326682 Sun Sep 17 20:05:00 -0700 2006 414 32 Chains 0 1882629 What do you love and why? What do you hate and why? (Say, of things tried in the last few months, since TJ's stock and sources change.) YAY: Smoked trout - inexpensive tasty, long-keeping alternative to salmon Tahini (in the veggie section) - addictive Ranch dressing in veggie section - tasty, good ingredients Aged steakburgers - best hamburgers in ages, full, rich taste Thinly-slice sirloin - wonderful for quick curries etc. - cooks fast - have to use quickly too though Cinnamon - hands down the best sweet rich cinnamon I've ever had Butternut squash cubes - in veggie section - tasty, easy to use Mushroom risotto - nice and quick Frozen brown rice - pretty good for quick fixes NAY: Hummus (not really a fan of hummus though) Fajita meat (yuk) Sun Sep 17 20:05:00 -0700 2006 40486 Cinnamon 1 1882773 All alcohols for 10-20 percent cheaper than anywhere else. I got chimay blue for 7.99. Sun Sep 17 21:30:37 -0700 2006 1882629 30158 amkirkland 2 2415274 which trader joes sell alcohol around here? i love the two buck chuck. Fri Mar 23 14:32:47 -0700 2007 1882773 85342 mojo2483 3 2999463 The only one Ive been to in Jersey that offers alcohol that Ive noticed lately is westfield and I snaked the last 2 bottles of their peach lambic big boys. Most recent visit: YEA: Toasted dried unsweetened apple crisps NAY: Freezed dried lychee fruit Wed Oct 03 07:04:51 -0700 2007 2415274 101707 yankeefan 4 2999864 Almost bought the dried lychee last time I was there -- glad I didn't waste the $. The chocolate-covered banana chips are great. They're delish on their own, but I put them in my peanut butter swirl brownies, too -- yum! Wed Oct 03 08:53:21 -0700 2007 2999463 107491 dinner belle 2 2594158 Browse their wine selection if you haven't. Very decent quality at very reasonable prices. I typically like a $20-$45 bottle of namebrand champagne. Joe's offers a very nice sparkeling white burgandy for around $8 a bottle. Wed May 23 00:39:06 -0700 2007 1882773 100492 RonaldMcDonaldsFrenchLaundry 1 1889236 We mostly get our gluten-free stuff there, which I wouldn't recommend to anyone who can eat normally, but recently we tried the cesar salad dressing. It was aweful! I was rather suprised. Wed Sep 20 15:01:48 -0700 2006 1882629 15001 jsaimd 1 1889730 Add salsa to that list--it was half cilantro and not spicy at all. And yeah, terrible hummus. The pita chips were pretty nasty as well. I don't think they stock 85% of the 'yay' items in the NYC trader joes, which is depressing. Wed Sep 20 17:49:42 -0700 2006 1882629 20741 erikka 2 1931566 have you tried their Roasted Garlic hummus? i am not a fan of their plain stuff but the roasted garlic hummus is pretty close to perfect for me (as far as market stuff goes) Sun Oct 08 23:11:13 -0700 2006 1889730 11504 amandine 2 2143930 Their kalamata olive hummus is really good. It's salty but addictive. I also like the spinach and tofu egg rolls. And the eggplant cutlets are a staple. Mon Jan 01 21:51:17 -0800 2007 1889730 42343 bakeryqueen 2 2432737 I have been addicted to the sun dried tomato hummus lately. I can't get enough. But then again, if you put sun dried tomatoes on a piece of cardboard I'd eat it and ask for seconds. Thu Mar 29 12:32:03 -0700 2007 1889730 86015 Melissavina 3 2433949 My SO can't get enough of that stuff. Honestly, I think he would starve without it! Thu Mar 29 18:07:10 -0700 2007 2432737 59549 aching 4 2617705 I am a hummus afficianado and I must say beyond a shadow of a doubt the finest hummus I have ever tasted is the Trader Joes Meditteranean hummus with the pine nuts and oil and herbs on top. Divine! Thu May 31 12:08:03 -0700 2007 2433949 17055 EAH 5 2816741 I agree with you 100% on the Mediterranean hummus. It's the only hummus that I'd eat with a spoon.... or on my finger..... Sun Aug 05 22:16:51 -0700 2007 2617705 107725 bards4 2 3410088 Just a caveat for the other people reading this thread, trader joes gets their hummus from different sources in different regions. I used to get the cilantro jalapeño hummus in SoCal... now in Minneapolis I have to find a new go-to hummus... unfortunately they don't have the Mediterranean hummus here either. Mon Feb 18 13:38:49 -0800 2008 1889730 149048 babaoriley7 3 3554629 That sadly is true about a lot of TJ's items... Even more puzzling is when an item disappears for months... and then suddenly re-appears... --Dommy! Wed Apr 02 15:22:33 -0700 2008 3410088 10659 Dommy 1 1890739 I've been having good luck with the meat there recently (I have one near my work, so have picked it up only because it was so convenient). We've been mastering our new grill and made the large Santa Maria pre-marinated tri-tip roast and it came out AMAZING. Tender and cooked up just right with the marinade giving a bit of flavor, but not hiding the beef flavor or effecting the texture. We're going to be making again for SURE! :) Also I recently made Marcella Hazan's chicken with their small Kosher Chicken, it was fantastic!! http://members.aol.com/pmgon/Chowhound/Puffy.jpg Also I bought the black figs and they were VERY sweet! YUM! :) Finally, I was gifted their house brand small dark chocolate bar (58%) from Belgium and love it! :) The only Nay recently has been the dried Blenheim Apricots. They aren't bad, just kinda 'meh' texture and flavorwise. --Dommy! Wed Sep 20 22:33:07 -0700 2006 1882629 10659 Dommy 1 1890770 I'm so ashamed... I bought the pre-cooked brown rice -- you know, rip open the top and microwave for one minute -- and it's better than the brown rice I make. :( Wed Sep 20 22:44:46 -0700 2006 1882629 10811 Das Ubergeek 2 1890831 My friend said the frozen was worlds yummier than the pouch one. :) Wed Sep 20 23:07:22 -0700 2006 1890770 10659 Dommy 3 2091557 I tried the frozen brown rice tonight and it's GREAT - perfect texture, moist but not soggy, good flavour. I have previously eaten the Mr. Ben's microwave-the-pouch rice *hangs head* - and this is about 60 bazillion times better. Tue Dec 12 05:39:47 -0800 2006 1890831 23874 spigot 2 1941548 I live by that stuff. Seriously. I rarely have the time or patience to make brown rice from scratch on a weeknight, but the frozen is good and easy. Thu Oct 12 19:03:43 -0700 2006 1890770 10669 Amuse Bouches 2 1993995 Wipe away that shame - we all need time-savers on busy days. BTW-I invented a "cheater" dish using that pre-cooked brown rice - just add a container of spinach/artichoke dip to it, and YUM you have a "pseudo-fancy" side dish in 5 minutes. Fri Nov 03 13:38:43 -0800 2006 1890770 50401 MadAboutParis 3 2093589 What a great idea!! That dip is awesome... I've used it on pasta (kind of boring), in veggie casseroles, and topping chicken. I like the rice idea!!!!!! Tue Dec 12 20:50:25 -0800 2006 1993995 12365 jessicheese 2 2089014 I have a rice cooker, so when I make a fresh batch (for a special meal, or when I do have the time to cook), I make extra. Then I put that in single server bags, and put it in the freezer. A lot cheaper than buying it store bought. As long as you are putting it in something (like soup, or topping it with something else) it works quite well. Mon Dec 11 16:57:21 -0800 2006 1890770 45848 Booger 2 4630083 YOU, DasUbergeek? Ha ha ha ha. Of all people. :) By the way, it may be just personal preference, but I just love their jasmine rice (the kind you actually have to cook awhile), and found it better than the frozen bags they have, but for expediency/emergency I'll still keep those on hand. One of best-ever improvs I did was just adding coconut milk for some of the water with the long-cook variety (really while it was doing its 10-minute-steaming thing, and leaving the lid a little askew), and then frying green onions, tossing in cilantro and then quickly that rice for a few seconds. (Used coconut oil.) Sun Apr 26 12:38:19 -0700 2009 1890770 40486 Cinnamon 3 4630665 In the intervening two and a half years I have dramatically improved my brown rice-making skills. I bought better brown rice (from Marukai) and I don't use my rice cooker for it -- the rice is better when I make it in my little trompo-shaped 1 1/2 qt. Le Creuset pan, and it only takes 20-25 minutes, not two hours like the rice cooker. So I don't make worse brown rice than TJ's now. But I still regret apologising for the occasional convenience food (he said, as he prepared to log off and go make chile-almond salsa to put on fresh halibut, tie in soaked corn husks, and grill). Sun Apr 26 17:04:44 -0700 2009 4630083 10811 Das Ubergeek 4 4630687 No need to apologize! Sun Apr 26 17:09:42 -0700 2009 4630665 40486 Cinnamon 1 1890859 I just bought some of the dried Rainier Cherries and they are not good. Pretty much blah flavor and not a great texture. I would be embarrassed to serve them to people. But I love the Stir Fried Shrimp and Veggies in the Frozen Foods section. It is great for a quick (almost as quick as drive through) dinner on its own, just as the package directs, or there are infinite ways to dress it up. Wed Sep 20 23:19:53 -0700 2006 1882629 19985 magerber 2 1929107 I agree in your assessment of the cherries as an out-of-hand snack — meh. But to use some up I added them to an apple turnover filling, and cooked the dried cherries were great. Sat Oct 07 01:04:09 -0700 2006 1890859 23942 SundanceKC 2 2084100 I like cherries to be tart, and they have dried Montmorency cherries that are very tasty - I eat them plain and also put them into oatmeal. For some reason, sweet cherries give me the creeps! Sat Dec 09 05:08:11 -0800 2006 1890859 44765 dinnerout 2 2091300 Just bought the dried bing cherries. Very good out of hand, no sugar added. Looking forward to having them in my oatmeal with dried blueberries (also from Trader Joe's, also very nice.) I did try another of their dried cherries ... the ones that say "tart" on the label, found them a bit too tart. But they went quite well in the cranberry & cherry scones my boyfriend made last week. Tue Dec 12 03:25:49 -0800 2006 1890859 44866 kittyboots 1 1896114 Yes: whole roast chicken - cooks up pretty well if you half it and put in the oven for 35 mins on 425. Water crackers - for $1.99 a box, I'll buy these regularly over Carr's. Mashed potatoes - better than soupy ready-to-eat potatoes I've gotten elsewhere. New York and Rib Eye steaks - seems to be easier to find a decent looking steak here than at the local supermarket. TJ's steak sauce - tried this recently and was surprised to like it as an A-1 alternative. Frozen turkey meatballs - good microwaved with a sauce like Rao's. Frozen french green beans - good for easy veg side. No: Any bottled curry, masala, or korma cooking sauce - I've tried these and they always disappoint compared to getting take-out from the local place on the corner. With the effort of cooking involved, just not worth it. TJ's salted peanuts - these tasted 'off' to me. Still prefer Planters. Generally, their bread selection is pretty lame. Grilled chicken strips - I used to like these. Ever just eaten way too much of something to be interested anymore? Fri Sep 22 22:59:57 -0700 2006 1882629 14412 wontonton 1 1900451 Here are my faves: California Style Nicoise Salad with French Vinaigrette Green Label TJ's Marinara Sauce - Very Good NY White Chedder Frozen French Green Beans Frozen Sweet White Corn White Chedder Popcorn Chile Lime Pistacios Creamy Cilantro Low Fat Dressing in the Refrigerated Section Quad-Formaggio (sp?) Cheese Pizza Frozen Coho Salmon Filets Four Packs of Rawhide Chews for the pooch Pass All sushi All Bread/pastry Products (Pretty much always stale and tasteless) Thai freeze dried soups (salty and lack real flavor) TJ's Dishwasher Soap Mon Sep 25 16:04:49 -0700 2006 1882629 12701 davinagr 2 1994825 I can't believe the Sushi has not been pulled when so much other good stuff gets discontinued. Who eats that crap? And the freeze dried thai noodle bowl was a WOOF!! Fri Nov 03 18:25:50 -0800 2006 1900451 10243 jcmods 3 1995387 I do. Not regularly, but on occasion when it seems like a good idea for lunch. Do you know exactly why other items get discontinued? I can't, off hand, think of a discontinued item that the sushi might have displaced. However I don't pay a lot of attention to the ready-to-eat cooler section. paulj Fri Nov 03 20:33:04 -0800 2006 1994825 12139 paulj 2 2560316 I agree about the popcorn!! Frozen veggies... freshest and cheapest Tortillas... again freshest and cheapest Greek style yogurt.... delish Chocolate chips... because they are Ghiradelli, but since they don't advertise, they pay less!! And Yay.. they brought the Wasabi Mayo back... it is so good spread thin on fresh salmon and then grilled!! Nays... Their new Thai gyoza The fat free bean dip.. gross Chopped onions... great idea, but as soon as I open it, it stinks up my house for days!! Thu May 10 20:32:49 -0700 2007 1900451 96029 tolsonhouse4 1 1902278 I'm relatively new to TJ's and, as you'll see, I'm not much of a cook. Just looking around my kitchen, thumbs up to TJ-branded: Frozen pizzas Frozen creme brulees – two to a pack, already in nice brown reusable ceramic dishes Boxes of boil-in-bag punjab choley Garlic naan from the freezer section (but NOT the naan sold in the baked goods department) Pumpkin butter Fire-roasted guacamole – comes with a layer of salsa that keeps it fresh long after opening Canned onion soup Triple chocolate-chip cookies – try to each just one! Veggie corn dogs Frozen pasta and gnocchi dishes – ready in minutes, great when you're in a rush (or just lazy) Small dolmas in olive oil Ginger-sesame potato chips – OMG!!! Not to be found in my kitchen anymore, thumbs down to: Pretty much anything in the baked goods department All their dairy products, which seem to go bad a lot faster than from other markets Tue Sep 26 03:18:33 -0700 2006 1882629 16564 Arthur 2 1902299 I like TJ's plain bagels, handmade flour tortillas and their lavash bread. The bagels are nicely dense and have a good "chew" to them. Maybe that isn't authentic but I don't like major grocery store bagels because they taste like white bread baked in the shape of a bagel - no substance to them. Their Santa Maria tri-tip, carne asada and pollo asada are also very good. For sweets their mudpie is great. Those are just some of the things I really like. Nay-wise I'd say their packaged sushi. Very boring. For me it's probably at least a 10-1 ratio of yay to nay. Tue Sep 26 03:33:36 -0700 2006 1902278 10764 monkuboy 2 2001993 You know, I see that comment about the dairy products going bad quickly all the time, and it always confounds me. I guess it varies a lot from store to store, depending on their handling practices and volume/turnover, but I've been buying their dairy products, everything from milk to yogurt to sour cream for years and I've had exactly *one* thing (a carton of cottage cheese) go bad before it was supposed to. And I'm a single person, so I don't always finish a carton of milk that quickly. At any rate, I love their dairy products (and eggs) -- you really can't beat the price for organics (which I is almost all I buy), and the yogurt selection is great. Tue Nov 07 01:15:35 -0800 2006 1902278 10159 Ruth Lafler 3 2003394 I concur...I've never had a problem...also single, and love my dairy! At least for me here in S.F., I have not experienced this problem. (I returned a chicken once, but that's it!) Tue Nov 07 17:29:12 -0800 2006 2001993 10485 ChowFun_derek 3 2003663 I didn't say I've experienced any TJ dairy product going bad "before it was supposed to." I said TJ's dairy products seem to go bad faster than those from other markets. So a carton of milk that I buy from my neighborhood Ralphs Supermarket will consistently taste pretty fresh for at least a week (or more) past its expiration date, while a TJ's quart will be undrinkable on or not long after its own imprinted deadline. Tue Nov 07 18:46:20 -0800 2006 2001993 16564 Arthur 3 2374653 Haven't had any problems with milk or yogurt, but I don't care for their cottage cheese and don't buy it any more. There's usually some off-flavor even if it's not really bad. Sun Mar 11 11:17:53 -0700 2007 2001993 71215 mlgb 3 2661508 Don't forget the butter! It is really cheap and won't go bad for a long time. Thu Jun 14 16:47:14 -0700 2007 2001993 98877 LaurenTX2CA 1 1902852 Chicken Vindaloo frozen entree! Tue Sep 26 14:35:39 -0700 2006 1882629 14271 tamerlanenj 1 1902871 I like the goat cheese and three cheese potato chips; the chocolate-covered, peanut-butter-filled pretzel nuggets; and the sliced Tuscan pane bread, which is great toasted with butter. I also stock up on staples, like nuts, honey, olive oil, etc. --Sarah http://www.avenuefood.com Tue Sep 26 14:46:39 -0700 2006 1882629 26138 slynnkiino 1 1904949 They have great frozen buffalo burgers. 4 for about $6. Wed Sep 27 04:54:10 -0700 2006 1882629 13030 free sample addict aka Tracy L 1 1906252 Yays: refrigerated Spinach dip- my 2 yo eats it as a veggie! Pineapple Salsa- sweet and spicy frozen turkey meatballs frozen battered halibut frozen veggie corn-dogs lemon ginger echinacea juice- just makes me feel better thinking about it Nays: dried rainier cherries all of the indian-style simmer sauces really odd soy crackers Wed Sep 27 19:39:49 -0700 2006 1882629 17232 msmd310 1 1908735 I only buy a few things at TJ's (have a lot of other options), but I go periodically just for: Frozen Brown Rice (super-convenient and good) Frozen Mango Chunks (great with Greek-style yogurt w/honey) "Nirvana" Frozen Veg Patties (primary protein is egg whites, which I prefer to soy, nice variety of vegetable ingredients, mild curry flavor) Mango Chutney (goes really well with Nirvana veg patties) Thu Sep 28 17:52:26 -0700 2006 1882629 12622 Striver 1 1916295 Non-fat greek style yogurt. In the straining it appears the lactose (carbohydrate) gets removed (6g carbs per 200g serving versus about 13-16g carbs per 200g serving of regular style plain non-fat yogurts) and it doesn't have to have the pectin that other non-fats do, so it's a very thick rich yogurt with just 100 cals per 200g (about a cup) serving. I'm living off this stuff now. Frozen pepper strips I haven't tried these yet, but they made for a great way to get my yogurt home cold when I had a day of errands in front of me. has anyone tried the mozzarella di bufalo(sp). I'm curious. Mon Oct 02 16:25:29 -0700 2006 1882629 30158 amkirkland 2 2039212 Do you mean the mozzarella that is Trader Joe's brand, and in like a log shape? If you do, I found it really good - great flavor and very stringy. Would make great fried mozzarella sticks. Tue Nov 21 18:18:01 -0800 2006 1916295 52113 Seldomsated 2 2944307 *bufala Sat Sep 15 11:01:20 -0700 2007 1916295 119126 famedalupo 2 4517006 The Buffalo Mozarella is delicious. I say Yay YAY Organic Vanilla Yogurt Spicy Hummus Frozen pizza with carmelized onions and ham and gruyere(?) POP CHIPS!!! Holy cow those are great Salsa - plain red, plain green, in tall skinny bottles Roasted pepper and tomato soup (box) NAY Sharp Provelone Cheese (only cheese I've ever thrown away for taste) Bread Wed Mar 18 12:40:24 -0700 2009 1916295 14488 Bcakes 1 1918932 Is 'smoked trout' in the fridge or a can... Are the 'steakburgers' in the fridge of freezer section...? Thanks ps. I really like the frozen onion soup and frozen bake your own Ch.Chip cookies. Tue Oct 03 15:48:07 -0700 2006 1882629 10485 ChowFun_derek 2 4630097 If you're still reading this thread after 2-plus years, the smoked trout is in a plastic package like smoked salmon. :) Steakburgers in the fridge section, also in plastic, in sort of pre-cut circular shapes. Sun Apr 26 12:41:10 -0700 2009 1918932 40486 Cinnamon 3 4661786 there is still smoked trout in a can. Thu May 07 05:42:24 -0700 2009 4630097 105717 alkapal 4 4672536 update: there is no smoked trout in a can -- not even a space for it on the shelf. i didn't ask up at the desk, though. is it possibly a seasonal item? Mon May 11 05:35:54 -0700 2009 4661786 105717 alkapal 1 1920164 YAY! * 2 Buck Chuck Chardonnay to make white Sangria * Thai Ginger Carrots (Frozen), I can see these become a problem at the Dommy Household... * Refrigerated Bruchetta, not as good as the jarred one, but still REALLY tasty as a topping and dip... NAY! * Packaged Peaches... I should have know... BLEH!!! * Their Powdered Sugar... What a grainy, clumpy mess.... :PPPPP --Dommy! Tue Oct 03 21:38:03 -0700 2006 1882629 10659 Dommy 1 1920220 We get as many of our groceries as we can at TJ's. Rarely disappointed. Like their cold cereals, dried fruits, Greek-style yogurts, chips, cheeses, and wines. Our cat is crazy about their canned tuna-for-cats. Recently, Cook's Illustrated mag turned thumbs down on TJ's boxed Chicken Stock. I was a little suprised, but switched to Whole Foods'. Mike Tue Oct 03 21:53:32 -0700 2006 1882629 15041 MikeLM 1 1920258 Yay: Ginger Chews Reasonably priced wine Stockyard Ale Multigrain Crackers The