I haven’t had a chance to eat at Lyfe Kitchen in Palo Alto but they already have their own line of packaged food, available at twenty select Costco locations throughout Northern California. None of the entrees are vegan but two of the soups are – the Smoky Tomato Bisque with Spicy Herb Croutons and the Sweet Corn Chowder with Smoky Chipotle Croutons (a top seller at the restaurant). I got to sample both and bought the chowder home.
It’s a nice chunky chowder with good flavor and not too salty. However, I did have to overlook the very subtle taste of red bell peppers. Not my favorite vegetable by a long shot yet somehow I can taste whenever it’s in food (isn’t that how it always is?).
Good as it is, it’s hard for me to justify buying soups as it’s one of the easiest things to make at home plus it freezes well. Still, if you’re not the cooking kind or if you’re short on time, it’s a great alternative. Located in the refrigerated section for $9.99. I would love to see if they come up with any vegan entrees.
I’ve been getting Hodo tofu ever since they first set up booth at the downtown Palo Alto farmers market. The firm tofu available at Costco is vacuum packed which I haven’t tried before, I usually get the fresh packed in water. Vacuum packed means there’s hardly any water and it seems denser, like it’s already been pressed, 2.25 lb for $5.29.
Vacuum packing the Five-Spice Tofu Nuggets makes them come out a bit squished but they still taste fine, 1 lb for $6.99, which is a great deal if you’ve ever gotten them at the farmers market.
Not pictured are the Spicy Yuba Strips which I liked the best of the Hodo Costco items but I was only able to find them at the Mountain View location, 1 lb for $7.49 (also a great deal). The other two were at the Redwood City location.
I’ve tried quite a few of the Gardein products over the past 3 years, some I liked better than others. After cooking with the chick’n strips for a week, they’re going in the “I like” column. They don’t seem as “wet” as some of their other chick’n products. And they aren’t pre-sauced, just seasoned making them ideal for cooking in pretty much any dish. One box has 4 pouches for $8.89.
Also on the shelf were Gardein meatless ground also for $8.89 which I haven’t tried yet. There’s only so much I can consume at any one time so I’ll be trying those another time.
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Oh my gosh, your Costco has the BEST stuff! Ours occasionally have good items (Bob’s Redmill quinoa, they has Gardein once etc) but nothing ever lasts there. I hope some of those goodies make their way down south :)
Ack, what I would give for Hodo Tofu, let alone at some major retailer like Costco! I’ve only been to our local outpost once, and it was kind of fun, but not useful enough to justify the membership fee. There weren’t nearly the vegan options I had hoped for, like these.
Nice find! I have yet been on a Costco. I need to go soon!
thejollyfox – For the longest time, there wasn’t really any good vegan things at my Costco. Both Lyfe Kitchen and Hodo are local to the Bay Area which is probably why they’re available here. But that would be so awesome if they’re able to expand to other areas.
Hannah – Before all the vegan options, I basically just got toilet paper and paper towels at Costco. :-)
noelle – Hopefully you’ll find some good stuff at your Costco.
What an awesome “score”!
Needless to say that the Costco’s here don’t even have Gardin…
Change happens slowly, so there is always hope.
The tofu looks awesome.
Happy cooking, and eating!
I need to take time to check out if my Costco has any great new vegan items like these. You are so lucky.
I have to say the soup really does look good, but we wouldn’t have it at our Costco. Nor can I ever seem to find tofu. I tend not to buy prepared foods at Costco (except for a certain burger) partly because the sizes are so huge, but I have an enormous bag of Costco organic frozen corn in my freezer so I suppose I’ll have to make my own chowder. :)
Our Costco, in San Luis Obispo, CA just got the Gardein chicken nuggets. Oh boy. They were sampling those, black bean burgers, Morningstar soy sausages, and brown rice. Sort of like Meatless Mondays at Costco!
Peggy K – I was just at that Costco. I didn’t see the Gardein but I also wasn’t looking for it. Now I know to keep an eye out for it. Thanks!
Costco once carried Gardein in the East Bay, but no longer.
Richard C – I’ve noticed I haven’t seen any Gardein products at my local Costco for awhile too. Maybe they stopped carrying it.