground seafood salad and though it does include surimi and other fillers, the first ingredient is Maine lobster and the taste is distinctly: lobster with mayo. $8.97 for a 16oz tub.

[treb]

Just went there this week and they had Dietz & Watson sliced turkey breast, in a 2/1lb pkgs. for $7.99. Also, $4.00 off per pkg. of chicken breasts. Both items I consider a steal.

[rasputina]

The amazingly priced long coated lambskins. Austin TX

[gloriousfood]

The precut pineapple and mango in the Manhattan location. Delicious and convenient, and I am encouraged to eat them because there is no effort involved. Healthy too!

[Beach Chick]

Just picked up the Waldorf Fruit Salad where the salads/shrimp cocktails are located and OMG...this is sublime..pricey but delicious!
Rustic Rosemary loaves are excellent too..

Poway, CA location

[HeyImBack]

Does anyone know anything about the Kirkland instant oatmeal (large box w/ variety of flavors)? I bought a box a few months ago and loved it - much better flavor/texture than Quaker - but when I went back last week only the Quaker brand was to be found.

[cstr]

did you check up front at the customer service counter? They can tell you if it's on order and when it'll be in.

[meatn3]

My ex-in-laws used to make a yearly trip to Winchester for the fall foliage and apples. It was the highlight of each year for them. We certainly enjoyed the gift of a bushel!

I was looking for the elusive vanilla beans and noticed a large size of the beef variety of "Better Than Bouillon". Great timing as I had recently used mine up.

[Rella]

I don't know what the price is on the "Better than Bouillon" now, but I know that I used to buy it and pay s&h, so was glad to see it at much better price at Costco. I've used it for years.

[meatn3]

I usually have seen the smaller size go anywhere between $6 - $9. I recently caught some of the more unusual flavors on closeout for $2.50 each.

It's great stuff! Only downsize is the need to refrigerate once open iirc!

[Acantha]

I was so happy to find that in our Costco. For the past several years I've been ordering it online and it's difficult to even find anyone who will ship to Hawaii.

[meatn3]

Raleigh has Pink Lady Apples now!!!

[Rella]

Sure hope some comes my way this year. Winchester, VA is the (sorta) capital of apples, but last year the apple farm where I buy apples had no apples to sell. Pink Lady is one of my favorites.

Yesterday I picked up a new type of La Brea bread, or at least I've not seen it before, called "Torta Sandwich Roll." It is on the sweet side for me, but the crumb is good. They are similar in shape to the ciabatta. IMO, they are as sweet as Hawaiian bread, but tasty as toast.

[Chowrin]

they should have a great crop this year then, apples are biennial.

[cstr]

they were demoing that bread this past week, pretty good.

[azveggieguy]

Don't know how long these have been around, but just stumbled across Macy's cheese crisps at the Prescott AZ store. I foresee a long addiction....

[artemis]

New to me at Foster City - the Afghan Bolani dips we know and love from our farmer's markets. For $11.49, a 3-pack of either sweet jalepeno, garlic mint cheese, and basil pesto, or sweet jalepeno, lentil curry, and cilantro pesto. I'm so excited to see a local business growing! I went through the entire case, but did not see my favorite eggplant dip in the mixes. In the refrigerated bins next to the soups and salads.

[MisterBill2]

Is there a separate thread for discontinued items? I did not see one. I went looking for the bag of Rice Crackers with nuts (the blue-green bag), and the store in Nanuet, NY did not have it. Asked at customer service and the guy said it was discontinued!

[greygarious]

There isn't, but I don't think there's a point. Though there ARE regional inventory differences with Trader Joe's, my impression is that the variations are far fewer than with Costco. I live in the northeast - when I read posts about what people are buying in other states, it's as though they were talking about a completely different store. "Discontinued" may well just mean "at this location". Several times I have asked at the service desk about products recommended on CH, only to have the clerk find the item in their big book of SKUs, then tell me that my store doesn't stock it.

[MisterBill2]

Well the guy said they'd carried it for a while and their computer said it was discontinued. He was surprised.