cheese selection Boxed Tomato/Roasted Red Pepper Soup Frozen French Onion Soup (Plats de Jour) Gardenburger Ribs Decent personal care products (shampoo, conditioner, soaps) Best Apple Cider I've ever had Truffle Oil Frozen Garlic Naan Coffee (bean form, I grind it at the store) Cashews Chicken Stew, Beef Stew (canned) super cheap (69 cents/lb) pasta Pasta Sauce Gnocci Frozen Chicken Enchaladas Nay: Baked Goods - leaden, flavorless breads Most of the salsa Tue Oct 03 22:06:38 -0700 2006 1882629 12752 MsDiPesto 2 1962905 "gardenburger Ribs"? Are you telling me they make fake ribs? OMG Sat Oct 21 19:10:52 -0700 2006 1920258 11290 jfood 3 4629459 Love the ribs. I like to put them in a tortilla with chedder, lettuce and tomato and Sun Apr 26 07:33:23 -0700 2009 1962905 169750 meb26 4 4629644 Definitely good enough to coax back a reluctant vegetarian from jumping back over to the other side of the fence. Sun Apr 26 08:59:44 -0700 2009 4629459 64003 bulavinaka 5 4633780 According to a TJ's employee here in IL, they will no longer be carrying the Gardenburger riblets. They're going to start carrying a rib-not under their own name. TJ's was my go-to spot for the Gardenburger ribs b/c they're so expensive elsewhere. Hope the new ones are as good (or better). Mon Apr 27 15:50:06 -0700 2009 4629644 11195 LAWoman 6 4633955 Of course, it's quite possible it will be the same product, in TJ's packaging. That happens a lot. It allows the producer to cut a deal with TJ's for a lower price without undermining the price at which their brand-name product is sold. Mon Apr 27 16:43:04 -0700 2009 4633780 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 2039223 Lots of people have commented on the breads. I think on their own, they are blah, but if you warm them up with a bit of oil, they are fine. The whole wheat tortillas, fried in olive oil, really come alive then. And the small bread rolls from Il Forniao, when split and placed on a George Foreman grill after you've cooked a meat patty, improve by getting chewy and picking up the flavor of the meat. Tue Nov 21 18:22:12 -0800 2006 1920258 52113 Seldomsated 2 2394320 Have you tried the TJ's brand sprouted breads? They're really hearty and very low in carbs. They don't stay fresh long so I freeze 1 loaf while I use the other. Fri Mar 16 22:56:14 -0700 2007 1920258 83506 petersburg 1 1922285 Yay: flour tortillas dried pasta boxed carrot ginger soup frozen tamales frozen fish filets in blister pouch canned light tuna nay: frozen shrimp teriyaki rice bowl various Indian foods in foil pouches, not frozen Wed Oct 04 17:30:54 -0700 2006 1882629 44866 kittyboots 1 1926983 I live 1/2 block from TJ's. Overall, I love the place. Yay: Balsamic Roasted Veggies (frozen) Thai Ginger Carrots (frozen) Soy Crisps-Olive Oil & Feta flavor The original, red Salsa Autentica Blue Cheese Pecan Dip Refrigerated Tamales Parmesan Cheese Greek Salad Nay: Any salsa besides Autentica Hummus (weak across the board) Cured meats Frozen pasta entrees Key Lime Pie Fri Oct 06 08:42:26 -0700 2006 1882629 10808 BearCity 1 1929092 Throw this into the "Nay" pile: Trader Joe's Belgian Chocolate pudding - pricier than many chocolate puddings $3.29/16 oz., this ones tastes like gloopy melted milk chocolate ice cream. It's a little on the jello-ey, too sweet side. Though far from horrid, I'd prefer the cheap supermarket brand over this any day! Sat Oct 07 00:53:04 -0700 2006 1882629 25933 kathyyl 2 1929102 Don't EVER even think about the canned lump crabmeat. Ever. Sat Oct 07 01:00:59 -0700 2006 1929092 11021 cupcake 1 1929973 Yay: Chocolate Lava Cakes! in the frozen section! Sat Oct 07 18:31:15 -0700 2006 1882629 12984 love2eat 1 1929982 Did anyone mention the fresh lamb tenders (whatever tenders are - boneless meat, anyway)? Not cheap, but so good grilled! I also like the frozen seasoned lamb chops. Sat Oct 07 18:37:19 -0700 2006 1882629 11388 Marsha 1 1931223 I will second the Chocolate Lava Cakes--very good (and I'm pretty picky about pre-made desserts. But I won't buy the Trader Joes Chocolate Hazelnut spread again. Not nearly as good as Nutella Sun Oct 08 18:34:35 -0700 2006 1882629 40346 marciab 2 2373119 Gotta wholeheartedly disagree with you on this one. I find it not only far superior in taste to Nutella but it does not contain trans fats, which unfortunately Nutella does. Either way it's now a mute point as they no longer carry it. Sat Mar 10 13:41:35 -0800 2007 1931223 17055 EAH 3 2687869 Are you sure? Maybe your store has dropped it, but I've seen it at mine recently. BTW, I bought some of the same spread with a different label (identical jar, identical ingredients, identical country of origin) at Big Lots (in San Leandro, CA) last week for $3. Sat Jun 23 16:49:35 -0700 2007 2373119 10159 Ruth Lafler 4 2688770 Aldi (TJ's parent company) also makes a good Nutella knock off -- $1.99 Sun Jun 24 07:55:38 -0700 2007 2687869 11195 LAWoman 1 1931234 Yes: Cliff bars, almonds, wine/beer prices, Quadratini cookies. No: overpackaged non-local non-fresh produce. Ick. Oregon is so wealthy in quality produce, but you wouldn't know it from looking at their trucked-in from 600 miles California-centric mega-agribusiness crap. Watery yogurt. Yuck. Frozen pastas. Sun Oct 08 18:48:08 -0700 2006 1882629 13853 Leonardo 2 2661532 Second that, the produce is weird. We keep tomatoes out of the fridge above the microwave so my dog (yellow lab) has access to them. He usually won't eat tomatoes. BUT he LOVES trader joe's tomatoes, they have gone missing on me twice. Must be wax or something??? Anyway I quit buying them, they're gross anyway, I was just trying different kinds. Also bad experiences with bagged stuff, you can't tell but it's bad quality that they're hiding in the bags. Thu Jun 14 16:52:31 -0700 2007 1931234 98877 LaurenTX2CA 3 2662067 So you're saying your dog has poor taste in tomatoes? lol.. Thu Jun 14 20:30:30 -0700 2007 2661532 10764 monkuboy 3 2679720 I also have had bad experience with bagged produce. I almost always have found a moldy lemon or something hidden in there. Can't just be coincidence. Wed Jun 20 21:25:30 -0700 2007 2661532 39328 IndyGirl 1 1931542 just getting to know TJs, and I have to disagree about the canned crab meat What I got was in the refridgerated case, and originated in Vietnam - for the princely sum of $8.99 (NYC) I had gorgeous crab cakes. I tasted it straight out of the can, and it was fine. And I grew up catching and eating blue crab in the Outer Banks of NC, so I know what I'm looking for. the wisconsin cheddar is good. the domestic parm is not so good, but it is cheap. flour tortillas are fine, but better are available El Rey out of Chicago that are sold in NYC my beloved loves the Red Panang Tuna in a pouch for a cheap spicy quick work lunch -- and I'd love to know any of the other prepared foods that are up to that standard (real spice) frozen fish we bought in the NoVA store was excellent -- wild salmon, wild cod so far pretty UNimpressed with all the wines. the $5 Nero d'Avola is okaaaaay, but the one I get for $9 elsewhere is more than twice as good. Sun Oct 08 22:54:12 -0700 2006 1882629 11989 pitu 1 1931550 Discovered today they've just started carrying a 100% black currant juice! Mmmmm....picked some up and it's good...can't wait to start experimenting with this! Sun Oct 08 22:57:46 -0700 2006 1882629 16406 ziggylu 2 1961218 I was excited and bought some of this a couple weeks ago, but I find it way too harsh to drink straight up (and I don't have a super sweet-tooth for juices). I only like the currant cut in about a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio with their Unfiltered Cranberry Blend. Any advice? Do you folks like such tart juice (it's hard to describe -- not exactly sour... more or less just really "tannic" or something). Fri Oct 20 20:36:26 -0700 2006 1931550 46024 allegro805 3 1994454 I drink a lot of sparkling water... and like to mix these in. Fri Nov 03 16:46:38 -0800 2006 1961218 14871 maviris 4 1994960 A splash of it is really good in beer.... Fri Nov 03 18:51:43 -0800 2006 1994454 22039 emmie 5 1995287 I'll have to give that a try. Thanks for the tip! Fri Nov 03 20:06:25 -0800 2006 1994960 14871 maviris 3 2004571 I cut it with some apple cider and drink as a wine substitute if I want that wine feeling but I'm not drinking. Tue Nov 07 23:22:37 -0800 2006 1961218 10669 Amuse Bouches 1 1931575 I eat their organic reduced sugar stawberry jam with a spoon if not in massive quantities over cottage cheese or toasted bread. Best strawberry jam i've EVER come across. Sun Oct 08 23:15:41 -0700 2006 1882629 11504 amandine 1 1931592 Yays- Villa Italia Blood Orange Soda, Swedish Style Pancakes and Waffle Mix. Sun Oct 08 23:21:56 -0700 2006 1882629 11810 socal boy 1 1931615 I seem to be in the minority, but I really like the eggplant hummus. I served some at T'giving last year, and a friend who's of Middle Eastern descent raved about it. I haven't had the other varieties. Other yays - the Total Greek-style yogurt Sharp white cheddar cheese 5 Percent fat hamburger meat Dog treats (says my dog) Green Tea moochi balls (mmm!) Organic jams cheap alcohol (not just wines, their prices on hard alcohol are really good, at least here in SoCal) La Brea Bakery breads Super cheap bottled water Known wines like Big House Red which is cheaper here than any place else in town. Their no-name off-brands are spottier but some bargains are out there. Nuts and dried fruit, amazing prices! Fresh flowers Nays Produce, but in particluar, bagged limes (they're cheap, but they only are good for about a day) shrink wrapped bell peppers (moldy inside more than once) shrink wrapped apples (blech) high fat frozen/prepared products (really, check out the fat content on some of the dishes, especially things like the mini-pizza where 1 pizza is supposedly 3 servings!) ONE MORE YAY! Their $1.99 reusable refrigerator bags are great if you have errands to run before getting your perishables home. Sun Oct 08 23:36:16 -0700 2006 1882629 11738 writergirl 2 2816682 My dog is is also a big fan of the treats - especilly the peanut butter cookies Other TJ stables: Fage yorgut Cranberry / Cashew trail mix Goat Cheese Chedder Cheese Organic Wild Blueberries (frozen) Like may others, a pass on the salsa. And the last smoked salmon I got had bonds. Sun Aug 05 21:34:58 -0700 2007 1931615 106056 firecooked 1 1931726 You aren't in the minority...some of us just aren't talking... Its a garlic eggplant hummus and I like it better than the regualr garlic hummus...a bit lighter in garlic I guess. New item saw yesterday is 100% organic blood orange juice in a bottle from Italy. No carbonation. 1 liter, $1.79 in San Diego. "Italian Volcano" brand...its goooood. Mon Oct 09 00:44:18 -0700 2006 1882629 12123 Cathy 1 1933825 YAYS: Chocolate Lava Cakes Cilantro and chive yogurt dip Savory thins chicken sausages frozen mac and cheese (I was skeptical, but it's good) Trail Mix bars Limeade Triple Gingersnaps Wine (arghh but I live in Maryland now so no go) NAYS: Regular hummus Produce Mon Oct 09 22:47:57 -0700 2006 1882629 22677 joettedj 1 1939170 I keep going back to TJ's, mainly for the dairy and eggs, but it's always fun to find something new and good there, like: Gold Kiwis (in a mesh bag): They're egg-shaped, with a stiffer shell and completely fuzz-free. Just slice in half and eat with a spoon--fun! Cambozola Blue Triple Creme cheese: Developed in Bavaria to be a cross between Camembert and Gorgonzola, this is the first time I've seen this delicious ultra-creamy cheese at TJ's -- good price. Cotswold Double Gloucester (with chives) Another very tasty cheese I've only found elsewhere for more $$ Old Amsterdam aged Gouda (in the fearless flyer mag) Mmmm... Btw, all three cheeses were in good condition, not overripe. Trader Joe's Artisan brand Brioche (in a clear sack tied with raffia): Too beautiful to hide under paper. Makes outstanding toast and French toast. Same for their Challah. TJ's can't give out the bakery's name, but confirms that it's baked in Southern California--I suspect it's La Brea. Toasted Walnut halves with sea salt and Omega 3 Cranberries: Nice combo of sweet, salty and nutty--a quality snack. Fresh mache in a Bag: A nice alternative to spinach Chocolate Lava Cake: Goes directly from the freezer to the oven and cooks in 15 minutes. Top it with a scoop of your best ice cream, scatter a few berries, and you have an easy, but impressive "home-baked" restaurant-quality dessert. Nay's: Too many to mention. Wed Oct 11 21:19:29 -0700 2006 1882629 13787 Moka 1 1940003 I went to TJ's over the weekend and bought their organic, unfiltered, apple juice and it was a little off. I had it before and LOVED it. I guess I will have to return it. Most of their cheeses are great as well as their kosher dill pickles. The frozen goat cheese pizza is also pretty good when in a pinch. For some reason their hummus tastes pretty bland, but the sea salt pita chips makes it all better oh and has anyone tried their new frozen mac n cheese with 4 cheeses? It sounds good, but I mainly stick with baked mac n cheese and am not into creamy style. Thu Oct 12 02:43:23 -0700 2006 1882629 24546 bitsubeats 1 1944461 I just tried a newish frozen vegetarian entree, the stuffed roasted Poblano peppers. I was a little worried about the "soy crumble" filling, but there's enough chipotle salsa to hide any overly soyish taste. The poblanos themselves could have been a bit more cooked, next time I'll probably microwave a minute longer. But overall they had a really nice spicing and sauce and lots of protein. I also tried the tomato-roasted pepper soup in a box last night, and it was as yummy as promised! My son has been really into the roasted garlic hummous lately as well as the chocolate ice cream bon-bons. In Los Angeles, the baked goods taste fine and the dairy products last forever. Other than a cheese or two, I've never gotten anything spoiled in 15-plus years of buying nearly all my groceries there. Fri Oct 13 20:06:26 -0700 2006 1882629 12460 Chowpatty 2 1945121 I also tried the soy vegetarian stuffed Poblanos. Like you, I thought the filling was surprisingly good. The only disappointing element was the pepper itself, which I found to be pretty flavorless. Maybe it was just the luck of the draw. But as a Los Angeles resident myself, it hasn't been my experience at all that TJ's "dairy products last forever." Quite the opposite, in fact. Milk, sour cream, yogurt and cheeses that I've bought at TJ's routinely go bad much sooner than comparable purchases from my neighborhood market (Ralph's). And, sorry, but IMHO TJ's baked goods are just as mediocre in LA as the general consensus here would indicate they are everywhere else. Sat Oct 14 00:55:43 -0700 2006 1944461 16564 Arthur 3 1945956 They used to carry pretty amazing white bread from the Brentwood Bread Co, but alas, no more. The Cranberry Orange Tea Scones are excellent though, and some of the cookies (gingeroos, sutter's formula, druid circles) are also quite good. Their bread is fine -- I buy it because it tends to have fewer preservatives than the supermarket kind, but if you're buying sandwich bread there isn't really a TON of variation. The dairy expiration varies quite a lot depending on which store you regularly buy at. I've had good luck in West Hollywood and Pasadena, but bad luck in Eagle Rock. Sat Oct 14 17:30:26 -0700 2006 1945121 10669 Amuse Bouches 3 2598720 When we lived in Chicago, I loved the Ciabatta, but we moved to San Jose and I haven't seen any in our local store. For some reason I thought the Chicago stores had a local bakery, maybe that's the discrepancy? Thu May 24 11:04:39 -0700 2007 1945121 25948 penguinista 4 2661538 All TJs have a local bakery. It maks mecrazy when people talk about the favorite bakery items and then others ask where is it in theirs...or that the (example) Ciabatta isn't good at all...All Trader Joe Baekry items are locally supplied, people! Thu Jun 14 16:53:55 -0700 2007 2598720 12123 Cathy 2 3646147 I shop in OC stores and I've found the (organic) dairy lasts forever, too. I'll regularly have milk for more than a week after the exp date and other items (sour cream, eggs) even longer. In fact, diary is the main reason I shop at TJs. Thu May 01 06:46:55 -0700 2008 1944461 18705 emily 1 1952682 anyone try the matcha baking mix? Tue Oct 17 20:19:28 -0700 2006 1882629 24546 bitsubeats 2 1955568 I just bought it yesterday!!! but, sorry haven't tried it yet....... Wed Oct 18 20:21:46 -0700 2006 1952682 10485 ChowFun_derek 2 1984403 Just tried it. My DH was at TJ and they were giving out samples of the cake with chocolate chips added. DH said it was good so we made it the same way. It was odd. If you've ever used natural henna powder to color your hair, the batter looked and smelled just like it. Yes, natural henna powder looks/smells just like matcha, but I couldn't get the association out of my mind, so it kind of killed the experience for me. Decent cake though. Nice texture, especially since it's from a mix. Tue Oct 31 00:41:13 -0800 2006 1952682 41763 kiwijen 1 1956134 Tried their canned refried black beans with jalapenos - yuck! Tossed them and opened a can of Rosarita. OTOH, the pastry bites with feta and caramelized onions (in the freezer section) are excellent. And their vegetable chips are fantastic. Wed Oct 18 23:43:34 -0700 2006 1882629 10669 Amuse Bouches 1 1956293 Trader Joe's Organic Raisin Bran Clusters is my absolute favorite breakfast cereal. It is near perfect (it would be absolutely perfect if they offerred different dried fruits in it instead of just raisins). I have eaten at least a dozen boxes of the stuff. It's so wonderfully crunchy and chewy with the perfect amount of sweetness. If you love granola, you will LOVE this cereal. What makes it more spectacular is that it is as satisfying in flavor and chewiness as granola, but it's only 190 calories per cup and has plenty of fiber. Many granolas are more than twice as calorie heavy. I've taken to eating it without milk so I can maximize the crunchiness and chewing time. It's like getting up and eating an oatmeal raisin cookie but without the guilt! Thu Oct 19 00:54:32 -0700 2006 1882629 10832 Humbucker 1 1957676 I don't usually get a lot of premade stuff at TJs, but did an event and didn't feel like cooking. Add to Nays: Mediterranean Hummus - yuk. I think it is the same as the Costco Sabra stuff, also not so great. Spinach Sour Cream dip - the extras are going back to TJs I think. Thu Oct 19 17:03:13 -0700 2006 1882629 15001 jsaimd 2 2414986 How funny, I loved the Mediterranean Hummus because it tastes just like Sabra, my favorite brand! :D --Dommy! Fri Mar 23 13:30:31 -0700 2007 1957676 10659 Dommy 3 2596685 I think after one has had enough hummus, whether store-bought, served at an eatery, or homemade, one ends up gravitating toward those creamy, smooth and rich tasting types of hummus... Those two are my personal store-bought favorites as well... Just picked up a pint at TJ's last night! Veggie sticks and anything else dip-able beware! Wed May 23 16:40:14 -0700 2007 2414986 64003 bulavinaka 4 2750407 Many Costco stores are now carrying a brand of hummus called Garden Fresh which is the BEST I've had outside of middle eastern restaurants. Sat Jul 14 19:05:31 -0700 2007 2596685 109573 coney with everything 2 2617814 Wow! I have to agree with bulavinka on this and say I have eaten hummus the world over and TJ' s meditteranean is by far one of the best! Thu May 31 12:28:24 -0700 2007 1957676 17055 EAH 1 1959986 I miss the Chudleigh's Apple Blossoms...they were bleeping awesome. Let's see, the falafel wasn't very good nor was the hummus that came with it. Tiger shrimp bowl was awful but I blame myself for trying it. what I like: I love the Soba Noodle bowl (with Asian Veggies) The mac and cheese is decent... Sparkling lemonade...yum Rice cracker medley peanut butter filled pretzels Gingerbread people cookies (seasonal)...awesome! I wish they were sold year round. Plus, my local TJ's is in CT where you cannot (much to my chagrin) buy beer or wine there. You CAN buy beer in a regular non TJ's grocer....CT is just kind of Blue Law about that stuff. Fri Oct 20 14:47:57 -0700 2006 1882629 15908 masha bousha 2 1994109 Ahhh...Chudleighs...I was psyched to find their product in TJ. My family used to go to their orchard in Ontario...one of my best food memories. We used to bring their pies home with us until we figured out they probably had lard in the crusts (I don't think the blossoms do though). And I remember we were scandalized that you could order a slice of pie with *gasp* cheddar cheese melted on top. Hay rides, hay loft, lots of fun for kids. If you're ever up in Canada, I highly recommend a visit. Fri Nov 03 14:40:38 -0800 2006 1959986 41763 kiwijen 1 1960015 i like the extra sharp ny cheddar blocks chili lime cashews pizza dough the