Lee Kum Kee Plum Sauce

I tagged this as Chinese, but to be totally honest, I'm not totally sure what kind of cuisine this sauce is associated with. Unlike their tasty beef teriyaki sauce, this didn't taste like any dish I'd had in my youth. So, I wasn't sure what to expect with this or even really what to do with it, since I don't eat egg rolls and I never used the packets of duck sauce (which I imagine is similar?) I got as a kid with chinese food.
I decided to just put it on some grilled chicken (is grilled even the word? pan-cooked chicken), over rice. So, one breast of chicken, a little less than half the jar of sauce, one econo portion of rice. When cooked, it was quite sweet, a little vinegary, and not especially spicy. I didn't love it or hate it. I was very glad that I cooked it though - I think spending 3-4 minutes cooking the sauce onto the chicken makes the flavor much better, sweeter, more chinese-y, something. Just plain out of the jar the flavor was pretty strong, in a not great way. I might try repeating this but adding a bit of soy sauce to it? I'm not sure, it's already salty, but I didn't LOVE what I did with this so i don't know if I want to just repeat it, though I might. I also considered adding this to veg but I don't think that'd be good, but with chicken or I guess duck this seems like a fair accompaniment.

Overall
Cost: 5/10
Taste: 5/10

Lee Kum Kee Panda Brand Ready Sauce for Korean BBQ Stir-Fry

Dude. Dude. Dude. OK, so if you've read this blog or know me in person, you probably know that since the age of 12 or so, when I got seriously diagnosed with NUT ALLERGY BAD NUT ALLERGY, I've been on the quest for nut-free Chinese food. And not crap Chinese food, but stuff that actually tastes like the (takeout) Chinese food of my youth. However, I have been mostly unsuccessful (mild success came with Yoshinoya Beef Bowl's fried rice (RIP West coast life) and this frozen Innovasian chicken and broccoli meal, but after many attempts, I've generally come up short. Since I am usually in search of (Chinese) lo mein or fried rice or chicken and broc, I never would have thought to try this packet of Korean BBQ stir fry sauce on my own. However, blessedly, it was sent in my monthly Degustabox (fun food sub box). First downer: I have to buy meat, onions, and veg if I want veg. So this is a commitment. Then I need to marinate the meat for two hours. Whew. And they say to buy "flank steak", and I'm not very familiar with cuts of beef, being a mostly poultry-only girl left to my own devices. The only flank steak is over 10 bucks a pound at my store! Good lord! But, since the only potential alternative (London Broil Top Cut) looked really different, I bit the bullet and spent the 10 bucks for this meat, then came home and made rice and cut veg and marinated it up and stir fried the heck outta this thing! (The cooking itself took less than 10 min, which was crazy, and I don't have a meat thermometer so I was a little scared and did it on the longer side, like 8min total). And...and....it tastes EXACTLY like the beef teriyaki I used to get as a kiddo! Chewy beef pieces skewered with a wooden stick. Now as a kid this wasn't my favorite Chinese dish, my parents always ordered it, but damn if it didn't bring tears to my eyes to taste a so similar thing!!! I think it must be partially the cut of meat (damn you, beautiful chewy 10 dollar meat), but the sauce is also a really similar flavor, and it's just really great to have this. Ahhh. I think it came out well; even though I used a little less meat than called for and so I had a fairly saucy dish, when it's over rice it isn't too overwhelming or too sweet or anything like that at all. Just great. What a fun surprise! I might have to buy this again, even given the expense, maybe to make for my loved ones (i.e. parents and bf (separately)) to get their reaction. Woo! Cooking success high! :)

Overall
Cost: 3/10 (about 3$ for the sauce, which is OK, but see my meat stress above -- though I'm sure you can use other meats or veg or something instead)
Taste: 9/10 (as a meal, the sauce on its own didn't wow me, although it is good)
Nostalgia: 10/10