MRE Review: Canadian IMP Menu No.9 Shepherd's Pie (2014)

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Here's another Canadian IMP (Individual Meal Pack). This one was sent to me to review by Black Dog Bob off of the MREInfo.com forums. It's one that I've been really looking forward to, Shepherd's Pie, and it didn't disappoint!

[@David_Rafuse]

Nice to see that the beef jerky was made in Richmond, British Columbia; when I was in, we Westerners always used to joke about supplies and equipment: "if it ain't made in Quebec, you can't have it."

[@KahlestEnoch]

YAY IMP. Yes they do try to evoke nostalgia. Yay M&Ms That jerky is like concrete. That coffee is the best instant. We like to make sure our soldiers are well fed. Nice, it would have been nice to have seen the potatoes separate, as mashed instant, then it would have soaked up the excess juices. I love the canned peaches nice that we give fruit for dessert rather than something excessively sweet. No it isn't the age or the oxygen absorber, that jerky is normal. You have to suck on it for a while before you chew it. Thanks for the great review.

[@SireneKalypso]

"Pain Hamburger" Oh, my lunch on my daily stroll of life.

[@sallymay24]

Omg I'm silly...you said the beef jerky had nice smell coming off of it so I tried to smell the screen..I did it without realising and my friend looked at me like wtf are you doing...whoops

[@gschultz9]

Ha Ha! If only there were Smell-O-Vision! C'mon Google, get working on THAT!

[@SpearM3064]

+gshultz9 Are you really sure that Smell-O-Vision is a good idea? Because given my luck, the first video enhanced with Smell-O-Vision will be a nature documentary on SKUNKS. Having said that... it would be interesting for those of us on this end of the screen to be able to smell the food. Sniffing the monitor is so unsatisfying. ;^)

[@thomasbernecky2078]

I just realized you have a 50 year old mug for your coffee. Brings back memories of my own trip to Expo 67 in Montreal, a great city. Nice review, Gschultz, thanks!

[@gschultz9]

Thanks for noticing that little touch Thomas! I generally don't do a lot of "gimmicky" things in my videos (the Rock or Something is really my only running joke of sorts), but I love to use that mug when reviewing IMPs!

[@ForeignMRE]

Great review of the Canadian IMP Menu 9 Shepherd's Pie.

[@marchills4131]

If I were prepping this IMP, I'd definitely heat the shepherd's pie entree first. Given that you've introduced hot water to prepare the coffee and tea, I don't think warming the entree is that much of a stretch. In a real field situation, whatever means you used to heat that water, I'd drop the retort pouched entree into that water as it was brought to a boil. I'd also make a point of mixing that beef jerky into the heated entree. Not necessarily suggesting eating the jerky along with the hamburg in the entree, but at least the warm liquid might re-hydrate the jerky a bit. None of this takes away from the fact that as always, this was a very informative, entertaining video.

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

If you have any of that jerky left, you could try to soften it up a bit. Put it in a tea cup in a saucepan part-filled with water and steam the meat on the stove or in a microwave. It will probably help restore some of the meat’s flavour. You deserve more than the 60-odd K subs you’ve got, as your reviews are good.

[@jordanpike5816]

Making field donuts with the bread, peanut butter, Honey, sugar and jelly if you were lucky used to be the best pick me up after a long day on the move. Didn't taste quite as good at home though.

[@windkin45]

Yumm! I've been wanting some Sheppards pie and now I'm drooling over my phone. Mmmm

[@Oldsmokey1]

Shepards pie is one of the imps I've always wanted to get for myself but I think they really dropped the ball not putting mashed potatoes side in this meal. I think that would have been a huge improvement but I'm a meat and potatoes kinda guy so I'm biased. I think them removing one of the sports drinks starting in 2015 was a bad move too because 250ml just isn't enough to me. Also I wanted to add your beef jerkey definitely lost its vacuum seal but it's always like chewing on a piece of leather. I know they could do better with that jerkey. Something I've noticed about 90 percent of the 2014 imp mains I've seen have been full of air. Something happened with the batches of the 2014s that ended up in the States.

