I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2 stoppered
vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I thought that was a
really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea and look plump and moist.
Janet

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
> and look plump and moist. Janet

Hey, I looked for vanilla beans last time I was there, I didn't see
them. Were they by the herbs/spices?

nancy

Janet Bostwick wrote:

> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2 stoppered
> vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I thought that was a
> really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea and look plump and moist.

Excellent price! Where is your particular Costco? Bob and I are thinking
it might be worth the drive -- we just don't know if ours will have the
same stock (things change so often).

Thanks for the heads-up.

--Lin

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2 stoppered
> vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I thought that was a
> really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea and look plump and moist.
> Janet
>
>
That sounds like a good deal to me; the last time I bought vanilla
beans, my local supermarket had single beans in a stoppered vial for $5.
I haven't checked my local Costco, but I will next time I'm there.
Hopefully they'll be available here; we don't always get the same
products here in Canada as you do in the U.S.

On Nov 12, 3:26*pm, "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. *It is a card of 2 stoppered
> vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. *I thought that was a
> really good deal. *The beans are from New Guinea and look plump and moist.
> Janet

Nice deal!

"Janet Bostwick" wrote:
>
> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. �
> It is a card of 2 stoppered vials (5 beans in
> each vial) for $11.00 and change. �

With today's chemistry no human being can differenciate between
vanilla flavoring and real vanilla extract... and if heated even a
trained bloodhound will tell say you wasted your money. When you buy
ice cream nowadays with tiny black flecks they may as well be ground
mouse turds.

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in
:

> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
> and look plump and moist. Janet
>
>


Go onto eBay.

I bought 250g (about 70-80 beans) for AUD$25



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

Mi b'aill docha basaich air m' ris, sin mair air m'glun.

(I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.)

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:26:08 -0700, "Janet Bostwick"
> wrote:

>I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2 stoppered
>vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I thought that was a
>really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea and look plump and moist.
>Janet
>

I bought them, too! They look fabulous, don't they?

Boron

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in
:

> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
> and look plump and moist. Janet
>
>


Just got to http://www.ebay.com/

and type in vanilla bean in the search box.

Here's one of the products on sale.



Buy some, get some free!!

http://tinyurl.com/5uflue



Item title: 1 LB Org Grade A Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans 6"

Buy It Now price: US $47.94

$5 for shipping in the US.



OUR FAMOUS VANILLA BEAN SPECIAL

Buy: Get:
$10 to $16.99 Free 10 pack of Tahitian Grade B Vanilla Beans
$17 to $29.99 Free quarter pound of Tahitian Grade A Vanilla Beans 5
~6"
$30 to $49.99 Free half pound of Tahitian Grade A Vanilla Beans 5~6"
$50+ Free pound of Tahitian Grade A Gourmet Vanilla
Beans 5~6"

--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

Mi b'aill docha basaich air m' ris, sin mair air m'glun.

(I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.)

Nancy Young wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>
> Hey, I looked for vanilla beans last time I was there, I didn't see
> them. Were they by the herbs/spices?
>
> nancy
They were on an isle cap in the canned/boxed goods section across from the
books and shoes.
Janet

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>
>> Hey, I looked for vanilla beans last time I was there, I didn't see
>> them. Were they by the herbs/spices?

> They were on an isle cap in the canned/boxed goods section across
> from the books and shoes.

Thanks. Now that I know they might actually have them,
I'll look harder.

nancy

Lin wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>> and look plump and moist.
>
> Excellent price! Where is your particular Costco? Bob and I are
> thinking it might be worth the drive -- we just don't know if ours
> will have the same stock (things change so often).
>
> Thanks for the heads-up.
>
> --Lin

This Costco is in Boise.
Janet

flitterbit wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>
>>
> That sounds like a good deal to me; the last time I bought vanilla
> beans, my local supermarket had single beans in a stoppered vial for
> $5. I haven't checked my local Costco, but I will next time I'm
> there. Hopefully they'll be available here; we don't always get the
> same products here in Canada as you do in the U.S.