new take out containers of noodles - peanut satay my favorite... especially if you add a few of the frozen chicken strips and a dollop of chili garlic sauce it is yummy... but they are fine on their own I enjoy the chicken chili flautas the pre-marinated carne asada - amazing for bbq fajitas love that you can now buy apples (and soon) oranges individually zen apple cranberry muffins the thing that i miss is the pulled bbq pork in the fridge section Fri Oct 20 14:59:42 -0700 2006 1882629 11257 Mel 2 1961040 I miss that too! And the pulled bbq chicken! Fri Oct 20 19:42:13 -0700 2006 1960015 10669 Amuse Bouches 3 1961280 They still have those in my TJ's in Boston Fri Oct 20 20:53:43 -0700 2006 1961040 13218 KitchenAid 3 2692096 They've changed the packaging and the location, but they're definitely still selling it in LA! Mon Jun 25 12:16:48 -0700 2007 1961040 12268 mollyomormon 1 1960026 Dried fruit. Nuts. Bottled water. EMergen-C. Canned Chili. Great store, but everything else I buy at local markets. Fri Oct 20 15:02:05 -0700 2006 1882629 14730 Tugboat 1 1962930 Recent YAYs: Multi Seed Corn Tortilla Flat Bread schmeared with whipped cream cheese (tastes like an everything bagel, but crunchy and cheesy) Pasta Arrabiata in the frozen section Sat Oct 21 19:25:28 -0700 2006 1882629 15900 sillyrabbit 1 1962939 I adore: frozen fettucine alfredo frozen tamales frozen potstickers any frozen fruit their cookie dunkers horrible: frozen pad thai (veggies were soggy, flavor was pretty bad) Sat Oct 21 19:33:11 -0700 2006 1882629 42734 clarecat 1 1963552 Yays: -TJ's version of Oreos (Joe-joe's better than oreos) -Caramel popcorn -BBQ soy crisps -Chicken sausages -Carne asada -Peach juice -Strawberry juice -Frozen samosas (decent) -Spanakopita Nays: -Panang tuna (truly vile) -Corn & roasted red pepper soup (sickly sweet) -Frozen pad thai -Better than peanut butter -Frozen mussaman curry Sun Oct 22 03:26:11 -0700 2006 1882629 12421 hungryann 1 1964630 I'm from Brooklyn and I go all the way to Manhattan to shop at Trader Joe's & Whole Foods. I love both. Trader Joe's is a step up though. I love to try new foods at there sample counter. recently I bought: Garlic Naan Bread Brittany Blend Of Vegetables Sugar Snap Peas Asian Vegetables/with Beijing Style Soy Sauce Shrimp Gyoza potstickers Breaded Chickenless Nuggets nasi Goreng/Indonesian Rice Dish Sesame Soba Noodles/with asian vegetables All are from the frozen food aisle and ALL are DELICIOUS!!! I started down the Vegetarian path 5 months ago, and Trader Joe's has made it very easy. Sun Oct 22 22:30:57 -0700 2006 1882629 48454 AquariusNYC 2 2089167 I do the same thing! ON the subway. So unfortunately it limits how much I can get per trip. Mon Dec 11 17:39:18 -0800 2006 1964630 18154 prunefeet 1 1964659 Have been going to Trader Joe's since 1992 (in CA) :) Current faves: Triple Ginger Snaps (great on own or to make a crust for pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake) Spicy Thai Peanuts (again, great as a snack or ground, as a topping for Thai curries/Pad Thai) Apricot Sauce (private label of Bonne Maman--only place I know of to get it in the U.S., and makes a great sauce, together with raspberries, for homemade blintzes) Glazed toasted pecans--great in a salad with avocado, blue cheese and asian pear Ground almond meal--use this all the time in baking, for crusts, fruit cobbler, frangipane tarts, etc. Bourban vanilla extract--another baking staple Optimum Blueberry Cereal (great tasting and high protein, high fiber) Grade B maple syrup--darker and more flavor than Grade A, great value Sugar plum tomatoes Palak paneer in a box--dress it up with a sprinkling of chopped fresh cilantro Frozen Mac and cheese--great for a quick meal Acai Mango sorbet--yum! Won't buy again: Spanakopita (mine is much better) Sweet potato bisque in a box--not good Sun Oct 22 22:48:42 -0700 2006 1882629 23931 Moscow Hound 1 1966569 Yay: 24 Carat Carrot Cake (frozen) TJ's Basmati Rice Medley Nay: Key Lime Pie (frozen - it was quite literally inedible) Mon Oct 23 19:28:23 -0700 2006 1882629 42938 Grizzly 2 2414993 Yeah, we found the pie WAY too tart... not balanced at all... --Dommy! Fri Mar 23 13:31:53 -0700 2007 1966569 10659 Dommy 1 1990679 Yays in Las Vegas Reduced fat Southwest Salad...I add more tomatoes and onions as well as a heaping tablespoon of: Habanero Lime Salsa. This one is definitely worth a try. Mmmm...loved those lamb tenderloins. I brined them briefly before throwing them on a hot bbq and they were sheer nirvana. My doggies love the biscuits, too. The fresh baby artichokes. A little hassle to prepare, but once you have your technique down, pretty easy. Love the organic peanut butter. Shelled edamame beans in the produce section. Peanut butter cups...mmmmmmmm... Not food, but the Ornithogalum plants bloom forever. Nays Most have been mentioned. Had this funky chicken breast in a watery marinade and plastic bag that you nuked. What was I thinking??? Ick. Helen Thu Nov 02 05:13:02 -0800 2006 1882629 11295 HelenMS 1 1990727 i haven't been to a TJs in at least a month, but here's what i was eating a lot of over the summer: -frozen turkey meatballs (wonderful, simmered in sauce or fried) -frozen naan (plain; the garlic naan burns in the oven) -emergen-c (good for post-workout electrolyte replenishment) -sunflower seed butter (i wish they made a low-sugar version) -whatever the organic/crunchy peanut butter is that isn't loaded with salt and sugar -the foil-pouch panang curry tuna (opinions on this are mixed, but i like it!) -frozen jasmine and brown rice -indian food in a pouch (good with rice or naan, but stay away from TJ's repulsive chutney) -cheap wine, obviously (although my best experience has been with the slightly pricey bonny doon cardinal zin) -blackberries (during that two-week window when they're INSANELY good) -blueberries (when they're in season) -bagged spinach leaves -vegetable sushi (i wouldn't gamble with the fish, but the vegetable rolls are fine for a snack or a light dinner) -clif bars -lowfat cheeses (these are great, especially the havarti) -greek yogurt -rice pudding -chicken sausage -milton's whole wheat/whole grain bread (very hearty and sturdy for a pre-packaged sandwich bread) -frozen french onion soup (a little too salty though) -frozen pizzas (although i prefer whole foods' 365-line pizzas) Thu Nov 02 05:43:37 -0800 2006 1882629 16707 atomichorseradish 2 1991914 I love the frozen garlic naan, buy it all the time, and it has never once burnt in my oven. Are you following the directions printed on the bag? I've never tried TJ's frozen onion soup, which you say is a little too salty, but TJ's canned onion soup is delicious to my taste. It's also one of the very few brands I've seen that uses a vegetable stock base, not a meat one. Thu Nov 02 18:27:33 -0800 2006 1990727 16564 Arthur 1 1990729 Beef taquitos--bake these in the oven, avoid the microwave at all costs Handmade tortillas Both products are quite good Thu Nov 02 05:46:58 -0800 2006 1882629 49715 cookiecutter 1 1992041 YAY - salsa (where did it go? It was called taquerio or something) Turkey Meatloaf frozen orange chicken (taste like the restaurants!) mochi ice cream Pizza dough Refrigerated Tamales NAY -Soups some salad dressing (buy with caution) Thu Nov 02 18:58:19 -0800 2006 1882629 50645 muffin_puffin 1 1994799 TJ is the closest grocery to me and since I don't have a car I go there a lot. It's nice to see your picks and pans. yays: frozen beef meatballs (I microwave them in paper towel - like bacon, to drain the fat. I use them in a pinch when I need beef, like for making stuffed peppers.) thin-sliced sirloin (perfect for beef panang!) frozen fruits - especially very cherry berry blend (I drink a smoothie every morning and love the varieties!) lavash (I use for flat-bread pizza.) pizza sauce (in a jar) beef chili (I use it to top a sweet potato for a quick lunch.) frozen dumplings and shumai (no MSG!!) chicken enchiladas, chile verde (I can get better, fresh ones near me but good for frozen.) nays: refried beans (horrible!) sandwich breads (seem to mold in days) TJ brand yogurts salmon jerky jarred salsas frozen spinach pie Fri Nov 03 18:19:26 -0800 2006 1882629 14871 maviris 1 1994953 Just tried and kind of liked: Pappadam chips that are flavored with curry/yogurt. Not sure if they will become a staple, but for something so low in calories it tasted pretty good. Reminded me of those Quaker Rice cakes only with more flavor. The only problem is, I found out they are made with palm oil. Still like: Rack of lamb smoked salmon Best of show hot dogs Greek Yogurt Onion Tart Spinach pizzas Vindaloo and Masala bowls in frozen section Kung Pao chicken bowl Taquitos Pinjur sauce Curry simmer sauce (yes it does need additional heat). Blueberry breakfast bars Penang Curry Tuna Spanikopita (which is vastly improved with tomato sauce...) Frozen artichokes Bad Artichoke dip Freeze dried noodle bowl Sushi - the worst thing they sell IMHO Lemongrass chicken bowl Never buy produce because it looks better elsewhere. Avocados are cheap but small Why did they discontinue the curry chick peas? Fri Nov 03 18:50:33 -0800 2006 1882629 10243 jcmods 1 2003836 TJ Marinara Sauce lamb chops The mexican tri-tip- excellent Naan-garlic - love it,this stuff is fattening Bing dried cherries all of their nuts The flour - I can't remember the name- excellent for baking non edible- the Verbeba soap, Oatmeal soap Goat milk lotion Tue Nov 07 19:37:39 -0800 2006 1882629 50431 chef chicklet 1 2004583 I've been eating the delicious pumpkin butter lately. And the Double Rainbow pumpkin ice cream is also pretty good. I also love the corn and chile tomatoless salsa. It's great with grilled meats, though I'd probably like it less on chips or something. I put together a TJ's bag as a hostess gift for a friend who lives in Austin, TX (no TJ's!) and I included the Triple Ginger Snaps, chili spiced mangos, dried cape gooseberries, pound plus dark chocolate with almonds, mint hot cocoa, rosencrunch and guildenpop, the corn salsa, and something else not sweet that I can't remember at the time. Tue Nov 07 23:27:43 -0800 2006 1882629 10669 Amuse Bouches 1 2004644 TJ's just opened a (very small) store in Pittsburgh. On my first visit I splurged on an organic ribeye steak (about $9). Mind you, the store was so crowded that I literally had to abandon my cart because I could not move it down the aisles, so I assumed the meat case was getting a lot of turnover (much of it was decimated already). That steak was the single most vile piece of meat I have ever had the misfortune of eating. It was actually spoiled. I tried to feed it to my dogs and they spit it on the carpet. I will stick to Whole Foods for meat. However, the chili-spiced mangos from TJ's were delicious, and I really liked the unsweetened orange and bergamot green tea. Tue Nov 07 23:49:33 -0800 2006 1882629 43183 Greyhoundgrrl 1 2008017 YAYS: Tarte d'Alsace, a flatbread with ham, gruyere, and caramelized onions). These are consisently amazing. Chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels. Yeah. Pork gyoza, although the last few bags I've gotten have been too cabbage-y. Bean, rice, and cheese burrito. I cannot recommend these enough. The're in the refrigerated section, not the frozen. The tortilla is fresher tasting than expected, the rice is seasoned well (lime juice!) and the the meunster and queso blanco were an unexpected treat. I think they went a little heavy on the beans, but the burrito is so unbelievably delicious that I'm perfectly ok just scooping some out. Candy cane joe-joes. These are chocolate sandwich cookies with tiny bits of candy cane in the filling. The bits are so tiny that they don't even crunch! Chocolate mochi. Papadum crisps, masala flavored. These are incredibly light and are perfectly seasoned. Chocolate cat cookies. Pudding, all varieties. Garlic naan. Madras Lentils. I think these are repackaged Tasty Bites. Pita Crisps, especially the cinnamon sugar ones. These are just sweet enough, with an incredibly satisfying crunch. TEJAVA Orange Italian soda. NAYS: Barbecue chicken pizza (dry and underseasoned, crust too thick). Soytzel soy pretzel sticks (dry, too hard). Chicken cordon bleu. What was I thinking? Frozen parsley. "Brittany blend" frozen vegetables. UGH. Pistachio cookies. Chocolate covered orange sticks. Moral fiber blueberry bran muffins. Corn torilla chowder. I love that I can write off things that are "just ok" because there are so many amazing things! Thu Nov 09 07:38:28 -0800 2006 1882629 26936 megantw 1 2012130 Staples: - bagged veggies (broccoli, green bean, argula, cauliflower) - shredded 3 cheese blend - pate (chicken or campagne) - wild salmon lox - butter - Angus tenderloin filets - broccoli cheese quiche (son eats it for breakfast) - canned marinara sauce - steel cut oatmeal - sour cream - milk and half/half YAYS: - organic tomato soup - mini peanut butter cups - caramel cashew cookies - frozen orange chicken - frozen naan - frozen italian style flamed grilled meatballs - frozen chicken-lemongrass 'eggroll' - frozen chicken shaumai - frozen gyoza (shrimp & veggie) NAYS: - sprouted wheat pappardelle (nasty) - quinoa (may have discontinued) - most of their cereals - bagged marinated lamb (in fresh meat section) Fri Nov 10 20:07:36 -0800 2006 1882629 46671 notmartha 1 2015344 YAYS: Frozen salmon fillet in chimichurri Southwestern Salsa with jicama and cuke - jicama stays nice and crunchy even when I cook it in an omelet. Tomatillo salsa - um um good. Frozen Naan - when in a hurry we just nuke 'em. Wheat/oat pretzel sticks. Cheeses Chicken dogs All natural sliced turkey breast with herbs - Applegate Farms Sour cherry juice - they don't seem to carry it anymore. Tiramisu Just Leaves lettuce - I don't see that there anymore. Nuts Frozen asparagus tips So much more... NAYS: Sushi - the rice is horrible. Low carb tortillas - even refrigerated they mold fast and taste too doughy. Boxed chicken broth is flavorless. I know I'm forgetting a few nays as well. Sun Nov 12 17:38:18 -0800 2006 1882629 25282 Shanna 1 2018240 The TJ's in MA used to have these white chocolate raspberry brownie squares that were phenomenal but I haven't seen them for a couple years. I really like their grapefruit soda and the new granola with cranberries. Their whole wheat British muffins are pretty good, and their frozen mac and cheese is pretty good. I'm not such a fan of their pasta sauces, and their BBQ chicken pizza is pretty bad as well. Mon Nov 13 21:01:03 -0800 2006 1882629 44439 abs294 1 2022702 I live for the frozen foods aisle: Coconut sorbet Frozen blueberries (there are 2 brands - I forget which one has the bigger berries, but I know it's the one whose packaging picture LOOKS like it has smaller berries) Frozen edamame Mochi (mango for me, please!) But, oh, that grapefruit Italian soda - I lived on it all summer! (Great for cocktails, too, mind you!) The Refresh body wash, also in the citrus family, is cheap, lather-ful and easy on the olfactory. I don't have much to complain about. I stay out of the bread and fresh veggie sections (we have too many good local vendors here to bother with TJ's anemic selection). I also don't eat sushi when I don't know who made it. Ever. So, that frees me from the sorry sushi experience reported by so many. But how about that cheesecake...? Wed Nov 15 03:48:59 -0800 2006 1882629 23833 mollymac 1 2034153 yays Creme brulee asian chicken dumplings chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels the prices of everything! Nays lavender dish soap - never got my dishes clean no matter how much I scrubbed Chocolate chip "dunkers" - cardboard like with a hint of chocolate Sun Nov 19 19:24:55 -0800 2006 1882629 41606 eastiefoodie 2 2086939 Yeah, I'm not sold on TJ's cleaning products (my current fave cheap-but-nice dish soap is the pink grapefruit "M" from Target, which cuts grease very nicely). But your mention of the chocolate-covered peanut butter pretzels reminded me that the dark chocolate pretzels (with the candy, not the chips and pretzels) are delicious: crunchy, salty and chocolatey without being very sweet. Sun Dec 10 19:21:57 -0800 2006 2034153 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 2414999 Yeah, their dish soap in general was AWFUL!! :P --Dommy! Fri Mar 23 13:34:40 -0700 2007 2034153 10659 Dommy 1 2034194 -the turkey & swiss sandwich on pretzel bread (yowza, this is really good; i'm a big fan of minimalist sandwiches with just a couple of quality fillings and a bread that can match them, and this one pleases me greatly. maybe it's the pretzel, but there's something very rural-northeast about this sandwich.) -the chocolate covered espresso beans (what do i even have to say about these?) Sun Nov 19 20:02:36 -0800 2006 1882629 16707 atomichorseradish 2 2427186 I recently tried this very sandwich (as well as the P&J sandwich) and was disappointed with both -- even though the expiration dates were ok, they definitely tasted old and stale. So a big NAY on both!! Otherwise, I love most things at Trader Joe's!! Tue Mar 27 18:05:06 -0700 2007 2034194 86077 eatzlady 2 2689193 I've tried a few of their pre-made sandwiches and salads. And YUCK! No flavor, nothing resembling what they're advertised as anyway! Tried a roasted vegetable wrap the week before last, no roasted vegetables in sight. And the jalapeño dressing? I think they left that off too. Then there's the pre-packaged potato blue cheese salad. Something was off in there. The potatoes were oddly sour, the blue cheese wasn't (not sure what it was other than not any sort of blue cheese I'd ever had.) The scary part? None of these things were even close to the expiration date. So I've gone back to my normal TJ's lunch: apple and yogurt. They're safe. TJ's hasn't had the chance to muck up the flavors. Sun Jun 24 11:45:54 -0700 2007 2034194 63906 odkaty 1 2034234 I go to Trader Joe's in SoCal at least once a week. What I really like there is their Spinach salad in a bag, with blue cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries. Yay: Pastas in refrigerator section, esp. lately the whole wheat tortellini stuffed with gorgonzola. The individual salads are pretty good for a qucikc lunch to take with me to work. Juice - lemonades. Cheeses Pizzas in refrigerator section, pizza dough to make your own pizza. Pasta sauce in jars. Tarte d'Alsace, flatbread Apple turnovers Two Buck Chuck, Savignaun blanc Trail mix Sun Nov 19 20:29:46 -0800 2006 1882629 52342 alliebear 2 2034277 The chocolate Babka (a seasonal item) is great and I am hooked on the frozen oatmeal!! Those chocolate truffles are heavnely!! Sun Nov 19 20:57:51 -0800 2006 2034234 10678 marti 1 2037362 Dommy mentioned "YAY! * Thai Ginger Carrots (Frozen), I can see these become a problem at the Dommy Household..." My girlfriend had found these and loved them. TJ's no longer stocks them - not out of stock, but no longer ordering them at all, and now she's going through major withdrawal. Can anyone help us find these under a different label? (TJ often has a manufacturer package a product they are already making under the Trader Joe label). Thanks. Mon Nov 20 23:50:03 -0800 2006 1882629 54490 Fafa Foodey 2 2415004 I'm so sorry to hear this, but I too noticed they were gone. That the one thing I've learned as a long time TJs shopper... NEVER fall in love with anything... Instead go each time and get a new thing and consider it a treat... --Dommy! Fri Mar 23 13:36:23 -0700 2007 2037362 10659 Dommy 3 3554667 Good news! The Thai Ginger Carrots are BACK!! :DDD --Dommy! Wed Apr 02 15:28:36 -0700 2008 2415004 10659 Dommy 1 2041073 I love TJ's mayo. Wed Nov 22 07:38:49 -0800 2006 1882629 49715 cookiecutter 1 2085969 this is SUCH a helpful thread! :) can anyone recommend any GOOD TJ's sauce in jars? the pasta sauce i've tried has always been less than stellar and the indian simmer sauces are perhaps a bit better but still nothing i would go back for. it sounds like most people are firmly against the TJ sauces - true? or if not, can someone point out one that's really amazing? thanks! :) Sun Dec 10 04:04:08 -0800 2006 1882629 21515 taylor_blair 2 2087775 We like the Pinjur Sauce warmed up and dolloped on baked salmon. Mon Dec 11 02:13:50 -0800 2006 2085969 50401 MadAboutParis 2 2088970 I like to use the tomato & basil pasta sauce when I make lasagna. Very tasty in that application. Mon Dec 11 16:42:28 -0800 2006 2085969 21299 mi2ca2mi 2 2089179 I like the mole sauces. Right now, they have a red one that is very good - but I'd simmer the chicken pieces longer than they say on the bottle. Mon Dec 11 17:42:17 -0800 2006 2085969 52113 Seldomsated 3 2944312 Dat true! I have learned with both the Mole and the Korma, etc sauces to just simmer the chicken in the sauce instead of cooking it first. It comes out moister that way. Sat Sep 15 11:02:37 -0700 2007 2089179 12752 MsDiPesto 2 2190034 I think their pizza sauce (in a small glass jar) is great. I use it with their flat bread/lavash for flat bread pizzas! Mon Jan 15 14:08:36 -0800 2007 2085969 14871 maviris 3 2193228 Actually we love their jarred Bruschetta topping as a Pizza sauce... SOOOO good!! :) --Dommy! Tue Jan 16 07:34:17 -0800 2007 2190034 10659 Dommy 4 2194129 Thanks for the tip! I'll have to give it a try. Is there a particular one you recommend (I think there may be more than one kind)? Tue Jan 16 17:02:11 -0800 2007 2193228 14871 maviris 2 2285792 I'm not a big fan of the jarred sauces, but the canned marinara (with the green label, not the Tuscan one) is really good. Not too sweet, and just right for simmering meatballs. Mon Feb 12 14:53:21 -0800 2007 2085969 57371 operagirl 2 5177378 I love the Ginger Scallion simmer sauce.. very tasty and just a little spicy.. but I didn't see it when I went back recently. Thu Nov 12 18:03:33 -0800 2009 2085969 1124112 zoomzoomer 1 2086019 They use to carry the best aloe vera gel! It's hard to find now, not sure if they are discontinuing the sales or what. Ask for it, they may re-stock it. It is best for your skin after a shower, also, when you have an itch or kids have bruses, and for staying young looking, use it as the base on your face then use the finer face cream. Ah, don't foget the Italian wines and CONDON Champagne Yummmy............ Sun Dec 10 04:29:44 -0800 2006 1882629 58852 Surveysays 2 2415011 Here in California they started carrying Schramberg "Champagne"! YUM! :D --Dommy! Fri Mar 23 13:37:12 -0700 2007 2086019 10659 Dommy 1 2089031 My faves: Frozen Chicken Masala Frozen Tamales (especially the green chile cheese) Fat Free Balsamic Vinigarette Whole-Wheat Pretzles Sesame-Honey Covered Almonds (Warning! Don't get started on these things, they are too good to stop eating). Sliced Pork Tenderloin (for sandwiches in Deli case) Frozen Fish In Marinade (usually not farmed, and their common butter and herb marinade is delish; I have had luck with all different types of fish). Natural Style Peanut Butter Extra Virgin Olive Oil Not so good: Sushi Fresh Veggies Fresh Asian Peanut Noodle Salad Unrefrigerated Asian noodles in Chinese take-out containers (I had Pad-Thai and Kung Pao - ready to eat, noodles precooked, with sauce you put on top) - aweful. Almond Butter (but maybe I just don't like Almond Butter) Freeze Dried Noodle Dishes (expensive, and no better than cup 'o noodles) Mon Dec 11 17:03:24 -0800 2006 1882629 45848 Booger 1 2089058 Pro: TJ's is the only general place that has decent frozen ethnic entrees. The Italian gnocchi and mushroom risotto are terrific. The pad thai bowl is good. Their pork gyoza dumplings are excellent. They had an udon noodle set that was tasty (but disappeared quickly). I like their pomegranate white tea, it's tangy and refreshing. Italian lemon seltzer is a great bargain at $1 a liter. strawberry rhubarb pie was DELISH. nice Sicilian olive oil. Con: bread products are curiously dry and tasteless (although the crumpets are ok). lemongrass chicken bowl and chicken skewers were both mediocre. Mon Dec 11 17:08:15 -0800 2006 1882629 11114 jeanki 1 2089505 recently had some chocolate caramel tarts from TJ's. do you guys know bon maman little choco tarts in france? tasted almost alike except i don't remember bm had caramel but it's been a while. anyway, i scarfed down almost the whole box for lunch. i actually think the TJ ones are better. Mon Dec 11 18:56:35 -0800 2006 1882629 10246 choctastic 2 2091568 I do not like these, break my heart :-/ I'm a sucker for the French jam-filled tarts. But the TJ's caramel ones disappointed me - to me, they taste strongly of what I think is condensed or evaporated milk. At any rate, something sweetish and processed-tasting. Sad ... I really wanted to love them. Tue Dec 12 05:43:48 -0800 2006 2089505 23874 spigot 3 2092717 I tried these too. They were ok, but I agree they were too sweet. Tue Dec 12 17:11:53 -0800 2006 2091568 11114 jeanki 1 2091245 BIG NAY: Has anyone else tried the "European-Style Multi-Grain Bread?" (or is it Whole Grain bread). Anyway, the loaf is small and dense - brick-like, really - and the slices are very very thin. It seems to have a lot of rice and other stuff in it. The flavor is very strong, and the texture is dry and generally gross. I hated it, but maybe this is what good European-Style Multi-Grain Bread is supposed to taste like? Tue Dec 12 03:03:26 -0800 2006 1882629 22260 mehfactor 2 2091293 Oh, I love that. It's definitely a very specific style of bread, and I think theirs is a pretty good rendition. I usually eat it with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Tue Dec 12 03:23:00 -0800 2006 2091245 10669 Amuse Bouches 1 2091278 McCann's slow cook oatmeal. good for the heart, too. Cantella's turkety dogs....better cold and sliced than cooked. Calvados--$7.99 Tue Dec 12 03:18:02 -0800 2006 1882629 58265 peterboy 1 2093260 Marcona Almonds with Sea Salt and Rosemary. MMMmmmmmm Yesterday I was there and tried to buy some Romaine hearts. Everything had best by dates of 12/3 and 12/8! And it the section was fronted and full. THere was a kid standing there with a box stocking greens and I pointed it out to him "oh". I mentioned it on the way out at the customer service desk as well. Drives me crazy how careful you have to be with produce and dairy dates. This particular store is very bad about this( i have two close to me the other is better but you still need to check carefully). Makes me wonder if somehow this isn't some sort of issue coming from corporate - not getting product out of DC's timely enough, over ordering, or? and then putting pressure on stores to reduce shrink. Whatever it HAS to affect sales I only buy produce when I'm already there, need some veggies for dinner and don't want to stop again... whew that was a long rant! But really, is there any product item that is consistently fresh? Tue Dec 12 19:24:26 -0800 2006 1882629 16406 ziggylu 2 2093431 At the TJ's I go (San Gabriel Valley), the romaine packages show the date packed, not the date to use by. I'm wondering if maybe the dates you saw were really the packing date? Tue Dec 12 20:13:01 -0800 2006 2093260 10764 monkuboy 1 2095345 Trader Joes Apple Pie (frozen, handmade, precooked ~4.95) I used to love apple pie. Then the industrial apple pie movement shifted to a variety comprised of horrendous amounts of sugar, a palate blistering cinnamon shock, and a waxy, hydrogenated crust that left a pasty/oily/granulated texture in the mouth similar to a bad crisco frosting. The TJs frozen pie has supplanted all those issues with unbridled apple goodness. Not too much sigar, hints of spice and finally a crust that allows a hound to focus on the maillard/wheat aspects rather than scrape the hydrogenated goo off the back of their tongue! TJ apple pie. frozen, precooked. really good! Wed Dec 13 06:59:45 -0800 2006 1882629 57506 krushdnasty 1 2095372 Twice a week shopper from San Francisco reporting in: YAY -All frozen meals (with a notable exception, see NAY) -Frozen seafood -Toilt paper and paper towels (no harsh chemicals) -Irish tea bags -Venezuelan chocolate -Eggs -Cheaper than grocery store liquor NAY -Sushi, sushi, sushi. So many have commented on this - if gas stations had sushi this would be it. Please get a Japanese consultant to revamp these items! -Frozen Chicken Chile Verde. This looked delicious on the package until I took a bite and found chunks of gristly chicken meat. Turned me off to all of their frozen chicken products for at least a good 6 months. Yuck. -Freshly baked breads just aren't that good, say compared to Whole Foods. -French liquid hand soap that smells heavenly and feels silky except that it does not clean. WHAT HAPPENED? -To the canned white clam sauce? -To the lucious frozen asparagus soup with gruyere cheese on which I actually lost weight? -To the incredible ginger ice cream? Wed Dec 13 07:46:13 -0800 2006 1882629 59471 ginger8 1 2097177 Raves (in SF) - Molasses cookies -- if they ever drop these, I will chain myself to TJ's in protest - Soy flaxseed tortilla chips - blackberry/raspberry/apple juice (fresh) - frozen rolled chicken tacos (kids love) - frozen sausage strombolini (ditto) - Vanana yogurt (a bit runny, but I mix in TJ dried wild blueberries, banana, and toasted wheat germ) - l0-fat Harvest bread (good with vegetarian sandwiches) - lamb tenders - so easy and tender - guacamole in the plastic pouch -- fresh tasting - the fresh buffalo mozzy that's not the TJ brand - I like the lemongrass chik bowl, guess I'm the only one - frozen steel cut oatmeal I'm still in mourning for: - vietnamese sesame crepes - sweet kalamata spread - fresh apple rasberry juice Wed Dec 13 20:54:18 -0800 2006 1882629 43639 figrrl 1 2098789 Yay: pulled pork guacamole frozen asparagus mini peanut butter cups chocolate covered cherries triple ginger snaps! lemon yoghurt frozen roasted corn! espresso soda frozen brown rice ginger lemonade caramel popcorn tangerine juice Nay: red penang curry chicken - I agree with the poster upthread who called it vile caramel cookies - sickly sweet chocolate covered sesame seeds - kinda tasteless And the hideous frozen Chinese chicken - I forget its name; it comes with two pouches of foul brown sauce and the chicken was gristly :-( Thu Dec 14 07:59:01 -0800 2006 1882629 23874 spigot 1 2099349 I only get to TJ's when I am vacationing down in Arizona (from Utah). I grew up in SoCal and was shopping at TJ's in the 70's when their claim to fame was buying up manufacturers' leftovers/discontinued items and cheap wine. But, I still have some things that I have to buy when I find a TJ's: Yay: Salsa Especial - in the refrigerated section. Clean taste. dried unsweetened mangos - cheaper than what I can get at Wild Oats. the cooked brown rice and the wild rice - in a vaccuum bag, takes 90 seconds in the microwave. Frozen Irish Oatmeal - good breakfast on vacation! handmade tortillas - I love them - fat and chewy. I heat one up and put on the PB&J and roll it up. Yum! Tejava unsweetened tea. Man, I wish I could get this up in Utah! My dog LOVES the chicken strips and the Peanut Butter biscuits. Thu Dec 14 16:11:33 -0800 2006 1882629 21161 scabbardgirl 1 2100546 I have to give a miss to the Chili Verde Chicken Enchiladas. The sauce is far to vinegary for my liking. The other types of enchiladas they have (beef and cheese) were pretty good though. I'm just getting started with the whole TJ's thing though. Thu Dec 14 21:30:32 -0800 2006 1882629 24644 Vexorg 1 2136887 What about the TJ's Savory Mini Crackers? I buy 10 bags at a time, they are AWESOME! (Fairly low calorie too!)If you haven't tried them you must try them! I also like the Frozen Risottos, Frozen Brown Rice and the Spinach Artichoke Dip. My kids love the balloons. The flowers are nice there too! And reasonably priced! Nay: The Pad Thai is gross. So are the potstickers. Granted, I microwaved them but they were still worse than other brands. Ick.... Fri Dec 29 16:26:41 -0800 2006 1882629 62712 amason2 2 2143913 As mentioned above, when you combine the Spinach Artichoke Dip with the brown rice you'll have a delicious side dish! Mary Mon Jan 01 21:45:52 -0800 2007 2136887 50401 MadAboutParis 1 2138210 yay's for: vanilla almond cereal banana bread mix strawberry flojoe's veggie chips tamales (a bit processed but it's a quick fix when i can't get out ot the local mercado) flowers (better quality than supermarket flowers and cheaper than florists) nay's for: breads (too hard) frozen dim sum korean boolgoki (cut too thick) Fri Dec 29 23:41:18 -0800 2006 1882629 56626 trojanita 1 2186692 A couple of new items: ginger spread and citron spread. I think the ginger spread is very similar to the crystallized ginger puree they had a while back that was discontinued. Also, I tried the Kettle baked bbq chips and they were pretty good. Not as good as the full-fat version, but they have a decent texture, unlike other baked chips I've had, which were always tough. Sun Jan 14 02:28:10 -0800 2007 1882629 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 2188291 Hi Ruth, Just curious, what do you use the spreads for? Also, I just discovered Terra Brand - parsnip chips. The are delicious and very high in fiber. Not sure whether TJ's carries, but IMHO worth a try. Mary Sun Jan 14 19:40:48 -0800 2007 2186692 50401 MadAboutParis 3 2192022 I haven't really figured that out yet! Actually, I added a spoon of the ginger spread to my carrot soup and it was delicious (if a bit sweet). Mon Jan 15 23:11:25 -0800 2007 2188291 10159 Ruth Lafler 3 2415025 They JUST started carrying their own brand of Parsnip chips... haven't checked them out yet... --Dommy! Fri Mar 23 13:39:56 -0700 2007 2188291 10659 Dommy 4 2428073 They're quite sweet - I wasn't in love with them, but I look for more salt and crispness in a chip. Wed Mar 28 06:09:15 -0700 2007 2415025 15217 gini 1 2192227 I don't use TJ's much (live in Philadelphia and have the Italian Market) but several things are nice and convenient. My college-aged son would happily live on the frozen chicken enchiladas and there are several very good desserts ... the gelato in a little rectangular box is lovely. They sell bags of frozen seafood/shellfish pieces that make wonderful bisques. And those bottles of fizzy juice are a good addition to any party. But I will always think well of TJ's after a friend discovered that she was seriously allergic to canola oil and to a number of very common bread additives. TJ's variety and labeling were the saving of her. And ...NOT FOOD... they sell this grapefruit and camomile oil and sea salt scrub that is to die for. Tue Jan 16 00:10:25 -0800 2007 1882629 41016 Meann 2 2192337 Oh I have to second the salt scrubs....I used the grapefruit scrub on my legs last night and I still smell great today. Not overwhelmingly so, but subtlely. Love the stuff. I just bought the fizzy apple juice for a fancy brunch I made for DH and me this weekend. Tue Jan 16 00:41:01 -0800 2007 2192227 39328 IndyGirl 3 2415071 I adore that grapefruit scrub. Smells wonderful and leaves you very soft and smooth. I must get some more. Can't beat the price. If you got the equivalent at Origins or somewhere like that it would be easily 30 bucks. I think it was $6 last time I got it at TJs. Fri Mar 23 13:49:33 -0700 2007 2192337 18154 prunefeet 4 2560736 Just tried the salt scrubs after reading this thread, LOVE them - they smell wonderful and make my skin very soft and smooth.. Fri May 11 02:31:53 -0700 2007 2415071 14164 sheiladeedee 5 3508222 does anyone know if TJs still sells the grapefruit and camomile oil and sea salt scrub? I hope so ... Wed Mar 19 13:04:10 -0700 2008 2560736 164437 tigerd 6 4508662 i saw it 2 weeks ago (falls church, va), but it had been moved to the regular health and beauty aisle, from its special stand-alone display near the registers. i thought those different scrubs smelled great! Mon Mar 16 06:07:43 -0700 2009 3508222 105717 alkapal 1 2192312 TJ is alway for me not a browsing grocery store. I alway go there looking for specific thing. However, this weekend, I happened by the meat section and to my delight they had Usinger's brats and knockwurst for $3/lb. I grabed some right away. Still a fan of TJ but not as much as I use to be. Tue Jan 16 00:32:51 -0800 2007 1882629 10639 Soup 1 2257262 I normally don't like their baked goods, but I just fell in love with their Corn Rye bread. It has lots of flavor from the caraway seeds. I'm picky about bread, so this is quite a find for me. I made an app last night that was a big hit, all with TJ's products. I stuffed black Mission figs with goat cheese or Gorgonzola and toasted walnuts, and wrapped them in a small piece of Volpi prosciutto, then broiled it for 1 1/2 min (a crucual step). Everyone loved it! Their unpreserved ham is not good. And the lavash bread is not soft and pliable; it became brittle quickly. Sat Feb 03 16:27:26 -0800 2007 1882629 15900 sillyrabbit 1 2283934 If you like/love olives try the tapenade in the refrigerator section - two varieties one with crushed feta, the other cheese free. Both delicious with the TLC Crackers! A great appetizer for a crowd of foodies for about $5. Mon Feb 12 07:08:16 -0800 2007 1882629 11673 lmarkarian11 1 2286505 I just got a WONDERFUL salad dressing from T.J.'s. It's cranberry walnut gorgonzola. It's delicious. I don't like most of their dressings because they have a weird chemical flavor. This one is great, and not too fattening. Mon Feb 12 18:25:59 -0800 2007 1882629 15900 sillyrabbit 1 2286768 Yes: I second that Tarte d'Alsace, really excellent Great yoghurts - see if they have the berry, Italian one in the little glass jars Great prices on sliced cheese, good quality Glass jar of artichoke/hearts of palm - great on crackers Frozen gnocci and fresh tortellini, excellent Nuts are great, use chopped pecans in cookies, etc. No: The produce is too old, get home with moldy lemons, etc so have given up on the produce. They are really excellent about returns, no problem at all. Mon Feb 12 19:54:25 -0800 2007 1882629 12520 walker 1 2373251 I really wish they would bring back their mint shampoo. The orange shampoo was horrible, very drying. I know these are not foods, but they have foods in their names. Sat Mar 10 14:57:33 -0800 2007 1882629 75936 resipsaloquitor 2 2750413 Whole Foods has mint shampoo/conditioner and body wash, for 1.99 a bottle. Also grapefruit, and I like it better than TJ's citrus products. Sat Jul 14 19:07:44 -0700 2007 2373251 109573 coney with everything 1 2373281 I get there once a month and almost always end up with - salt and peppercorn and lemon pepper grinders - red or black salt if I'm out - best prices I've seen - dried mushrooms - nuts and dried fruits for baking - best prices including mail order on dried cherries, pistachios, hazelnuts, and so on - prepared chestnuts - the Greek style yoghurt - kalamata olive oil - 7.99 per liter! - frozen salmon and shrimp - chocolate, again, really good prices on something I use a lot in baking and candy Since I just discovered TJ's I am trying different things each time I go. It's a 50 mile drive for me, but there are bookstores and yarn outlets and outlet malls near the two I mainly go to so I double up for a nice saturday outing. This thread is wonderful, given me lots of ideas, thanks. Sat Mar 10 15:13:36 -0800 2007 1882629 14164 sheiladeedee 1 2374223 Yay's: -They have a new fresh soup in the refrigerated section called Lemon Curry. It's got coconut milk in it and it's heavenly!!!! - Fig goat cheese is great - Love the Italian Truffle cheese - Love the light European style yogurt. - dried and salted apple slices - unsweetened dry mango - Charlie Bear dog treats with beef liver - frozen mac and cheese Nays: - I was disappointed with the chocolates I bought at Christmas time. The truffle types that were made in Ireland. - At chistmastime they had Mosaics chocolates that sort of stunk Sun Mar 11 07:07:07 -0700 2007 1882629 63311 puppymomma 2 2415060 Another thing I get there, and I can't get it anywhere else, is fresh ricotta. I hate the supermarket, gritty ricotta now. Fri Mar 23 13:47:14 -0700 2007 2374223 63311 puppymomma 3 2679735 Oh yes, their ricotta has ruined me for any others, ever. It's truly wonderufl. Wed Jun 20 21:30:49 -0700 2007 2415060 39328 IndyGirl 1 2374290 Nor a big fan of TJ's but in a pinch their Chicken Cordon Bleu (not frozen, in the meats section) is good. Sun Mar 11 07:48:10 -0700 2007 1882629 47813 chigirl71 1 2374393 When it's fresh, the pre-made chicken curry salad is pretty good. Recently, I bought a boxed pad thai set (comes with noodles and sauce and you add the rest) that was definitely underwhelming. Sun Mar 11 08:55:23 -0700 2007 1882629 60842 hch_nguyen 1 2374528 They have frozen presliced and prebreaded eggplant cutlets that are so thin, they turn into little eggplant crisps of yumminess. Topped with TJ's fresh bruschetta and some fontina and life is good. Good for nuts in bulk in different combos ...roasted, raw, unsalted, salted, amazing flavour combos. TJ's prices on most organic things is way less than Whole Paycheck...the Barbara's, the Annie's, Luna bars, chips, etc. And my family for some reason will scarf BUCKETS of the frozen pot roast. I know my pot roast sucks, but they will suck this stuff up off the plate like it's going to get taken away from them. I keep two bags in the freezer for emergency dinner. They discontinued the Yin Yan peanuts which were a thing of beauty and a joy. BAD TJ's! The greek yoghurt, Fage, I think it is, is outstanding. And one more cheer for the low acid french roast. Sun Mar 11 10:19:14 -0700 2007 1882629 80609 paxamicus 1 2374629 Lately I've enjoyed the dark chocolate covered macadamia nuts. The only problem is thatI have to put them in an inconvenient location to keep from eating the whole tub at