I needed to restock on tofu so I visited the giant Korean grocery store today. It was a great day to go since a pack of tofu was only 98 cents (down from $1.28)! In addition, Mori-nu silken tofu is regularly priced at $1.09 a box. I also picked up some soy puffs. I’m not sure what to do with these, but I’m excited to try them out:
I always come across weird stuff in the giant Korean grocery store. A few months ago, I saw this and bought it, but I was so freaked out by it that I never ate it:
It comes in a beef version as well which like roast beef: the perfect imitation meat if I were craving an Italian beef sandwich or something. There was just something really weird about it. I’ll admit that if I had found it in Schmole Broods or Raider Boe’s, I wouldn’t be so put off by it. But I can’t help but be weary of some of the products I find in Asian grocery stores (and I am Asian).
Now, they say to never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry, and “they” are right. I found myself lurking in the snack (read: junk food) aisle when I saw something that looked vegan. I was right… and I was also kind of freaked out:
I Googled VegeUSA right away and only found information on their frozen “meat” products, which actually look pretty delectable. These guys scared me, though. They had “steak,” “chicken,” and “pork” at the store. The instructions are to rehydrate them and then use them as a meat substitute. Sounds like soy curls, right? I wasn’t thinking about that at the time. I think my shock mostly stemmed from finding these next to chips and crackers and initially thinking that they were chips. Again, I was kind of freaked, so I put them back on the shelf and took it as a sign to not buy any junk food.
While I like to think of myself as an adventurous vegan, there are some things that I am not brave enough to try just yet. My last big leap was probably with tempeh, and I have yet to try seitan. I don’t think I need to try everything: just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s good for you, right?
Have you tried any of the products above? What did you think? Are there any vegan products that you’re not willing to try? Let us know in the comments! –Melissa
Oh, hey! Don’t forget about our giveaway! It’s a good one!
Turning Veganese 
I just recently tried VegeUSA’s black pepper steaks and I thought they were really good. The texture reminded me of steak and the seasoning had a bit of spice like a real pepper steak should have.
I happen to love seitan but if you are going to try it, I highly suggest you make your own. For one thing, store-bought seitan is loaded with sodium so by making your own you can control all of the seasoning factors. Store-bought is great in a pinch, but it’s so much more satisfying to make your own.
I think I would try just about any vegan product once but one thing I haven’t brought myself to try is vegan shrimp. I bought some vegan breaded shrimp from Sophie’s Kitchen for my boyfriend (an omnivore and skeptic of vegan replacememt foods) and he likes them. I don’t know why I won’t try them but it might have to do with the fact I never ate seafood as an omnivore.
Soy puffs? Interesting. Gotta know what you do with them.
I FRIGGIN LOVE THE WEIRD STUFF! Sorry… I got excited.
It’s totally exciting, while it may not all be healthy, it is FUN!
I might go back and buy the imitation “steak.” Yikes!!!
Yeehaw!