New cage-free eggs at Costco, Paramus ShopRite, road food and more

The Hackensack Costco warehouse closed on Tuesday night, but clueless members continued to show up on Friday afternoon, only to drive away in search of the new Costco Wholesale in the Teterboro Landing Shopping Center off of Route 46.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Costco Wholesale apparently is responding to the controversy over selling eggs from caged chickens by making more cage-free eggs available.

On Friday, I made my first shopping trip to the Costco Wholesale in Teterboro, which opened on Wednesday morning.

I planned to order two new pairs of glasses and pick up food items I couldn't find on the last day the Hackensack warehouse was open for business.

I bought my usual Kirkland Signature Organic Large Grade AA Eggs, which are brown and marked cage free, vegetarian fed and certified humane ($6.99 for two dozen).

But as I was checking out, I noticed the couple behind me had a different brand of brown eggs that were marked cage free, but not organic.

Their package also contained 24 eggs, but they should be cheaper than organic.

When I called the Teterboro Costco today, an employee couldn't find the non-organic cage-free eggs in the computer.

So, Costco offers consumers more choice in cage-free eggs, but continues to sell whole eggs and liquid egg whites from caged chickens -- years after the company promised to withdraw them from warehouses.

A 2-pound bag of Chopped Kale, above left, and Butter Lettuce, below, are two of the many items I saw on Friday in the bigger Teterboro Costco that I don't recall from the Hackensack warehouse, which closed on Tuesday night after 21 years.

Frozen seafood

The Teterboro warehouse may be bigger and sell more items than the old warehouse in Hackensack.

Yet, Costco continues to offer an unusually large amount of previously frozen seafood -- from cooked Dungeness Crabs to raw Sea Scallops to raw Lobster Tails, some of them treated with preservatives.

I've been disappointed by the previously frozen cooked crab and scallops, and never tried them again.

On the other hand, another frozen item -- Phillips Seafood Restaurants Maryland Style Crab Cakes -- are as good as any I've had in a restaurant.

The first ingredient is jumbo lump crab meat, and they have to be cooked, not just reheated. 

You get six crab cakes with a total weight of 1 pound 2 ounces for $18.99 -- more than $3 each -- but they are worth the premium.

On Friday, I saw another frozen seafood item that I might try next time -- ahi tuna slices prepared rare with olive oil, garlic and other seasoning.

I did buy a 3-pound bag of frozen wild-caught Mahi-
Mahi loins ($19.99), a 1-pound pouch of Kirkland Signature Smoked Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon ($15.99) and a 3-pound bag of peeled California garlic ($7.39).

Also, a pound of Earthbound Farm Organic Spring Mix ($4.59), and Chobani Greek Yogurt, 0% fat with fruit on the bottom ($14.99 for 20 5.3-ounce cups).

On Tuesday at the Hackensack Costco, a 2-pound bag of Mayorga Cafe Cubano Dark Roast, organic, shade-grown coffee beans, were $10.99 with an instant coupon, and I was able to grind them Turkish in the store.

Shuttered warehouse 

As I was looking over eyeglass frames on Friday, I overheard one of the Costco opticians on the phone, giving directions to the Teterboro Landing Shopping Center from the old Hackensack warehouse.

Huge banners announcing the Hackensack closing and Teterboro opening were hung for many weeks and fliers were given out to members in the days before the former closed on Tuesday night.

Some Costco members didn't get the memo.

Another change I noticed in Teterboro are wider parking spaces and more corrals for Costco's oversized shopping carts.

Still, the wider spots won't protect you from lazy members who think nothing of loading their cars and SUVs, then leaving their empty carts against the fender or door of someone else's vehicle. 

These bruised and battered honeycrisp apples were put on sale for $1.69 a pound at the ShopRite in Paramus on Friday morning. They looked awful.

At ShopRite, Zeigler's Apple Cider is a blend of honeycrisp and other apples.

Potassium sorbate is among the ingredients.

The Paramus ShopRite has the nerve to charge more for the Gia Russa brand of 100% Whole Wheat Pasta from Italy, top, than for the superior Luigi Vitelli brand, on shelf below, which is organic and also imported from Italy.

