Right now you’ll find new bistro boxes in select Starbucks locations. It’s a pretty significant test of new bistro box lunches. I went to a Starbucks in San Diego, offering all the new items. I pretty much tried to eat everything, though there’s only so much one person can eat in one sitting! New items include the following:
New Prosciutto & Mozzarella Pinwheels – This was pretty good. I’m not particularly into prosciutto though. This one came with a little fudge square as a dessert treat. That was so delicious that I’d love to see it sold separately!
New Omega – 3 box – This was one of the few boxes I didn’t try at all.
New Gorgonzola, Almonds & Fruit box – The honey-gorgonzola spread in this box is delicious. This also comes with grapes and dried apricots, which I really like. There is a small package of truffle-salted almonds too. I thought the truffle flavor was very strong – maybe even a bit too strong.
New Superfoods – This one is considered wheat-free and dairy-free. Despite how incredibly healthy this box is, it was one of my favorites. The little fruit snack in it includes blueberries and pomegranate seeds. I have a weakness for pomegranate. Having been raised in Southern California, I grew up eating pomegranate often – and making an absolute mess as a kid, staining things red! The baked chickpea and kale cakes are good. The kale flavor is very subtle and mostly the chickpea dominates. This one comes with a treat of an almond-chocolate chip macaroon, which was delicious.
New PB&J on Wheat – This was also one of my absolute favorites. I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! The string cheese with it is delicious!
New Thai-style Peanut Chicken Wraps – This too was delicious. Grab extra napkins – the slaw in the wraps is messy! It comes with a Thai peanut-coconut sauce. I made the comment to the barista I was hanging out with that the Thai sauce had very little kick to it, and she too thought it was bland. I happen to really like the peanut sauce, but I’m the kind of person that would order Thai food with no stars or one star. I actually think that most people would expect that the peanut-coconut sauce would be a little spicier than it is.
New Edamame and Hummus box – I didn’t try this one either.
Protein box – This is the standard protein box, found in Starbucks everywhere, though re-packaged in “go go goodness” packaging.
Cheese & Fruit – This too is a standard bistro box, found everywhere.
As I was driving back to Orange County in my rental car, I listened to some local radio station. I was surprised to hear a radio ad for the new “Go Go Goodness” bistro boxes, encouraging San Diego customers to try these!
Also, a small number of stores have the “beef brisket” sandwich test. Trust me, by the time I ordered this, I was stuffed. This was a very heavy sandwich and not something I’d order twice, unless I was very hungry. I prefer a light, healthy and delicious bistro box.
You might be wondering where you find the “Go Go Goodness” new bistro boxes. You can find them throughout San Diego County, California; in select areas of Riverside, California; and in Orlando, Florida. The beef brisket sandwich may have more limited availability.
Starbucks tests many more thing than what makes it to a national launch. You can read about some past tests here. One example of this is the Pink Lime Frozt, which went through multiple rounds of testing before Starbucks axed it.
What do you think of the new food at Starbucks?
19 Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Socialize
I’m hungry looking and reading this. Wish Canada had more of the food offerings as the U.S. does. Hopefully soon!!
Awesome food update!!
It is nice to see SB expanding their bistro boxes and offering more vegetarian choices. Melody what are the calories for these new items? Any idea why they picked these locations as their test markets?
Hey – that’s the store my daughter works at in San Diego. So cool, and yes the new box choices are quite delicious.
Testing ‘healthy’ new bistro boxes in warm climates of Orlando and S. California first seems reasonable. My guess is that new boxes would be introduced more widely in spring or summer. On the other hand, the big brisket sandwich should be tested in the Upper Midwest (like my Wisconsin or Minnesota) or maybe New England where a robust, meaty offering would have great appeal for a winter lunch :-D. Bring it on.
Thanks for thinking of your blog fans-friends on your vacation, Melody.