[@gschultz9]

Meat and potatoes kind of guy here as well! That's very strange about the air on 2014 mains. I hadn't heard of that before. Does it not seem to be an issue with 2015s and beyond? It seems like it could become a BIG issue as these things age. This one was fine after about three or four years, but I wonder if it would have been good much longer...

[@Oldsmokey1]

That's a good point. Alot of 2014s will probably be exploding between this year and 2020. Although I can't say that for sure but I have seen some that were ready to pop right out of the bag last year. They looked almost like balloons. It was a few I seen in videos.

[@eufonioun]

The point of the beef jerky being tough to eat is to keep the mouth salivating so u are less likely to get hungry and at the same time to have your jaws constantly masticate.

[@deliciousMRE]

Thanks for a good review. This beef jerky is even harder than the Polish special hardtacks :)

[@SublimatedIce]

I like the expo 67 mug. Nice touch.

[@gschultz9]

Glad you caught and appreciated that little touch!

[@cartbuilder6179]

Nice review their gshultz. Can't wait to get my hands on a Canadian ration.

[@METALMAN4Wii]

Yessssss, sorry I don't have a lot in life to get happy about.

[@TheGhostTrooper1]

Its fine man, life will give you something to be happy about someday.

[@BenWorkmanAnimalFeeMre]

great review. I love the quality of the Canadian imp. The flavors are comparable to the British orp. top notch!

[@SuperBlondecat]

Yayyy for the fancy camera work with filling the water into the pouch. Nice Touch 🐨🌺

[@wessteele1058]

I haven't seen a tray like that since grade school , taking me back to better days🤣

[@MultiMagnum62]

Awesome review and meal. Boot leather jerky again. That stuff beats Kevlar, LOL. Items all looked good. Great looking meal sir. Peace, John. Keep up the great work!

[@MultiMagnum62]

Agreed sir!!!!

[@293condor]

Remember dry first then liquid always no mater what you are mixing.

[@collinsfriend1]

your "taste of home" comment got me... I get the comfort food idea, but if my mom cooked like that when I was a kid I'd try to get arrested, or join the Navy. lol

[@gschultz9]

It's not literally a "taste of home", but the idea of making their best attempt to make something that seems familiar (more in the type of dish rather than taste, per se) and would act as a bit of a morale boost along with giving the nutrients to replenish those lost in the field. They're certainly not going to draft every single soldier's mom into the service so they can cook EXACTLY what each soldier remembered eating back home.

[@gman9945]

Creative camera view making the sports drink. Great video

[@oliwan666]

Perfect for my Lunch in front of the PC...Thanks!

[@DrunkHoboBobo]

It's a little bit of a bummer that it's beef and not sheep. Technically shepherd's pie is supposed to be sheep, whereas beef is a cottage pie. It's always fun to see/try stuff that isn't the usual chicken or beef. Either way this looks like an awesome ration and thanks for the review.

[@gschultz9]

I never knew that! I think I always kind of figured it would be beef, because shepherd's were supposed to watch and keep their sheep, not EAT them. But I suppose that would also be the most convenient and plentiful meat for someone hanging out with a bunch of sheep!

[@hamzakhamlichi190]

Awesome video bro , love when u pour water for the powder based beverage:p gd camera angle!!!!!

[@MsKestrela]

The cubed potatoes make sense in a retort pouch, although when you first dumped it out, my mind said, "corned beef hash". Great review, G...and it looks like you got a quite tasty lunch, to boot. ;)

[@Mortvent]

late, but a friend of mine said they and others in their unit put the jerky in the drink bag with some water to hydrate and soften them before they eat them. Said it always comes in like a brick and takes a bit of soaking before it's edible

[@gschultz9]

If I ever get more I'll try that method!

[@rockyraab8290]

That was "cowherd's" pie. Shepherd's Pie ought to be made with lamb, hoggett, or mutton. Except for picking that nit, it's another very good Canadian ration.

[@SeraphinaPZ]

It seems like North America didn't get the memo on that one. Whenever I've had shepherd's pie it has been beef, it is kind of hard to find lamb or mutton where I am.

[@mclovin6039]

Cottage pie is what we call in UK (beef mince)

[@jaydedjen110]

To be fair, lamb is expensive.

[@steventrosiek2623]

Thanks for a great video. MRE looks very appetizing. I sure enjoy shepherds pie.

