World Market-Cost Plus - Polenta not under refrigeration
 

Yesterday I finally got to 'tour' World Market. Yes, indeed-y, it is the
Cost Plus I remembered from years ago. I found a couple of food items that
I've not seen since that I used to buy there. One was a Mestemacher brand,
"All Famous German" 'Natural three grain bread' no preservatives, long shelf
life, organic ingredients 500 g bread. I hope it is just as good as I
remember it.
Another item was Colavita Orzo made from semolina from 'fields of Italy.'
Their coffee beans were not out in a case as I previously saw them, but in
bags. There was no indication of the roast medium-light-dark on the
Sumatra, which I used to buy, so I passed at $7.99 for 12oz. I found
Perugina candy bars also which I haven't seen in a long time. I did pick up
Valhrona candy bars last week at Trader Joe's so I'll have them to
compare -- pricing of both similar.

I picked up a (tamale-shaped) wrapped in some sort of plastic 18oz. (510g)
Organic Polenta (w/sun dried tomato garlic) precooked, ready to heat &
Serve, REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING, do not freeze. I have emailed Quinoa Corp.
for their answer as to why this product is not refrigerated; whereas when I
have seen this product in the grocery store, it is always in the
refrigerated section.
Any comments welcome.
Dee Dee

Dee Randall wrote:
> Yesterday I finally got to 'tour' World Market. Yes, indeed-y, it is the
> Cost Plus I remembered from years ago. I found a couple of food items that
> I've not seen since that I used to buy there. One was a Mestemacher brand,
> "All Famous German" 'Natural three grain bread' no preservatives, long shelf
> life, organic ingredients 500 g bread. I hope it is just as good as I
> remember it.
> Another item was Colavita Orzo made from semolina from 'fields of Italy.'
> Their coffee beans were not out in a case as I previously saw them, but in
> bags. There was no indication of the roast medium-light-dark on the
> Sumatra, which I used to buy, so I passed at $7.99 for 12oz. I found
> Perugina candy bars also which I haven't seen in a long time. I did pick up
> Valhrona candy bars last week at Trader Joe's so I'll have them to
> compare -- pricing of both similar.
>
> I picked up a (tamale-shaped) wrapped in some sort of plastic 18oz. (510g)
> Organic Polenta (w/sun dried tomato garlic) precooked, ready to heat &
> Serve, REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING, do not freeze. I have emailed Quinoa Corp.
> for their answer as to why this product is not refrigerated; whereas when I
> have seen this product in the grocery store, it is always in the
> refrigerated section.
> Any comments welcome.
> Dee Dee
>
>

Follow-up appreciated also.

Things in a cold case we know to continue keeping cold after opening.
Off the shelf stuff is another matter. There are a lot of shelf-stable
products appearing that formerly would be found in a refrigerated case.
Consequently, the warning is much more important for the opened package.

Some of our members from Europe can probably comment on this last. I've
heard milk can sit on an open shelf until opened, then it has to be
refrigerated.


jim

"JimLane" > wrote in message
...
> Dee Randall wrote:
>> Yesterday I finally got to 'tour' World Market. Yes, indeed-y, it is the
>> Cost Plus I remembered from years ago. I found a couple of food items
>> that I've not seen since that I used to buy there. One was a Mestemacher
>> brand, "All Famous German" 'Natural three grain bread' no preservatives,
>> long shelf life, organic ingredients 500 g bread. I hope it is just as
>> good as I remember it.
>> Another item was Colavita Orzo made from semolina from 'fields of Italy.'
>> Their coffee beans were not out in a case as I previously saw them, but
>> in bags. There was no indication of the roast medium-light-dark on the
>> Sumatra, which I used to buy, so I passed at $7.99 for 12oz. I found
>> Perugina candy bars also which I haven't seen in a long time. I did pick
>> up Valhrona candy bars last week at Trader Joe's so I'll have them to
>> compare -- pricing of both similar.
>>
>> I picked up a (tamale-shaped) wrapped in some sort of plastic 18oz.
>> (510g) Organic Polenta (w/sun dried tomato garlic) precooked, ready to
>> heat & Serve, REFRIGERATE AFTER OPENING, do not freeze. I have emailed
>> Quinoa Corp. for their answer as to why this product is not refrigerated;
>> whereas when I have seen this product in the grocery store, it is always
>> in the refrigerated section.
>> Any comments welcome.
>> Dee Dee
>>
>>
>
> Follow-up appreciated also.
>
> Things in a cold case we know to continue keeping cold after opening. Off
> the shelf stuff is another matter. There are a lot of shelf-stable
> products appearing that formerly would be found in a refrigerated case.
> Consequently, the warning is much more important for the opened package.
>
> Some of our members from Europe can probably comment on this last. I've
> heard milk can sit on an open shelf until opened, then it has to be
> refrigerated.
>
>
> jim