ShopRite normally charges $2.79 for a can of Season Sardines from Morocco, but even on sale at $1.49 a can, they cost more than the same skinless-and-boneless fish at Costco Wholesale in Teterboro, where six 4.375-ounce cans are $6.99 with an instant coupon through Oct. 25. Costco's Season Sardines are marked non-GMO and the cans are BPA free. The regular Costco price is $1.66 a can.

At the Paramus ShopRite, I was all set to buy wild-caught Jumbo Shrimp from the United States for $14.99 a pound until I saw the small lettering on the sign, "Sulfites Added." 

ShopRite Containers are cheaper than the Ziploc brand sold next to them, and both are BPA free. I use them only for storage of leftovers, even though they are marked microwave safe. I plate leftover food before reheating it and cover it with a paper towel, not plastic wrap, to avoid the transfer of chemicals used to make plastic.

Luigi Vitelli-brand Organic Whole Wheat Capellini in Victoria Marinara with added Season Anchovies (one can) and Season Sardines (three cans), red wine and seasonings. A pound of the thin pasta cooks up al dente in unsalted water in just three minutes. Leftovers go great with eggs or an omelet for breakfast.

At the Suburban Diner in Paramus (172 Route 17 north), the Clam Chowder may have too many potatoes, but there are plenty of fresh-tasting clams just below the surface of the tomatoey broth ($4.75 for a bowl).

At Kitchen Bar in Abington, Pa. (1482 Old York Road), my so-called Greek Salad came without stuffed grape leaves, a big strike against it ($11.99).

We had a late lunch at Kitchen Bar on Oct. 10 with our son, who is attending college on Penn State's Abington campus. This was our second visit to the restaurant.

I would have been happy ordering small plates, such as these Grilled Vegetables ($3.99). My wife complained her Fish and Chips, cod dipped in beer batter and deep fried, were too greasy. The staff happily took it off the bill and brought her a Caesar Salad ($7.99). She didn't like that either, she said later.

My son like his Fish Taco appetizer, though the price was closer to that of an entree ($11.99).

My son ordered the Cajun Penne with Shrimp, but didn't finish the pasta ($12.99).

At the New King Fung Supermarket in River Edge (625 Kinderkamack Road), I shop only for Miya Japanese bowls, not food, because the floor is dirty and the Chinese-owned store has deteriorated since a renovation several years ago.

The label on the bottom of a 6-inch bowl ($6.99). I bought three.

In every store, check the nutrition label for added sugar

These sardines from Thailand seemed like a good buy at ShopRite in Parmaus, but when I looked at the nutrition label on the ones with tomato sauce, sugar was listed as one of the ingredients.

Editor's note: On government-approved nutrition labels, natural and added sugars are listed in grams, but you are not told 4.2 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon. 

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

Tomatoes are one of my favorite foods -- in juice, raw in salads and in cooking -- but a lot of products made with them also contain added sugar.

Bottled pasta sauce with sugar is commonplace, as I discovered at Trader Joe's the other day. But what is sugar doing in sardines?

I've been buying 99-cents canned Moroccan sardines with tomato sauce at Fatal's in Paterson, because they have less sodium than the same fish in oil, and often use them with pasta.

At the ShopRite in Paramus, I saw 3.75-ounce of sardines in tomato sauce from Thailand for only 59 cents during the Summer Can Can Sale.

But the nutrition label listed sugar as one of the ingredients.

I bought three jars of Archer Farms Roasted Salsa Verde from Target, and liked its thick, chunky style.

When I tasted it and then looked at the label, I saw sugar is one of the ingredients. 

No sugar is used in green salsas made in Mexico, and sold by Goya, La Costena and others.

Two bottled pasta sauces at Trader Joe's in Paramus, above and below, contain added sugar. I buy Kirkland Signature Marinara and Classico Tomato & Basil at Costco Wholesale. Both are made without sugar.

The front label on Trader Joe's Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil says it is "imported from Italy and packed in U.S.A." But a label on the back notes the bottle contains a blend of oils from four countries.

The side or back label, left, lists an oil blend from Italy, Spain, Argentina and Greece. ShopRite sells a liter bottle of 100% extra-virgin olive oil from Italy for $7.99 and for $6.99 during the Summer Can Can Sale.

Trader Joe's

At Trader Joe's in Paramus, I looked at bottled pasta sauces with sugar, but bought a 25-ounce jar of Trader Giotto's Organic Tomato Basil Marinara, which is unsweetened ($2.29).

