Cage-free eggs, organic strawberry spread and other big hits at Costco

Costco Wholesale in Teterboro now sells only cage-free whole eggs. On Thursday, Grade AA Cage-Free Large Eggs were $3.79 for two dozen, above, or $8.99 for five dozen, below.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

If you live in New Jersey's Bergen County, two Costco Wholesale warehouses are better than one.

About a year ago, Costco opened a new, larger warehouse in Teterboro, and closed the old warehouse in Hackensack after 21 years.

But Costco breathed new life into the old Hackensack store, which reopened as a Business Center catering to restaurants, caterers and other small businesses last March. 

Now, my membership card gets me into both, and if I run out of spring water, juice, organic spring mix, eggs or milk, I don't have to go to the far busier warehouse in Teterboro.

Hackensack carries about 30 percent of the items found in the bigger warehouse, in the Teterboro Landing Shopping Center off of Route 46.

Still, prices differ slightly and the Business Center on South River Street has its own instant coupons that are good at different dates than in Teterboro.

For example, a 1-pound package of Earthbound Farm Organic Spring Mix was $4.79 in Hackensack on Sept. 21, but only $4.59 in Teterboro on Thursday.

Another big difference is Hackensack's parking lot usually is only about one-third full, because small businesses can order online and have their purchases delivered by Costco.

The Teterboro warehouse also sells cage-free brown eggs, including Organic Large Grade AA Eggs (24 for $6.99).

Fresh Wild Atlantic Cod from Costco Wholesale with organic spinach, cherry tomatoes and grilled eggplant. I breaded the serving pieces in a mildly spicy mix from Pakistan called Lahori Fish, which includes red chili, onion, garlic, ginger, black cumin, green mango, clove, black pepper, cinnamon, carom seeds and tumeric.

Costco's skinless-and-boneless cod fillets are from Iceland ($7.99 a pound). See: 5 easy steps for preparing a Fish and Vegetable Medley

Fresh wild sockeye and coho salmon fillets apparently are no longer available at Costco, but I can still buy a 1-pound package of Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Smoked Sockeye Salmon, which is sliced and divided between two pouches ($14.89). 

Peeled cloves of Christopher Ranch Monviso Garlic from California are once again available at the Teterboro warehouse (3 pounds for $8.99). On previous trips, my wife bought a different brand of peeled garlic from Argentina or Spain. 

Kirkland Signature Roasted Seaweed Snack from South Korea is now available in an organic version for $8.79.

After a long absence, the 42-ounce jar of Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberry Spread is back on the shelf in Teterboro for $6.99, only $1 more than the same size of non-organic Strawberry Spread that was next to it.

Costco usually has the best price on 59-ounce containers of Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice, but starting on Sunday, ShopRite in Paramus has them on sale for $1.99 each. 

A 6-pack of Season Skinless and Boneless Sardines in Olive Oil are on sale in Teterboro through Oct. 23. These heart-healthy little fish from Morocco and marinara are two of the main components in one of my favorite dishes, organic whole wheat pasta with sardines.

Two 40-ounce jars of Victoria White Linen Marinara, which is free of added sugar, also is on sale through Oct. 23.

Does good extra-virgin olive oil have to be expensive?

I've been using this 100% Greek extra-virgin olive oil for cooking and dressing salads since February. My only complaints relate to how difficult it is to raise the tin's turtle-like plastic neck into its pouring position and to unseal it, below.

Editor's note: Today, I discuss extra-virgin olive oils, which can cost up to $20 or $30 a liter, compare organic and conventional apples, and herald 'the return' of Costco Wholesale's Organic Strawberry Spread.

You don't see too many bargains in extra-virgin olive oil these days, so a flier I received in February from the International Food Warehouse in Lodi caught my attention.

A 3-liter tin of Isle of Cyprus Greek Extra-Virgin Olive Oil was being offered for $14.99 or about $5 a liter.

Good extra-virgin olive oil was selling for around $5 a liter about 10 years ago, before a sudden and unexplained spike nearly doubled the price.

Then, blends of Italian, Spanish, Greek and Tunisian oils began to appear at a lower price than bottles of 100% Italian or Spanish extra-virgin olive oil, also referred to as EVOO.

I started buying extra-virgin olive oils from Lebanon, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries in 3-liter bottles that I found in South Paterson stores (about $15).

"Solely by mechanical means," above, refers to obtaining the oil from the olives without the use of hot water or chemicals. Another label, below, refers to "a pure and virgin product obtained ... without any additives."

In February, I bought 2 tins of Isle of Cyprus extra-virgin olive oil, and started to use it for frying eggs, omelets and frittatas, and for dressing salads, along with balsamic vinegar.

I also added it to bottled marinara sauce and drizzled it over reheated leftover pasta.

The oil was fruity and thicker than others I have purchased for the same price, and compared favorably to a Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil from Costco Wholesale that cost $11.99 a liter.

The International Food Warehouse then started selling 1-liter bottles of Isle of Cyrus EVOO for $4.99, but I didn't get to the store before the sale ended.

On May 22, I picked up 2 more tins of the Cypriot oil for $13.99 each.

The golden-green oil and balsamic vinegar make a great salad dressing.

I recall going to the store earlier in May, but found the tins had run out.

I overheard another customer telling his friend the Isle of Cyprus oil must be "adulterated," if it was being sold for such a low price.

But I don't see any evidence of that from the taste and aroma.

It's just a good extra-virgin olive oil at a great price, especially if you use it both to cook and dress salads.

The producer of Isle of Cyprus Extra-Virgin Olive Oil may have cut its price to be competitive in world markets after the island experienced financial problems this year.

