Crispy Tenders = Bad

Todaaaay we're going to take a look at Gardein's Seven Grain Crispy Tenders. Yes, unfortunately, they are kind of bad. This will undoubtedly surprise those of you who have tried their other products, but I promise to explain.

Overall, I love Gardein. They are a wonderful company and offer some fabulous animal-free foods (for instance, their Chick'n Filets are delectable and approximate the taste and texture of real chicken better than any other faux-meat I've ever eaten. And you know I've tried more than my share!). The president/founder of Gardein was actually the creator of Yves Veggie Cuisine, which he sold several years ago, and apparently also marketed North America's very first veggie dog more than 20 years ago - Amazing! He also has contributed to PC's Blue Menu product line (which will prove ironic in a moment or two, if you'll bear with me). So Gardein has emerged from a long history of pro-veggie entrepreneurship, which I admire and appreciate.

But it just happens to be the case that they got things wrong with the Crispy Tenders (vegan chicken nuggets/strips). I had very high hopes for them, given Gardein's super-duper track record, but they were just dry and pretty flavourless. I cooked them using different methods (baking, microwaving, and even frying), and they came out marginally more moist when I shortened the cooking time, but that didn't make up for their blandness. Pluuuuus they're a little expensive (typically around $7 Canadian, though I got them on sale for $4-something at an organic grocery store one day), and their nutritional value (other than being low-fat) is unremarkable.

I wouldn't say the tenders are full-on ugly, since I do respect the company's history and the work they do, and it's great that the product is certified vegan and the taste isn't completely vomitous, just plain. But when there are better options out there, plain don't cut it!

Speaking of better options, here comes the irony! (No, it's not that exciting, but anyway.) Another one of the reasons why I had hoped that the tenders would be yummy was because the PC Blue Menu ones are INCREDIBLE. I might even like them better than I used to like real chicken strips. So what's up, Mr. Gardein Man?! If you worked on the Blue Menu stuff, why aren't the Gardein strips just as good (especially since they are more expensive)? Well, maybe I'll never get the answer to that, but I guess I'll just continue to buy the PC strips (and give them the full review they deserve) rather than these ones.

Product and nutritional info: http://www.gardein.com/products.php?t=frozen&p=4