once. Sun Mar 11 11:06:26 -0700 2007 1882629 24644 Vexorg 1 2374663 The only bread product I buy regularly are their whole wheat pitas, and especially the mini sized ones. I love the little diamonds that they leave inside the bag, too. I like to split and toasted the pitas for chips. Sun Mar 11 11:21:34 -0700 2007 1882629 71215 mlgb 1 2394343 My wife and I drive 35 min to the nearest TJ's about every two weeks. We buy 80% of our groceries there. Some things we love Sprouted breads, low in carbs, hearty and moist ( freeze what you can't use in a week) Fat free feta cheese Chicken sausages organic skim milk Nonfat greek yogurt coffees The frozen juice popsicles!!!!!!! Frozen fruits Indian dishes in the foil pouches Eggplant and garlic dips from bulgaria 100% cranberry juice ( really sour, really great) Frozen brown rice Trail mix meatless meatballs Not So Good Capers ( too salty) Organic ground turkey, tastes like dead meat Fri Mar 16 23:18:50 -0700 2007 1882629 83506 petersburg 1 2415045 Latest NAYS: The Chicken Chile Verde from New Mexico they were advertising in their latest fearless flier. I was shocked to see how low in calories it was, and it turned out because it barely has any chicken it in! It's also terribly watery! It should be called Chile Verde broth with chicken shreads... :P --Dommy! Fri Mar 23 13:43:40 -0700 2007 1882629 10659 Dommy 2 2415343 I've got some in the freezwer at home (I figured since it has New Mexico chile in it it might be worth a shot,) but I haven't bothered trying it yet. I'll have to see how it turns out, but set my expectations accordingly. Fri Mar 23 14:51:38 -0700 2007 2415045 24644 Vexorg 3 2415397 Yeah, I bought some recently. It was kind of bland by itself, but I used it as a sauce over fried eggs, and that actually worked very nicely... Fri Mar 23 15:09:37 -0700 2007 2415343 69669 Neely_Ohara 4 2430273 We used it as a filling base for burittos, it was pretty tasty. it can start a bit watery, but I've taken to defrosting it in a skillet on the stove and then letting it reduce/thicken up a bit while i assemble the rest of the items for the burittos. Wed Mar 28 16:10:51 -0700 2007 2415397 80141 ccbweb 5 2432252 yes, thicken it on the stovetop helps, then fold in a warm tortilla with scrambled eggs. The quality of the chicken in the one I tried was pretty good. Thu Mar 29 10:25:34 -0700 2007 2430273 86758 sideharbor 2 2588563 and way too salty. I give it another thumbs down. Just got some Mango Sauce (like Apple sauce, and next to it on the shelf). Its ingredients are mostly fruit, water and sugar, so I expect it to be really good. Haven't tried it yet, but I would be surprised if it isn't a Yay. This is the kind of innovative product TJs is best at. Mon May 21 11:09:36 -0700 2007 2415045 45848 Booger 1 2415263 Yays: All Nuts Tins of smoked herring and trout dried mango chili mango organic figs chilli lime pistachios potato chips saffron dried porcini organic peanut butter organic mesclun salad Ready made Dolmas Scones - only if you pop in oven before eating focaccia - same dried risotto rice popcorn fruit leather dark choc truffles coffees - organic and fair trade Fri Mar 23 14:28:17 -0700 2007 1882629 53427 kayonyc 2 2415387 Don't forget the dried apricots. They are the cheapest I have found anywhere and even come in three varieties: Fancy, Extra Choice and Slab. (I like the Extra Choise, which are very tart and chewy.) Fri Mar 23 15:05:34 -0700 2007 2415263 16536 jennielap 3 2589119 oh that reminds me of the dried peaches and nectarines! TJ's dried fruit and nut aisle rocks! Mon May 21 13:29:17 -0700 2007 2415387 12829 Bob W 1 2415381 YAY: "Nut About Antioxidents" trail mix - sprinkle on granola for a great breakfast! Feta cheese - excellent creamy taste - sooooo good! "Salsa Especial" - hot for a wimp like me, but excellent flavor Organic tortilla chips - very light and tasty Tomato basil hummus - my SO lives on it Crystallized ginger - delicious, but more importantly SO reasonably-priced compared to other grocery stores Orchids - not to eat, of course, but I find them well-priced and long-lasting NAY: Sushi Zen Bakery muffins (I think that's just in LA) Fri Mar 23 15:01:43 -0700 2007 1882629 59549 aching 2 2427129 the Nays: butternut squash soup...while cooking ,it developed little "pellets". Yuck! i think the thickening agent must be the culprit. (?) the ground flax seed; it tastes burnt. (That negates the benefits, too) the watchits: i agree--dairy is iffy. Check for mold on the cheese, and that your yogurt lids are still on, before you buy. the Yays: the carrot soup didn't pellet :) the fire-roasted salsa; the guac in the bags/boxed the plain goat yogurt the pizza bread; spread it with the olive bruscheta; top it with the roasted bell peppers and marinated artichokes (fresh produce is generally good, too, as is smoked fish and pastrami and pickels) Tue Mar 27 17:50:07 -0700 2007 2415381 54305 queendragon 3 2432370 this list is a great resource. looking it over there seem to be a few consensus items we've never tried in my house that we should--frozen naan, Tarte d'Alsace. For us, yays-- handmade tortillas--having moved from LA to Mass, these are the best we can find here. guacamole in a bag greek yogurt marcona almonds--a great deal compared to Whole Foods dried organic pasta Niman ranch bacon, and ribs--again, cheaper than elsewhere our toddler likes the mac and cheese, so do we frozen meatballs, esp. good to have on hand for kids recently had frozen apple strudel, we were surprised how good it was Mochi Nays-- simmer sauces, haven't liked any Indian food from there pasta sauces, except*Organic Vodka which is good in a pinch agree, freshness of produce is not their strong suit definitely the baked goods--why is that? frozen pizza is nothing special frozen chinese foods always seem to be gloppy sauces and gristly chicken canned soups--no thanks most of what's in the meat case, but that does seem to be getting better; I've been shopping at TJs off and on for 15 years, quality overall seems much improved. Thu Mar 29 10:52:39 -0700 2007 2427129 86758 sideharbor 4 2816696 I forgot the Niman Ranch Bacon - no nitites. Quite yummy. We don't use much, so I place extra between sheets of plastic and freeze, and use a slice or two at a time. Sun Aug 05 21:42:44 -0700 2007 2432370 106056 firecooked 1 2432778 Yay: Fat free cottage cheese - way better than any other brand Tangerine juice - really good in a mimosa Honey Whole Wheat pretzel sticks - good in the sun dried tomato hummus Frozen pot stickers Precooked brown rice in bag Cranberry apple muffins (if you can eat them before they mold) Wine and alcohol - so cheap! roasted and salted macadamia nuts Most of their cheeses Organic braeburn apples Roasted corn salsa - sweet but so SO good. Nay: the fact that they don't have a cooler for some drinks - would be nice for lunchtime shopping pre packaged sushi - no shocker there bottled ranch dressing - runny and gross soy beans - usually sticky and bad by the time I get them home Trader Joe's is where I do most of my shopping. When I went in after a bad breakup the checker asked why I looked a little sad. I told her that I just got dumped, and the guy bagging my food grabbed a big handful of daffodils and stuck them on the top of my bag... it made my day (and he was sort of cute too - which didn't hurt.) Thu Mar 29 12:44:10 -0700 2007 1882629 86015 Melissavina 1 2558763 Latest YAYs! * The Whole Wheat Gnocchi: Had it last night with pesto and grilled chicken and it was FAB!! 8 Grams of Fiber too! * Whole Wheat CousCous: Again, trying to be healthy but was greatly rewarded. The texture is also great! :) * Low Fat Balsamic Vinegrette: In an effort to reduce the destruction of my waist to chowhounding, I have taken up eating salad for lunch. This by far is the best salad dressing I've had from them and very low cal. Like 25! * Fire Roasted Asparagus: Again, in the same salad kick I've tried a bunch of different toppings and this is my favorite! Great texture and taste. :) * Goat Cheese Crumbles: Salad girl continues, they are tangy and the perfect size and great container. Nays * Fresh Mozzeralla Perlinni: This salad experiment was a dud, they added absolutely no flavor... --Dommy! Thu May 10 12:11:16 -0700 2007 1882629 10659 Dommy 2 2561144 Alright, got a new one: Mediterranean hummus smooth and creamy. I consider myself a connoisseur of Hummus and this one wins hands down. It has herbs and pine nuts on the top of it and truly is smooth and creamy. Sooo good! Fri May 11 07:39:24 -0700 2007 2558763 17055 EAH 3 2575049 I love it too... and just did a side by side... my suspicions were true, this is Sabra Hummus. But at more than twice the amount and cheaper (at least for me in Ca.! :)) --Dommy! Wed May 16 12:55:56 -0700 2007 2561144 10659 Dommy 1 2561164 yay: beef jerky dark chocolate covered ginger nay: gyoza Fri May 11 07:44:21 -0700 2007 1882629 15217 gini 1 2564347 Big YAY: TJ's finally takes American Express! Sat May 12 10:56:33 -0700 2007 1882629 12829 Bob W 1 2570188 Yay: Frozen peas and corn and haricot vert, brown rice, indian food, canned beans, marcona almonds, pistachios, dried fruits, confetti baby potatoes and heirloom tomatoes and the best deal on meyer lemons is season creme fraiche, cheeses, rosemary ham, bulgogi, olive oil and balamic vinegar, plugra butter and scones. No pudge brownie mix Nay: clam chowder, veggie burgers that are not gardenburgers, discontinued items I can't live without... Mon May 14 22:05:51 -0700 2007 1882629 89060 anhdeluxe 2 2574488 Yay! Chocolate covered fig nuggets, whole wheat couscous, edamame (dry roasted and frozen), stir fry frozen veggies with salt (just add tofu!), vegan pizza, a nice assortment of cheeses, chevre with fig, greek yogurt, chocovic bars, saffron is inexpensive and tastes fine to me, ginger spread, . . . the list keeps growing Wed May 16 10:35:20 -0700 2007 2570188 63311 puppymomma 3 2574871 i took a chance and bought an angus strip steak there the other day and was very pleasantly surprised. extremely tender, very flavorful and so well trimmed that my cat missed out on her usual ration of scraps. $6.99 a pound. i've also had very good luck with their extra lean hamburger. Wed May 16 12:08:10 -0700 2007 2574488 51839 boppiecat 4 2580948 I also tried their Angus strip for the first time the other day, and I couldn't agree more. It was very very good. Fri May 18 08:20:56 -0700 2007 2574871 25282 Shanna 1 2574924 A TJ's is set to open up within walking distance of my house, so my list of yays may well grow. For now it includes curry simmer sauce, canned black beans, cheeses when we're doing a large gathering (they don't really have anything wildly unusual or subtle, but they have lots of utility players), fresh arugula (much cheaper than the other markets), cliff bars (ditto), dried fruits, bagged nuts, mixed wasabi cracker thingies, the crumb covered coffee cake, Total Greek yogurt 2%, peanut butter dog biscuits, and (obviously non-edible) orange hand soap, candles and citrus body wash. Nays are prepackaged fresh vegetables and fresh kosher chicken. I got one that was totally rotten. Obviously not a good thing, and for me personally somehow even more reprehensible in anything representing itself as kosher. Wed May 16 12:23:35 -0700 2007 1882629 16828 Judith 1 2588607 Yay- "Just a handful" unsalted almonds. Individually packaged portions of Almonds. Just the right amount, prepackaged (13 to a bigger bag). Healthy (good cholesterol, but high in fat), and super convenient. This is my favorite product from them in a very long time (and it is so simple). Its been mentioned a ton, but the Tart D Alsace is absolutely wonderful (just had it again this weekend). The ingredients taste so fresh (even though it is a frozen item), and the crust is flaky and wonderful. If I was served this at a fine restaurant, I would be pleased, but out of my oven, is fantastic. Also have been really happy with their regular lowfat yogurt (8 ounce cups in Peach or Lemon). Had this almost every morning for a month. They don't have any of the weird aftertaste that alot of other commercial products have. I also like the size - many other commercial products are only 6 ounces, which isn't enough for me). Nay- 100 Calorie bags of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. Mostly hard and dry. Not very oatmeally or chocolately. Mon May 21 11:19:16 -0700 2007 1882629 45848 Booger 1 2589617 Yay: homemade flour tortillas. Nice texture, puffs up just right. Tasty. Nay: corn torillas. These are the nastiest, most horrible corn tortillas I have ever tried. They reek of lime and are just plain ugh. Plus they are expensive relative to other brands that taste like real tortillas. Mon May 21 15:40:30 -0700 2007 1882629 10764 monkuboy 1 2596204 Too many Yays, so here come the NAYS: Coffee section - everything I've tried was pretty bad, not nearly as good as Lavazza. Bread section - I don't think a good fresh baguette is too much to ask. Sushi section - barf. WINE - I'm sorry, am I missing something? Everything I've tried so far has been bad. Can anyone recommend a good red from there? Wed May 23 14:17:04 -0700 2007 1882629 85498 nokitsch 2 2675334 YAYS: Coffee: New Mexico Pinion (this is awesome) Snacks: Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels, Marcona Almonds, Tempting Trail Mix, Chile Spiced Mango, Apricot Fiberful Bars, Cranberry Dunkers, Dilletante, Aussie Black Licorice Refrigerated/Cheese: Goat Milk Yogurt, Olive Tapenade w/Goat Cheese, Cilantro Yogurt Dip, Silver Goat Log, English Cheddar w/Caramelized Onions Other: 21 Seasoning Salute, Brown Rice Medley (dry), Sundried Tomato Bruschetta, Frozen Carrot Cake, Frozen Haricot Green Beans, Vegetable Masala Burgers & Roasted Vegetable Pizza. NAYS Grocery: Better n' Peanut Butter (the worst), Canned Salmon, Vegan Mayonaisse, Vegetable Medley Soup, Toilet Tissue (too hard for my bum), TJ brand toothpaste Snacks/Sweets: Unburied Treasure Popcorn (no flavor at all), Flourless Chocolate Cake, Dried Cinnamon Apples, Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Frozen: Blueberry Waffles (blah), Any soy-based frozen product (corn dogs, burgers, chix nuggets), Mac n' Cheese (too many calories not enough flavor to compensate), Gelato (wierd aftertaste), Asparagus Spears Tue Jun 19 15:54:27 -0700 2007 2596204 106509 bunnyluv24 3 2675358 The tofu filled blintzes are unusally good...(then again, I saute them in real butter) Tue Jun 19 16:01:04 -0700 2007 2675334 12123 Cathy 2 2678761 Aside from cheap-O Charles Shaw, I don't think I've ever had a decent wine from Trader Joe's. The $3 Chuck is better than anything I've had there priced $7 - $15 aside from a couple of kinds of cheap champagne Wed Jun 20 15:14:36 -0700 2007 2596204 88180 heWho 1 2598616 Yay: Surprisingly, the shrink-wrapped mussels; tried them last night in a light garlic/wine/cream sauce over spaghetti (used some of the liquid in the packet in the sauce). Easily good enough to do again, and I might make it for company. Nay: The fact that I keep picking up capellini (which I don't like) instead of spaghetti because somebody has misplaced it in the wrong area and the two look almost identical (obviously, I don't read the label!). Thu May 24 10:37:54 -0700 2007 1882629 11388 Marsha 1 2661349 Another update: Yays! * Pretzel Slims... so much better than pretzel sticks or anything elese! I'm not a huge prezel lover even.. but these just have the right amount of salt and crunch to statisfy the munchies... * Sesame Melba Toasts... Another 'better' for you snack. Also very sturdy so they make a great cheese cracker! * Honey Sesame Cashews... Not too sweet, not too cashewey... Just really yummy Nays: * Chipotle Lime Chicken Skewers... sounded interesting, but in the end not much flavor... --Dommy! Thu Jun 14 16:07:50 -0700 2007 1882629 10659 Dommy 2 2661463 Yay! Blue potato chips!!!!! Thu Jun 14 16:34:32 -0700 2007 2661349 39783 RichardA 3 2687887 And the new Red Bliss/olive oil ridge chips. With these two new additions to their chip line it's fairly obvious that Terra chips is making their gourmet chips (the parsnip and other root veggie chips, blue and red bliss potato chips). I just made a swing through TJ's, and when I was done, I realized I'd bought all dairy products (with the exception of the Red Bliss chips and the Charlie Bear dog treats, which are great): Organic milk organic sour cream organic heavy whipping cream Fage 0% fat yogurt Double Rainbow vanilla ice cream Low-fat buttermilk (wish they had organic!) blue stilton These are all tried and true favorites at my house! Sat Jun 23 17:02:20 -0700 2007 2661463 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 2661659 Those new pretzel slims are great. Im eating them as I read this. Thu Jun 14 17:39:42 -0700 2007 2661349 69033 emilymm 1 2661563 One unmentioned item: Doughs! Pie dough and pizza dough are pretty good, when you don't have time to start from scratch. Pie dough has no trans fat or lard (hard to accomplish) and the pizza dough makes a decent "homemade" pizza, my personal dumping ground for random fridge items, and is only a dollar. Tip: use parchment paper, it sticks. Thu Jun 14 17:01:58 -0700 2007 1882629 98877 LaurenTX2CA 2 2664323 Ooh, good one. I love those premade doughs. SO much better than boboli. The whole wheat dough is my favorite. The garlic Naan is also really good. I like to use them as mini pizza crusts, put some sauce on, some cheese, and whatever else. I recently tried vodka sauce with basil and chicken. Really good and super fast in the toaster oven. Fri Jun 15 14:00:34 -0700 2007 2661563 86015 Melissavina 3 2664375 That is an INSPIRED idea! I love their frozen Naan, it's the one frozen product of theirs which I think is relaly excellent! --Dommy! Fri Jun 15 14:14:31 -0700 2007 2664323 10659 Dommy 2 2664545 Recently I got a couple of cornmeal pizza crusts there that were absolutely wonderful. Haven't seen them again, except with ingredients on top, unfortunately, but the sausage cornmeal pizza (refrigerated) isn't bad at all. Fri Jun 15 15:01:11 -0700 2007 2661563 105625 EWSflash 1 2661666 A lot of people have mentioed that their dogs like the biscuits--what about the dog food at Trader Joes? Thu Jun 14 17:41:09 -0700 2007 1882629 69033 emilymm 2 2687894 The ingredient list on the kibble is pretty good, but not great. I'd buy it in a pinch, but the best cost/quality ratio is the Kirkland (Costco) organic chicken kibble. On the other hand, we're never without the Charlie Bear liver treats at my house -- a $3 bag lasts a long time, and they're great for training because they're small enough for the dog to swallow quickly and refocus on the task, and you can carry them in your pockets. Sat Jun 23 17:07:17 -0700 2007 2661666 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 2677925 My fave is their India Relish...it's got a nice kick of heat. I often blend it with cream cheese for a delicious spread for crackers or crostini. I've never tried any of the Indian simmers or sauces. Wed Jun 20 11:36:21 -0700 2007 1882629 85943 catroo 1 2688785 For those on a lean program, try the Chile Lime Chicken Burgers, and the Salmon burgers as well! Sun Jun 24 08:03:23 -0700 2007 1882629 107535 Jscottmac 2 2691449 The chile lime chicken burgers are a new favorite around my house. I make a chipotle mayo and add some guacamole to it. Its a great dinner and takes about 10 minutes. Mon Jun 25 09:41:06 -0700 2007 2688785 69033 emilymm 3 2749183 We just love the Chile Lime Chicken Burgers. They seem to sell out very fast. Sat Jul 14 07:27:41 -0700 2007 2691449 25282 Shanna 1 2690705 The Marcona Almonds are to die for. And all their prices for nuts are a good deal for excellent quality. And Charlie Bear dog treats. Mon Jun 25 05:21:55 -0700 2007 1882629 10576 GroovinGourmet 1 2700705 I love love love TJ's...this list is awesome for trying new things because it's true that a lot of things are hit or miss....some of my fav's.. YAY's: Homemade tortillas blueberry crumpets (warm them and drizzle on a little bit of real maple syrup..divine) the unsweetened green tea/and orange green tea (only 99 cents!) chocolate truffles (I ate the ENTIRE box in about a day..they're really addicting) All of the frozen fruit - I put the strawberries/raspberries in shakes... Frozen string beans Frozen Spinich Frozen brocolli Frozen aparagus..(sauteed with a little garlic and butter in skillet, awesome quick side dish) Olive Oil Spray Rice Noodles (healthier alternative, except they turn to mush if you dont eat them right away) TJ's Tradional Marinara Sauce (99 cents!) I come from a large Italian family, growing up my parents NEVER used jarred sauce - this stuff is the best tasting could pass for homemade sauce i've ever tried. Turkey burgers - cheap and yummy Eggplant humus - I'm not really a huge fan of humus, but this had a great taste - losts of flavor. 