[@TheStwat]

Do Shepherd's heard cows these days instead of sheep?

[@steventrosiek2623]

TheStwat aka Stuart Wright yes they do.

[@PREPFORIT]

duh

[@vincedibona4687]

*shepards - no apostrophe necessary, much less capitalizing the word; *herd

[@ninus17]

I just Got my hands on my first mre. A Danish menu 13 chicken curry w/ pasta. It is a 24 hour ration and i cant wait to eat it

[@msmurder81]

the silent farmer How did it go?

[@ninus17]

it was delicious

[@jaybea365]

I wonder if the jerky would re-hydrate if you kinda left it in your mouth like a jawbreaker? (I had to find a way to word that that didn't sound off-putting)

[@RavenholmZombie]

Pain Hamburger - It screams when you bite it!

[@gschultz9]

Oh, the pain, the pain!

[@kardstore]

we make ours with a layer of condensed vegetable soup between the meat and potatoes. Every Canadian IMP jerky I've seen has been hard as a rock no matter how recent the date.

[@iaet585]

I've had a few MRE's and these seem interesting, i'll have to pick one up when possible.

[@Sparrow9612]

Is it possible to reconstitute beef jerky if its dried out like that? Steaming perhaps or some such.

[@gschultz9]

After I finished the video and threw out the remainder of the jerky I had that same thought. Wish I had it a few minutes earlier. It really seemed like a waste of jerky!

[@borjesvensson8661]

Could do it the northern scandinavian way, drop it in a cup of black coffe. Our jerky is really hard and not sweetened or spiced.

[@jeffreyhunter3752]

It’s interesting how Pate Chinois translates to Shepherds Pie..

[@yeahbuddy7899]

Its what the chinese were eating when building the railways in canada

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Enjoy but is not just Canadian but is also eaten in the UK, the Ketchup should be mixed into the Shepard’s Pie and enjoyed.

[@gschultz9]

Shepherd's Pie is also enjoyed in the States as well, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were found in many other countries (possibly under a different name?)!

[@vincedibona4687]

Did he say it was US/Canadian only? Most people with any knowledge of the dish knows it has its heritage in the UK.

[@unclemoosh]

OH CORN!...no no, Shepherd's pie, cottage pie, or hachis Parmentier is a ground meat pie with a crust or topping of mashed potato. The recipe has many variations, but the defining ingredients are ground red meat cooked in a gravy or sauce with onions, and topped with a layer of mashed potato before it is baked.

[@tonybanjo]

I didn't know Baxters did IMP / MRE, a Scottish company only known for their canned soups which are premium quality. I wonder if I contacted them would they sell some?

[@louisesmith8367]

Looks really good x

[@gschultz9]

It was indeed!

[@dodomongrosqc7614]

I do have a lot of imp Poutine,hamburger,sheperd pie,salmon, and some other that I don't remember ! Hit me up if you want some ! Maybe do some exchange or something 😉

[@percussion44]

Lol brings back memories of huddled in Wainwright -20C eating scrambled egg and sausage IMP breakfast at 0-dark-stupid.

[@lukewarm1740]

New and improved; 6% more Shepherd meat.

[@jimmys_mk8209]

GOODMORNING BUDDY, HAVE A GREAT DAY

[@gschultz9]

Same to you, Jim!

[@markusadanitsch648]

silimilrry dish in germany calle PICHLSTEINER port potatoes carrots and some oeas looks very similary and is an good tasting dish cheers

[@priser24]

Can't say that I've every put corn in Shepherd's Pie, or had it served that way. Maybe some peas and carrots, but no corn. Sure it tastes fine anyway.

[@sebxleblanc]

Try it with creamy corn, best thing ever.

[@jessicare5331]

IMP poutine is rough.

[@orientalmoons]

This is a very strange sort of shepherd's pie, with beef and corn, but apparently this is how the French Canadians do it. The name of the dish was imported from Britain but made cheaply with ingredients available locally. If you served that up in the UK as shepherd's pie there would be a riot, I think! I expected the military ration version to be meat and carrots and peas in gravy, with a side of mashed potatoes. That would be a closer approximation to the real thing, I think.

[@leeeverett4507]

orientalmoons I'd love to see someone even try to serve a 'Shepherds Pie' like that over here in Britain.

