Lena Loves… President’s Choice CLOSED
Okay, so it’s pretty obvious that I didn’t have to preface this post with “Lena Loves.” Anyone who’s ever read my reviews on PC products will attest that I love President’s Choice. I may even be obsessed.
What is it about this brand that makes me want to get a part-time job at Loblaws? (I hear store employees get a cool 10% off their groceries.) I am constantly amazed by their innovative products, delicious recipes and affordable luxuries. In fact, I normally find myself shunning more popular brand-name items in favour of PC’s offerings. And, coming from someone who was raised to only buy the highest quality, that says a lot about my confidence in the company.
PC ketchup. PC baby food. Even PC lawn chairs! If they make it, I’ll buy it.
The President’s Choice concept was developed by a talented group of food-inspired people who knew back in the mid-80s that Canadians deserved better quality food choices for their hard-earned dollars. The premise was simple: develop unique or superior products that offered better value to our shoppers. The idea may have been simple, but few could have anticipated how Canadian consumers would come to embrace the President’s Choice brand to make it one of Canada’s best-known trademarks.
Did you know that today there are over 3,500 PC products, with the most famous being The Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie? (It’s okay. But my favourite PC product will always be the Double Chocolate Crunch Cereal – thanks to chinwhat for introducing it to me.)
So it’s no surprise that I was super excited when Hill & Knowlton, PC’s PR firm, sent me some decadent and delicious goodies from their 2009 Holiday Insider to try out.
I received (click to enlarge photo):
PC Pad Thai Cooking Sauce
PC Seven Grain Original Snack Crackers
PC Chocolate Covered Gingerbread Bites
PC Whole Wheat Hazelnut Cantuccini Mini Biscotti
PC Gigandes Beans in Vinaigrette
Plus a coolio PC USB and an Insider’s Report. I could hardly wait to sample them all – and to be honest, I actually finished the Chocolate Covered Gingerbread Bites quicker than you can say “220 calories and 13g of fat for 7 pieces.” Wooorth it!
Here’s the lowdown:
Beside being incredibly rich and sweet, the Gingerbread Bites are also perfectly portioned for popping in your mouth any time of the day. A must for white chocolate lovers.
The Seven Grain Crackers were a perfect accompaniment to cheese, spreads, or for simple munching. Though they have a tougher, crunchier consistency than I first assumed, Ryder loves teething on them and always points to them for his afternoon snack.
The Mini Biscotti is a MUST for mid day cappuccinos. Not-too-sweet and loaded with hazelnuts, I am enjoying one as I type. CRUNCH, crunch, crunch. Mmmm.
Now the Gigandes beans were a new product for me – I had never heard of that bean variety and wondered what those gigantic pods would taste like. The verdict: tangy, earthy and smooth – perfect for adding to spreads or dips (or fishing out of the jar and sampling with your fingers as I did).
Finally, I can only describe the Pad Thai cooking sauce one way: legit. When combined with the proper ingredients, it really, really tastes like authentic Pad Thai. The jar comes with cooking instructions, and we followed them to a T. After stir frying veggies and shrimp, we simply added the sauce, PC rice stick noodles, cilantro and chopped peanuts. And after one bite, both Mike and I swore off take-out Pad Thai for good.
All these products can be found in the 2009 Holiday Insider’s Report, which you can now read online! It’s 32 pages chock full of entertaining tips, meal ideas, recipes, and of course, new and exciting PC products. They have over 100 new items you can choose from, including the sensational “Must Try” products that will make this season the most enjoyable and affordable one yet!
So with just one week to go until Christmas, take a look at the Insider’s Report, and be sure to stock up on some sweet, savoury and sensible (Blue Menu) goodies today!
Christmas never tasted so good!
One lucky Listen to Lena! reader will win a President’s Choice Gift Card, valued at $150! To enter, simply:
1) Tell us what your favourite PC product is – including why you love it
2) Take a look at the 2009 Insider’s Report, and tell us which product(s) you’d like to try this year!
I’ll draw for a winner next Thursday morning – Christmas Eve. And while we won’t be able to send you the gift card in time for Turkey & Mistletoe, I’m certain it’ll be in your hands by New Years Eve – just in time for you to load up on all those party poppers! Thanks to President’s Choice and Hill & Knowlton, and good luck everybody!
Canadian residents only, please.
President’s Choice products are available at Loblaws, Loblaw Great Food, Zehrs, Zehrs Great Food, Fortinos, Real Canadian Superstore, Loblaw Superstore, valu-mart, Your Independent Grocer, Atlantic Superstore, Maxi, Maxi & Cie, no frills, Provigo, Extra Foods and more. Product pricing and availability may vary by banner and region. For more information, visit http://www.pc.ca/.
