President's Choice

[montrealeater]

Hope I dont get driven out of Chow town for asking this, but can someone tell me where has the best (most extensive) selection of PC products in Montreal? I have an ongoing taste test thing going on with PC and I've pretty much gone through everything at my local Loblaws. Anywhere on the island is OK, the closer to downtown the better. :)

[chickenbruiser]

I'm trying to understand this..... you want to try every single PC product out there whether it be BBQ sauce or onion rings or banana- rhubarb juice??
maybe try the one in Ville St. Laurent.. more diverse population base than say NDG or Angus.

[montrealeater]

Eventually, yes, I would like to try most/all of their products. I'm starting to think they should be paying me this has become such an odd, and many times thankless, quest. :D Are you referring to a Loblaws in Ville St Laurent?

[chickenbruiser]

I was assuming that you were being paid.
Yes... was referring to Loblaws in VSL.

[montrealeater]

Thanks for the info - based on what's been said here I think I'll try Provigo on Mt Royal and then, later in the month, the other Provigo on St Catherines. I feel I'm more familiar with what Loblaws carries and since I never shop at Provigo, I might as well check it out.

Btw, the PC Greek Yoghurt is on my list (any flavour recs?) as are the PC Normandy Style Cultured Butter (based on a rec from this board), the PC avocado oil, PC extra cheesy mac and cheese, PC smoked wild albacore tuna and 2 types of burger - shrimp and beef + pork combo.

I've got a little obsession with this brand going and will probably buy the similiar branded products and taste test my friends. :)

[CanadaGirl]

I always buy the plain Greek yogurt as I find flavoured yogurts too sweet for my tastes. The PC version doesn't have any if that sourness or astringency that plain fat-free yogurts often have. Even my five-year old, who would eat spoonfuls of sugar if I let him, is perfectly happy with some fruit mixed into this yogurt - no sugar needed.

[montrealeater]

OK, this is definitely on the list now because that sourness/astringency you mention is the one thing that keeps me from regulary enjoying yoghurt. Will go for the plain, too. Thanks!

[Fritzy]

The Provigo at Ste-Cath and du Fort has lots of PC products. Have you tried PC's quince fruit paste with cheese and crackers? PC does have some pretty good crackers in general...

[Fritzy]

Two things: the quince fruit paste I mentioned is refrigerated there. And another PC I love there is the PC Black Olive Tapenade.

[Fritzy]

Getting away from PC products, another find at the Provigo at du Fort is the otherwise hard to find Liberte Creme Fraiche although the P&A across the street also on du Fprt also has it sometimes.

[montrealeater]

"Olympic's 11% fat Crema Greek yogurt"

This? I gotta try. 11% fat? Oh yeah.

Fritzy, does the PA on Parc carry the Creme Fraiche?

Latest PC testing:

Their 'Loads of X' ice cream is a bit of a fail, due mainly to the base ice cream tasting and feeling cheap/too sweet. I don't think I'm going to try ALL the flavours because I bet that's the same base for all of them. Holy hell was I disappointed in the Loads of Buttertarts flavour. Buttertarts as ice cream filling?! C'mon, that could have been heaven.

Their masala flavoured hummous is a big fat win, though and more is on the list, it is excellent for dipping all sorts of bread products into. :)

[LoveGossipGirl]

i totally agree with you about that ice cream line. (and in general, a rant against our supermarket ice creams in general.. the USA has so much better selection of good brands, Friendly's, Edy's, Dreyer's, etc.)

[CanadaGirl]

I'm not in Montreal and can't help you find it, but if you haven't tried the PC Greek yogurt, you really should. I'm completely addicted to it.

[Renete]

If you like Greek yogurt you can try the Chobani yogurt. It comes in a variety of flavours . The pomegranate is the the best. Another delicious Greek yogurt is liberty also available in a variety of flavours.

[CanadaGirl]

I've never seen Chobani? Where is it from?

I had had Liberte, and it used to be my go-to, but I think the President's Choice is a better yogurt. That it is cheaper is a great bonus.

[Renete]

Chobani is from US as all good products are. You can find it at select stores and I have seen it at IGA Cavendish and Loblaws Cavendish has it as well. I just bought this other Greek Yogurt at Loblaws Skotidakius and I bought the blueberry Pomegranet and it is delicious.

[Moedelestrie]

I do enjoy what is called Chobani no fat Greek yogurt but because it has no yogurt taste it finished as a recommended with reservations in Cooks Illustrated's taste test. The bes tthing I have found labeled as Greek style yogurt is Olympic's 11% fat Crema Greek yogurt which I would say brought back memories of the best sour cream I used to eat 50 years ago absolutely amazing and delicious.
Again as I like to say the best when it comes to taste is always subjective. It is interesting that the only highly recommended Traditional Greek nonfat yogurt in Cooks Illustrated's taste test was an imported Greek yogurt from of all places Greece, Olympus brand.
I have been eating firm yogurt for a number of years and when I get to Montreal I always pick up a couple of Kilos of Akhavan's bulk firm yogurt, yogurt taste and a wonderfully creamy texture.
There are a number of wonderful firm yogurts available in New England and New York but I certainly would say Quebec makes some that are well worth trying but I would use personal favourite as opposed to best.

[cherylmtl]

For some odd reason, it's hard to find quite a few PC products in Montreal. Some of the cookies are never available here - the stem ginger and lemon temptations are two examples. The NDG Loblaws (I assume you mean the one at St. Jacques and Cavendish, kpzoo?), while large, isn't great for PC selection either. Depending on what you're looking for, I find the one way out in Kirkland to have a good selection overall, but it's not exactly close to downtown... The Provigo on Mount Royal has a surprisingly good selection of PC products, considering its size - probably better than the Jean Talon Loblaws does.

[kpzoo]

Have you tried the Loblaws in NDG? It's got pretty big PC selection.

[montrealeater]

I havent...I usually shop at Jean Talon Loblaws for PC stuff. Do you have an address (approximate is cool) for the NDG Loblaws? I didnt know there was one...

[westaust]

Loblaws Angus also have a great selection

[kpzoo]

6600 St Jacques West - at the foot of Cavendish.

[tah1234]

The NDG Loblaws is on St Jacques at Cavendish.