I really do not feel testing these bistro boxes in warm climates would make a difference. I see people getting bistro boxes all year round regardless of the weather. They can be very handy to put in your purse or briefcase or for a quick bite.
Thank you for the info. IT may just be the push I needed to visit San Diego… short family vacation.
Excellent post! I’m new to your page but I’m finding it very interesting. My friend Elisabeth from the store you visited turned me on to it. Personally, I enjoy the bistro boxes. Well, some of them. The gorgonzola spread with the crunchy, salty pretzel sticks is heavenly, and the salted chocolate square is the perfect ending to a healthy snack (remember, folks, dark chocolate has a lot of health benefits, and it pairs magnificently with Casi Cielo!). The hummus and kale cakes?? Yeah, not for me. They remind me of kitty litter clumps. Yuck. As an employee of Starbucks, I’m very proud of the products we sell. Are they all perfect? No. Are they at least worth a try? Of course! Keep it up, StarbucksMelody. 🙂
Sitting here in the remote territorial wilds of Southeast Washington eating my beans by the chuck wagon, I find it hard to get excited about a product (Bistro Boxes) that Starbucks does not see fit to distribute to the majority of its stores. With todays transportation systems there is no reason. I can have a live Maine lobster on my doorstep tomorrow morning. But get a Bistro Box over one not so high mountain, too difficult.
HALF of a PB&J for 5 bucks???
These all look so good! I hope at least half of them make it out of testing and to all of us!
these all sound great, but here’s my problem with expanding the bistro box options: SPACE! we continue to create more food options, but our case size remains the same. i realize this is just a test, but i think any store would be hard pressed to stock all of these along with all the other sandwich and salad options. think about this too, Starbucks corporate peeps, if you’re reading this!
Wow, this is awesome! I hope the test is successful, because these look amazing! The new packaging is pretty great too.
I’m in Orlando, and I received a $1 off bistro box coupon a few days ago. I haven’t had a reason to go get one yet, but I want to try the prosciutto and mozzarella. My kids already like the fruit and cheese and protein bistro boxes, so the PB&J bistro box will be a nice option for them, too. For me the convenience of one stop for a healthy lunch plus coffee when we’re out all day is worth a few more dollars.
@Meghan – You nailed something important – I think Starbucks wants to be your go-to place for both a morning cup of a coffee and a quick, light lunch. I’m already dreaming of my next PB & J from Starbucks! 🙂
sweet I love it all specially the key chains
Hi Darlene – I think you might have written your comment on the wrong article, but it’s okay. I get you! Love the keychains too! http://starbucksmelody.com/2015/01/21/starbucks-partners-youre-big-screen/
I think they’re trying to improve the value for people who redeem their free item on food, which I support. I would not be surprised if the majority of food sold at Starbucks is as a result of a food redemption or special promotion (BOGO sandwiches or $1/$2 off to gold card holders). At list price, the value of the food is not good considering that you can get something made to order at a fast casual restaurant for a similar price or a salad or heat-it-up sandwich at the supermarket for cheaper.
@CalWatch That’s an interesting perspective. I’ve thought the value was okay, though I agree it could be a little better. There is a local company in Seattle called Gretchen’s that does slightly better box lunches & sandwiches at around the same price point. More generally, I bet food waste will be on the decline now that there’s a partner food benefit.
This weekend I was in Carlsbad, CA, I wanted a light lunch because I was on bike ride to San Diego, and really didn’t want a heavy lunch to weigh me down from cycling up the hills. I found that Bistro Box, Super Foods was just the right amount and with 310 calories. The flavor was good and I would get it again it was a slight pricey. But, since I’m in LA County not sure when the Bistro Box will make it my way? I wouldn’t mind trying the other selection of boxes. Maybe since I’m SB reward member I/we could get coupons for my future rides. I will be in San Diego County w/in a few weeks again.
Most definitely will try again and but a little skeptical in buying other boxes and me not liking the flavors of the other boxes. Thank you.