A package of Trader Joe's uncured, antibiotic- and hormone-free beef hot dogs was $4.99.

Applegate naturally raised sliced ham and roast beef come in 7-ounce packages for $3.99 each.

A 2-pound bag of small sweet potatoes was $1.69 or about 85 cents a pound.

Summer Can Can Sale

I took advantage of Summer Can Can Sale discounts at the ShopRite in Paramus. 

The sale continues next week, though different items may be discounted.

A 1-pound package of Luigi Vitelli-brand Organic Whole Wheat Pasta from Italy is $1, compared to $1.39 for a similar product at Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's.

I bought spaghetti, linguine, fusilli and capellini.

Liter bottles of Adirondack Lemon-Lime Seltzer were 40 cents each, and come in a 12 pack, a better value than the same seltzer in 12-ounce cans or 20-ounce bottles.

Bing Cherries were $1.99 a pound, reduced from $2.99.

Two-hundred Melitta basket filters for 4-cup coffee makers were 77 cents, reduced from $1.99.

Costco Wholesale calls this a "food court," but with only one counter, it's really just a food stand with tables. At the Montreal Costco, you can buy coffee and espresso drinks, but not in Hackensack.

A Melted Turkey and Provolone Sandwich is $3.99.

Costco Wholesale's $9.95 pizza

The slices on baked-to-order Costco Wholesale pizzas are so wide they are cut in two.

I ran out on Thursday to get an 18-inch pepperoni pizza at my Hackensack warehouse store for my wife and son ($9.95).

Before I went on a diet, I loved this pizza for all of the filling dough. And you can get a non-meat version with vegetables.

You can ask for it well done, but I'm not sure that is actually bakes longer in the conveyor-belt oven.

I used to bring it home and put the slices in the oven to bake even more.

The waiter said the Watermelon Salad at the Suburban Diner in Paramus comes with soup, such as this tasty vegetarian lentil, below. But when I got home, I noticed I was charged $4.10 for a small bowl.

The popular diner is cutting down trees to add more parking spaces.

A refreshing summer salad

I met a friend for lunch on Wednesday at the Suburban Diner in Paramus, and enjoyed a terrific Watermelon Salad with peppery arugula, diced cucumbers, feta cheese, salsa verde and a vinaigrette dressing with more cheese ($11.95).

I asked for the dressing on the side, and the waiter left it in the kitchen, but he brought it later when I asked for "more dressing."

He also told me a small bowl of soup came with the salad, but my check included a charge of $4.10.

I called the diner today and was told the soup is included. The next time I am there, a man said, the error will be fixed.

A cup of Mighty Leaf Organic Earl Grey Tea was $2.25.

Suburban Diner, 172 Route 17 north, Paramus; 201-261-2605.

At Maison Keyser on Third Avenue and 74th Street in Manhattan, a latte will set you back $4.50 plus tax, including a small pastry made in the artisan bakery. I couldn't find a Starbucks Coffee in the neighborhood.

Fish tacos, diners, cafe au lait, pappardelle and more

Four Mexican Tacos with grilled fresh tilapia and avocado at Taqueria Los Gueros in East Rutherford, including salsas, lime wedges, cilantro and extra spicy onions from the free condiment bar, below ($7.95).

"Extra spicy" is no idle boast when it comes to this fiery combination of onions, carrots and hot peppers. They are seriously hot.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

When lunchtime hunger pangs strike, I usually reach for one of the energy or snack bars I carry with me.

But on Thursday, I knew I was only a couple of miles away from Taqueria Los Gueros, an informal Mexican restaurant with branches in Englewood, East Rutherford and Passaic city.

I loved the scrumptious Tacos de Pescado or Fish Tacos I had at the Englewood branch, but when I walked into the East Rutherford restaurant, I couldn't find them on the wall menu.

I told the woman at the register what I wanted -- fish, cilantro, onion, salsa fresca and avocado -- and she told me to order the Mexican Tacos, which come with a choice of meat or seafood, fried or grilled ($7.95 for four).

I also asked for seltzer, which was free.

East Rutherford v. Englewood

The East Rutherford restaurant is much bigger and busier than the Englewood branch, and the wait for the food was longer.

Although the tacos were as delicious as I remembered and made with two corn tortillas, I thought the piece of fish was smaller.

