When I hear the word Pate, my mind immediately jumps to the last thing I fed my cat, Gary. I frequently associate the look of pate with cat food. I have a funny feeling that I am probably not alone in thinking this. Organ meat tends to be associated with a few things in American culture: pet food, gravy, or perhaps the relative who forgot to remove the organs from a holiday roast.
The Taste
Now, despite the fact this is about as attractive as my cat's last meal, I can tell you for a fact it smells so much better. Now, this is in no way something that everyone should go out and try.
This is neither a taste nor texture that will have universal appeal. If you can get past the visual appearance of this loaf of organ meat, you may find something beyond your everyday culinary horizons.
This pate will spread almost as smooth as butter and has an almost perfectly smooth velvety texture in terms of tasting. There is a small bit of gelatin at the bottom which will cleanse your palate slightly. You'll want to eat this with something. I opted for Trader Joe's Brioche Toasts. I figured they were French and would go well with this American-made French cuisine.
In terms of taste, some flavors are more assertive than others. Yes, the truffles and mushroom flavors are present. Truffle on its own is a love it or hate it food item. I know plenty of people who can't stand the earthy flavor present. The sherry wine manages to come through far more than the Brandy Aspic which was that gelatinous stuff at the bottom (or on the top when you first open it).
And yes, there is that familiar meaty and musky taste of chicken livers. The added chicken fat just adds to the mouthfeel here.
Now, I've had pate before. I've had it at a restaurant called Kindred Fare in Upstate New York and I've had a friend of mine make a Foie Gras dip. And while I loved both of those pates, I also really liked this too. It wasn't as refined or as delicious as either.
The pates that I have tried out or at a friend's house were not cheap. Instead of spending somewhere near $20, this is priced just under $5. For that price point, I'm happy to make some compromises. Throw in the earthy and expensive ingredient of truffle, then this is a bargain albeit less refined than pricier pates.
Packaging
This pate's packaging is barebones basic. It isn't packaging that will catch your eye either. If your Trader Joe's is anything like mine the black packaging makes it blend in rather than stand out which is a shame.
The little black tub is covered in plastic that keeps any air out of the product. If you do find yourself with leftovers be sure to tightly wrap this and consume anything leftover with a day or two.
For the price, I'm happy to not pay for fancy packaging.
Pairings
Here are some pairing suggestions to enjoy with Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate:
- Bread and crackers. The crustier the bread the better.
- Vegetables like crisp carrots will work here.
- Sliced tomatoes will play up the flavor of the pate
- Wines that are lighter bodied. Red or white will pair well. A burgundy or pinot noir if you are into reds. Cheblis if you like white wine. Even a dry rose will pair well.
Common product questions
Some easy ways to eat this are spreading it on some bread, crackers, crisp veggies, or with some sliced tomatoes.
According to the package you can freeze this in its packaging.
Overall
For $4.99 if you've ever been curious enough to want to try it, then this is priced right. If you can stomach the idea of eating truffles and pate (or at least willing to give it a go), then this is something worth picking up. It can be frozen in case you don't get a chance to eat it all.
This one small loaf could easily serve a small party. So don't let its small size fool you. As an added bonus, this has been a long-running item on Trader Joe's shelves which probably means this has a pretty good fan base to it.
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate again. This is not a taste that is going to appeal to everyone. If the taste or sound of truffle makes your stomach turn, then steer clear. Otherwise, if you've been curious about pate, then consider this the most affordable way of giving it a whirl. I'm a fan of truffle and this was the most affordable pate I've tried.
A visual rundown of what you get with this product
The package of Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate:
The nutritional information and ingredients.
How Trader Joe's describes how to handle this product:
Out of the mold, plated and next to some of Trader Joe's Brioche Toasts which happen to be the perfect size for each of these slices :
Up close and spread on one of those brioche toasts:
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
The Bottom Line
Don't forget to share your thoughts by going to the "user review" at the bottom of the box (click on the number of stars you believe this product deserves) and leave a comment below.
You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to see what I'm up to.
Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate
Product Name: Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate
Product Description: Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate is a long-standing classic item that you may have walked right past and never noticed.
Price: $4.99
Summary
Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate is a perennial favorite and for good reason.
-
Taste
-
Value
-
Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate is a truly unique product that will have its raving fans.
- For those with a curious palate and not a big wallet, it's a neat item to try.
- This has been a staple at Trader Joe's for some time.
Cons
- Trader Joe's Truffle Mousse Pate is a truly unique product that will have its raving fans.
- For those with a curious palate and not a big wallet, it's a neat item to try.
- This isn't diet food in terms of calories. Unless you are doing keto, then this is ok.
Actually . . . that looks good. I'd try it, fur sure. The "fur" is for your cat, Gary. My husband, Gary, got a kick out of that!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
That's so awesome that we both have Garys in our household!
Thank you for this wonderful review! I bought the mousse pate today, and loved it so much I wanted to learn kore about it. Your review is spot on. I have made pate before, but have not yet found “my” recipe. I would like to replicate this one!
Hey Marie! Thanks for the kind words. Glad to hear you enjoy it and yes, I'd love to find the recipe too. Maybe I'll put that on my copycat list of things to try to replicate at home. Thanks again for stopping by!
I first got into pate' when I lived in London in the seventies. Now that I only eat chicken, turkey, and seafood, this is the perfect pate' for me. Every other pate' that you could buy in a supermarket has either pork or goose or something else in it. I never liked rough pate'. I could have had either when I lived overseas. The only downside for me is that I am prone to migraines and this is in a food category that might trigger them. I've never frozen this pate', so it will be a first for me. Yep, after eating it for lunch I had a migraine in the evening. Also, I've never eaten the gelatin. Maybe I'll give it a try next time. Thank you for your review.
Hey Tracie! Thanks so much for sharing!
I've never tried paté but am wanting to add liver to my diet for the iron. So thank you for torr review! And thank you for showing the ingredients list. Sugar was a surprise. And eggs? Wouldn't have expected that. But, like I said, I am a paté virgin so what do I know!😆 Anyway THANKS!
Thanks so much for your comment Rakhel!