[meatn3]

I was just looking for them yesterday in NC and there was no sign of them. I didn't inquire, just figured I'd get them next time.

My SO loves those things!

[meatn3]

I asked and they said the packaging is being reformatted and should be back on the shelves by Jan. Clerk indicated the mix would be the same, packaging different.

[MisterBill2]

They started carrying a new variety of the Rice Cracker mix. Not Kirkland brand, roughly twice the price (per pound) as the old stuff. The good news is I actually like the new one better, no cashews (which I don't care for), wasabi peas and the almonds seem to be coated with something to make them slightly sweet. I like everything but the price :-).

[janetofreno]

This brings up my husband's favorite Costco rant, which I will repeat for him: when we moved to Las Vegas we discovered that none of the Costcos here routinely carry canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas). We aren't fussy about brand, but we like to buy them by the case. Used to get them all the time in our Costco in Reno...but none in Vegas, despite the city's much greater size. When we asked the various store managers, we were told that they don't stock garbanzos because they are a "specialty item." WTF?? Garbanzos, really? I call them a staple:-)

[acgold7]

That just seems very odd.

[Acantha]

I hate that too. we have garbanzos but I'm always going there and realizing I can't buy something because Costco in California carried it and Costco here doesn't. Annoying.

[Rella]

Seattle 1988 was the first time we ever went to Costco. At that time they had dried beans. Two kinds, I recall, but I don't remember what they were. I've never seen them anywhere since. I guess they were trying out the market.

Whut! Rice and no beans? Disgrace!

[jmckee]

This is kind of along the line of one of my favorite glaring omissions. They got Naan, they got Hummus, they got no Pitas.

[acgold7]

Yeah, that's annoying. Unless you live in one of the few areas where they have a Costco Business Center, where you can get Pitas frozen by the case. They'll last you a year. Along with the case of Gyros you can get at the same time.

[treb]

I've been to Costco's all over the country, items vary by region. For ex; in CA you can find canned chick peas and bags of different variety of dried beans. In the northeast, it depends by store, sometimes they have canned chick peas but, no dried beans. It's all about what products move qiuckly in order to garner shelf space.

[Chowrin]

ya looked for them in the big cans? Hanover chickpeas I see all the time...

[damieniscute]

Costco is all about volume and efficiency. Very detailed reports analyzing daily and weekly sales of items are reviewed of nearly every product, and the restocking of those products depends on how well the product does. The products your Costco carries and discontinues really is dependent upon the demographic of its shoppers. Sadly enough plenty of good products are discontinued from stores because nobody buys them.

[azveggieguy]

You need to watch for an asterisk on the price card - that indicates it's going to be discontinued. However, at my Costco I've seen 2 discontinued food items return: Bob's Red Mill quinoa and California Sun-Dry tomatoes (the ones in the pouch - MUCH better than the ones in oil). Don't know why they got a second chance, but glad they did.

[Chowrin]

some things are seasonal, or they run out of a particular load. or they just want to clear the shelf for a bit.

[Rella]

AND, maybe it's the wrong perception, but I find Italian foods more prevalent near New Haven, CT (Milford) where there are more American-Italian families; and in and around Fairfax, VA, I find more ethnic foods, such as atta flour, different brands of rice, and more asian foods. I "sorta" believe that some of Costco's stores low sales based on these type of foods are discontinued - maybe forever.

Someitmes I wonder if when they have a big order that they will put it in a store where perhaps there doesn't even stand a chance of selling - for various reasons which we can all here figure out - no need for a marketing degree for us chowhounds :-))

But this is ok with me - I'm glad to buy most often what they offer :-))

[Bobfrmia]

I've heard the asterisk means last pallet, don't know if or when it will return.
I do know that prices ending in .97 are on closeout, and won't be back.

[azveggieguy]

Heard that about pricing too, but thanks for the clarification about the asterisk.

[pine time]

Milton's blueberry bread smeared with Maranatha's Almond Butter. Soo good for breakfast with a banana sliced on top. Got all 3 at CostCo in Poway, CA.

[estnet]

Fresh burratta at RWC and San Mateo - 4 4oz balls for $7.49 and good. I saw the same brand at a local gourmet market for $10.50 for half as much!