In Englewood, where one cook and one waitress work, the place is small enough for her to bring your tacos to the table; in East Rutherford, they take your name and you pick up the tray at the counter.

In East Rutherford, tortilla chips are served with your food, but I gave them back. Four tacos with grilled fish are $8 in Englewood, $7.95 in East Rutherford.

After you get your order, the next stop is to pick up salsas, lime and other additions to your tacos, above. You order at the counter below, where I found the employees both pleasant and helpful.

The East Rutherford branch of Taqueria Los Gueros is in a shopping center at 93 Route 17 south, East Rutherford. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (201-340-4361). On Tuesdays, some tacos are only $4.99 for five. 

The well-maintained Colonial Diner shining in the rain on Thursday morning (27 Orient Way, Lyndhurst; 201-953-3192).

The interior of the original diner, which is said to be about 70 years old. I stopped there with friends, but didn't eat or drink anything, because I was saving room for the fish tacos I was planning to have for lunch.

About four years ago, this addition was added, and it blends beautifully with the old diner. Check out the shiny ceiling with a scallop-shell design at the far end.

A large bowl of cream of potato soup was $4.10 at the Suburban Diner, 172 Route 17 north in Paramus (201-261-2605).

Mighty Leaf Organic Earl Grey Tea was $2.25 with refills of hot water.

A close-up of the Suburban Diner's Greek Salad with extra anchovies a friend ordered ($12.70).

The 16-ounce cup of Cafe Au Lait comes with a piece of chocolate for $2.75 at Aroma Espresso Bar in Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus (use the mall's J.C. Penney entrance).

A few ounces of 100% whole-wheat Garofalo Pappardelle from Jerry's Gourmet in Englewood dressed in Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto from Costco Wholesale in Hackensack with added pignoli nuts, one of the ingredients in classic pesto that also is available at Costco. 

Mouth-filling pasta with pesto

Whole-wheat Garofalo Pappardelle from Italy has gone up to $2.59 a pound, a dollar and 20 cents more than a pound of organic whole-wheat pasta from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market.

But those stores don't carry this thick ribbon pasta in whole wheat, which fills the mouth and is completely satisfying, especially when dressed with Basil Pesto from Costco Wholesale.

The last time I enjoyed the dish, I added a handful of pignoli nuts before tossing the al dente pasta and unheated sauce together is the warm pot I used to boil the pappardelle.

The only caveat is you need to cook the pasta about 3 or 4 minutes longer than the 8 minutes listed on the package.

100% Italian olive oil

Finding all-Italian extra-virgin olive oil isn't as easy as it sounds.

Many bottles and tins contain a blend of extra-virgin olive oils from Italy, Greece, Tunisia and other countries.

On Friday, at Jerry's Gourmet & More, 410 S. Dean Street in Englewood, I found a 3-liter tin of Colavita Extra-Virgin Olive Oil made completely from olives harvested and pressed in Italy.

At $20.99, it worked out to about $6.99 a liter.

I also paid $6.99 a liter for organic extra-virgin olive oil from Turkey at the International Food Warehouse, 370 Essex St., Lodi.

Also at Jerry's, I picked up two complete Meals To Go -- restaurant-quality dinners with sausage, peppers and onions, fettuccine in a veal ragu, zucchini flower, heart of palm salad or a vegetable for $7.99 each.

Among the free samples, I loved the Truffle Cheese and the Smoked Gouda. 

Before Jerry's, I stopped at Balthazar, the artisanal bakery at 214 S. Dean St. in Englewood, for a baguette ($2) and half of a sliced batard of Pain de Seigle, its signature rye bread, which is made with beer (1.2 pounds for $3.50).  

$7.99 watermelons

At ShopRite in Paramus on Friday, watermelons with and without seeds were $7.99 each, but the latter were oblong and twice the size of the round, seedless ones.

I selected a heavy watermelon with seeds that a woman rejected because it didn't make the sound she desired when she thumped the end with her hand.

A 64-0unce bottle of Langers Cranberry Pomegranate Juice with no added sugar was on sale for $1.49 or $2 off. But a half-gallon of ShopRite Lactose Free 1% Milk was the usual $3.49.

Last Monday at the Paramus ShopRite, fresh free-range, grass-fed boneless shell steaks from Nature's Reserve in Australia were on sale for $6.99 a pound.

Golden Pineapples and Jumbo Cantaloupes were two for $5.