That's true, the goods offered arne't always the same, but I've noticed that
a lot of them show up eventually. So keep your eyes open.
Janet

Sheldon wrote:
> "Janet Bostwick" wrote:
>>
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. ?
>> It is a card of 2 stoppered vials (5 beans in
>> each vial) for $11.00 and change. ?
>
> With today's chemistry no human being can differenciate between
> vanilla flavoring and real vanilla extract... and if heated even a
> trained bloodhound will tell say you wasted your money. When you buy
> ice cream nowadays with tiny black flecks they may as well be ground
> mouse turds.

Well, compared to similar mouse droppings offered for sale, these were very
reasonably priced. Besides, sometimes buying the real thing just makes you
feel good. ;o}
Janet

Boron Elgar wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:26:08 -0700, "Janet Bostwick"
> > wrote:
>
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>
>
> I bought them, too! They look fabulous, don't they?
>
> Boron

Great Minds and all that!!! Yes, they do. I don't think they will be
around long.
Janet

Nancy Young wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>
> Hey, I looked for vanilla beans last time I was there, I didn't see
> them. Were they by the herbs/spices?
>
> nancy

The Card is 9x11 inches, is labeled Kirkland and is leaf grean in color.
Just to help you with your search Good luck!!!
Janet

On Nov 12, 7:53�pm, "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
> Sheldon wrote:
> > "Janet Bostwick" wrote:
>
> >> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. ?
> >> It is a card of 2 stoppered vials (5 beans in
> >> each vial) for $11.00 and change. ?
>
> > With today's chemistry no human being can differenciate between
> > vanilla flavoring and real vanilla extract... and if heated even a
> > trained bloodhound will tell say you wasted your money. �When you buy
> > ice cream nowadays with tiny black flecks they may as well be ground
> > mouse turds.
>
> Well, sometimes buying the real thing just makes you
> feel good. �;o}

Well, at least that's honest

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>
>> Hey, I looked for vanilla beans last time I was there, I didn't see
>> them. Were they by the herbs/spices?

> The Card is 9x11 inches, is labeled Kirkland and is leaf grean in
> color. Just to help you with your search Good luck!!!

That does help me! I had the card being white in my mind,
I never would have seen it. Thanks.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>
> Hey, I looked for vanilla beans last time I was there, I didn't see
> them. Were they by the herbs/spices?
>
That's not a surprise. Whenever I went there looking for specific
items they never seemed to have them, There were all sorts of deals on
things they had lots of, but never the things or brands that I usually buy.

Sheldon wrote:
> "Janet Bostwick" wrote:
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. �
>> It is a card of 2 stoppered vials (5 beans in
>> each vial) for $11.00 and change. �
>
> With today's chemistry no human being can differenciate between
> vanilla flavoring and real vanilla extract... and if heated even a
> trained bloodhound will tell say you wasted your money. When you buy
> ice cream nowadays with tiny black flecks they may as well be ground
> mouse turds.
>

Bullshit. Maybe you can't tell the difference between real and
artificial vanilla beans but most knowledgeable people with taste buds can.

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:10:25 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>Nancy Young wrote:
>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>
>> Hey, I looked for vanilla beans last time I was there, I didn't see
>> them. Were they by the herbs/spices?
>>
> That's not a surprise. Whenever I went there looking for specific
>items they never seemed to have them, There were all sorts of deals on
>things they had lots of, but never the things or brands that I usually buy.

Ah, well, more for me, then.

Boron

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:55:16 -0700, "Janet Bostwick"
> wrote:

>Boron Elgar wrote:
>> On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:26:08 -0700, "Janet Bostwick"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>>
>>
>> I bought them, too! They look fabulous, don't they?
>>
>> Boron
>
>Great Minds and all that!!! Yes, they do. I don't think they will be
>around long.
>Janet
>

I like to use them to make ice cream. I also plop one in my vanilla
bottle. It keeps the bean moist for another use and even zings the
extract up a tad.

I have a vanilla orchid growing quite happily, but it is tricky to get
them to bloom indoors and even trickier to process the beans.