[Ruth Lafler]

I bought those as well. Look at the sell by dates on the packages carefully, as the freshness really does make a huge difference for burrata. Some of the tubs I saw had a sell date that was two weeks earlier (i.e. they were two weeks older) than others.

Also, not food exactly, but the San Leandro Costco had big cloth insulated food bags for $5.99 -- I bought two to keep in the car so I have them when I'm shopping for frozen foods, etc. The Rachael Ray ones were not marked, but were three times as much ($19.99).

[estnet]

Yes the sell by date is critical :) Usually burrata (when I've purchased in Italy) is only fresh for a few days (and then only if carefully stored) but the Costco one was good for almost a week (and I was careful to buy the freshest one as Ruth kindly pointed out)

[susancinsf]

those cloth bags are great! (the cheaper ones)

[cstr]

Any sightings of champagne grapes yet? Can't wait to get a hold of those little ruby pearls of goodness.

[walker]

Last Wed. I got some at the South San Francisco (on El Camino) Costco. Freshest! Best I've ever bought anywhere.

[Rella]

Winchester, VA, USA

About a week ago I purchased a Kirkland goat cheese product - located in the deli-cheese department - a double package 100% fresh goat's milk, fresh & creamy. 10.5 oz. (300g). It is a product of Wisconsin, USA.

I generally forego any domestic (cow) cheese. My tastes lie more to other cheeses from other countries.

This is IMO, the best goat (soft cream) cheese I've had from Costco. I try anytime I see a new brand of goat cheese, which I end up not eating. This is Kirkland brand. I like it a lot.

[Janet from Richmond]

I tried that goat cheese also and it was very good (Midlothian, VA). I also bought a box of Kirkland Granola Cereal (by Nature's Path) and was very pleased as it wasn't too sweet.

Another good find was the shallot and chive yogurt dip....tastes like REALLY good onion dip with a nice bite from the yogurt.

[meatn3]

I have no idea if this is new, but it is new to me - Cowboy Caviar by Meninno Brothers. This is a nicely flavored bean salad that was a little kick. We had it as a side dish with BLT's. It would be good as a salsa substitute with chips. It has a lot of possibilities!

I'm so glad to find this. Making a bean salad at home creates just too much of the dish. I had loved a canned bean mix by TJ's, but it went to that great pantry in the sky. It is nice to have a new product to fill that gap.

Found in the cold case with the hummus, etc.

Raleigh, NC

[givemecarbs]

Thanks meatn3, I was curious about that bean salad. Got some black velvet apricots today at my Montgomeryville PA Costco. By tomorrow they will be just a memory. :)

[amyzan]

Petit Nevat--a soft rind goat cheese from Spain, at the Kansas City area Costco, specifically two left at the Overland Park location when I was there today. This one's going fast, as it should, and it's in great condition, too, with the center still chalky while gooey at the rind. So clean and bright, with a little citrus tang and flavor that lingers, hot damn. Buy it.

[roxlet]

Black Velvet apricots in a clamshell from the Costco in New Rochelle, NY. Possibly the best apricots I've had in 10 years. Juicy and flavorful. Almost perfect. Perfect would be eating them in Italy -- they're almost as good as the ones I've eaten there.

[saeyedoc]

Here in San Antonio they've had Rainier cherries recently, yum.

[treb]

Fresh figs just came in, Nashua, excellent.

[monavano]

Chip'Ins are popcorn chips. I got a bag of cheddar.
Kirkland FF Greek Yogurt. Cheaper than Fage.
Springfield, VA

[Ruth Lafler]

Speaking of Fage: they've widened the distribution of the liter Fage containers in the Bay Area to more stores (I've been buying it in Richmond, but recently saw it in San Leandro, which is closer to my house but hasn't carried it in the past). In addition, San Leandro and Richmond are both carrying 12-packs of the individual fat-free Fage with honey for what worked out to be $1.16 a piece. They're also carrying Chobani in packages with 12 individual servings in three different flavors (peach, blueberry and ???).

[ediblover]

And strawberry.