100 Calorie Pack CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIES (OMG OMG OMG....I LOVE these...especially dunked in hot cocoa...they're small and awesome..and only 100 calories...i almost cried when I thought they discontinued them) Actually, I like most of the 100 calorie pack - multigrain crackers are great - I imagine little kids would love these, they're shaped like toucans...and taste yummy. Dairy section: MILK! I always buy milk at TJ's. Cottage cheese - I really like theirs...I noticed not a lot of people do...to me Krugers/Lucrean (sp?!) tastes funny... Trader Darwins Whey Protein....mostly just a lot of vitamins...good flavor (Chocolate and Vanilla...i always add fruit..touch of vanilla....good meal replacement shake or post workout.) My little doggie seems to really love the bones American blend fresh bagged lettuce Chocolate bars - the low carb dark chocolate is REALLY good, but even better is the TJ's brand Dark Chocolate truffle...,mmmm Nay's: RANCH FRIES...oh man..avoid these at all costs....repulsive on every level Frozen chicken breasts...they taste funny..and they're HUGE...making me question what kind of steriod empowered chicken they came from... Fresh Spinich...it tastes and smells like dirt, even after washing...and then it goes bad in about a day. Parmasean Ranch dressing...they may have discontinued this - it was a long time ago....It was watery..and had a creepy texture and even stranger taste...... I'm sure I have more, but this is all for now. Sorry this is sort of all over the place!!! Wed Jun 27 14:56:20 -0700 2007 1882629 108366 OhNoYouDidnt 1 2750439 Yays: Goat cheese crotins, nicer texture than the log Fage yogurt Lemonade and iced tea in cartons (sugar, no high fructose CS.) Niman Ranch applewood smoked bacon--the BEST BLT's Organic beef Poland Spring flavored carbonated waters Various trail mixes Prosecco, Viognier, sherry to cook with Tempeh and tofu Chocolate Chip almond cookies Choc covered pretzels, and the truffles in season Ice cream bonbons organic chocolate syrup (again, sugar sweetened) organic frozen blueberries Santini EVOO canned black beans trail mix granola snap pea crisps for salads tarte d'alsace--Amazing!! coconut curry stix, lemongrass chicken stix (eggrolls) Weetabix Tuscan pane bread Nays prepared sandwiches (mushy and gross) frozen wild mushroom fricasee pineapple salsa (boring) most produce TJ canned coffee (they dropped a brand that was much better than their own) frozen meal bowls (chicken vindaloo, etc. tasted chemical) 3 buck chuck--drinkable but spend the extra 3 bucks for better flour tortillas--overpriced. WF has organic for about a buck, TJs are +2.00 Pancetta crumbles--weird flavor bread other than tuscan pane All that being said, I walk into TJ's for a couple of things and inevitably spend about $50 Sat Jul 14 19:20:29 -0700 2007 1882629 109573 coney with everything 1 2816776 My mom and I went browsing in the frozen food section - with all of the chocolate: YAY: Chocolate lava cakes - a little sweet for someone that cuts the sugar in baking recipes by half, but they are a great treat. If you feel like eating some but not the entire thing, it's a great thing to share with another person :D NAY: Chocolate ice cream bonbons - too salty without enough sweet, and my mom and I both felt queasy from it. Not sure if it was because of the product or if something got into it. Ended up melting it into the disposal with hot water. Handmade Chocolate Ganache Torte - You might as well just peel off the ganache part and eat it, because that was the only delectable part of it. As a whole, the cake was just an okay, but it was disappointing cutting into a dry cake and not very flavorful filling, especially after the description sounding so great. Sun Aug 05 22:44:30 -0700 2007 1882629 109355 cerealpancakes 1 2940178 a HUGE nay [can i give it multiple votes?] for the refrigerated containers of 'just chicken.' not the sort of thing i'd normally waste my money on because i always prepare my own chicken breasts to keep in the fridge for convenience. but the latest issue of one of my nutrition newsletters gave this product a big thumbs-up, so i figured i'd give it a try. never again. this stuff was truly vile. slimy, spongy, gristly...and the flavor of canned chicken broth/seasoning was so overpowering i might as well have been eating a straight bouillion cube. gag. Thu Sep 13 20:56:38 -0700 2007 1882629 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 2942545 Oh god!! I bought that one time and was so nauseated by it I threw most of it away. GROSS GROSS It had odd mixes of white and dark meat and had visible gristle. UGH Fri Sep 14 14:21:45 -0700 2007 2940178 52195 HomeCookKirsten 3 2944294 i'm so glad it's not just me! [although i'm sorry other people were subjected to the experience as well.] i'm headed to tj's today, and i honestly think i'm going to tell them they have no business selling that product. i'm pretty sure even a starving stray dog would pass on it. Sat Sep 15 10:55:57 -0700 2007 2942545 103920 goodhealthgourmet 4 3005175 i thought it was just me too! but you're right- my 18 year old dog turned up his nose at "just chicken!" Thu Oct 04 13:53:42 -0700 2007 2944294 10254 toncasmo 5 3132543 apparently it's one of their biggest sellers. how on earth is that possible??? Fri Nov 16 16:25:37 -0800 2007 3005175 103920 goodhealthgourmet 6 3554663 It's a no brainer food that is relatively healthy. I used to buy it for my work lunches to toss into soups and salads. It tastes fine.. covered up... Now I've gotten sick of it... :P --Dommy! Wed Apr 02 15:27:28 -0700 2008 3132543 10659 Dommy 1 2944334 Yays: Pinjur Wasabi mayo The imported from Italy frozen pizzas. Put some prosciutto di parma and arugula on top, and you have something reminiscent of an Italian pizza. Cheap, tasty brie Fiber bread (6g per slice, hooo-ah!) 4 avocados for $3 Nays: Phad thai box (too sweet, weird noodles) Satay box (ditto) Simmer sauces (too bland) Salsas (all of them; I really wish they'd bring back the "Fire in the Hole Habanero Salsa" which was so good) Tortillas Sat Sep 15 11:11:53 -0700 2007 1882629 119126 famedalupo 1 2999499 YAYS: Gravenstein applesauce, dried cape gooseberries, dried montmorency cherries, plain pizza crust (refrigerated), irish oatmeal, chana masala sauce, veggie/tofu sushi, Straus yogurt (though I really wish they sold the nonfat!), soymilk, and just about any kind of wine/booze. NAYS: I'm sure I've encountered some, but I can't remember them. Wed Oct 03 07:14:45 -0700 2007 1882629 113437 katydid13 1 2999838 Yay to their chipotle hummus. I spread it on lavash or pita- and then drizzle on honey. It becomes yummy sweet -spicy . Wed Oct 03 08:46:59 -0700 2007 1882629 114297 feast 1 3001580 Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Bacon Tofutti Cuties Flax Plus cereals We got a couple of great beef tenderloin fillets there this week. Wed Oct 03 15:31:08 -0700 2007 1882629 123676 Velvet Elvis 1 3001741 MAJOR YAYS: the tarte d'Alscace - ohhhhh so good! just make sure it browns all over. yum! the tri-tip, marinated or not. I have served this to some pretty discerning eaters and have received compliments every time. just follow the directions on the sticker the giant chocolate bar - I am a chocolate fan, but kind of a picky one. this bar reminds me of Cadbury in its super creamy flavor. the baby beets from the deli case. also, the chicken breasts that are individually vacuum packed are great because they freeze and thaw really nicely and are a great price for high quality. NAYS: I had some horrendous mochi (sweet japanese rice balls) All in all, I love TJ's. It's such a CA thing - I'm so glad so many more of the country gets to scour the aisles now. Happy hunting! Wed Oct 03 16:23:49 -0700 2007 1882629 100410 clairelouise 1 3005148 TJ's is a recent addition to this locale.... When pricing is factored in, some of the yay's are as follows. Eggs Milk 99c Marinara The pasta's Turbanado sugar Their instant coffee (when quick fuel is a necessity) Their whole bean coffee's The Tuscan Pane....great for grilled cheese or panini's Jarred Alfredo Piccata sauce Their mango chutney Their rices Many of their primal cryo meats....ie filet rst, tri tip.... Their fresh squeezed OJ (with pulp) and most recently their cranberry lemonade.....can't keep it in the frig Only real bad experiences have been their baguettes....store brand chilean farm raised atlantic smoked salmon was weak..... All alcohol prices seemed reasonable ...particularly the specials on many wines. Their return policy is a breeze....so you really ca'nt go wrong.....it seems like the perfect "family on the go"/singles type of supermarket.....not to mention a place to meet and greet..... Thu Oct 04 13:47:46 -0700 2007 1882629 131211 debbieg2210 1 3069701 My recent yays: Mango & Ginger Go Nuts trail mix Gluten free ginger snaps -- light and tasty Wildwood veggie burgers (refrigerated), good w/TJ chutney Boxed tomato and roasted pepper soup -- poach an egg in it and it makes a great lunch, also works with the carrot and other soups The 2 packs of greek yogurt with cinnamon or berries Prepeeled garlic -- it keeps well Birds nests -- frozen, sort of a veggie tempura I've stopped buying most of their produce -- tasteless and costs as much as most other stores. Fri Oct 26 09:49:59 -0700 2007 1882629 43639 figrrl 2 3132546 GF ginger snaps? really?? do they contain HFCS or soy? Fri Nov 16 16:27:30 -0800 2007 3069701 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 3071758 Frozen: 1) Chocolate croissants---you lay them out the night before, let them rise and thaw 9 hours, bake them 30 minutes in the AM, great for overnight guests. 2) Chocolate Lava Cake---really good. 3) Apple Blossoms (tarts from Canada). 4) Flounder filet stuffed with crab (my store is always out of this, very popular here). 5) Broccoli flowerets, better and cheaper than most fresh broccoli. 6) Huge bags of tiny green beans from France. 7) Artichoke-filled tortellini + artichoke hearts + lemon juice and olive oil = a good pasta salad; 8) Pineapple (extra-sweet). 9) Black raspberries---two bags make an old-fashioned pie. Or add some Chambord and have them on vanilla ice cream. Sat Oct 27 00:57:57 -0700 2007 1882629 15521 Querencia 1 3106510 Little snacky things that are probably meant for parties but to my husband are "football [game-watching] food": Miniature spankopita, mushroom turnovers in cream cheese pastry, chicken enchiladas, and Prelude to a Quiche. These are all good. And for anybody who actually IS having a party and needs a lot of them, I notice that similar items at WholeFoods and my local "nice" market cost around 3 x as much as at TJ. Thu Nov 08 07:43:53 -0800 2007 1882629 15521 Querencia 1 3119677 Yea: New company policy that allows employees to now work amongst customers on the floor if they have less than five facial piercings or tattoos. Nea: Dropping the Duck Liver Pate with Truffles What irks me most is that the sniveling turds at the home teepee kowtowed and capitulated to the Save the Ducks, a butt munch group protesting the inhumanity to ducks….hello they are ducks!!!! After they saved the ducks, that same group changed directions as they are now working to save all root vegetables! Do not pull that carrot from the ground unless you are prepared to hear it’s high-pitched screams and agonizing death rattle for days and days in the crisper drawer! Mon Nov 12 21:52:15 -0800 2007 1882629 132946 NitroGen 1 3121616 Recent discoveries: (man, I love this place) -Naan bread no longer in my TJs, better be back soon Yea: chili spiced mango pumpkin butter turkey sausage selection smoked salmon crushed ginger papadums (please add more flavors) wild mushrooms Nea: flax seed chips tempeh selection\ rambutan Tue Nov 13 12:33:25 -0800 2007 1882629 101707 yankeefan 2 3122367 Yankeefan, Just bought naan over the weekend in the Chicago area. Be patient - it's one of those items that seems to be out of stock a lot!! Tue Nov 13 15:33:26 -0800 2007 3121616 11195 LAWoman 1 3135104 New Swiss 71% dark chocolate beats the Scharffenberger and Valhrona Banana chips Frozen coho is a real bargain and seems to be very quickly flash frozen. Better than virtually any $20/lb fresh coho or chinook available in So Cal. Sat Nov 17 21:37:16 -0800 2007 1882629 39194 Spike Costa 1 3165272 Two big yays: Ginger People's ginger chews (in the candy dept). Chewy with a bit of ginger heat. Yum! Trader Joe-San Lightly Salted Crunch Green Beans - OMG, these are addictive and healthy...unfortunately they only seem to come in a 5.5 oz bag. :( Thu Nov 29 10:12:14 -0800 2007 1882629 146486 Kivatar 1 3165801 Trader Joes just opened a location near me (Queens), and I have been there twice so far. NAY: Checkout people inspecting your food and commenting on your groceries ("Say, you really like peanuts, huh?"). This has happened both visits. About half of everything that gets price-scanned apparently needs a comment ("You should try that with some olive oil and chopped garlic!") I live in NYC so I'm used to sullen clerks who won't even say "thank you" (even after you, the customer, says it). But lets not go overboard. It seems like the management at Trader Joes sent out a memo: BE FRIENDLY!!! Just ring up my groceries, please. I'm not shopping at Trader Joes so I can discuss my dietary choices with the employees. Thu Nov 29 12:39:09 -0800 2007 1882629 125857 K2000 1 3165864 dark chocolate coverd almonds with sea salt and turbanado sugar, They are unbelievable, can't put them down!!! Thu Nov 29 12:56:44 -0800 2007 1882629 129024 travelchow 1 3409662 Yays: garlic Parmesan flat bread Quiches Yogurts Mediterranean Hummus Tomato & Pesto Torta Holiday Dark Chocolate Peppermint Candy Blissful Icecream Frozen Pizzas: 3 Cheese/ Margarita TJ wines TJ Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Garlic Naan (frozen/fresh) Mon Feb 18 11:32:15 -0800 2008 1882629 167222 kimquyen8 2 3619648 The garlic naan is phenomenal. Goes great with smoked salmon oddly enough. Recent YAYs: Freeze dried bananas Peanut Butter Puffin cereal All of their packaged gnocchi NAYs: Air puffed potato chips Sparkling flavored waters Tue Apr 22 13:25:19 -0700 2008 3409662 101707 yankeefan 3 3626162 We are having naan with supper tomorrow night. I can't wait!!! Thu Apr 24 11:25:46 -0700 2008 3619648 85738 libgirl2 1 3505746 We do not have a TJ's in my home area, but I travel to Chicago every now and then and have a few must haves to bring home, including: Organic Tomato Soup; Chowder Crackers; Chocolate Covered Blueberries and Ginger Cookies (for the kids); organic honey crunch and oats cereal (TJ brand). Last visit I brought a small cooler and brought back the following items that we will target to get the next trip: Canned crab meat (better than we can get locally and much, much more reasonably priced); variety chicken sausages - apple and spicy cilantro (cut up for pasta dish.) Nay's - Squash Soup (probably more of a personal taste thing.) Tue Mar 18 17:58:13 -0700 2008 1882629 175863 papagoph 1 3541944 YAY: frozen garlic naan cabernet pot roast chocolate covered dunkers dark chocolate toffee rolled in pistachio evilness crab and corn chowder soup frozen brown rice nonfat greek yogurt blueberry or pomegranate turkey with cranberry stuffing ny extra sharp cheddar gyoza sauce masala simmer sauce all of the gyoza frozen mandarin chicken marinara sauce frozen garlic fries NAY: Pork Chile Verde Curry Chicken Tenders This thread is making me hungry.... Sat Mar 29 20:44:27 -0700 2008 1882629 89161 ericalee 1 3554688 Hurrah! This post is back! My favorite! :) Yays: * Vietnamese Chicken Wrap - I was shocked at how good this was... and relatively healthy compared to their other sandwich offerings. The dipping sauce is also really yummy! :) * Prig King Sting Beans: Got this on a whim and was surprised at how fresh and spicy they turned out. My only complaint is that TJs always had to add so much sauce to things. I used just one package and it came out excellent! Nays: * Multigrain Oatmeal: Absolutely BLEH! * Jarred Mango Slices: Taste too acidic * Cheesey Jalapeno Bread: It went moldy a day after I bought it! Ick! --Dommy! Wed Apr 02 15:33:18 -0700 2008 1882629 10659 Dommy 2 3646178 I've noticed that quite a few of their non-sweet bread products go moldy really fast. As in the day after you get it home, or worst case, when you get home and realize you bought moldy pita bread. I know it's the non-preservative element, but really.... Thu May 01 06:56:24 -0700 2008 3554688 18705 emily 3 4512647 I put them in the freezer and then take them out one by one. Or actually once you freeze them, you can thaw them and they never mold, even for weeks. Tue Mar 17 08:17:55 -0700 2009 3646178 10246 choctastic 1 3554733 New: Mediterranean hummus Tuscan canned bean mix(with the addition of salt) Mini-tacos...both chicken and beef, tho' admittedly, at least for me, a little goes a long way...they're a bit palate fatiguing in their one note-ness (however, they're the only remotely palatable product in TJ's typically awful line of burritos, etc.) Wed Apr 02 15:49:28 -0700 2008 1882629 14985 aelph 1 3596181 i just picked up some spanish lentils in a rioja(?) sauce. Not very good. The lentils were soggy and the flavor was basically bell peppers. eww.... Tue Apr 15 09:49:59 -0700 2008 1882629 149048 babaoriley7 1 3616451 Recent yays: Volcano coffee beans Jalapeno/Cheddar baked potato chips Corn salsa (no tomato) Frozen panna cotta with fruit topping Frozen veggie potstickers Nays: Gyoza dipping sauce (something's missing... not sweet enough or not spicy enough or not savory enough....something.) Mon Apr 21 15:56:33 -0700 2008 1882629 20663 Josh90004 1 3618637 I recently purchased chipotle marinated chicken skewers there and the were quite good. Tue Apr 22 09:23:39 -0700 2008 1882629 85738 libgirl2 1 3620237 YAY for the dried strawberries, $1.99 the bag. Much better than Whole Foods' Just Strawberries brand of dried strawberries. Tue Apr 22 16:00:49 -0700 2008 1882629 12829 Bob W 1 3648700 Recent yays: Pizza dough Frozen chicken enchiladas in salsa verde Dark-chocolate-covered Jo-Jos (these are life-changing. Try putting them in the freezer) Edamame hummus (doesn't really taste like edamame to me... it's just good) This isn't really their product, but Fage Total yogurt that they carry.... mmm, even the fat-free is AMAZING. Recent nays: Various sorts of granola bars (I don't know, something just tastes... off) Low-fat or lite or whatever French onion pita chips (blech... weird sweetness to them) the oatmeal plus (I like that I am getting all those vitamins and minerals, and it is really filling and gives me energy, but to eat it I have to drown it in honey) Thu May 01 18:58:27 -0700 2008 1882629 150102 katie570 2 3649119 what are jo-jos? Thu May 01 23:03:47 -0700 2008 3648700 10426 shaebones 3 3651913 jo-jos are like oreos. i was actually not impressed with the chocolate covered ones. Fri May 02 18:12:45 -0700 2008 3649119 11719 jes 4 3680626 Really? I thought they were divine. I'm pretty sure they aren't just regular jo-jos covered in chocolate, though -- both the cookie and the cream seem thicker. Thanks for the freezer tip, too! Mon May 12 16:11:31 -0700 2008 3651913 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 3648718 Oh, I almost forgot--the asiago and mushroom (I think?) ravioli were GROSS... pretty much inedible. Thu May 01 19:03:36 -0700 2008 1882629 150102 katie570 1 3669985 frozen orange chicken frozen turkey meatballs Artichoke ravioli Scotty Dog shaped black licorice Thu May 08 16:20:07 -0700 2008 1882629 22620 DaisyM 1 3670241 nay fish tacos: maybe it's just me, but I'm p*o'd I have to heat all four tacos at once(the instructions and prep demand one do so...but, not at the behest of any packaging mojo: see, below). Yeah, yeah...frozen fish tacos...I know... the good: the corn tortillas actually taste of corn and maintain a certain integrity the bad: well, I went ahead and attempted to pry the tacos apart(they're glued together with the much-vaunted in the catalogue poblano/ranchero cheese salsa) and...that's fun... the "salsa" burns(and the fish turns to jerky) if you attempt to microwave the tacos separately according to full-pack directions...btw: it's not special microwaveable packaging that's the issue... the instructions read: peel off film and cover with a paper towel, etc. the problem is, I dunno, ancient microwaves in the TJ's "test kitchens" and the need to cement everything in that salsa so...if one bothers to stand watch over the tacos one hasn't incinerated one gets a kinda sorta edible product sigh : if you follow in my footsteps and own a contemporary microwave(not one built of magic and bones 800 years ago)...pry apart the tacos to your liking, cover with paper towel, MW on high for two minutes then shoozj from there...and still be prepared for half the salsa