Boron

Boron Elgar wrote:

>> That's not a surprise. Whenever I went there looking for specific
>> items they never seemed to have them, There were all sorts of deals on
>> things they had lots of, but never the things or brands that I usually buy.
>
> Ah, well, more for me, then.

Go for it. I gave up on Costco years ago. They had all sorts of stock
and lots of good deals, but they never had deals on what I was looking
for and often did not even have what I was shopping for. It's a great
place for junk food and bulk packages, but just doesn't suit my shopping
needs.

PeterLucas wrote:
> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote in
> :
>
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>
>>
>
>
> Go onto eBay.
>
> I bought 250g (about 70-80 beans) for AUD$25
>
>
>
> --
> Peter Lucas
> Brisbane
> Australia
I thought about that at one time, but wasn't sure of the quality. You're
satisfied?
Janet

Boron Elgar wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:55:16 -0700, "Janet Bostwick"
> > wrote:
>
>> Boron Elgar wrote:
>>> On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:26:08 -0700, "Janet Bostwick"
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>>>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>>>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>>>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>>>
>>>
>>> I bought them, too! They look fabulous, don't they?
>>>
>>> Boron
>>
>> Great Minds and all that!!! Yes, they do. I don't think they will
>> be around long.
>> Janet
>>
>
> I like to use them to make ice cream. I also plop one in my vanilla
> bottle. It keeps the bean moist for another use and even zings the
> extract up a tad.
>
> I have a vanilla orchid growing quite happily, but it is tricky to get
> them to bloom indoors and even trickier to process the beans.
>
> Boron

I make Kaluha every winter. The recipe calls for allowing the mixture to
sit for 30-60 days with a new bean in the mix. Instead, I put the bean in
the bottle of vodka the winter before, let it soak all year and then add the
bottle of vanilla vodka to finish the recipe.
Janet

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in
m:

> PeterLucas wrote:
>> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I
>>> thought that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea
>>> and look plump and moist. Janet
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Go onto eBay.
>>
>> I bought 250g (about 70-80 beans) for AUD$25
>>
>>

> I thought about that at one time, but wasn't sure of the quality.
> You're satisfied?



Extremely.


I got the Madagascan beans, and have got sooooo many, I've been giving them
away left right and center to friends!!

Here's some pics of the beans and the vanilla essence I started when I got
them.....

http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/a...lla%20Essence/




--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

Mi b'aill docha basaich air m' ris, sin mair air m'glun.

(I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.)

"Lin" > wrote in message
...
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. It is a card of 2
>> stoppered vials (5 beans in each vial) for $11.00 and change. I thought
>> that was a really good deal. The beans are from New Guinea and look
>> plump and moist.
>
> Excellent price! Where is your particular Costco? Bob and I are thinking
> it might be worth the drive -- we just don't know if ours will have the
> same stock (things change so often).
>
> Thanks for the heads-up.

Lin, I saw them last weekend at the Exposition Blvd Costco in Sacto.

TammyM

TammyM wrote:

> Lin, I saw them last weekend at the Exposition Blvd Costco in Sacto.

Danke! I'll be swingin' by our local Costco tomorrow then.

--Lin

PeterLucas wrote:
> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote in
> m:
>
>> PeterLucas wrote:
>>> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote in
>>> :
>>>
>>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. snip

>>> Go onto eBay.
>>>
>>> I bought 250g (about 70-80 beans) for AUD$25

>> I thought about that at one time, but wasn't sure of the quality.
>> You're satisfied?

> Extremely.
>
> I got the Madagascan beans, and have got sooooo many, I've been
> giving them away left right and center to friends!!
>
> Here's some pics of the beans and the vanilla essence I started when
> I got them.....
>
> http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/a...lla%20Essence/
--
> Peter Lucas
> Brisbane
> Australia

You got saffron as well? How much was that?
Janet

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in
m:


>>>>
>>>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. snip
>
>>>> Go onto eBay.
>>>>
>>>> I bought 250g (about 70-80 beans) for AUD$25
>
>>> I thought about that at one time, but wasn't sure of the quality.
>>> You're satisfied?
>
>> Extremely.
>>
>> I got the Madagascan beans, and have got sooooo many, I've been
>> giving them away left right and center to friends!!
>>
>> Here's some pics of the beans and the vanilla essence I started when
>> I got them.....
>>
>> http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/a..._2007/Vanilla%
20Essence/
> --

>
> You got saffron as well? How much was that?


