I will admit it. I'm not the best cook in the world. Mostly cause I do other things besides cook. Like important things... homework, movies, read, stuff.
Buitoni: This one is OK for store bought. It is not overly powerful, yet is enough to remind me it is pesto sauce. Perfect for those quick weekday meals. Add parm cheese to it to help it along.
Santa Barbara:
Contadina:
Freshdirect: I expected more, but there was a terrible after taste. Something was off and weird and certainly not pesto. The sad thing is it was my roommates' first try at pesto, and now he doesn't want to try it again.
Fairway: It was a very simply done pesto, nothing fancy. Walnuts were used, but that's ok. It was good and I would buy it again.
Rawstar: I have only stopped at this place a few times, it is vegan and nothing cooked over 90 degrees. When I saw pesto pasta I knew I had to try. What I forgot was to cook pasta the water has to be hot (over 90). Well the pasta was actually strips of cucumber. Strange, right? Yet so very very tasty. I got to taste the pesto with a light clean addition. They added a little red spicy sauce on top of the pesto, it added the perfect flavor to it. Plus I was able to eat everything on the plate without getting totally bloated and fat. Even was able to stuff some dessert in my mouth too. I will actually try that same thing at home some time.
Park Slope Co-Op: Got to try this cause a friend works there, otherwise I may never had the chance. It was delicious and tasty. Just like pesto should taste.
Mom's: The best for last. There is nothing you can compare to basil picked from the garden, olive oil brand that she has used since I was in her belly (yes I believe she fed me enough olive oil while I was in her womb to get me hooked), and then everything added together allowing the smell to fill the house. She don't use measuring cups. She don't know exactly how much it is (a pinch, a drizzle, a scoop). I just got to experience mom's pesto sauce this past August. We sat on the back deck with the pesto on pasta, salad, fresh baked bread and a bottle of wine. We gabbed and laughed, the little fire in the chiminea keeping us warm. As with any Italian meal, it's not just the food, but the experience.