I really, really like the PC Spicy Thai chicken wings – and guess what, Lena? YOU are the one who got me hooked on them, after I read your review of them last year! I really hope I win, what a great prize!
Perfect post for me because i heart a lot of PC products. I think my most fav has got to be the PC free & clear flavored fizzy water. I love the fact that its only $0.99 and that it comes in amazing flavors also that it allows me to drink something tasty thats actually 0 calories when everyone else is drinking sugar filled pop.I dont know what i would do if they stopped making it!
I see, now I get why the squares were moved….sorry
I always buy the PC concentrated chicken broth, from the refridgerated section. It's like a thick paste. It's not as salty as other stocks like the canned soups, and fresher than the powders. Perfect for lots of different recipes. Learned about it from a Loblaws cooking class!I would love to try the PC Pad Thai sauce you just described.
There is a lot of President's Choice products I love. But during Christmas time I would go with the chocolate covered caramel with sea salt on them. They are to die for! Really. Sweet and salty in your mouth at the same time. DELICIOUS!Another fav of mine during Christmas time would be the Candy Cane ice cream.Unfortunately, these two products are only available during the Christmas season. *sigh*But our family LOVES to try new PC Products like these weird taste of chips for example.
THe Dulce de Leche caramel! rob.ocinc@gmail.com
One of my favourites are the Zipperback Shrimp.They are nicely portioned sizes of shrimp, that have been butterflied and tossed with a light breading.They are a snap to cook, taking no time at all, straight from freezer into the fryer. You can bake them, but frying is better.mommakoala(at)cogeco(dot)ca
Where do I start? For a quick kiddie lunch, their white mac & cheese rocks! (I haven't bought Kraft in years) I also love their ice cream – yum! I use many of their 'green' products like their cleaning putty & dishwasher tabs. And I LOVE their home items, like linens, towels and dishes. Superstore could seriously put me in the poor house with their amazing selection!
The PC Original New York Cheesecake is a true classic and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! I love it both with and without a fruit topping.This is such a fabulous giveaway!hugs & happy holidaysHeidiheidig@gmail.com
I love your post, I love PC products!! My fav is the Chicken Tikka Masala, I add some of my own spices and tastes like it came right out of my moms kitchen…I also love the PC mini samosas, and their PC humous..just a few of my favs off the top of my head!
My favourite PC product is their caramel apple cheesecake….mmmmmmmmm…. I also love their tomato and bbq sauces!
My all time 2 favorite items are PC The Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies and the PC Deluxe White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE PC!!!!! I have been trying to think of one product to write about because there are too many!!! I would have to say that perhaps I am mostt obsessed with all of their appetizers. I serve these constantly sometimes even when we don't have company LOL. I am not prejudice at all because any PC app suits me fine!!!
I love PC products! Not only are they fantastic but can always be found at a great price!I recently fell in love with PC's roasted red pepper dip. It's great with tortilla chips or pita bread and makes an amazing chicken dinner dish.
PC Cornbead crackers (I think that's what they are called) are a favorite snack of mine! Love them with hummus . . . I also love the PC Veal Canneloni . . . YUMMY!!! :)
Love PC's Decadent Chocolate Chip cookies, as well as the Decadent Fudge cookies.Thank-you for another fabulous contest- Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Thank-you for another great contest !Love the Spicy Thai Chicken Wings .
I love the PC brand "green" diapers… I also love that PC offers so many organic options.
I love the white chocolate chunk and raspberry cookies!
Love the ice cream, the cookies and just tonight used the large slabs of chocolate for my chocolate fountain. Would love to try the ready made meals like the Chicken Pie, SHeppards Pie and Lasagna Roll ups and then to wash it down with the chocolate covered almonds with peppermint, yum yum!!!What a great prize to win!
I love that PC has so many products in their organics line. My favourite is PC organics fair trade, organic coffee. It's great!myrealreview[at]gmail[dot]com
Love PC products…I have shunned Sobeys (closer to my house) to go the Superstore just to get PC products!!! My favourite….PC The Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!! mmm…mmm…GOOD!!! :-D
for me, its the PC italian soda. but i dont think they make it anymore… last time i was there, they were clearing them out for $2 a bottle, which is good cuz i stocked up, but bad cuz, well, there's no more. anyways, yeah, i like them cuz my gf likes them and when shes happy, i'm happy, youknowwhatimsayin?