$8.95 from my local Indian supermarket.

And yes, it's the ridgey-didge stuff.



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

Mi b'aill docha basaich air m' ris, sin mair air m'glun.

(I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.)

On Nov 13, 4:43*pm, PeterLucas > wrote:
> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote innews:fcKdnb3DgdJZVIbUnZ2dnUVZ_jOdnZ2d@supernews. com:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >>>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. snip
>
> >>>> Go onto eBay.
>
> >>>> I bought 250g (about 70-80 beans) for AUD$25
>
> >>> I thought about that at one time, but wasn't sure of the quality.
> >>> You're satisfied?
>
> >> Extremely.
>
> >> I got the Madagascan beans, and have got sooooo many, I've been
> >> giving them away left right and center to friends!!
>
> >> Here's some pics of the beans and the vanilla essence I started when
> >> I got them.....
>
> >>http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/a..._2007/Vanilla%
> 20Essence/
> > --
>
> > You got saffron as well? *How much was that?
>
> $8.95 from my local Indian supermarket.
>
> And yes, it's the ridgey-didge stuff.
>
> --
> Peter Lucas
> Brisbane
> Australia
>
> Mi b'aill docha basaich air m' ris, sin mair air m'glun.
>
> (I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.)

Crocus Sativus Linnaeus fetches up to $USD 11000 pound
Must have been a tiny bit or your back to telling fibs again

Nemesis > fnord
:

> On Nov 13, 4:43*pm, PeterLucas > wrote:
>> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote
>> innews:fcKdnb3DgdJZVIbUnZ2dn
> :
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >>>>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. snip
>>
>> >>>> Go onto eBay.
>>
>> >>>> I bought 250g (about 70-80 beans) for AUD$25
>>
>> >>> I thought about that at one time, but wasn't sure of the quality.
>> >>> You're satisfied?
>>
>> >> Extremely.
>>
>> >> I got the Madagascan beans, and have got sooooo many, I've been
>> >> giving them away left right and center to friends!!
>>
>> >> Here's some pics of the beans and the vanilla essence I started
>> >> when I got them.....
>>
>> >>http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/a..._2007/Vanilla%
>> 20Essence/
>> > --
>>
>> > You got saffron as well? *How much was that?
>>
>> $8.95 from my local Indian supermarket.
>>
>> And yes, it's the ridgey-didge stuff.
>>
>> --
>> Peter Lucas
>> Brisbane
>> Australia
>>
>> Mi b'aill docha basaich air m' ris, sin mair air m'glun.
>>
>> (I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.)
>
> Crocus Sativus Linnaeus fetches up to $USD 11000 pound
> Must have been a tiny bit or your back to telling fibs again

I can get a package of saffron about the same size as one of the ones he
took a picture of for about 5 bucks (also from a local Indian market)
Granted, it's not the really really nice stuff (though I am certainly no
expert on saffron), but good enough to make a wonderfully floral pot of
rice once in a while. I would be willing to pay a lot more than that...
you use so little of it in a dish, that it's not really *that* expensive
of a seasoning.

--
Saerah

"Welcome to Usenet, Biatch! Adapt or haul ass!"
- some hillbilly from FL

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:23:45 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>Boron Elgar wrote:
>
>>> That's not a surprise. Whenever I went there looking for specific
>>> items they never seemed to have them, There were all sorts of deals on
>>> things they had lots of, but never the things or brands that I usually buy.
>>
>> Ah, well, more for me, then.
>
>Go for it. I gave up on Costco years ago. They had all sorts of stock
>and lots of good deals, but they never had deals on what I was looking
>for and often did not even have what I was shopping for. It's a great
>place for junk food and bulk packages, but just doesn't suit my shopping
>needs.

