Chez Marie offers 5 different flavors, 3 of which are vegan, gluten free*, corn-free and soy free. Each package contains 4-2.5 oz patties for about $4.99 each. Best of all, they are Non-GMO certified. (Take that bio-tech monsters!!!). I love that the bags are completely recyclable and biodegradable. It makes my environmental sensibilities very joyful indeed.
I tried out all three versions on my non-veg crowd. My sister got a brand spanking new Weber gas grill for her birthday. I am happy to report, I got to christen it with these veggie burgers. First I cooked up all three flavors and served them naked. I wanted the burger flavor and texture to come through.
My personal favorite was the Hearty Hemp Seed. It had a pleasant savory flavor that I knew would pair well with any toppings that it was adorned with. There was no prominent spice, just a nice savory flavor. These may be better cooked on the stove top with a bit more oil. As predicted, it was really nice with traditional toppings like Daiya cheddar, tomato, lettuce, pickles, onions, ketchup and mustard. This patty has 5 grams of protein and only 3.5 grams of fat.
My hubby liked the Spicy Bean burger. I have to mention that my friend's daughter, who is not a burger fan at all, liked the flavor of this one as well. We ended up serving this one with some roasted green chile. Some veggie burgers turn into mush on the bun. These patties held their shape and texture nicely. The Spicy Bean has 7 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber.
The least favorite for our crew was the Wholesome Harvest. There was something a little off balance with the flavor. To me the rosemary gave it an odd flavor profile.
The patties on their own were a bit dry and gummy. I suspect the dryness has something to do with grilling (and the low fat content). If you have food allergies or are just trying to avoid gluten, corn, dairy or soy, these convenient patties are a great healthy option. You can pull them out of the freezer for a quick lunch or dinner and feel good about avoiding GMO's and adding more to our landfills.
*One word of caution for those who are celiac - the packaging says these are made in a facility that processes other food containing wheat.
The kind folks at Chez Marie sent me some vouchers to give away to two lucky readers! Check their website to see if Chez Marie Veggie patties are available in your area. I'm giving away 2 sets of two vouchers. So two of you lucky folks get a chance to win 8 yummy patties! Leave a comment on this post about something about what you love about veggie patties by midnight MST on Friday, October 18th. The 2 winners will be randomly selected on Saturday, October 19th, 2013. Good Luck!!!
The winner is #1 TerryPDX! Now I promised a second winner, but with the other two commenters permission, I'd like to send them each one certificate. Send me your mailing addresses to vegintraining at g mail dot com and I will get them sent out to you!!
Sorry about the delay in posting the winner. I had a mental-pause moment and totally forgot to draw the winner.
I had a Chez Marie Veggie patty at a local burger place and enjoyed it very much! I'd love a chance to win a voucher for more. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! Just yesterday a friend asked me to help her find soy-free vegan foods and this will be a helpful suggestion for her. Maybe a hit of hummus or pesto or even some chili would help with the dryness...?
ReplyDeleteMy fave thing about veggie burgers is that when they're made right (especially grilled), even a carnivore can't deny their superyumfulness! :)
Chez Marie rocks! I think the above poster and I are in the same city (PDX) and her patties are featured at a local chain. I love love love being able to pile anything and everything I want on veggie burgers: pickles, ketchup, mustard, relish, the works!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kim, for your review of our Chez Marie Veggie Patties. Glad to hear you enjoyed our new Hearty Hemp Seed. And you are right, while these patties can be thrown on the BBQ, for the very best texture, I recommend frying them in a little coconut oil. That gives them a nice crunch on the outside and great flavor inside.
ReplyDeleteWith Joy,
Marie Osmunson
Chez Marie Founder
TerryPDX was the winner of the first drawing. I'd like to send the other two commenters one voucher each so that all of you can try Chez Marie's awesome patties. Please send me you shipping addresses to vegintraining at g mail dot com so I can get them on their way to you!
ReplyDeleteI've seen these and wondered how they would be! Sounds like I need to try them!
ReplyDelete