Kiki Reviews Costco's Latest Food Haul

The new shrimp and potato salad from Costco is priced at 267 NTD and includes six shrimp, potatoes, celery, cabbage, purple cabbage, hard-boiled eggs, and ham. The salad combines the sweetness of mayonnaise with the salty notes of ham and the crunchy texture of celery and cabbage. Kiki noted that the potato salad contains a significant amount of mayonnaise, contributing to its sweet profile, but appreciated the varied textures from the vegetables and ham.

The shrimp and potato salad received an impressive rating of eight out of ten from Kiki. Its successful combination of textures and flavors makes it a versatile option, suitable for either breakfast or as a side dish.

The Italian egg fettuccine, available for 159 NTD, comes as plain noodles, requiring customers to add their own toppings. A-Xiang demonstrated a bacon carbonara recipe, using three egg yolks to create a rich sauce. The noodles themselves were highly praised for their texture, described as both soft and chewy, making them an excellent base for various sauces. The aroma of bacon also added to the overall richness.

The Italian egg fettuccine earned an 8 out of 10 from Kiki, primarily for its enjoyable texture. The egg noodles were noted for their ability to absorb sauces effectively, particularly when combined with an egg yolk base.

Costco's cheese cheddar bread is sold in packs of six for 269 NTD, averaging about 44.8 NTD per piece. It is recommended to heat the bread at 180 degrees Celsius for three minutes to achieve optimal texture. While the interior is notably soft and fluffy, Kiki pointed out that the cheese content is minimal, making it somewhat plain if eaten alone. Consequently, it's best utilized as a base for sandwiches, allowing for the addition of ham, rice, or lettuce to enhance its flavor and substance.

The cheese cheddar bread was considered a decent, standard option by Kiki. She noted that its appeal significantly improves when paired with other ingredients. For its consistency and versatility as a base, it received a rating of 7 out of 10.

The blueberry cream cheese bread is available at 149 NTD for a pack of six. For the best experience, toasting is recommended to achieve a crispy crust while maintaining a soft interior. Kiki noted that the blueberry flavor is quite pronounced, tending to overpower the cream cheese. Despite this, she rated the bread an 8 out of 10, finding it to be quite good.

The Mascarpone Double-Layer Cheesecake is priced at 299 yuan for six pieces. It features a dense cheesecake base topped with a light whipped cream layer, creating a satisfying contrast in textures. Kiki praised the bottom layer for its incredibly intense and rich cheesecake flavor, describing it as having a dense and thick mouthfeel. This balance of textures and flavors led to a high rating of 8.5 out of 10, comparing its quality to that found in a cafe.

The beef steak strips, priced at 429 yuan, evoke the robust taste of outdoor-grilled American black pepper steak. However, Kiki criticized them for being overly salty, rating the saltiness between an 8.5 and a 9. She also found them difficult to chew, suggesting they might not be suitable for everyone as a snack. This combination of intense saltiness and tough texture resulted in a low overall rating of 3 out of 10.

Costco's sweet potato strips are sold at 279 NTD for six individual packs. Kiki found their texture to be highly disappointing, describing it as sticky and gummy, similar to maltose. Furthermore, she noted a lack of distinct sweet potato flavor, which detracted significantly from the overall experience. Due to these issues, the sweet potato strips received a very low rating of 2 out of 10.

The Koloko Black Whirlwind snack is available at 249 NTD for 10 bags. This unique snack is flavored like cuttlefish sausage and gets its black color from bamboo charcoal powder. Kiki explained that the name "Black Whirlwind" directly refers to its distinctive cuttlefish sausage flavor.

The Koloko Black Whirlwind snack delivers an authentic taste of cuttlefish and sausage, replicating the oily mouthfeel of grilled sausage. Kiki described the experience as akin to taking a bite of a sausage, with the oily sensation lingering in the mouth. This attention to replicating the genuine taste and texture earned it 7.5 points for authenticity.

Jin's Chocolate Stick Cake is priced at 99 NTD and is characterized by its soft and fluffy texture. Kiki noted its similarity to the interior of a standard chocolate pie, though it lacks the crispy chocolate shell found on the outside. Despite this, its familiar and pleasant texture offers a satisfying chocolate cake experience.

The Lotte Earl Grey Lemon Tea Chocolate Pie, priced at 439 NTD for 30 pieces, presented a polarizing flavor experience. Kiki found the lemon flavor to be much stronger than anticipated, significantly overpowering the chocolate coating. The Earl Grey notes contributed to an astringent sensation, making it difficult to discern any chocolate taste, leading to a mixed review of its overall flavor profile.

After sampling various new items from Costco, Kiki revealed her top three favorite finds. The Italian egg pappardelle secured the third spot, followed by the shrimp and potato salad in second place, with the mascarpone cheesecake taking the top honor.

The Italian egg pappardelle earned its third-place ranking due to its excellent texture, described as both soft and chewy, making it a versatile noodle for various sauces, whether white or red. Its convenience for meal preparation over multiple days also contributed to its high recommendation. The prominent egg aroma further enhanced its appeal, making it a well-rounded and flexible choice.

The shrimp and potato salad secured the second spot for its refreshing crunch and balanced flavors. The inclusion of various vegetables provides a satisfying texture, while the saltiness of the bacon perfectly counteracts the sweetness of the mayonnaise. This combination makes it a highly recommended option, especially for a fulfilling breakfast.

The mascarpone cheesecake claimed the top spot as Kiki's favorite, celebrated for its dense yet smooth texture and intensely satisfying cheesy aroma. It offers a surprisingly layered and rich experience, making each bite feel blissful. This cheesecake is highly recommended for an afternoon tea treat, promising a luxurious and deeply enjoyable dessert experience.