Maybe you should visit a Costco again. They have fresh foods and
meats, clothing, books. I at least try the Costco brands of things
and for the most part I am pleasantly surprised.

I rarely find that stores have great deals on things I need now. Last
week or next week, but not today.

Saerah Gray > wrote in
53:

> Nemesis > fnord


>>>
>>> > You got saffron as well? *How much was that?
>>>
>>> $8.95 from my local Indian supermarket.
>>>
>>> And yes, it's the ridgey-didge stuff.
>>>

>>
>> Crocus Sativus Linnaeus fetches up to $USD 11000 pound
>> Must have been a tiny bit or your back to telling fibs again
>
> I can get a package of saffron about the same size as one of the ones
> he took a picture of for about 5 bucks (also from a local Indian
> market) Granted, it's not the really really nice stuff (though I am
> certainly no expert on saffron), but good enough to make a wonderfully
> floral pot of rice once in a while. I would be willing to pay a lot
> more than that... you use so little of it in a dish, that it's not
> really *that* expensive of a seasoning.
>


Saerah, that numbnuts "nemisis" is a stalker from the ozdebate group. Best
bet is to killfile it.

It has been proven time, and time, and time again, to be a fraud. And each
time it opens it's mouth, it proves that it's a moronic 'know-it-all' that
knows *nothing*.

It gets *all* it's information from Google, yet claims to be a 'man of the
world'.

But just to give the stalking POS a bit of an education......

"The main cost in producing saffron is labour, as the flowers are picked by
hand and the saffron picked out of each. It takes many thousands of flowers
to make one kilo of saffron. The reason Tasmanian saffron (which is no
better than the imported stuff) is not competitive is the labour cost.
Places like Iran, India and Spain, where labour is cheap, produce lots of
very good saffron. You can get a box of 3g of Spanish or Iranian saffron
for less than you have to pay for about 4 Tasmanian saffron strands.
Literally. You'd pay over $100 for enough Tasmanian saffron to flavour a
decent paella!"


Once again, it shows it is a complete pathetic stalking fool, who knows
nothing.

BTW, here's a pic of the price tag on the back of my saffron box.


http://i33.tinypic.com/2wox8xt.jpg


OMG!!!! I misquoted the price!!!

It wasn't $8.95......... it was $8.99.....

Jeez, that must make me a liar.


But........ I'll let the stalking POS carry on with it's crap, and I'll
continue buying my 1g of Indian saffron for AUD$8.99

BTW, I've tried Iranian, Tasmanian, and Indian saffron.

No difference, expect for the price.

--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

Mi b'aill docha basaich air m' ris, sin mair air m'glun.

(I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.)

The Cook wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:23:45 -0500, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>> Boron Elgar wrote:
>>
>>>> That's not a surprise. Whenever I went there looking for specific
>>>> items they never seemed to have them, There were all sorts of deals on
>>>> things they had lots of, but never the things or brands that I usually buy.
>>> Ah, well, more for me, then.
>> Go for it. I gave up on Costco years ago. They had all sorts of stock
>> and lots of good deals, but they never had deals on what I was looking
>> for and often did not even have what I was shopping for. It's a great
>> place for junk food and bulk packages, but just doesn't suit my shopping
>> needs.
>
> Maybe you should visit a Costco again. They have fresh foods and
> meats, clothing, books. I at least try the Costco brands of things
> and for the most part I am pleasantly surprised.
>
> I rarely find that stores have great deals on things I need now. Last
> week or next week, but not today.
>
>
We've been very pleased with the Costco house brand, Kirkland; every
product we've tried so far has been very high quality, and while not all
prices are bargains, we find enough deals to more than offset the annual
membership. It's a great supplement to the existing roster of retail
outlets around here, quite honestly.

The Cook wrote:

> Maybe you should visit a Costco again. They have fresh foods and
> meats, clothing, books. I at least try the Costco brands of things
> and for the most part I am pleasantly surprised.
>
> I rarely find that stores have great deals on things I need now. Last
> week or next week, but not today.