Thanks for your reply. I did get this prompt answer.
"Many foods these days do not require refrigeration before opening simply
due to the new type of processing available. As long as it remains air tight
so that no air enters the polenta chub it is indeed shelf stable and does
not need to be refrigerated.

Once you open the chub and expose the polenta to air, you do need to
refrigerate it.

Simply think of the Velveeta Cheese that has been around for ever and does
not need refrigeration until you open it even though most cheese does indeed
need to be refrigerated. Or the newer prepackaged rice pouches that you can
keep on your shelf until you microwave them for 90 seconds and have a
preseasoned precooked rice dish.

Try the polenta and see for yourself how great it is."

I'm thinking that this is my only area of concern:
" ---- As long as it remains air tight so that no air enters the polenta
chub it is indeed shelf stable and does not need to be refrigerated."

Dee Dee

Dee Randall at wrote on 8/25/05 6:04 PM:
> Try the polenta and see for yourself how great it is."
>
> I'm thinking that this is my only area of concern:
> " ---- As long as it remains air tight so that no air enters the polenta
> chub it is indeed shelf stable and does not need to be refrigerated."
>
> Dee Dee
>
>

Everytime I see polenta in a tube, I look at the price ($3-4!) and think
"Lord, a pound of raw corn meal costs 59 cents." Water is basically
free...it's just the half hour or so of stirring that you save. It's not
worth that amount of money to me.

Not to mention, I imagine my Roumanian grandmother shooting me with
lightning bolts from heaven for even daring to think about buying pre-made
mamaliga (polenta).
--
---
Love like you've never been hurt
Live like there's no tomorrow
And dance like there's nobody watching

"Sheryl Rosen" > wrote in message
...
> Dee Randall at wrote on 8/25/05 6:04 PM:
>> Try the polenta and see for yourself how great it is."
>>
>> I'm thinking that this is my only area of concern:
>> " ---- As long as it remains air tight so that no air enters the polenta
>> chub it is indeed shelf stable and does not need to be refrigerated."
>>
>> Dee Dee
>>
>>
>
> Everytime I see polenta in a tube, I look at the price ($3-4!) and think
> "Lord, a pound of raw corn meal costs 59 cents." Water is basically
> free...it's just the half hour or so of stirring that you save. It's not
> worth that amount of money to me.
>
> Not to mention, I imagine my Roumanian grandmother shooting me with
> lightning bolts from heaven for even daring to think about buying pre-made
> mamaliga (polenta).
> --

I agree with you. However, I am unable to stir anymore, so any edible item
comes as a blessing. And of course at a price. I think it was 18 oz. $2.99
for one with sundried tomatoes. Cheaper than a doctor's bill at my house.
I have made polenta several times in the oven. There are two foolproof
recipes online for those who wish to look them up. In my opinion they are
just as good. No stirring. Just once in the middle of the length of the
recipe.
I'm always willing to try different products and I've never seen this one on
a shelf in a tube. I've used the polenta a few times that one buys at
regular grocery stores that are in the refrigeration case. They always seem
to upset my stomach, so I was willing to try this item.

I do have the same strong feelings about bread. I make most of my bread
(buying only specialty and artisinal bread) -- unless it is a necessity to
buy it because of family obligations, my f-i-l having survived two kinds of
cancer within the last 18 months -- we have been quite busy.

Thanks for your reply.
Dee Dee