I'm a huge fan of all things PC! From the canned goods and frozen foods to the chips, dips and marinades – there are just too many to list! One product that stands out to this chip lover is the "Blue Menu Kettle Cooked Potato Chips"; who knew a snack food could be this tasty and low in fat at the same time. You can tell President's Choice puts a lot of effort and care into the development of Blue Menu products.A product I noticed weeks ago in this year's Holiday Insider's Report was the box of Seven Grain Crackers – the very same ones you have posted in the lovely picture of your PC stash! Everytime I visited my local Superstore (Mavis & Dundas in Mississauga, ON) they always seem to be sold out but the reviews of this product make them sound so enticing. This is one product that remains on my list of snacks to try this season. Save me a few and I will bring the cheese! HahaThanks for the opportunity to enter your contest.brother_neil@hotmail.com
oh my, too many too choose from…HUGE, HUGE PC fan!…too many to list, but i'm quite intrigued by the indian apps as a new must try…
I love so many PC products. I don't think I could pick a favorite but looking in the Insiders Report, I would like to try the grilled chicken alfredo saute and serve entree.dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd love to try the PC shrimp wantons!denimc{at}gmail{dot}com
I love PC products!! I want to try their PC Indian Hors D'Oeuvre collection with spicy tamarind sauce- something nice and quick when you have unexpected guests:)
I love PC products. I always find them good tasting and reasonably priced. Had their Shepherd's pie -fantastic. And love their desserts but they love my hips way too much!
PC products are a favourite in our house! We love PC's Blue Menu Chicken Fingers and teriyaki sauce.
I love the PC Original New York Cheesecake. Can add whatever topping you want.
OK. I'm a man and anything that is quick and easy is good for me. The wife loves those Quiche things. I think they're pretty good too.filtercomm(at)cogeco(dot)ca
My favorite PC product it meatless Chicken breasts (frozen). I can use them to create veg version of almost any non-vegetarian chicken dish. They are great whole, strips or diced.
I am dying to try the President's Choice Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Ganache Topping. Need I explain? Mmmmm …. chocolate!!!!
I like the PC Indian Chicken Madras. MMM i have not had it in awhile i might just have to go get some real soon. It was delicious and nicely season and a nice quick meal to enjoy.A product i would like to try this year is the PC Loads of Mocha Almond Fudge Ice Cream CakeAll i can say is yummy. Thank yousilverneon2000 at yahoo dot com
Believe it or not, PC Ketchup rules. It's better than Heinz. It may not be my favourite PC product, but I think it's one of the best.
I love so many PC products!!! If I had to pick one, it would be the PC Free & Clear flavoured water. The Peach one is amazing!tootie117 (at) gmail (dot) com
I love PC salsa – great for making egg burritos on the weekend!
Ever since I was 5 months pregnant I tried the loads of peanut butter chunk ice cream (can't remember what it's called exactly) but it is so good! There is no better combination than peanut butter and ice cream!I also like to try all the new PC products just to see what will be my new favorite.
For us, it's the PC Blue Menu oatmeals… I like the steel cut oats, but we also love the whole grain instant oatmeal – I mix one packet of that with one packet of the kids' favorite flavored instant stuff and it cuts the sugar in half, boosts the fiber, and we're all happy.
PC does make the best products! I especially love the Chocolate Chunk cookies.
One thing I can't resist buying is their Juicy Pork and Onion Burgers. My mouth is just drooling thinking about it. It's super delicious to BBQ – can't wait for the summer. It's only $5.99 for a box of 8! Fantastic price!vision.nguyen AT gmail DOT com
Thanks for the great contest — I'm a big PC fan too.I'm also a chocolate fan, so my choice of what I'd like to try is the PC Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Ganache Topping… my mouth's watering just typing the name! :-)Mark – cheapgoodfreebetter(at)yahoo(dot)ca
right now we're loving the chocolate nog – such a treat!
I love to cook and haven't cooked lamb yet so would love to try PC® EASY-CARVE™ ROSEMARY AND GARLIC SEMI-BONELESS LEG OF LAMB, and I love savory food so would like to try PC® INDIAN HORS D’OEUVRE COLLECTION with SPICY TAMARIND SAUCE and I've always wanted to try gravlax PC® GRAVLAX CURED ATLANTIC SALMON. bgdurau at gmail dot com
I love the PC Candy Cane ice cream with chocolate crackle. It's amazingly decadent and festive! Thanks for the great contest!!
it would have to be president choice decadent cookies.
I love their veggie burgers. It has a pretty good texture and flavour (not overpowering like the Lick's), very much like meat. I've used them in lasagne, and my meat-lover dad thought I used beef … lol :)
My favorite PC products are salami and cheese frozen pack of 2 PC pizza. and PC angus meatballs (which unfortunately is not available in my area any longer)email bryceton(at)hotmail.comthanks
PC crumbled goat's milk feta! Soo delicious in salads and pasta! I like other feta too, but find it too wet to use in salads.