Listen to Lena

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Lena Loves… President’s Choice CLOSED

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***THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!***

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

-or-
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/.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 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!

  2. 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!

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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!

  10. 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!

  13. 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!!!

  14. 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.

  15. 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!!! :)

  16. 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!

  20. 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!

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. 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?

  24. 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

  25. 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…

  26. 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

  28. 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:)

  29. 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!

  32. 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

  35. 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

  37. 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

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  42. 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

  43. 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

  45. 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

  46. I love the PC Candy Cane ice cream with chocolate crackle. It's amazingly decadent and festive! Thanks for the great contest!!

  48. 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 :)

  49. 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

  51. 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

  53. 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.

  57. 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.

  62. 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 :-)

  66. 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

  67. 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

  74. 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.

  78. 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.

  84. 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

  88. 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

  89. 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.

  90. 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

  91. 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!

  94. 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!

  96. 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.

  97. 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!!

  98. 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!

  100. 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.

  101. I love the frozen PC macaroni and cheese. It's so sinfully cheesy, but neither my husband nor I can resist it! We buy it on almost every trip to RCSS or No Frills!

  102. So many to choose from!My current favourite is PC Organics Canadian Wild Blueberries – they taste absolutely amazing and they're Canadian. Paired with PC Sliced or Whole Strawberries they are a staple for my anti-oxidant-rich morning smoothie. Straight from the freezer to the blender to my tummy – yum! :)ankakay(at)expired-convictions(dot)com

  103. Oh my gosh, oh my golly bring out the mistletoe and the holly…what a great contest!!!I really love the PC Indian Butter Chicken sauce. So easy to use when in a pinch…just cook chicken cubes in a skillet and add the sauce. I also love the PC Naan bread which we use to dip into the chicken sauce.The PC Insider lists a PC Beef Mini Wellington which I would love to try. Those little flaky pastry packets filled with the marinated beef, mushrooms and onions with a hint of sherry would make a great appetizer at any occasion.Heidi Psmoky1@canada.com

  104. i love the pc ketchup. it has a rich tomato taste and i prefect for making bbq sauce with and putting on most foods. i'd like ot try the shrimp wontons cause anything with shrimp is good

  105. I love their memories of kobe meatballs…so good…and then there is the chocolate chip cookies…also delicious…and this year i am hooked on their peppermint candy chocolate bark…what i want to try is their condensed milk as a friend mentioned it is even better than the other big brand. thanks for the contest entry,Linda

  107. I love PC products! I always find them reasonably priced, and they're all delicious. My favourite would have to be PC Memories of Bengal sauce. It's so good as a dipping sauce with samosas.

  108. I love the PC Concentrated Chicken Broth…if I can't make my own, this is as close to homemade-tasting as you are going to get! They also make a really yummy spicy lentil instant soup.erind35(at)yahoo(dot)ca

  110. My absolute fave PC product is their Splendido Cantuccini Mini Almond Biscotti. These little guys packed with huge almonds (not the unidentifiable little specks you find in other boxed biscotti) and so SO addictive. Perfect with a cappucino any time of day.

  114. There are so many that I love, but I'll go with PC Beer & Chipolte Smokin' Stampede BBQ Sauce because it makes so many things taste so good! Just try slow cooked ribs with it…..mmmmmmmm!!!!!

  116. Hands down – it has got to be the Cranberry Cocktail!! My husband was an Ocean Spray man – wouldn't drink anything else. I picked some PC cran. cocktail up for half the price of the ocean spray and dumped it into the ocean spray bottle to see if I could get away with it, lol. He started analyzing the bottle and told me he was looking for a "new and improved" mark on the label!! I finally had to confess my secret swap – that's all he's drank since!

  117. My family loves the PC products, for me I love the veggie burgers, and the rest of the meat eating clan love the southern crunch chicken breasts! I will definitely try the pad thai you describe, sounds easy! thanks for the contest! Lulu

  118. I love PC Spinach Dip. It is the best spinach dip I have tasted. It is mild with just the right amount of seasoning. Some spinach dips are too strong, bitter or acidic tasting. The PC Spinach Dip is perfect! Great to serve with crackers, vegetables or bread.

  122. I love every PC food I buy I have to say I don't enjoy the superstore, especially the layout but the PC brands are so good and the prices are fantastic so I brave it, also I can put BOTH kids in the cart safely!!!!! Makes a much easier grocery shopping trip. My latest fav was a blue label one, cottage pie with cauliflower topping instead of potatoes. Really healthy and delicious. Another fav I buy all the time is the bite size PC choc covered cheese cakes they are the perfect thing to keep in the freezer for when unexpected company comes and I also use them to take to my book club… super easy, last minute-can't-bear-the-thought-of-having-to -make-something-as-I'm-still-trying- to-finish -the-last-chapter-of-my-book kind of life saver!

  125. I absolutley love the PC sausage rolls!!!!!! they are a little piece of Australia…. theres not too many foods over here that remind me of home!!! and I love splurging on these!great contest!!!melissa_k80@hotmail.com

  126. I love PC products and really do not have a favourite. If I have the option to buy PC I always choose to. My family really likes their cookiesyvonne logan 1 2 3 (at) gmail (dot) com

  129. I really love the PC blue menu multigrain english muffins. They are by FAR the best english muffins I've ever had!! I love toasting them, then opening them up!