Post Punk Kitchen Forum

i'm nervous about how awesome you guys are making out the tenders to be. because i just bought my first bag, haven't tried them yet, but definitely can't justify buying them more than, oh, once every 4 months.

I like the scallopini wth lemon and herbs over pasta and the crispy fingers with barbecue sauce. I do not like the chipotle lime flavored crispy fingers. The burgundy trio isn't bad.

I haven't been able to find them in any stores around me, but apparently they are sold here, because the coffee shop I go to on a pretty regular basis started having them for sandwiches, so now my options have expanded to include gardein chick'n scallopini sandwiches, with veggies and hummus. There have always been plenty of vegetarian options there, but now there are starting to be more vegan options as well, which makes me happy.
I was reluctant to try them, but I definatlly like the gardein chicken a lot, and it has meaty texture, but just enough taste of other things so its not too strangely like meat.

I have not enjoyed my Gardein purchases. I feel no need to purchase more.

VM and other Canadians, Superstore sells frozen gardein nuggets and "meatless chicken" breasts under their Blue Menu label, and the nuggets are not terribly expensive. We had some last night.

The nuggets are, I agree, delicious and crispy. The "breasts" are okay - very salty but okay in a pinch with some sauce. The best way I had them was on the bbq.

Oh yeah, the superstore Blue Menu "meatless beef strips" sold in the refrigerated meat-like-products section (in the deli) are also made by Gardein, and maybe the "chicken strips" as well.

Hmm, I've had these before and never knew they were Gardein! I like the breasts and meatless strips, haven't tried the nuggets.

My roomie and I tried the tuscan breasts as well and we both decided against them because they were too much like the real thing. I was pretty grossed out after the first bite but I finished it. Good for people who are looking for something super-realistic though or are new to being a veg!

I've never bought any gardein products, but (when I lived with) my sister there would always be a bag of the chicken fingers or beef tips. I found them to be just "ok". It's not something I would ever buy for myself, but I'd eat them if they were free!

i went through a phase where i was buying three or four bags of the tenders a week, and then i just lost interest in them. now i go long periods with no gardein in my world, and then i see it and feel like i need it, but it's never as good as i think it will be. i was really excited to try the buffalo tenders, but they were pretty disappointing (which is probably a good thing).

I think they're all pretty mediocre, but I like the buffalo tenders best ...probably because I like ranch best. Without ranch, who knows how I would feel.

What kind of ranch do you use? I've been looking for a good vegan version!

I use the recipe from American Vegan Kitchen

Thanks to everyone warning me about the wings. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about trying them.

I did use the beefless tips in the VWaV Chili sin Carne and it was good, but eerily meaty. Almost too well mimicked for comfort.

I don't hate the stuff, buuuut I don't think it's good enough to justify the price. Not even the tenders. There, I said it.

Out of all places, I found the Chipotle Lime Tenders in a small hfs in Montana. They were freaking delicious. Hands down my fave Gardein product. I do like the chikn tenders too, but only baked. I microwaved them once and they were soggy.

Did they change their packaging recently? Because I bought them this past weekend and I thought I had read microwave directions on them months ago, but this time there were only oven directions.

Let's not get into the oven and microwave debate here. The prep directions on the scallopini (the only product I have in my possession at this time) are only for sautéing. I still microwave when I feel lazy. I think that the tenders always did have microwave directions- 1-2 min per tender, flip 1-2 more mins? Crazy!

How much do they run there? (Or other places) The tenders are $3.99/bag here, which is cheaper than either a box of veggie burgers, or a box of vegan tenders (whichever brand it is that makes vegan ones, I forget offhand). I don't mind paying $4 for a treat every now and again!

They're like $5 a package here for what are not very big packages.

I don't really buy any kind of fake meat these days anyway, in large part because I am a cheap asparagus!

I saw the buffalo chicken wings at Pete's Fruitique tonight, are those worth buying?

$4.49-$4.99/bag here

Can you make ranch dressing to go with them? If yes, then Fee would say, BUY!

I think I have a ranch dressing recipe somewhere, I may have to try these. My family always has munchies like chicken wings on Christmas Day (we do our big dinner on Boxing Day) so these would be perfect for me!

the health is wealth buffalo drummette thingies blow these out of the water.

the bag of tenders i bought was about $6 here. (i was feeling 'rich' [ha].) and it feels like a one portion bag to me.

I can't find the ranch recipe I thought I had, anyone have any good suggestions?