Post Punk Kitchen Forum

For me, a bag is like 3 portions. My husband, I'm sure, would finish it in one go.

The tenders are definitely only one portion for me.

When I lived in TN, Kroger carried the non-frozen products. Then no one bought them, they would almost expire, and I would buy them for 50% off! I agree that the sauces are nothing to write home about, but they're good for a quick meal. When I visit Brian I get the meal ones that are stuffed and come with rice.

I had a sicilian trio one and it was just okay but I want try other stuff. Zpizza has Gardien crumbles and Daiya so I go there sometimes and I really like the crumbles.

I picked up the seven grain tenders and buffalo tenders on sale at Fred Meyer a few days ago. I sprayed a baking sheet with oil and I was shocked at how 'oily' the tenders got after a few minutes in the oven at their unique baking time. Next time, I'll probably just stick them on parchment paper, sans spray oil. I liked them, but I think the price (and on sale for $3.99 a bag) doesn't justify more than a lazy dinner treat. I'm a bit less freaked out about trying the buffalo now that I've tried the seven grain and realized that they're good (though easily over-baked) and what freaking Veggie Grill - and maybe Native Foods? uses. I know that CA-based, but I'm shocked more people don't mention this connection!

Also - 100% better than that TJ's soy nuggets. I just wish they were sold in bigger quantities. I felt like a crasshole buying such a small bag.

I've only had the chicken fingers. I didn't like them, but that's because I don't like anything trying to be like meat except for a few things.
I still have half a bag of them left and really don't want to eat them, but they are kind of pricey to just not eat them.

I've never oiled a baking sheet with the tenders. I'm getting mad because someone else is buying all of them at my local grocery store and my kids want them all the time. They are also around $4 a bag here.

Keep the sauce on the side! You should probably at least try the sauce, but I thought it was gross. The buffalo tenders themselves are fantastic, though.

For the Gardein lovers:

Right now there's a $1 coupon on their website. It let me print it twice.

http://www.gardein.com/ecoupon.php

I've only tried the buffalo tenders once and didn't like the sauce at all.
I used the wings in a burrito with pan-fried kale seasoned with a bit of soy sauce and garlic and it was fantastic, though.

One time at WF they had frozen stuffed Gardein--it was stuffed with marinara & Daiya. It was awesome. My husband wanted it every night. When I went back someone had bought it all! Boo!

At the same time they had the "stuffing" stuffed Gardein, which WF uses for their vegan holiday meals.

They haven't had either since, even though I keep asking.

oh, I actually did this last night! I thought the sauce was unenjoyable spicy and had I had agave around, would have added some to it. I totally over-baked the nuggets and thought they were dry, but I'm glad I didn't bake them in the sauce. Also, I think it's gross that the package recommends pan-frying and serving over pasta.

I actually have lucked out a few times and found the frozen chicken nugget type Gardein at Cost-Co. I was so excited, because they were SO much cheaper and the portion was a lot bigger than what my grocery store carried (which seems to have stopped carrying them already). After a few months of not seeing them, I bought three bags to store in my freezer this time around.

I know it's a big box store so my food is most likely flown in from who knows where, but they are also my source of big bags of organic quinoa, organic spinach, and real maple syrup, which I can't usually afford at WF.

I like Gardein every now and then, but I only buy it once in a while - usually when I have a good coupon or it's on sale or both, since it's too expensive to get all the time. I have a few $1-off coupons that don't expire for a couple of months, but I'm holding off in hopes that Publix puts the stuff on sale buy 1/get 1 like they did a while back. I'll still use the coupons no matter what, but I can't resist a double-whammy coupon/sale combo!

Agreed. It's a bit pricey without the coupon, but I've enjoyed most of the products I've tried.

Has anybody shredded the Gardein breasts? I want to make BBQ chicken sandwiches and I'd prefer shredded but it the texture's funky I'll cube it.

VeganMeredith, B_A_D, Arisaig, Sobeys now carries the frozen stuff as well. I found it by accident walking by the hungry man dinners. It's no where close to all the other veg stuff.
Buffalo wings... they were just ok. I probably wouldn't buy them again.

The Schneiders meatless burgers/meatballs/nuggets are all in with the meat at Sobeys too, which I like in a way - for meat eaters who might try something new.

I don't know if I mentioned this before but the Superstore has their own brand of "chicken" nuggets that are made with Gardein. Everyone in my house likes them (omnis and veggies) and they are way cheaper than the little packs of Gardein-brand nuggets.

I cook them on parchment paper. They turn out better that way than on sprayed metal pans.

I've had really good luck with parchment paper too.

I kind of like Gardein. I think the wings would be better with a hot sauce/EB combo, but I liked the heat the sauce that comes with them has. It was kind of mellow but had a good heat background. I was also impressed by the beefless tips, the marinara stuffed chicken "breast" and the crispy tenders. I didn't care for the BBQ shreds, which I had high hopes for. Riblets are so amazing that I would just chop those up if I wanted something BBQ-ey. I would be interested in trying the whole line but most of the podunk stores here only have the fridge stuff.

We grilled out with some friends last week and the grocery store we went to had nothing to grill, so we picked up a bag of the breaded chicken tenders. I hadn't had them before, but they were great on the grill! Everyone else wanted to try a bite and thought they were really good. I'm still always a little freaked out at how "meaty" they are and have to re-read the package every other bite. Definitely something I will keep in mind for a pinch again!

AFR!

Has anyone tried the BBQ skewers? My mom bought me a box of them. I normally don't even bother with fake beef things, because I never, ever liked beef, and I hear that fake beef is often terrible anyway. I don't want to throw away her $4 or whatever, but I really doubt I'll eat them.

Maybe I am crazy but I mixed the buffalo sauce with goddess dressing and it was the bomb. Also, the new mandarin chickn ones are awesome.

Not crazy. I love that combo!