to slough off into an acrid, carbonized pile while the fish remains chill to the touch... Thu May 08 17:35:40 -0700 2008 1882629 14985 aelph 2 3680128 i did them in the oven and they just fell apart- looked like a bad tamale! can't say they tasted bad but they're defintely on the "don't get again" list! Mon May 12 13:53:36 -0700 2008 3670241 10254 toncasmo 3 3680413 Exactly. :) Again, frozen fish tacos can't be any good, right?. But they look edible in the see-through box AND TJ's catalogue goes on and on about how much research they've put into finding the "perfect" fish taco. It's...as you say, "like a bad tamale." Yikes. Mon May 12 15:04:30 -0700 2008 3680128 14985 aelph 4 3681626 LOL! Thanks for confirming my WTF?! remark when I got the most recent fearless flyer... --Dommy! Mon May 12 23:08:05 -0700 2008 3680413 10659 Dommy 4 4500360 i picked these up and stared at them through their see through wrapper for a good whole minute today. i finally put them back down thinking "frozen fish tacos". but i kept thinking they might be awesome. i'm glad i read this, so i won't be so hypnotized next time. Thu Mar 12 22:41:37 -0700 2009 3680413 13880 jungirl 5 4508671 jungirl, i loved your line about being hypnotized staring into the see-through wrapper. ;-). Mon Mar 16 06:11:23 -0700 2009 4500360 105717 alkapal 1 3684575 Here's one I always forget to mention in posts like this - TJ's organic mayonnaise. Mayo is not the sort of thing I usually wax poetic about, but my goodness - it's such a delicious, full-flavored product that barely resembles its commercial equivalent. So so good. Tue May 13 18:35:57 -0700 2008 1882629 108125 addiegirl 2 3819523 We just got Trader Joe's kettle corn here in Michigan (at least at my store.) I was warned by the clerk that I'd eat the whole bag in one day. "Oh, no," I said. Confession: I did. We also just recently got tempura chicken and I am on my second bag. I don't toss it in the sauce; I doctor up the sauce with a little rice wine, and some lemon juice because otherwise it is too sweet. I also steam broccoli and make the TJ's brown rice to go with it. Fri Jun 27 10:59:42 -0700 2008 3684575 83766 brendastarlet 3 3828586 I had a recent TJs run (since we don't have one in the state we live in). We picked up items to eat on our trip to the Grand Canyon and for home. YAYs Sliced honey turkey Apple strawberry fruit strip Chinese chicken salad Freeze dried mango NAYs Jo-Jos Trail Mix (raisins and nuts) Frozen fettucini alfredo Frozen orange chicken Frozen jasmine rice Chinese Chicken Salad (prepared)-was great. Nice flavor, fresh cabbage, the wonton crisps added a nice touch. Jo-Jos (chocolate cookie with vanilla creme filling)-these tasted ok but I prefer the taste of Oreos Apple Strawberry Fruit Strip-these were excellent. Not too sweet, not too tart. Only bad thing about these were the price. Freeze dried mango-had this funny texture upon the first bite but they are pretty tasty Sliced honey turkey-this is the best sliced lunch meat turkey I've had. The entire package was gone. The frozen fettucini alfredo (cooked in a crock pot) needed more sauce and flavor. Taste may have been altered since it was done in a crock pot. The frozen orange chicken (cooked in a crock pot) needed more sauce. I think this one could have been a winner if cooked on a stove/oven. Served with the frozen jasmine rice that I didn't particularly care for. Mon Jun 30 20:51:15 -0700 2008 3819523 52988 BellaDonna 2 4692103 Couldn't agree more. Their organic mayo is the bomb. Sun May 17 15:31:29 -0700 2009 3684575 13592 isadorasmama 1 3836504 My newest Trader Joe's obsession: Dark Chocolate Mint Creams. I also like: Cabernet Beef Pot Roast Breaded Cod Filets Assorted Fruit Bars (leather) - except for Gooseberry Wheat Crisps Everything Bagel Chips Parmesan Garlic Pita Chips Almost any fried fruit (although the section has been shrinking steadily over the last few years) Australian Red Licorice Mini peanut butter cups Thu Jul 03 10:42:09 -0700 2008 1882629 15325 aunteejoy 2 3841805 I've just bought my last TJ's frozen entree. It was a disgusting and meager Sweet and Sour shrimp stir fry w/rice. It's supposed to serve 3. The shrimp were tiny and salty. The veggies were limp and almost non-existent. I had to add some frozen scallops to the mix to stretch it for 3 people (2 women, 1 man) and add some Uncle Ben's brown rice. I'm so incensed, I'm taking the empty package back for a refund. Their produce is iffy at best. Always a bad pepper, apple, lemon or whatever i the bag. I think most of their bakery products are pretty bad too. Yays: their square bottle of cheap balsamic vinegar. It's super for the money. Fage yogurt, organic ginger snap cookies are fabulous. Frozen squares of garlic and herbs are great timesavers. Parm & garlic pita chips. Sat Jul 05 23:15:30 -0700 2008 3836504 16640 compucook 3 4618740 You know, "serving size" on a package label doesn't have anything to do with how many people it will serve. "Serving size" just means the amount they based the nutritional calculation on, and that's all. But, if it wasn't good, it wasn't good! Wed Apr 22 12:13:40 -0700 2009 3841805 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 4500358 YAY! - tarte d'alsace - definitely sprinkled with crack or some other highly addictive substance. whenever i go to the NYC union square location, or either northern jersey location, i have to ask the employees to go get more boxes in the back. they always reply, "OOHHHH, that one's SOOOOO good." (has happened a few times) - frozen tamales, slathered in TJ salsa verde. microwaved a tad extra long so the cheese oozes out and burns a little bit :) - frozen potato latkes with TJ's chunky spiced apples - party size mini meatballs with the (old) tsaziki sauce (the new one sucks!) - thai chili lime cashews - mochi ice cream, left out to slightly thaw for about 7 minutes, chewy outside, perfect cold creamy inside - chicken sausage, half the price of whole foods. some flavors are better than others - flash frozen chicken thighs, defrost and cook as you would raw chicken - flash frozen orange roughy plain, the seasoned one is too strong. i like to defrost these for 24 hours in the fridge, and then slather them with Nobu's recipe for saikyo miso (super easy, and you can keep a tupperware in the fridge of it for months) marinate overnight. broil. this fish picks up that flavor so well, and is a much cheaper alternative to black cod. garnish with scallions. - frozen organic greens with envy (do they carry this anymore?) - frozen brown rice - uber convenient - whole frozen edamame- quick easy healthy treat - frozen risottos, mushroom and asparagus, easy side dish - organic avocados, in bags of 4 - scallions in resealable bag - totally a waste of money compared to chinatown, but i like these scallions for some reason. they're really pretty and uniform sized. - 99 cent TJ mushroom rice noodle soup bowl - just add hot water, very low in fat, totally savory with a touch of sambal olek hot sauce (made by rooster sriracha company, the one that has seeds) - bagged and washed organic mixed salad leaves - great but you have to eat within a few days b/c of early expirations - cheap cheap pasta. - cheap cheap cheese. when i make martha stewart's world's best mac and cheese, at a NY grocery, the cheese costs me about $25. at TJ's it's only $12-14 (white cheddar and gruyere). that recipe is KILLER, i highly recommend, despite the long prep time. sometimes i cut up small cubes of TJ chicken sausage, sautee it in a pan so it's got a bit of crisp, and toss it into the mac before i bake. - lime habanero pistachios - marinated pork loin - bought this once. dinner for two and 4 more lunches. - wine. nyc has a TJ wine store separate (weird law about not selling liquor in the same place you can sell beer). the selection is great. they carry my favorite pinot noir that i've been drinking for years for cheaper than i've ever found it. cheap sake too. NAY: (i am not going to be very popular after this, a lot of these are people's YAY's) - green curry simmer sauce - everything i've made with this, i've wanted to throw straight in the trash. after 3 dishes, i finally threw out the sauce. - frozen apple tartlets - ok, but i actually think these are too sweet, with the caramelized sugar crystals, it's overkill - frozen french onion soup - a bit too salty for my taste, and i actually love salty foods - curry with tuna in pouch - gross. i love thai flavors, and i was looking so forward to trying this. i had the red, and had to throw out most of it. i have the yellow one left, maybe i will give it another go - bbq chicken pizza - this was the worst. sounded like a cool concept, but they use bbq sauce instead of tomato. really just a strange combo with the cheese - 4 cheese pizza - didn't like the crust - green beans prik king - maybe i made these wrong, but they came out super soggy and the taste was flat - TJ fine sea salt. bought this and it was all clumped together. so much so that i couldn't pour it out of the large container into my shaker. i gave up and just ended up using the large container as my shaker. - frzozen spinach spanikopita. i don't know. these just didn't do it for me. i had it with tsaziki too. they tasted off. i found myself slathering these in tsaziki to cover up some weird taste in the pastries. - frozen potato and cheese pierogies. shell had really bad consistency. doughy and dry at the same time. - THE LINE IN NYC. wow, i have never been to the union square store where the line hasn't almost gone out the door or has been physically at the door entrance. it moves relatively quick (20-25 min) but still it winds through the whole store, making it impossible to shop and see stuff properly (double line in front of the fridge display that you have to muscle your way through). NJ was heavenly in comparison. although today in edgewater, we found 2 things in the fridge that expired in feb. gross. on the contrary, NYC sells out of a lot of stuff by end of day. but i do wait on that line often, so that shows you how many ppl in NY really like their TJ. i bought some frozen tropical fruit mix and frozen raspberries a while back cuz i read they were good. but now i don't know what to do with them. any recommendations, chowhounds? much appreciated. Thu Mar 12 22:40:23 -0700 2009 1882629 13880 jungirl 2 4549010 Which pinot noir is your favorite that you buy at TJ's? Sun Mar 29 13:32:09 -0700 2009 4500358 10074 Caitlin McGrath 2 4618753 (checks date on post, yep 2009) The tuna curry in the pouch is back? It was gone for so long! I wonder if it's changed -- I loved the version they used to carry. Wed Apr 22 12:15:56 -0700 2009 4500358 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 4636249 smoothies! Tue Apr 28 11:55:09 -0700 2009 4500358 220217 shadysider023 1 4504044 NAY on the fresh-not-frozen chicken parmesan. The chicken was spongy and there wasn't more than two tablespoons of marinara in the whole dish. The breading was the best part. Also a NAY on the cheddar w/ jalapeno pub cheese (cheese spread.) It was tasteless and the jalapeno pieces were large and tough. Sat Mar 14 07:38:42 -0700 2009 1882629 219339 sisterbeer 1 4510658 New maple creme sandwich cookies - killer! Mon Mar 16 15:35:01 -0700 2009 1882629 11195 LAWoman 2 4512792 I'm with you. The best part is that my husband hates them so my cookies don't disappear! Tue Mar 17 09:01:33 -0700 2009 4510658 109573 coney with everything 2 4513296 Agreed... great balance of flavors! Tue Mar 17 11:09:06 -0700 2009 4510658 10659 Dommy 1 4512642 I actually love the dried tangy mango slices covered in dark chocolate and then with salt on it. It's sour, sweet, salty and chocolately. It's what Vosges and various other chocolatiers want to do, but don't have the guts. And it's $1.99 a box! Tue Mar 17 08:16:58 -0700 2009 1882629 10246 choctastic 2 4512799 Hey, choctastic, have you tried the Belgian chocolate pudding (refrigerated case by the milk) yet? mmm...very chocolaty. A bit spendy, but I really liked it. Tue Mar 17 09:03:20 -0700 2009 4512642 109573 coney with everything 3 4516204 Oh man, I haven't. I'm lactose intolerant so I've been sticking to the vegan stuff. Sounds AWESOME though. Belgian...chocolate...pudding. Oh man. Also, their chocolate ganache cake is only $8 for a whole cake and outstanding. The following are all vegan: The dark chocolate covered pretzels (at only $3.99 a bag). A $4 snack. That was awesome. Also, how could I forget the brown rice krispie bars, at only $1.99 a box. Now, they're not as chewy and gooey as the original, a little crisper, but they're still sickeningly sweet and it was extremely easy to eat the whole box. I mean there are only 6 bars anyway. I also still love the Mediterranean hummus and I think their best tapenade is the green olive one. I love the cheap marinara sauces. I love the soy ice creams. Okay I'l stopp Wed Mar 18 08:53:43 -0700 2009 4512799 10246 choctastic 4 4522374 You also might consider trying the Trader Joe's almonds that are covered in dark chocolate (no milk solids) and sea salt. My sister's vegan and she loves these. The container is clear plastic, probably about 12 ounces, and (I think) has an orangish label. Fri Mar 20 09:32:02 -0700 2009 4516204 64003 bulavinaka 4 5139529 That chocolate pudding is so superior to any other I've ever experienced. Glad I happened to notice it. Thu Oct 29 03:16:05 -0700 2009 4516204 11097 coll 1 4513324 De Ultimate Trader Joes post LIVES!! YAYs! * The Unsweetened Apple Sauce in the Jar... really nice flavor a great texture! * Chipote Lime Chicken Patties... a lunch staple for me now! * Peeled Chiopinni Onions... An absolute staple for us... SO YUMMY! Nays: * The Multi Veggie Egg Pasta Ribbons... absolutely No flavor! * Law Fat Cheeses... See above, sticking to Jarlsburg * Asian Marinated Fully Cooked Frozen Chicken Breasts... I should have known this was a bad idea... but they taste fishy!! I certainly wasn't expecting THAT! Tue Mar 17 11:14:48 -0700 2009 1882629 10659 Dommy 2 4514288 Dommy - Where are the peeled onions? Tue Mar 17 15:31:43 -0700 2009 4513324 11195 LAWoman 3 4516780 They are in the refridgeraged produce section, but not in the salad section. They come in little pouches. As usual, there is tons of package waste... but they really liven up stews, roasted veggies or again, are wonderful as a side dish on their own (I like them grilled!) ---Dommy! Wed Mar 18 11:43:07 -0700 2009 4514288 10659 Dommy 2 4515345 Oh my gosh...I thought I was going insane, but I thought the asian marinated chicken breasts tasted like fish (salmon specifically), too!!! I'm saving the one I didn't eat for the next time I go so I can return it. Blech! A yay for the Green Onion Soup though (comes in a little microwavable bowel with seasonings). I actually made it on the stove top and drizzled in some egg for protein - yuuummmmmm! Tue Mar 17 23:08:24 -0700 2009 4513324 75732 mariannas 2 4619084 Dommy, are the Chipotle Lime Chicken Patties a new incarnation of the Chili-Lime Chicken Burgers? Wed Apr 22 13:28:58 -0700 2009 4513324 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 4620333 Yes!! For some reason I though they had Chipotle in their name. :) --Dommy! Wed Apr 22 20:47:50 -0700 2009 4619084 10659 Dommy 1 4516946 YAY: Bite size mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches. Addictive and not as bad for you as you'd think. Pumpkin butter. Morningstar farms Pizzaburgers (I can only find them at TJ's). Baby cucumbers, usually come 6 to a pack, unsweetened applesauce. Turkey meatballs. Chicken teriyaki (frozen) Oh, and those incredible flax veggie tortilla chips. AND THE REDUCED FAT CHEESE CRUNCHIES - watch out, these are addictive. Still unsure how I feel: Apricot kernels. Anyone try them? NAY: Chipotle Lime Chili Chicken Burgers - they were recently recalled! Sprouted wheat bread (very dry, falls apart) Wed Mar 18 12:20:49 -0700 2009 1882629 89507 allieinbklyn 2 4516973 allie-I feel the same about the apricot kernels-I grew up eating them from my nana's apricot tree and they don't taste the same.. Wed Mar 18 12:28:47 -0700 2009 4516946 269732 andieb 3 4519328 I had never tried them before now, and am snacking on them now. It is interesting how they seem to have a bit of apricot essence to them. I think I like them, but I'm just not sure... also, NAY on the tomato bisque in a can, which i tried for the first time last night. Not good. Thu Mar 19 09:46:59 -0700 2009 4516973 89507 allieinbklyn 4 4519578 they do have a subtle flavor of apricot, but I also noticed that some were very bitter. Not sure if it was just the bag I bought... Thu Mar 19 11:25:55 -0700 2009 4519328 269732 andieb 4 4524476 Big YAY from me on the Tomato Bisque canned soup. I first noticed it a couple weeks ago, tried it, and have had two more cans since then. Fri Mar 20 22:25:43 -0700 2009 4519328 145068 Linara 5 4692112 My daughter is a huge tomato soup fan and she LOVES TJs tomato bisque. The other canned soups suck, though. Very little flavor... Sun May 17 15:34:11 -0700 2009 4524476 13592 isadorasmama 6 4693360 The soups in the boxes (tomato, tomato/red pepper, sweet potato) are all really good. Much better than the canned soups. Mon May 18 06:47:33 -0700 2009 4692112 15325 aunteejoy 2 4523970 why were the chili lime burgers recalled? we kinda like them, i have two boxes in the freezer now Fri Mar 20 17:31:14 -0700 2009 4516946 11719 jes 1 4521402 Their prices have skyrocketed compared to a year ago, which is when I was last a regular customer. It's sad. Plus, their customer service is sh*t, at least 'round these parts. Thu Mar 19 22:51:53 -0700 2009 1882629 258488 NewDude 1 4522404 The vanilla and blueberries & creme yogurt is delicious! It comes in a 6-pack: 3 vanilla, three blueberry. It's not low-fat or low-calorie, but the container is small enough that you don't have to feel too guilty. Yummy yum yum. Fri Mar 20 09:40:17 -0700 2009 1882629 266909 christineb54 2 4524478 I looove these. I buy a pack every other week, and the other weeks I get the strawberry/banana pack. Fri Mar 20 22:29:44 -0700 2009 4522404 145068 Linara 3 4528151 Yup! LOVE THEM!! SO much better than that chalky Yo Baby stuff! :P --Dommy! Sun Mar 22 15:49:32 -0700 2009 4524478 10659 Dommy 1 4524159 why why is there no trader joes in denver co I have to travel to la just to get my fix Fri Mar 20 19:07:44 -0700 2009 1882629 87101 Densible 2 4524409 I would guess it's something to do with logistics. It wouldn't hurt for you and everyone you know who wants a TJ's to email their corporate. Fri Mar 20 21:33:04 -0700 2009 4524159 64003 bulavinaka 2 5122737 Densible, Just wondering why you travel all the way to Los Angeles, bypassing New Mexico (one in Sante Fe and two in Albuquerque) and Arizona (two in Scottsdale, one in Mesa, three in Phoenix and one in Tempe); both have several stores in these states. New Mexico could be a weekend day drive, to get away for a bit, you would just bring a cooler and plan on stopping somewhere to eat. It would be like me driving to Portland, Oregon from Seatte; with lots of tourist attractions on the way to make a day of it. Be well, Annie Thu Oct 22 10:27:33 -0700 2009 4524159 177945 EbonyEyedEnigma 1 4533324 Made a TJ's run yesterday and just opened a container of caramel cashew cookies. They smelled wonderful. The first one was okay but they seemed to grow on me, each one tasting a little better. I ended up eating four of them. I think the caramel needs to be dialed down a bit but for the price and taste they are a good value. Anyone try the fried seasoned green beans snack packet yet? Tue Mar 24 09:29:04 -0700 2009 1882629 184593 givemecarbs 1 4534196 I'm addicted to their new mini chicken & cilantro mini dumplings which heat beautifully in the microwave. I dump half a package on to a plate, add a couple of spoons of water, then cover with another plate. Perfect steamed dumplings in 2-3 minutes. They're also great pan fried, but I usually microwave them to save on calories. Tue Mar 24 13:11:59 -0700 2009 1882629 197650 cvhound 1 4540396 Has anyone seen that they replaced the King Arthur's with their own brand? I love KA and they had it cheaper than anywhere else. Their brand is even cheaper, but I wonder if it's as good. I say YAY: paso robles zin - all brands have been good frozen black raspberries frozen salmon with the skin on (HB loves the skin) new flavors of emergen-c NAY - Their new version of canned tomatoes - their more expensive than the last version and terrible. Really bland and terrible texture. I had to use ridiculous amounts of spices for a decent tasting sauce. artichokes - I've had them two times now and both times they were bitter their brand of greek yogurt - terrible - awful flavor and not as nice as other brands Thu Mar 26 09:39:09 -0700 2009 1882629 94207 foodlove 2 4543261 nay: european style yogurt. all i can find is that it is made in california (plant #06-93) -- i still can't i.d. name of plant, or ownership. the tj's yogurt is *very* tart and not nearly as tasty or creamy as stonyfield farms organic yogurt. -- i'm talkin' whole milk yogurt. Fri Mar 27 07:02:04 -0700 2009 4540396 105717 alkapal 3 4544069 I actually really like the Euro style whole milk yogurt. It reminds me of eating a bowl of ranch dressing, which may not appeal to a lot of people. I agree that it probably wouldn't be ideal for eating as a sweet. Fri Mar 27 11:46:18 -0700 2009 4543261 10832 Humbucker 4 4544080 i wasn't talking about flavored stonyfield farm -- just plain. Fri Mar 27 11:49:01 -0700 2009 4544069 105717 alkapal 5 4546466 The one I'm talking about is the TJ's brand plain european style in a red and white container, not Stonyfield. Sat Mar 28 10:56:18 -0700 2009 4544080 10832 Humbucker 6 4548053 i know that you were referring to the tj yogurt. but it seemed to me that you implicitly compared it with stonyfield when you talked about the tj yogurt as not "ideal for eating as a sweet"....