[@vincedibona4687]

@@leeeverett4507 Ah, someone who doesn't understand MREs. I'd love to hear your review of the US MRE "Chicken Burrito Bowl", as it is neither a burrito nor in a bowl.

[@johnwynn5050]

You put a round bun in a square hole? Freud would have an opinion.

[@titanicsauce2152]

A good review without the cheesy music.

[@bbp3tg]

Man that looks good thanks for the review 😁

[@michaelbenjmitchell1]

I wonder how the Canadians can cook their rations without a flameless heater? and some people actually use the honey with their tea.

[@twobrothersproductions9358]

Hey G! Great video as always!! Did you end up getting my package??

[@SpencerShirey1998]

Looks Good

[@gschultz9]

Tasted even better!

[@CalintzJerevinan546]

Shepherd's Pie is made from Sheep not beef. If it's beef it would be a cottage pie.

[@fuzziestlumpkin]

This! Also, corn? Must be a North American thing.

[@CalintzJerevinan546]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5Cqf62kq66BZ6c - This is the real Shepherd's Pie recipe.

[@CalintzJerevinan546]

No corn either that's not even a British, Irish or Canadian vegetable in a pie.

[@Peorhum]

Yeah, should be called Cottage pie but even then it is not really a cottage pie, should be called ground beef stew. Cottage/shepherd pie you can add whatever veggies you got. I add corn and peas when i make it.

[@turnip5359]

Chinese pie lol

[@othmanebelghali9383]

I liked the camera in the beverage bag hahahah so funny xD anyone funny here lol !! xD :V

[@hamzakhamlichi190]

Hahahahaha I always laugh also but it’s really cool 😆😆😆

[@othmanebelghali9383]

Hahah ta nta ki3jbuk MRE ana kanmout 3lihoum mais makayninch fl mghrib 😣😣 bghit 1

[@amanacatandhisdog8836]

Really a good job. Didn’t have high hopes for main as homemade chicken pot pies totally different when made by machine for mainly preservation perspectives and not taste. Turned out pretty well. I am glad.

[@mclovin6039]

Eat shepherd's pie in pouch, save sauce, then drop jerky in residual sauce in pouch. Only way I can see that jerky being edible

[@samsworldofrations6996]

Honey and PB mmmm

[@free_spirit_corfu]

I am not very good in French but doesn't chinois mean chinese?

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Oui.

[@free_spirit_corfu]

so does it contain sheperds pie or chinese noodles?

[@gschultz9]

I was a bit confused by the name myself. Also not being a French speaker, but having taken a few years of French in high school, the name didn't seem to make too much sense to me. But I guess it's not a direct translation. I did look it up in Google translate and it came up as Shepherd's Pie!

[@free_spirit_corfu]

I just googled it and I see that indeed it comes back as shepards pie, but when I google it in Greek it comes back as chinese noodles. Still I am quite sure that chinois means chinese. Well, we'll never know! Maybe it is some kind of idiom. By the way I love your reviews!

[@dodomongrosqc7614]

The history behind it is: Here in Canada when they made railroad it was all Chinese worker!! So the tough of a good meal for them to have everything! Protein,sugar,fat! And easy to cook because there were always working ! And thats with what they end up with ! They called it Pâté Chinois because of that ! :)

[@bobtremblay311]

you have to crunch the potato when they are in the pouch

[@PowerfulDragon]

they should call it cottage pie since it's beef-based, not lamb.

[@PREPFORIT]

It is a Shepherd's Pie in Canada Dip shit !

[@r4microds]

Shepperds pie is not supposed to be ground beef! The sheppard in the name is for sheep right? Admittedly, i've always made it with beef due to ease of access. ;)

[@gschultz9]

There's different trains of thought on it (I've discovered since doing this video). I've always known shepherd's pie to have beef, and it seems like there are quite a few countries that would agree (mainly the U.S. and Canada), but the UK seems to be more familiar with the sheep version. The name does and does not make sense. At first glance shepherd's pie would logically contain sheep. But...while I never really thought of it before (just always knew it as I knew it), it seems like shepherds WOULDN'T be eating sheep. After all, they're supposed to be keeping them safe, right? So, shepherds make a pie with beef to eat while they're watching their flock!

