(this is not a paid promotion)
If you attended the Tanner Gun Show on the weekend of the 14th-15th in May, you likely saw a lovely blonde offering samples of food to a hungry crowd. That lady would be Kristen Carpenter owner and founder of Point of Separation.
They are a company focused on freeze-dried meals. Those meals are in a self contained foil pack that you both cook in, and eat from. If you’ve ever been hiking, camping, or just wanted to try astronaut ice cream it’s likely you’ve eaten freeze-dried food at some point. If you have, you’ve likely realized a couple things about it such as: it’s filling, convenient, and usually bland. As of the publishing of this article POS has 4 flavors, with one vegan option. Indian Buttered Chicken, Mumsie’s Gumbo, Shoyu Pork Ramen, and the Vegan Thai Green Curry are all freeze-dried and sealed in the same packaging and require only boiling water. Plus it’s local, being a Breckenridge brand and manufacturing happens in Denver. Bland? Forget that word when addressing this product.
What is the quality like?
The quality difference of the food POS is putting out and a big dog like mountain house can’t be understated. The flavor of POS vs MH is like putting Rocky Balboa against a Jewish school kid. Mountain house doesn’t compete. Although in terms of price because of the economics of scale you will pay more for POS. They are a small company. After a discussion on production requirements for larger scale work, it is only reasonable on the company end to charge what they do which is based on what they pay. To scale up POS is looking at needing lifts, trucks with trailers, and among other things a larger customer base.
Flavor reviews:
Indian Buttered Chicken
This is a wonderful dish that truly encompasses the Indian restaurant experience in a pouch. Sweet, savory, and creamy this dish will leave you satiated and jovial on the trail or the couch.
Mumsie’s Gumbo
Having spent 2 years with a woman from Louisiana I’ve had some wonderful Cajun cooking. Though that creole woman was a good cook she doesn’t compare to the depth of flavor in the roux used here. Mumsie (or the grandmother of one of the owners) made Kristen do the recipe multiple times until she approved it.
Shoyu Pork Ramen
This is by far the most popular of the company. If you were to try to compare this to a cup of noodles you would be publicly flayed for heresy. Slow cooked bone broth and high quality ingredients makes this dish a treat. From a warm soup on a cold hunting trip to a hangover cure, POS ramen will not leave you wanting.
Vegan Thai Curry
This is the least favorite of all they offer from our polling. That however doesn’t mean its bad. In fact the lentil based curry with other veggies was quite nice. Vegan food is not everyone’s cup of tea as it lacks meat. But if you’re looking for something to throw some squirrel into, this would be a good place for it’s use. If you are a rabbit this would also be something edible.
Politics/faith issues
Immediately from very little investigation there’s a few things to be aware of. Obviously if the alien logo offends you the product is most likely not for you. Also, in the bio of the company’s Instagram page is a rainbow. With that said, it’s unlikely they are referencing God’s promise to the world. Also the owner has pronouns on her personal/private Instagram. If you are completely adamant on not giving a penny to someone who disagrees with your stance politically we understand and this would likely be a company to avoid with those sentiments. Although if this type of product is something you would purchase, you will be amazed by the quality they offer. Not only was that some of the best Ramen we’ve had, the amiable demeanor of Kristen was almost as pleasant as the broth.
Conclusion
If you want to diversify your food storage, or want something that is simple to eat after a long shift. POS offers options that would please many of those in the market. The Ramen is the best, with the Gumbo coming close second according to the polls. If you can’t justify the slightly higher cost, or won’t support an arguably woke company that is fine. I would urge you to pick up a few bags as morale boosters, as they will likely taste better than your other survival food. Regardless of what you do if you don’t try them you will likely regret it after the 2nd month of beans and rice.