Do you own one of those super trendy electronic pressure cookers like the InstaPot? I do, and because it can be an intimidating beast, I joined a couple of popular Facebook recipe-sharing groups to get some inspiration. And they're always talking about how to replicate Starbucks' infamous Sous Vide Egg Bites. And I'm sitting here in Canada with no idea what they are talking about.
That's because it took Starbucks a year to get them into the Canadian market.
Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper and Bacon & Gruyere Sous Vide Egg Bites at Starbucks Canada (Lindsay William-Ross)
The Sous Vide Egg Bites are the coffee chain's answer to a couple of big trends: Cooking in an immersion circulator (vacuum-sealed bags holding the food are cooked in temperature-consistent water), and grab-and-go protein-forward food.
Starbucks launched the Sous Vide Egg Bites in the U.S. in January 2017, and people were pretty wowed. Now Starbucks Canada has been able to bring them on board, and they will be available in stores nationwide, including right here in Vancouver, as of Tuesday, January 9, 2018. (It's kind of crazy how in this day and age it took them a year to make it happen, right?)
So what's the big deal with these darn egg things? Well, the texture is pretty insane; where a steam-cooked egg is spongy and full of air pockets, the egg bites are meltingly creamy. I learned that Starbucks uses one U.S. based supplier who is the only producer for this kind of foodstuff, and they supply the whole chain.
The Sous Vide Egg Bites come in two flavours: Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper and Bacon & Gruyere. Designed as an all-day option for on-the go eaters who are looking for a protein pow without wheat, the egg bites come in servings of two pieces, at 170 calories/13g protein (Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper) and 310 calories/19g protein (Bacon & Gruyere) a piece. Both use the cheese for a texture and protein bump, and a pair of them will cost you $4.75 Canadian.
While fistfuls of cheese, egg, and bacon may have those who are kicking off 2018 following a no-carb or Ketogenic diet, unfortunately the may steer you towards trying to knock these off at home instead (Google will point you to plenty of options). But for anyone who has had these in the last year on the other side of the border, or who is curious about a Starbucks food that isn't sugary or bread-based, this new Canadian menu option may be worth a try.
