Apparently Nevadans have yet to discover the wonders of Toby’s Tofu Pâté.  Though I was easily able to find it in California, the Whole Foods in Las Vegas had not a tub on the shelves.  Luckily, when I asked the manager of the “dairy” section he said he had four packages in back.  It seems a woman had special ordered an entire shipment of Toby’s Jalapeno Pate for a holiday party.  She proclaimed it was their absolute best flavor.  As luck would have it, there were a few extras from her order, so I promptly grabbed one and made my way to check out.

It was delicious in traditional Toby style.  The base was very similar to the other flavors, slightly chunky, yet creamy, rich, and a touch cheesy.  Don’t let the name fool you; though mild by jalapeno standards, it still has a spicy kick.  Was it my favorite flavor?  It is hard to say.  They are each similar, but with unique additions.  Since I typically pick bold before spicy, I may lean toward the Roasted Red Pepper, but the jalapeno version was still a fantastic solo topping on bagels and as a sandwich spread. 

I wasn’t sure at first where this pate would fit in beyond dipping and spreading, but then a quick dinner idea came to mind.  We had sacrificed our favorite chicken enchilada recipe many years ago, as it was prepared with what seemed to be irreplaceable cheese and sour cream.  It occurred to me that Toby’s could be just what I was looking for.  That night, I combined a few helpings of the Jalapeno Pate with some chicken, sliced mushrooms, and chopped olives.  I wrapped the mix up in flour tortillas, smothered it in our favorite green enchilada sauce, and baked it at 400º for 20 minutes.  It was delicious!  My husband is far from a tofu fan, but he quickly proclaimed, “This is great!”  It was boldly spicy from the jalapenos, while the overall texture and flavor of the pate was the perfect replacement for my former sour cream / cheese combo.

Pros:  All-natural; Made with organic non-GMO soy beans; Full of healthy spices; Low in fat, calories, and sugars; Vegan; Cholesterol free; Kosher pareve
Cons: Some anti-tofu individuals may be hesitant

Recommended For:

• A Party Dip
• Spreading on Sandwiches or Bagels
• A Creamy Dairy Replacement (and shortcut) in Cooking

Where to Buy:

• In Stores - Natural food stores in CA, NV, AZ, NM, CO, UT, ID, MT, WA and AK; Special orders can be made.  I had much better luck with Wild Oats for Toby's, they carried the full range front and center in the refrigerated section.

	10-11-2008 11:53
	This stuff is really good. Unfortunately my local Whole Foods (Cupertino, CA) is very inconsistent about stocking it. They often carry only the original recipe, which is a bizarre product since it's completely vegan [I]except for using real mayonnaise[/I] (containing eggs).

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