Safeway And Hunt’s Score For Easy Italian
To make a fine Italian meal, it takes the right tools - garlic press, pasta machine, plastic tubs, foil bags …
The theme was cucina convenience when we fed The SpokesmanReview’s reader food panel pasta topped with marinara sauces from the deli section, accompanied by heat-and-serve garlic bread in a bag.
Just for fun, we slipped in a canned sauce from Hunt’s along with the “fresh” offerings from Safeway and Contadina.
While Safeway’s surprisingly piquant sauce was clearly superior, the canned stuff came close despite an almost overpowering overtone of basil.
And the Hunt’s was a bargain both in cost and fat calories, although its sodium content is nothing to brag about.
The less said about Contadina’s alarmingly anchovy-accented version the better. Suffice it to say that the avowed vegetarian on our panel felt fortunate that she stayed faithful to her philosophy.
Competition was closer among the garlic breads, although the straightforward Safeway store brand (another pocketbook pleaser) won out over Oroweat’s sourdough Francisco and the pesto-laced Gai’s.
“I was wrong,” one panel member said between bites of the Gai’s. “I didn’t think they could screw up garlic bread.”
Fortunately, the effects can be countered with yet another indispensable dining tool: the toothbrush.
Safeway Select Verdi Marinara Sauce
Price: $2.79 for 12 ounces.
Nutrition: 90 calories (56 percent fat calories), 270 milligrams sodium in cup.
Taste:****
Value:***
Comments:”Good! I like the hot bite.” - Susi Faville.
“Wonderful garlic taste - almost as good as homemade.” - Mike Lax.
“Had a little bite. I really liked it. Tasted fresh.” - Jan Robison.
Hunt’s Chunky Spaghetti Sauce, Marinara
Price: $1.29 for 27 ounces.
Nutrition: 60 calories (17 percent fat calories), 530 milligrams sodium in cup.
Taste:****
Value:*****
Comments: “Pretty good consistency; the basil taste is a little too strong - needs peppery taste to add character.” - Meagan Coffey.
“Thick and chunky - the taste is close to tomato soup.” - Jarretta Manning.
“Strong tomato and basil taste, but good. Good for those that like a rich rather than bland taste.” - Paul Norris.
Contadina Marinara Sauce
Price: $3.19 for 12 ounces.
Nutrition: 80 calories (38 percent fat calories), 470 milligrams sodium in cup.
Taste:*
Value:*
Comments: “Tastes like fish - chunky, but from what? Stale.” - Mary Lou Crouter.
“Very strong ‘seaside’ overtones … A very tricky job to take a second bite.” - Maria Ranniger.
“A pungent brown blend of cod liver oil and catsup. Ick!” - Stacy Casto.
Safeway Garlic French Bread
Price: 99 cents for 19 ounces.
Nutrition: (No nutrition label provided.)
Taste:****
Value:*****
Comments: “Very good, delicately flavored with garlic, buttery.” - Stacy Casto.
“Good, fresh bread. Not too dominant garlic flavor. Nice crust.” - Jim Eggers.
“Very salty, bread fair … Not much garlic, though. Crust was like cardboard.” - Maria Ranniger.
Oroweat’s Francisco Sourdough Garlic Cheese Bread
Price: $1.89 for 12 ounces.
Nutrition: 170 calories (35 percent fat calories), 290 milligrams sodium in 2-inch slice.
Taste:***
Value:**
Comments: “Left a bad aftertaste.” - Mike Lax.
” Good sourdough taste! Too buttery. Crust could be crispier - lots of garlic taste.” - Meagan Coffey.
“Sourdough + garlic = UGH.” Mary Aegerter.
Gai’s Pesto-Garlic French Bread Price: $1.99 for 12 ounces.
Nutrition: 160 calories (31 percent fat calories), 310 milligrams sodium in 2-inch slice.
Taste:***
Value:**
Comments: “Soft bread. Feels like sponge cake. Good crust.” - Mary Lou Crouter.
“I’m a fool for garlic bread. I thought this was excellent, really garlicky.” - Jarretta Manning.
“Nice and crunchy, but the garlic taste isn’t up to par. It seems too oily.” - Paul Norris.
MEMO: Products sampled by The SpokesmanReview’s reader food panel are bought at a retail store and prepared in a test kitchen according to package directions. Panelists are not aware of a product’s brand name or price until after they have tasted it. Products are rated for taste and for value, based on quality compared to price.