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/.
Hey Lena! I am also a long-time PC fan. I could easily stock my house with nothing but PC products. They are top quality products…I've never met a PC product I didn't like, lol. As for my favourite PC product? I can't believe you are making us choose, ha ha! I have so many. I guess I will choose one of the products I've been using for a long time now…their West Coast Dark Roast Gourmet coffee. Mmmmm! It's fantastic! Who needs Timmy's or Starbucks when you can have this coffee? It is so rich and tasty! I highly recommend it for any coffee fan. I love the Insider Report….so many interesting looking products I haven't tried yet! On the top of my list is anything that involves chocolate….so I choose the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies. Need I say more? PB & Choc…two of my faves. I'll be heading to Loblaws before Christmas to buy a pack of those! Thanks Lena!Sandy
Love the Blue menu items – they easily identify if the products are vegetarian friendly :)
Although I don't allow myself to indulge in them enough, my fav. PC item is the PC The Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies. Their home products are amazing as well! Just like Caban (for those that remember the CM store) only affordable.
I really like their maple syrup, but what I would really like to try is their nanaimo bars.
I love their brownies but I really want to try their New York Cheesecake.
vuittongrl1975@yahoo.comAmiBeing new to Canada, I've just found PC…but I'd love to try the shepherds pie…looks like a hit with the family
i love many PC products such as the butter chicked, decadent chocolate chip cookies, green curry but my ultimate fave is their steel cut oats. They are tasty, healthy and cheap compared to other brands.
PC I usually really enjoy their Lasagna. Its very hearty.
always buy the PC concentrated chicken broth, saves the trouble of cooking it yourself
The Thai Spicy Chicken wings are absolute perfection! My favourite!
PC's Decadent cookies are a classic! From the Insider's Report, the mulled apple soda looks delicious!
I really want to try the PC Pad Thai Cooking Sauce! I also want to try the PC Candy cane icecream. I need to go to the RCSS and pick up a few items. Yummy :-)
I love all the Blue Menu products, as I'm trying to watch my diet and Blue Menu provides a lot less fat and other bad stuff
I love the PC pannacota individual desserts. It's rich and cream. It's also a great desset to serve at dinner parties.
I'd love to try the Pc Indian Hors d'oeuvre collection with spicy tamarind sauce.golden_sprite@yahoo.com
oh there are so many wonderful new things to try,,but,,,the heck with thediet.,..cant wait to try the President's Choice Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Ganache Topping . sounds sinfull
oh there are so many wonderful new things to try,,but,,,the heck with thediet.,..cant wait to try the President's Choice Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Ganache Topping . sounds sinfull
patiofurniture1f@hotmail.comforgot the email…
I like the pc dulce de leche and I would love to the new york style cheese cake !
PC Candy Cane ice cream with chocolate crackle. Great for christmas!! Tastes amazingmoola.account @ gmail . com
I like the pineapple upside down cake!
PC Pad Thai Cooking Sauce! I have used it before and it tastes amazing. Just like the pad thai i had at a restaurantbeck.ham0001@gmail.com
Where do I start…I love all their quick and easy dinner ideas especially the indian dishes. The kids love the mac & cheese.
There are too many PC products I love! I would however love, love to try the PC Chocolate Brownie cheesecake with ganache topping, or and sweet treat from their insiders report :O) Thanks for the contest.
Thai Spicy Chicken wings. The wings taste good because they have just the right amount of spicyness. I could keep eating it.aqua.fina11@gmail.com
I am trying the christmas almonds and the truffles…haven't gotten into them…yet!
I am trying the christmas almonds and the truffles…haven't gotten into them…yet!
I would love to try those magnificent mocktails! I had never heard of them before, but they look yummy and I will look for them next time I am shopping.
PC's Blue Menu Chicken Fingers. They are easy to make. jellyfish0001@gmail.com
I bought a box of the PC "mini beef wellington" but I dont know if I can wait until company arrives before I eat them.
we like the PC Blue menu Chicken meat balls. Great a quick spagetti and meatballs meal on a week night!!
I love making a delicious chicken dinner using their Piri Piri sauce. It's also great on roasted potatoes.
Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with Ganache Topping. Great treat for special occasions.momo.momo00@gmail.com
Blue Menu Kettle Cooked Potato Chips. The chips are crispy and thick! You can taste the potatoes. I love it and there is so many flavours to choose from.shadowstar519 [@] gmail [.] com
My kids love the pc granola bars!
gotta try this sexy salsa dip w/tortilla chipsfreedom55psl@hotmail.com
I love the PC Whole Wheat Hazelnut Cantuccini Mini Biscotti. They make great snacks. I keep munching on them.sunny.sunny11 @ gmail . com
Nothing fancy but the president choice chocolate chips are nut free [had to call to be sure] and I'm SO fricking thankful.My nephew is deathly allergic to pea/nuts. And my sister and I are avid bakers and it's annoying to find products that can't accommendate us since this allergy ailment is on the rise.. I'm always stocking up too =) vvevilvkittenvv@live.ca
There are so many good, and unique, items but my favorite has to be the various sauces and dressings. I really can't choose one!…bacon and onion?!…tzatziki yogurt?!They really make getting in a fresh salad every day easy.
Sounds weird, but my fave PC product is their frozen corn, LOL.It tastes EXACTLY like corn on the cobb. We love it!Jessica tequila_love98 AT hotmail.com
I think my favourite is the vegetarian bolognese pasta sauce. I am veggie and PC makes a lot of different veggie products. I eat quite a bit of pasta but this sauce blows all others away. It's a touch spicy, a bit sweet, absolutely perfect!
My fav is PC Seafood Lasagnacyarrow(at)yahoo(dot)ca
The chocolate crackle ice cream is the best. It tastes like a dipped ice cream cone.
I would love to try the chocolate nog as I think that this is a wonderful idea. I am making a trip to Superstore tomorrow anyways so I'll have to pick some up!
Yummy PC newyork cheesecake would be good with any dinner. You could add your own fresh fruit. I would love to try other PC frozen sweets.
I love pizza and tried the new ones which are absolutely fantastic. PC has a lot of great quality products. The only thing that I wish for is that you bring back your president's choice clam chowder from at least 5 years ago. The new one is not as tasty. (They used to be in the cans with the yellow label.) Nothing has compared to that one to date.
I love PC Ketchup – it's the closest thing I've had to Heinz. I'm a big fan right now of the Mulled sparkling cider. Even though there's no juice in it it tastes like fizzy apple cider!!
My fave…..their chimichurri sauce/marinade. Couldn't get my hubby to eat lamb ever! So I barnequed it with this on it and fed it to his high praises of, "this is the BEST roast beef I've EVER had!". Too great!
We love the "Taste of India" comes with excellent sauce too :)caseylynnmiller(at)hotmail(dot)(com)
I had the chipotle BBQ ribs and they were delicious. Nice heat, but not too much, good smoky flavor as well. I want to try the frozen chicken wings as a friend of mine told me they were great and a good price as well.