[@PREPFORIT]

It is a Shepherd's Pie in Canada Dip shit !

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

Not Shepherds Pie, Cottage Pie. Shepherds Pie is made with ground lamb, Cottage with ground beef. But Not really important, only FYI. ☺

[@libertyann439]

Reconstitute the beef jerky. How come none of these have hot chocolate?

[@PREPFORIT]

Great review - and for some of the Idiotic comments . This is how Shepherd's Pie is made in Canada. STOP whining It is NOT all about You !

[@peejca5143]

PREPFORIT not everyone knows it’s shepherds pie in Canada, they thought they were pointing out a mistake,

[@turnip5359]

Umm why is it Chinese pie/paste in French?

[@SuperBlondecat]

Our local butcher makes the most amazing jerky. Large extremely thin shards of beef the size of my hand. Marinated. Then smoked and dried. Tooo Dieeeeeeee foooorr

[@msmurder81]

CAT G.Blondecat my butcher does too. We get two little bags and one ends up being eaten as snacks in the car on the way home. I drive about 30 minutes to get to the butcher

[@michaelwozniak183]

NICE BUDDY NICE!

[@paulcarre7987]

shepards pieis made with minced lamb........cottage pie is minced beef

[@midnightorchid9731]

That is not shepherds pie lol. A shepherd watches over sheep. So shepherds pie is made with lamb. When it is made with beef it is usually called cottage pie.

[@poxed5508]

i wanna buy a mre but im poor af

[@Syrnian]

That is a cottage pie, not a shepard's pie.

[@peejca5143]

Syrnian in Canada it’s a shepherds pie.

[@chimpaflimp]

It's not even shepherd's pie; shepherd's pie has lamb in it. If it's beef it's a cottage pie. Edit: corn? Shepherd's/cottage pie should have peas, carrots and onion in it, not corn. What are you doing, Canada?

[@PREPFORIT]

It is a Shepherd's Pie in Canada Dip shit !

[@martinedingivan]

Not my idea of shepherd pie just saying 😔

[@cvmaniac7286]

Kinda reminds me of corned beef hash.

[@gschultz9]

Yeah, it was a similar consistency. Different taste, but similar presentation!

[@BTemple]

From my experience the Shepherds Pie mains in IMPs always seem to be bulged a bit... it's always a bit disconcerting. Haha

[@gschultz9]

That IS strange. But, at least now I don't feel as concerned about it.

[@BTemple]

gschultz9 I find the chipotle chicken carbonara mains are always like that too

[@davidhintz1806]

He said Teabag.

[@Vulf_Faolan]

A Pain Hamburger eh? That doesn't sound good

[@PREPFORIT]

It is how the French Canadian's say " Bun "

[@jessicare5331]

@@PREPFORIT pain is French for bread. A bun is a petit pain.

[@stenwillander5426]

Soak that jerky overnight- should be fine

[@mattydoble]

13

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

And another anally retentive comment: that is cottage pie, not shepherd’s pie, as it contains beef not lamb/mutton. I think it a little strange the sugar is measured in grains, not grams.

[@SireneKalypso]

*cottage pie

[@GrumbleGombol]

That looks nothing like sheperds pie..Where's the Gravy?

[@PREPFORIT]

It is a Shepherd's Pie in Canada Dip shit !

[@pjthemonkey]

Looks good but the shepherds pie looks more like corned beef hash to me.

[@Blakpj]

To all this is a very Canadian way. Beef and corn were plentiful and inexpensive

[@bluesinsanityfantasy2683]

Tfw its more then just a brown paper bag

[@turnip5359]

Til xD

[@peterwebster3900]

Its not shepherd's pie, Its actually Cottage pie...shepherd's pie is made with lamb, cottage pie is beef.

[@PREPFORIT]

It is a Shepherd's Pie in Canada Dip shit !

[@MoxxieKnolastname1069]

Ah Textured Soy Protein and Textured Vegetable Protein making cheap "meat" rubbery since the 1980s or whenever lol

[@mattbluesmantastic]

Ketchup goes well on a hamburger, Good joke. Ketchup is only for fries and meatloaf unless you're a toddler. Just my opinion and firmly held beleif.

[@PREPFORIT]

WRONG