Is there anything unique about Fage (other than the brand name)? Among the Costco options I usually go with the Chobani; outside, I favor Okios (vanilla).

[Ruth Lafler]

There are many discussions about various Greek-style yogurts. :-)

I like unflavored yogurts because I like to add my own. I haven't found anything I like better than Fage, and the Costco price for the liter tubs is quite good for Greek-style yogurt.

[AnneMarieDear]

I only buy plain, also. Sometimes I add honey or brown sugar, but usually it's just plain with fruit and/or nuts or maybe cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.

The truth is, I often go to the fridge with a big spoon and get myself a healthy scoop. Eat it right off the spoon. Lazy breakfast or snack.

Fage is the only one I like but because of other posts I plan to try the Kirkland.

I'm not fussy about too many things (well, maybe mayo :) ) but so far I'm always sorry when I cheap out and buy another brand.

[pine time]

Just yesterday I heard there's now a Fage jalapeno yogurt at Costco--sounds like it would be great as a meat marinade/basting sauce. Will post a review once I find it in my area.

[Jeri L]

I haven't seen any jalepeno Fage. I wonder if what you heard about is the Skotidakis Jalapeno Greek Yogurt Dip? It is well worth seeking out. Look in the refrigerator cases near the pesto, hummus and such. I use it as a salad dressing and sandwich spread, using it as a marinade sounds like a good idea as well.

[pine time]

Jeri L: Hmm, they said Fage, but certainly could have been wrong. Will check it when I go to CostCo this week.

[Steve Green]

The Skotidakis Jalapeno Greek Yogurt Dip is good, but it's just too spicy for me. They did a roadshow a while back, and had several other flavors, which I really loved. There was a Chipotle (my favorite), an onion-something (also good), and a couple of others. Unfortunately when those ran out, they didn't restock them.

[Jeri L]

Update: Tonight I smeared the dip on boneless, skinless chicken thighs, rolled them in seasoned panko and baked. A winner!

[AnneMarieDear]

We recently had a coleslaw that was really good. It had walnuts, dried cranberries, cabbage, and a dressing, each in its own section of the plastic dish so you could mix it at home. I looked for it last week and there was none. I do hope they bring it back!

[redfish62]

Got my coupons in the mail, there is a $3.50 one for beef jerky ... I bought a bag of the "Pacific" brand jerky they carry once, the price is right ... but the taste and texture was just weird. The texture was like formed meat rather than actual jerky. I would not buy it again.

[ediblover]

I didn't think them that bad. They were certainly stringy. But, I do much prefer (among what Costco typically carries) the pork jerky, which are rather moist and a delight to eat.

[NCARalph]

We just got fresh figs at the Danvers MA Costco. The last batch were outstanding.

[Rella]

I'm glad to hear that, here in Winchester, VA.

I'm wondering if yours were local, semi-local, or California grown - only if you recall. I've not had a good fresh fig in ages.

[ediblover]

The figs in Long Island, NY, Costco were from California. Since it had a Costco product # and all, I'm guessing that's the one that most Costco stores are getting.

[Rella]

Well, I took a chance on the figs today here in Winchester, VA. They look good, but perhaps I expect too much. Completely tasteless. So as not to waste even one, I tried a second one according to an instruction on the inside of the box that said that one could heat and melt cheese on them, which I did. Tasted only cheese. I recall last year the same tasteless figs (even though they looked good) and I made a fig preserve. Not this time.

Living in CA for many years, I recall it always being a fight to the finish with the birds for the figs. It was also a favorite tree for the racoons.

On the bright side, many of the California Navel Oranges that were there last week and had green mold on them were replaced with week with some new boxes that look good. I can usually count on Costco's CA Navel Oranges.

[amyzan]

We've had two 2 pound packages of figs from the KS and Mo stores here. They've been excellent, but we found we have to refrigerate them immediately or they mold very quickly. Probably because they're shipped such a distance. (Fig trees don't grow up here.) Maybe the Midwest is getting figs from a different source than the east coast?

