Best Foodie Products of 2013 & Raspberry Award

President’s Choice Black Label High Tea Mother’s Day Party at Mom’s

This year was a fascinating one when it came to product reviews. I was very sheltered and kind of out of the foodie loop this year and am grateful to all the companies that went the extra mile to let me test their products. These are by far the best and I left the absolute worst for last.

Wendell Estate Honey is thick, luscious and divine. I have yet to discover it in my grocery store so I have been rationing it and enjoying this nectar of the foodie gods. One of the best products of the year and by far the best product I have received from Dragons’ Den so far.

Earth’s Own Almond Fresh Coconut is thick without being too thick, has the “wow” coconut flavour they promised and has replaced my skim milk in the morning. It goes so perfectly with my morning granola, its deliciousness has yet to be surpassed.

Moon Cheese was the first product Reg and I thought of when it came to best new products of 2013. I am hoping that it will soon be available to Canada so that everyone can have as much fun eating it as we have. More Moon Cheese product testing to come!

McDonald’s

This year McDonald’s and I became good friends. The people there are so lovely and they have introduced me to a new foodie world at their restaurants. My favourite? Now when I want to go out and pick up a bite to eat I always get their Mediterranean Veggie Signature McWrap. Since I reviewed this product there seems to be a bit more consistency which is great because it is back to its wonderful flavour and crunchy bits inside.

I fell in love with their McCafé Coffee Iced Frappé when I was in Toronto and I am still crazy for it. It does not separate, has loads of coffee flavour (AKA very strong) and is such a treat. I still have yet to come up with a version at home that compares… Damn it!

Right before Christmas I got a wonderful holiday bag of treats from my friends at McDonald’s.

There were lots of goodies and coupons… We were spoiled rotten! They included a bag of their Premium Medium Roast Coffee which I can not drink because I can not have caffeine but Reg can. He quickly became a convert and has been preferring and enjoying this to the regular brand of coffee I buy him. Well done McDonald’s! You snuck one more awesome product into my list without even knowing it. Making Reg happy with coffee makes me happy.

President’s Choice

As usual, President’s Choice knocked quite a few product out of the park this year, including their Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Mix. Damn, I still can not get over how good these cupcakes were. Even at $5.99 a box, this mix kicked ass.

I was so impressed that I bought their Gluten-Free Golden Cake Mix and again, so good! Moist, light, airy… I do not know how they did it. No gluten and they tasted homemade. Bravo!

My most recent discovery is their Soft Unripened Fig Goat Cheese which I used in their Anne Burrell’s salad. I had a feeling it would be the perfect match and it was. I have used this cheese in various ways since and I sincerely hope this is not a seasonal product, I love it so much I want it all year round.

The biggest surprise winner was their Sushi Bites. Baked sushi? Seriously? Doesn’t that go against all the foodie rules?

I taste tested one at the PC Points Holiday Party and man, melt in your mouth delicious! Topped with wasabi cream? I was in sushi heaven. Completely confused mind you but very, very happy. I picked some more up for a PC Holiday Tasting Party of my own and they were beloved by everyone.

2013 Raspberry Award

Quaker Protein Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal was appalling bad. So bad I made my first rant video. I did contact the company to let them know that I had such a horrid experience with the oatmeal and they wrote a very nice response back. The part that bugs me though?

“Although public response to this product has been favorable, we realize that individual preferences vary, and we appreciate you expressing your point of view. Your comments are being passed along to our brand manager for review.”

Since I put together this post I had many people write me and tell me they had exactly the same experience with this oatmeal. In fact a woman at the grocery store even told me that she had made the same horrid mistake and picked up that oatmeal by accident. I am sorry, I just do not believe that public response to this product has been favourable, I just don’t.

As much as I appreciate them sending me a few coupons to make up for it, I do not feel like they really heard me. That I think there is something WRONG with this product. There is no way it is a good product and people are just buying it by mistake and not saying anything.

Which is why it is important to say something!!! Nothing changes if you do not speak up.

Good-Bye 2013

I hope you enjoyed my favourite foodie products of 2013 and may 2014 be even more delicious for everyone!