Entrées

Recent Entrée Reviews

AlpineAire Foods Chicken Tropicana

A tasty, dehydrated offering that succeeds where most others fail. I was very surprised when I saw that some of the AlpineAire offerings received low scores. My first experience with their food was perfect. For the most part, when I use dehydrated meals, the recommended water amount either turns it to soup or leaves it extremely al dente. That was not the case here.  I tried the Chicken Tropicana and it was great. The water was completely absorbed and the food itself was well hydrated and recognizable,… Full review

Trailtopia Jambalaya

Trailtopia Jambalaya has a good taste but a strange aftertaste. Eating the two-serving package for dinner around 7 p.m. filled me up enough that I wasn’t hungrier than usual 12 hours later when it was time for breakfast. I brought two Trailtopia meal entrées on an overnight campout at the summit of Coburn Mountain, Maine, last weekend, and had the Jambalaya for dinner. Before I get into the meal itself, what I really liked was the packaging—the top is on a long side so you don’t have to stick… Full review

Mountain House Beef Stew

I decided to use bread, Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, and Mountain House Beef Stew to create a dish I called Brotato Stew. For a trip I was provided one package of Mountain House Beef Stew to review. The challenge was to create a dish using the beef stew as an ingredient. With one package of beef stew, a package of Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, and some Ciabatta bread I create Brotato Stew. Bread + Potato + Beef Stew. I divided up the meal amongst six people and ate the meal as an appetizer. It ended up tasting… Full review

Packit Gourmet Dottie's Chicken & Dumplings

Good flavor, but terrible aftertaste. I purchased a large variety of different meals from several manufacturers to find what we would like to bring on several upcoming bikepacking excursions. This was the worst so far. The initial flavor is good, but there is a strong chemical aftertaste. We separated the meat and found it to be the culprit. My wife purchased freeze-dried chicken breast from another company and it had the same chemical taste. Almost like it was marinated in paint thinner before… Full review

Good To-Go Kale and White Bean Stew

Vile, horrid and unfit for consumption. There's nothing redeemable to say about this, even though it was "free" as part of a sample pack...couldn't even return it for credit. I added bacon bits to try and taste something—the white beans or kale even absorbed that flavor. Full review

Good To-Go Kale and White Bean Stew

Good To-Go Kale and White Bean Soap is good option for people looking for a reasonably lightweight backpacking food that tastes and looks like real food (because it is), is good for you, is gluten-free, and a vegan product. Overview First off I need to confess that I am not in any way a foodie and am one of those people who get excited when the McRib is back on the menu at McDonalds, so keep that in mind as I share my thoughts on Good To-Go’s Kale and White Bean Stew. The Good To-Go Kale and White… Full review

AlpineAire Foods Rice Burrito Bowl with Beef

A tasty, filling meal you can be nom nom nomming in 15 minutes. Ingredients are all FOOD, no added chemicals—all minerals and nutrients are naturally occurring in the ingredients. Received as part of my Reviewer of the Month prize package. Today I went snowshoeing for a couple hours, and decided to bring along the AlpineAire Rice Burrito Bowl Flavored With Beef and eat it for review. From the pouch front: Cilantro lime rice flavored with real beef, black beans, corn, red & green bell peppers… Full review

Nomad Nutrition Indian Red Lentil Stew

A tasty Indian stew that reminds me of a classic (but slightly less spicy) Dal. As I’ve written with the other Nomad reviews: this is my new favorite brand of dehydrated backpacking food. Ingredients: Potatoes, Carrots, Red Lentils*, Coconut Milk*, Onions, Peas, Sundried Tomatoes*, Olive Oil*, Garlic*, Spices*, Sea Salt*.   *Certified Organic Ingredient. Nutrition: (for the 100-gram package) Calories 680, Carbs 93g, Sugars (10 g), Protein 24g Prologue: When I was messaging back and forth with… Full review

Patagonia Provisions Organic Savory Grains Mushroom + KAMUT

This is a tasty organic grain blend with a nice earthy flavor and good protein (15 grams per package). I think it's best suited as a side dish. Fishermen, this would sit nicely beside a fire-roasted brook trout! Ingredients: Organic Kamut Khorasan Bulgur Wheat, Organic Bulgur Wheat, Organic Dehydrated Portabella Mushrooms, Organic Shiitake Mushroom Powder, Organic Red Quinoa, Organic Dehydrated Chopped Onion, Salt, Organic Yeast Extract, Organic Onion Powder, Organic Ground Rice Hulls, Organic Sunflower… Full review