[artemis]

Foster City, CA - a 28 oz tub of tightly packed Azuma wakame aka seaweed salad in the refrigerator bins near the fresh fruit and snacks. I think it was about $10 and it's good for about a month. Perfect relatively healthy and tasty office snack.

[Encinitan]

Kirkland Smoked Pulled Pork, pit smoked for 12-14 hours (2 lbs/$12)
Excellent, with a true smoke taste, and not too fatty considering it is pulled pork.

San Diego, CA

[suburban_mom]

I thought that pulled pork was too salty. I had high hopes for it but won't buy it again.

[Rella]

Winchester, VA. Classic Italian Creme Cake, KSA Dairy, 42 oz. $9.99. Keep refrigerated.
I just don't eat cake, it's been years. But this cake must've had my name on it. I love it!

[awm922]

Second on the Italian Creme Cake. Picked one up for a Birthday party today on your recommendation in MA. Very good. Everyone loved it. Worth every penny.

[christy1122]

Dietz and Watson Angus Beef Franks......sampled them today...yummy.....bought a box.......also have fell in love with the Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus...Midlothian, VA

[Janet from Richmond]

Waving Hi to Christy! I am also in Midlothian. Love the new store but am still trying to find my way around.

The rack of lamb is a must buy IMO.

[mcel215]

Danvers, Ma., store. They were sampling MorningStar's Black Bean Chipotle Burger. I bought a box, because the sample tasted so good. And I figure they would be good for a meatless night. 0Trans Fat. I think there were 14.99, sorry but I threw out my receipt.

[artemis]

I also vouch for these. I like them best sans bun, with guacamole and sliced tomato on top.

[Dax]

Agreed, this is one of the first times a sample actually got me to buy something. We grilled some of those for dinner last night along with grilled onions.

Actually based on the samples, it was a tough decision between those and the chicken andouille (forgot the name) which were also good. We remedied that by grabbing the andouille this weekend!

[dobs737]

I love to stock up on these when they are on coupon!

[treb]

These had great flavor, I believe the price you state is correct.

[mcel215]

Thanks treb. It's either 13.99 or 14.99 per box. But, either way a great price. :)

[Dax]

Do you recall what the count was in the box?

[ferret]

12 X 1/4lb patties:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H3aS1teRgSI...

[Dax]

Thanks, I just found them on the costo site too. My only issue with them is they squish out of the bun when I bite into them. But I like them a lot so far.

[mcel215]

Mine stayed fine, Dax, lol! ;)

[pine time]

Is this the spicy one from Morningstar? If so, they're excellent, and even made a meatless convert out of Mr Pine.

[mcel215]

Yes, it's Morningstar. And the burger's are huge too.

[greygarious]

Kirkland all-beef dinner franks have been around for a few years but I kept forgetting to try them.
I used to love the Best's brand ones that were sold at BJ's but Best's went out of business. Theirs were kosher. Kirkland is not (a non-issue for me), and IMO they are every bit as good.
Matter of fact, this did not even dawn on me until the second time I heated one up, because my taste buds weren't experiencing anything new. I used to get a BJ guest pass and pay a surcharge just so once a year I could buy a couple of packages for the freezer. I feel like an idiot, having made those unnecessary trips, and for missing the Best's when Kirkland was under my nose.

[treb]

Those are the same ones they serve at their food court, they're excellent.

[Dax]

I thought the one I bought at the concession stand tasted bland and mushy. But steamed dogs often taste that way

[Bobfrmia]

Nope, not the steaming. I bought some, grilled em, bland and mushy. The only Kirkland Signature product I've tried and didn't like.
I miss Best.
Damn you, Sara Lee.

[treb]

Never really had a mushy dog at Costco or ever, usually they go the other way, rubbery from living in hot water all day long.

[Chowrin]

how fishy is that nong shim udon? (household member allergic to fish, possibly due to metals... if there's just a little, it may be okay...)

[Berheenia]

Yesterday in Dedham MA they had samples of a new tropical fruit salad that is to die for IMHO.

[greygarious]

Fresh? Frozen? Jar? Can?

[Berheenia]

Fresh in refrigerator section.

[treb]

The peaches and blueberries are excellent right now, Nashua Costco.