It is imported by Phoenicia Specialty Foods of Houston, Texas.


International Food Warehouse, 370 Essex St.,

Lodi; (201) 368-9511. Open 7 days.

Conventionally grown Jazz Apples were $2.49 a pound at the Paramus Shop Rite on Wednesday or only 50 cents less than organic apples at Whole Foods Market.

Comparing apples

Price increases for food never seem to end.

On a visit to Whole Foods Market in Paramus on Wednesday, I couldn't find any organic apples for less than $2.99 a pound.

I bought a single Gala Apple ($1.11), an unusually crisp Braeburn from New Zealand ($1.44) and a Fuji Apple ($1.64), all organic.

A single organic apple cost more than an entire pound of conventional apples a couple of years ago.

Then, I drove over to the ShopRite across the street for lactose-free milk, and saw conventionally grown apples were going for $2.49 a pound.

Whole Foods organic apple prices were stiff, but I also found frozen, antibiotic-free turkey backs and necks for a low $1.49 a pound.

ShopRite had antibiotic-free Readington Farms chicken quarters for $1.49 a pound.

They're back

After several futile searches for Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberry Spread on visits to Costco Wholesale, I finally found some today at my warehouse store in Hackensack ($7.49 for a 42-ounce bottle).

When I couldn't find the spread -- which family members singled out for praise -- I bought Smucker's Strawberry Preserves, made with high-fructose corn syrup.

I also picked up Kirkland Signature Natural Peanut Butter (Creamy), and will refrigerate it to prevent the separation I didn't like the last time I tried it ($9.99 for two 40-ounce plastic jars).

The ingredients are Dry Roasted Valencia Peanuts and Sea Salt.

Costco's Kirkland Signature brand is sending mixed quality signals

Chicken wings for under $2.30 a pound at Costco Wholesale.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Kirkland Signature is the premium house brand at Costco Wholesale, but members are discovering the quality of products carrying that name isn't always the highest.

Last week, my wife came home with a 10-pound bag of Kirkland Signature Chicken Wings for $22.99 or less than $2.30 a pound, an unusually low price when compared to supermarket wings.

For a reason that eludes me, supermarkets charge more for chicken wings than for other, meatier parts, including drumsticks and thighs.

But with the Kirkland Signature wings, only the price is special. 

The wings are from chickens raised on antibiotics that have proven harmful to humans.

The same can be said of Costco's wildly popular, fully cooked Kirkland Signature Rotisserie Chicken, which is raised on antibiotics and non-vegetarian feed.

The ingredients label of Costco's rotisserie chicken should give you pause.

 

It doesn't make sense for Costco to sell inferior chicken wings and rotisserie chicken under the Kirkland Signature label side by side with other, high-quality products, including:

Preservative-free, smoked wild sockeye salmon from Alaska; a spread made from organic fresh strawberries, and organic diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.

Kirkland Signature also offers premium Green Tea Matcha Blend from Ito En, made with 100% Japanese tea leaves; organic low-fat milk and other items. 

When my wife wanted to buy more chicken wings from Costco, I told her to get antibiotic-free Empire kosher chicken.

But she couldn't find any Empire wings, and I couldn't find antibiotic-free or organic wings at the Paramus ShopRite.

The first time my wife brought home the Kirkland Signature wings she said she has assumed all along that Costco sells only naturally raised food at low prices.

Sadly, she is mistaken. Costco is not above trying to hide low quality under its Kirkland Signature label.


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Wild salmon makes good eating year-round

A smoked wild salmon frittata oozes with imported buffalo-milk mozzarella.

Fresh, wild-caught salmon appears to have had its run at Costco Wholesale in Hackensack.

In the seafood case today, I found thick steaks of ahi or bigeye tuna, and fillets of flounder, haddock and cod, all wild-caught.

I enjoyed plenty of fresh, wild sockeye and king salmon until last week, so now it's time to turn my attention to other wild-caught fish and the smoked or frozen wild salmon Costco carries year-round.

Today, I picked up skinless Pacific cod fillets at a low $6.99 a pound.

I added smoked wild salmon and cheese to a salad I bought in a hospital cafeteria.

An open-face egg-white omelet with smoked salmon and pesto.

Kirkland Signature's Wild Alaskan Smoked Sockeye Salmon is preservative-free and comes sliced, so it's easy to add to an omelet or salad or roll up with a piece of cheese and dip in mustard for a snack.

The price has held steady at $15.39 for a package with two half-pound sections. 

I made a frittata with smoked salmon, fresh buffalo-milk mozzarella, capers and organic brown eggs -- all from the Hackensack warehouse store.

Ahi tuna has supplanted wild king salmon in the fresh fish case. I bought Pacific cod fillets, a wild-caught fish that doesn't raise concerns about excessive mercury.

Small, fully cooked langostino tails, upper left corner, are preservative free.

In addition to the cod fillets, I bought frozen "langostino lobster" tails that are fully cooked and peeled.

They will be a change of pace from the whole-wheat pasta and sardines I make at home. A 2-pound bag from Chile was $22.99.

Unlike the jumbo lobster tails sold at Coscto, the langostino is preservative free, though salt is added, and they are actually from a shrimp-like sea creature, not a lobster.

The Organic Strawberry Spread uses fresh strawberries.

Two other purchases were Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberry Spread, made with sugar ($7.49 for a 42-ounce jar), and MaraNatha All-Natural Roasted Almond Butter ($5.99 for a 26-ounce jar).

I bought the sodium-free almond butter when I couldn't find Kirkland Signature Natural Creamy Peanut Butter.

When I got home, I stirred the oil at the top of the jar into the almond butter, and put the jar into the refrigerator to prevent separation.