It was generally a negative experience shopping there. Sure, they have
huge packages of stuff with a low cost per unit, but there's just the
two of us here so we can't use it all. The fact that they have branched
out to sell clothes and books just leads be to suspect there will be
even less shelf space for the brands I want.

I used to use Arm and Hammer antiperspirant. They had only Right Guard.
We eat a lot of Breton crackers ...Original. They had three packs, wiith
one with Original and two other flavours. I used to like to take Knorr
soups and pastas in a cup. I bought a variety box that showed Macaroni
in Cheese, prima vera <?> Chicken Noodle and potato leek. It turned out
to have only three pastas, two chicken noodle and the rest were potato
leek, which was the least interesting. I got the impression they were
using the so called variety pack to dump the one they could not sell.

I have to confess that the worst part of shopping there was that I ended
up buying a lot of junk food that I would not normally buy only because
it was cheap. Inevitably, I got out of there with a lot of stuff and a
big bill, and I still had to go elsewhere for the things I needed.

I did once find a real deal on shrimp. I went back to get more and they
no longer carried them.

Now I am faced with the option of driving a long way to Costco, paying a
membership, which I am reluctant to do, only to find that I will once
again stock up on stuff I don't really need and still not being able to
find what I want. Having had so much trouble finding the things I need
in Costco, I am not likely to drive all the way there to look for a deal
on vanilla beans, and paying for a membership and then finding out this
store doesn't carry them/

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:25:07 -0800 (PST), Sheldon >
wrote:

>"Janet Bostwick" wrote:
>>
>> I just picked up some vanilla beans at Costco. ?
>> It is a card of 2 stoppered vials (5 beans in
>> each vial) for $11.00 and change. ?
>
>With today's chemistry no human being can differenciate between
>vanilla flavoring and real vanilla extract... and if heated even a
>trained bloodhound will tell say you wasted your money. When you buy
>ice cream nowadays with tiny black flecks they may as well be ground
>mouse turds.
>
That's rather a sweeping statement... I don't know about the black
flecks but I can easily tell the difference between some food (notably
ice cream) with artificial vanilla flavor vs. that with real vanilla.
Artificial extracts contain vanillin, which is certainly the major
component of vanilla beans. But the flavor and fragrance of vanillin
is flat when compared to the real thing; there are a bunch of other
aldehydes and other odds n ends in real vanilla that give it depth and
complexity.

Of course, if one cannot tell the difference then there is no sense
spending the extra on real vanilla extract (or making your own; I have
almost a liter of used-to-be-vodka that is about 18 months old, and
beautifully dark from six or eight vanilla beans).

(Oh, and I bought the beans on eBay. Very satisfactory.)

Best -- Terry

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:02:37 -0500, The Cook wrote:
>
> Maybe you should visit a Costco again. They have fresh foods and
> meats, clothing, books. I at least try the Costco brands of things
> and for the most part I am pleasantly surprised.
>
> I rarely find that stores have great deals on things I need now. Last
> week or next week, but not today.

you have to start looking two or three weeks before you run out. i've had
good luck with vitamins that way (not at costco, but in general).

your pal,
blake

Dave Smith wrote:
snip
> It was generally a negative experience shopping there. Sure, they have
> huge packages of stuff with a low cost per unit, but there's just the
> two of us here so we can't use it all. The fact that they have
> branched out to sell clothes and books just leads be to suspect there
> will be even less shelf space for the brands I want.
snip listed complaints
> Now I am faced with the option of driving a long way to Costco,
> paying a membership, which I am reluctant to do, only to find that I
> will once again stock up on stuff I don't really need and still not
> being able to find what I want. Having had so much trouble finding
> the things I need in Costco, I am not likely to drive all the way
> there to look for a deal on vanilla beans, and paying for a
> membership and then finding out this store doesn't carry them/

You're right, Costco isn't the place for yuo to shop.
Janet

flitterbit wrote:

> We've been very pleased with the Costco house brand, Kirkland; every
> product we've tried so far has been very high quality

Lin was disappointed with the quality of Kirkland-brand garbage bags; that's
about the only negative comment I've heard about Kirkland.

Bob