The Best Things We Ate This Week

As another week passes, we here at Sporked have another round of favorites to present to our loyal readers. It’s not a position we take for granted, so rest assured that these are only the best of the best eats. So good that we genuinely believe you should try these items out for yourself.

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Kirkland Signature Brats

I think there are a lot of bratwurst out there that are disappointing in at least one way. Either their seasoning is all wrong or the snap of the skin isn’t nice. You won’t run into that problem with these though. The seasoning is just right, making them delicious served straight up or whichever way suits your dinner best. And the snap of the skin is entirely perfect. They’re sold raw which I think helps a lot in that regard. It’s not tough, just a nice pop that lets you know that you’re next bite is going to be one for the books. I highly recommended popping some of these on the grill for your next summer barbecue.

Trader Joe’s Homestyle Chicken Salad

A lot of the time I go into the work week with big expectations for myself. I think I’m going to have way more motivation and time to meal prep and pack healthy lunches for myself than I actually will. So, in order to prevent my inevitable disappointment, frustration, and hunger when I don’t have anything easy to keep me going until dinner, something like this chicken salad is elite to have on deck. It’s delicious enough to be properly satisfying, and doesn’t need anything other than some bread, a tortilla, or crackers to be a satiating lunch. It’s perfectly seasoned and the green onions give it a lovely fresh flavor.

Blackberry IZZE

I’ve always loved IZZE’s fruit sodas. They’re refreshing, not at all artificial tasting, and they strike that perfect balance between soda and sparkling water. The blackberry flavor though goes above and beyond. It’s a deep rich flavor and gives you more depth than some of their brighter flavors like mango and strawberry. But, it still has a good hit of tartness. The cans they come in are the perfect size for throwing in your lunch bag if you want to have a sweet pick me up in the day with no fear of the crash that follows.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Green Mint Chip

I think it’s an incredibly smart choice for Jeni’s―that already plays with nostalgic flavors and childhood joy―to offer its mint chip flavor with the iconic pastel green color. It’s adorable, kitschy, and the flavor doesn’t disappoint either. It doesn’t give that toothpaste-y mint flavor that lower quality mint chocolate chip flavors can lean toward. But it’s still distinct and delicious. The chocolate is high quality bittersweet chocolate that isn’t waxy. It melts on your tongue like a good chocolate should and you can taste it in each bite of the ice cream. Probably my new #1 mint chip.

Mìlà Pork Soup Dumplings

Here’s the thing with Dim Sum: it adds up quick. So as much as I’m craving just one order of soup dumplings, it can feel like a splurge by the time the bill hits the table. And for as many at-home soup dumplings as there are, it’s shocking how many of them fail to get them right. I don’t think any brands that actually encourage the only method of heating as the microwave are ever going to be top-tier, even though they might satisfy that immediate flavor hit. These Mìlà dumplings proved me wrong in every way that counts. First off, they’re beautiful. The shape and pleats are gorgeous and they acknowledge the fact that a good soup dumpling is one that’s going to be cooked fresh. All you need is some kind of steamer and these soup dumplings are the best yet we’ve been able to find for at-home enjoyment. The broth is luscious, the meat is tender, and the wrapper has a perfect chew. These are a 10/10.