<thus implying stonyfield was sweet by comparison.> Sun Mar 29 06:22:28 -0700 2009 4546466 105717 alkapal 7 4548724 I've never had Stonyfield yogurt, actually. I just meant that the TJ's yogurt doesn't seem like it would be a good base for granola anymore than mayo would. Sun Mar 29 11:48:11 -0700 2009 4548053 10832 Humbucker 8 4550188 ah. well, in my opinion it'd be ok for granola, too. maybe adding granola would sweeten it up -- or counteract the tartness. bottom line: it is just more tart than i expected. i stirred some into my chick pea and spinach curry last evening. i will also be using it to marinate my chicken tikka, and make some labneh (yogurt cheese). Mon Mar 30 03:53:04 -0700 2009 4548724 105717 alkapal 3 4549006 alkapal, is the TJ's European-style yogurt organic? The TJ's organic milk in No. California is said to be Straus Creamery (neither Straus or TJ's will confirm, of course, but local hounds are convinced), and I've heard the European-style yogurt is also Straus European-style, which fits your description. Sun Mar 29 13:31:13 -0700 2009 4543261 10074 Caitlin McGrath 4 4550122 Here's a picture of the yogurt I've had: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2356/1976629073_77d50ebaec.jpg Sun Mar 29 23:53:49 -0700 2009 4549006 10832 Humbucker 4 4550189 yes, organic, and as pictured in humbucker's flickr link. <try saying "humbucker's flickr link" 3x in a row!> i'll see if straus creamery is "plant #06-93"! Mon Mar 30 03:54:58 -0700 2009 4549006 105717 alkapal 5 4551401 Out of curiosity I looked at a Straus container in the store and didn't see a plant number. I'm not a real fan of their yogurt, either. The nonfat is downright runny, it's that thin. Mon Mar 30 11:45:51 -0700 2009 4550189 10074 Caitlin McGrath 4 4749521 I recently called Clover Dairy, which is in Northern California, as I was looking for their products in my area. They told me that they supply the Organic Milk for TJ's in California, as well as the Organic and Conventional Heavy Cream... Sat Jun 06 22:26:06 -0700 2009 4549006 174252 Carbear99 5 4775886 It's specifically the "cream top" organic whole milk that's Straus. Mon Jun 15 18:11:52 -0700 2009 4749521 10074 Caitlin McGrath 4 5124148 Okay, I've compared them side by side, and the Organic European-Style Yogurt is Straus, without a doubt. Why the TJ's label says "thick," I can't imagine, but the thin, sour style is certainly the Strau style. Thu Oct 22 18:53:35 -0700 2009 4549006 10074 Caitlin McGrath 1 4618382 In general, any Italian and Mexican themed products are good. The Chinese and Japanese themed products are terrible. The sushi is the worst in the whole U.S. market. The Indian and Thai food are reasonable. YAY: Frozen Nann Ice Cream Frozen Chicken Pomodoro/Serenada/Gorgonzola Frozen Teriyaky Chicken Lemon chocolate cookies Frozen beans Chicken/Beef Enchilada Frozen Cilantro Wanton NAY: Sushi Kung Pao Chicken Wed Apr 22 10:31:18 -0700 2009 1882629 270396 hydrogen 1 4619110 new yays: - Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner. i love how they leave my hair & scalp feeling, they're *so much* less expensive than salon products (and even some brands you buy in the drugstore), and the shampoo doesn't contain any sulfates. hooray! - Organic Hemp Vanilla Protein Powder - i can't believe they have this at such a good price. i stopped buying hemp protein for a long time because it was so pricey, but theirs is only $9.99 for a one-pound container, and it's good! Wed Apr 22 13:35:54 -0700 2009 1882629 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 4619849 YAYS: frozen plain naan, unsalted organic creamy peanut butter, pizza crust (plain & wheat are both great), low-fat muenster cheese, vegetable sushi NAYS: Have not had good experience with meats. In fact, I get meat almost exclusively at Fresh & Easy now. Helluva lot cheaper than Whole Foods! Wed Apr 22 17:26:37 -0700 2009 1882629 113437 katydid13 1 4637115 what i have tried lately: yes: hot and sweet sesame nuts conacado organic fair trade cocoa nope: organic brown rice marshmallow treats Tue Apr 28 15:48:20 -0700 2009 1882629 271458 swtcrm 1 4659823 yay: Channa Masala in the freezer section Wed May 06 12:40:01 -0700 2009 1882629 145068 Linara 1 4682098 Yay~ Pumpernickel Pretzels!!! Can't stop eating them! Wed May 13 20:02:42 -0700 2009 1882629 174252 Carbear99 2 4682889 I love, love, LOVE the bagged organic popcorn with olive oil... so addicting! Thu May 14 07:20:18 -0700 2009 4682098 50492 katiepie 1 4683380 I've been trying to get more fiber in my diet and have been eating their 'Nuts About Antioxidants Trek Mix Bars'. Has mixed dried berries in them (cranberry, blueberry and cherries). I think their pretty tasty. Thu May 14 09:47:01 -0700 2009 1882629 21203 jackrugby 2 4688117 I really like those, too... the Trek Mix Bars and the dried Bartlett pears are my go to snack foods. Fri May 15 17:37:17 -0700 2009 4683380 50492 katiepie 1 4684172 Here in Manhattan, I tried TJ's lobster ravioli lately. Holy crap. It tasted like Styrofoam. The ingredients listed lobster, but the stuffing sure as heck didn't taste like any lobster I've known, eaten, and loved. Thu May 14 13:09:17 -0700 2009 1882629 12045 gloriousfood 1 4693640 YAY: Penguin Tummie Yummies. Soft gummy penguins with a juicy tummy center. The whole family loved them. Mon May 18 08:19:52 -0700 2009 1882629 12829 Bob W 2 5082861 different reaction here. they made my daughter and myself feel nauseous! Tue Oct 06 10:23:59 -0700 2009 4693640 13592 isadorasmama 1 4711627 yay: frozen mixed seafood (scallops, calamari rings, shrimp) -- sourced from vietnam, thailand and peru. reasonably priced, too. it was tender and fresh-tasting. i let it thaw, then gently warmed it through till done in a simple garlic, lemon, white wine sauce, with some alcaparrado http://www.latinmerchant.com/productdetail.asp?ProductID=FV0002 tossed in). 'twas delicious. i'll definitely buy this again. nay: "fresh" summer roll. blah, blah, and tasteless blah. Sun May 24 17:34:49 -0700 2009 1882629 105717 alkapal 2 4714322 That frozen mixed seafood is great with their frozen cioppino sold in their freezer case. The soup base is excellent, but it needs more seafood topping. The frozen mixed seafood is also great for Nigella Lawson's quick fried seafood with cornmeal coating. Just throw the dry ingredients into a ziploc bag, add the thawed seafood pieces, then fry lightly in a pan. Quick and surprisingly tasty! Mon May 25 20:46:56 -0700 2009 4711627 197650 cvhound 3 4714660 cvhound, i like the fried seafood idea, but i love cioppino, too. guess i've got to buy more of that seafood. weren't you surprised how fresh and tender it tasted? ~~~~~~~ on the other hand, the party sushi platter (halibut and california rolls, and shrimp sashimi) i got was rubbery, and the flavorings overpowered the fish component. plus, don't "california rolls" by definition have avocado? no avocado to be seen! plus, the shrimp still had their scaly old tail section on! Tue May 26 04:55:27 -0700 2009 4714322 105717 alkapal 4 4715111 I never buy sushi from a grocery store, period, end of story. I'm pretty picky about my sushi rice and I find the grocery stores also add way too much rice and not enough filling to their rolls. The frozen cioppino at TJ's works great as a base for homemade cioppino! I take the frozen soup packet and add more canned Marzano tomatoes which I sautee with garlic and olive oil, add more clam juice (or in a pinch, homemade chicken broth, but prefer the clam juice which I try to keep on hand just for this dish), dash of wine (white, red, or vermouth, almost any kind will do), dried oregano and other herbs, S&P, etc. and now you have enough to easily serve 4 to 6 people if you add your own seafood. If I don't have time to go to the market, I'll add the frozen seafood packet from TJ's. Otherwise, I go to our fish monger for fresh clams, shrimp, crab, firm white fish, and anything else that looks good. Give it a try. You'll be surprised how well it comes out! Tue May 26 08:16:17 -0700 2009 4714660 197650 cvhound 1 4711787 Nantes carrots in the refrigerated produce section. Very sweet, tender, and no soapy taste that so many supermarket carrots have. Sun May 24 18:48:13 -0700 2009 1882629 64003 bulavinaka 1 4731186 a *cautious* yay for the return of my beloved roasted, in-shell pumpkin seeds that disappeared nearly 2 years ago. i say "cautious" because i celebrated the return of the pomegranate glaze as well, only to see them discontinue it again within months! Sun May 31 19:06:12 -0700 2009 1882629 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 4771287 frozen vegetable shu mai -- mealy, mushy, and without flavor. but, i got some really cute "mini pearl" grape tomatoes! they are as tomato-y as the basic supermarket tomato, but they're crunchy and great for a salad. Sun Jun 14 06:49:37 -0700 2009 1882629 105717 alkapal 2 4771763 not "crunchy" but they give a pop . marble-size, they're fun to throw in your mouth as a snack. Sun Jun 14 10:28:25 -0700 2009 4771287 105717 alkapal 1 4823231 YAYS: freeze dried bananas... soooo addictive frozen quiche butter croissants in the bakery section ready to bake rolls and baguettes strawberry and blueberry perserves - i eat this right out of the jar... white cheddar popcorn bags of apples (in plastic packaging) - these are always really crisp! frozen teriyaki shrimp bowls - my bf and i both love these! whipped cream cheese - really creamy, can't go back to philadelphia after this! pesto sauce in a jar dehydrated garlic mashed potatoes - i cook this with evaporated milk and add grated cheese to make it really creamy and taste like homemade mashed potatoes butternut squash boxed soup - i like to add a little garlic salt and fresh ground black pepper chili in a can 4 cheese pasta sauce their dried pastas are sooooo cheap! love the cavatapi water with electrolytes - this saved me when i had food poisoning. the only fluid i could keep down! nays: most of their red meat... i always find it really tough and gristly frozen kalbi short ribs and refrigerated bulgogi- great taste, horrible cuts of meat: all fat! dried mango - i'm used to eating dried mango from the Philippines which is sweet and soft and mmmm yummy. this was hard and had a weird flavor to it... Wed Jul 01 20:16:55 -0700 2009 1882629 53813 jisforjenn 1 4824660 ARRGH! I want sustainable seafood, so Nay on the frozen fish. I was lulled into consumer numbness by the label saying "wild" and "Alaska", but now I see this campaign by Greenpeace USA alledging mislabeling: http://traitorjoe.com/index.htm http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/seafood I am totally bummed about this. I was already avoiding some of their offerings for this reason, but it's worse than I thought. Thu Jul 02 10:22:39 -0700 2009 1882629 11989 pitu 2 4826267 here's greenpeace's beef:>>>"""the Trader Joe’s seafood section is stocked with a plethora of red list items, including orange roughy, Chilean sea bass, Atlantic salmon, and monkfish. To make matters worse, Trader Joe’s actively dissemi- nates misleading information about its seafood selection. Red List Seafood Sales: Greenpeace surveys found Trader Joe’s sells 15 of the 22 red list seafoods: Alaskan pollock, Atlantic cod, Atlantic salmon, Atlantic sea scallops, Chilean sea bass, Greenland halibut, monkfish, ocean quahog, orange roughy, red snapper, redfish, South Atlantic albacore tuna, swordfish, tropical shrimp and yellowfin tuna."""<<<<<< pitu, tell me please about this claim, if you know: ""Trader Joe’s actively disseminates misleading information about its seafood selection. """ and does this mean i'm helping to "destroy the ocean" if i eat atlantic scallops? or gulf-shrimp? or red snapper? etc? Thu Jul 02 19:49:59 -0700 2009 4824660 105717 alkapal 3 4827039 alkapal, I wish I knew! I'm hoping someone more in the know about fish will chime in here. In the meantime, I'm putting my request in to Trader Joe's . . . Fri Jul 03 07:41:41 -0700 2009 4826267 11989 pitu 4 4852814 pitu, any news back from trader joe's? Mon Jul 13 03:59:03 -0700 2009 4827039 105717 alkapal 1 4825110 I've bought the frozen bison burgers before and found them rather tough/rubbery compared to when I buy fresh ground bison, but the latter is pricey and sporadic in the supermarkets I frequent. So when I noticed that TJ's had frozen bison burgers with onion, mushroom, and cheese I bit, but I don't think the taste of the add-ins comes through, and there's no difference in texture. I'm not sure if this is a new item. I like their french-fried onions, in a cardboard canister. Better onion flavor, and less salty, than the Durkee/French product. Thu Jul 02 12:45:15 -0700 2009 1882629 159317 greygarious 1 4825386 This may make me unpopular but I am not a fan of TJs. The few things I might buy there dont merit a special trip for me and I can't justify making a special trip for a store that doesnt offer fresh (not frozen) meats and fish and a wide array of produce. I have many friends who cook a lot and love TJs, I just cant seem to get on board. Thu Jul 02 14:20:08 -0700 2009 1882629 158016 cassoulady 1 4825662 a big, big NAY to the frozen pesto turkey burgers and cheese/mushroom/i forget what else buffalo burgers. hideous. first time i'm actually going to take something back. Thu Jul 02 16:02:01 -0700 2009 1882629 12336 artemis 1 4832133 my all time favorites of theirs: the guacamole (i love how fresh it is in the air-tight container!), the frozen macaroni and cheese (the pasta is never mushy and it really is so cheesy and tasty), and the frozen teriaki chicken, SO TASTY!! other yays: their goddess dressing (I actually like their version better than the Amy's one), the Tzatziki dip, the frozen spinach and artichoke dip (it's so thick and melty when warmed), the refrigerated turkey meatballs (really tasty and good texture), the frozen naan nays: really not many, but i do have to say that I tried the refrigerated chicken marsala awhile ago and remember really liking it. I got it again recently and it was awful! I guess the sauce was okay, but the chicken breading was so soggy, and fell right off the chicken. I couldn't finish it. I've also never been impressed with their breads, or their tomato sauces. I always found that they had an inconsistent taste and grainy texture. and I gotta say, I wasn't impressed by the frozen individual quiches. I thought the crust was bland and too crumbly. Sun Jul 05 21:02:39 -0700 2009 1882629 139568 jhfinxy 1 4832149 oh also their frozen french toast, when prepared in the toaster oven, is actually pretty good I think. and their chocolate dipper....YUMMM. I don't even like hard chocolate chip cookies usually, but these are addictive. Sun Jul 05 21:15:28 -0700 2009 1882629 139568 jhfinxy 1 4832445 yea: soycutash (corn, edamame, red bell pepper). good flavor, texture overall. sweeet corn. the photo on the bag seems to have "more" edamame than the actual product. i made it a/c instructions, but did add salt 1/2-way through. drained, cooled, then i dressed it with lemon juice, cider vinegar, garlic powder and a little pico de gallo. also, some torn sage leaves from the garden, and rosemary leaves (not chopped, just left whole to flavor) and some dried organo, rubbed to get more flavor. this dish is fat free summer goodness! i wish i'd omitted the pico b/c i wanted to have the non-hot flavors of corn and edamame shine on their own. still delish as a summer side. plus, i was craving veggies, and this fit the bill. would be good with some buttery sauteed bay scallops, i'm thinking -- or in a scallop soup or creamy chowder. nay: roasted garlic marinara. "heavy" and "dull" tasting. i wanted a brighter flavor. wouldn't buy again. added some red wine vinegar to save it. it helped, but then i felt it was too sweet. go figure! pet peeve: out of my delicious gorgonzola gnocchi ;-((. Mon Jul 06 04:53:32 -0700 2009 1882629 105717 alkapal 1 4850273 Does anyone else think the almonds are often rock-hard? Not the marconas, the regular ones. I usually buy the roasted, salted version, but have been disappointed as of late. Sat Jul 11 20:44:03 -0700 2009 1882629 12752 MsDiPesto 1 4850552 the tj's canned organic edamame are earthier tasting than the frozen edamame i get in tj's soycutash or elsewhere. i prefer the frozen. Sun Jul 12 04:07:13 -0700 2009 1882629 105717 alkapal 1 4852812 the *canned* marinara sauce is quite tasty; i didn't even have to tweak. served it with their pappardelle, which we really enjoyed. i also like the organic yellow tortilla chips (round). they are not too salty (thank goodness!) have a good corn flavor, and stay fresh a long time. Mon Jul 13 03:58:21 -0700 2009 1882629 105717 alkapal 1 5081870 i yay the following: lemon pepper fettucine (with some butter and asparagus, s&p...YUM. even better, throw in some fresh crab meat.) fresh pizza dough (plain flavor only). discard all of the printed directions, halve the dough and make 2 pizzas. it is way too much dough for one pizza. stick a pizza stone or untreated ceramic tile in the oven (a la alton brown) and CRANK the broiler for 15-20 minutes. stretch your dough and add toppings (not too many, don't even do sauce. cheese+red onion+sausage+red pepper flake=perfection. add oil dressed arugula after baking.) bake till crust is puffed and blistered...you'll thank me tomorrow! I also LOVE their citrus champagne vinegar, it is so flavorful that i use it as dressing without oil, or hardly any oil. great for diets! recently i discovered that they carry TJ's brand burrata, by no means is it better than italian burrata but at $5 for 3 small balls it does the trick. especially compared to $25/lb burrata. i think they are good for cheeses in general, and i have had good luck with their meats as well. NAY: i try to avoid produce, especially since i live in san francisco and have access to so much amazing produce. something about having everything shrink wrapped kinda squicks me out. Mon Oct 05 23:48:23 -0700 2009 1882629 48523 loghia 2 5082571 ooh, i've never seen the citrus champagne vinegar. i'm an acid freak - gotta look for that next time! Tue Oct 06 08:31:47 -0700 2009 5081870 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 5082870 Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar. It's awesome drizzled over grilled/baked asparagus! Tue Oct 06 10:26:19 -0700 2009 5082571 13592 isadorasmama 4 5082899 I actually like it on their Chicken Dumplings... NUM! Tue Oct 06 10:32:55 -0700 2009 5082870 10659 Dommy 1 5081874 one more thing! i really like the 50% salt almonds. everyone who tries them from my snacks agrees about how good they are. Mon Oct 05 23:52:12 -0700 2009 1882629 48523 loghia 1 5090069 Love the pork gyoza. Love the Cafe Feminino (plain old good coffee, plus it's from a women's coffee collective in Peru!) Once tried the hash, many years ago. I can't explain why I would have done that, since I don't like hash anyway. It was as bad as I expected. Thu Oct 08 20:37:39 -0700 2009 1882629 45208 somervilleoldtimer 1 5098045 Yays: Vegetable Jambalaya--really good when doctored up with sausage, beans or chicken and some fresh salsa. Unsweetened dried mango--very hard to find as of late, but great consistency and great price TJ's French Village nonfat yogurts--just tried Apricot and Mango for the 1st time and pleasantly surprised Pumpkin Bread mix--seasonal item but makes great mini-muffins for my kids with the additional of choc chips Nays: "fresh" produce--don't usually find it very fresh or tasty--too many better places to find produce Muffins from bakery dept--always seem to turn moldy even before their expiration date Mon Oct 12 16:06:01 -0700 2009 1882629 195118 mom22tots 1 5123139 Some more things I've tried. The Yays: You can get frozen Pork al Pastor in the frozen aisle. It's pretty good, small chunks that I heated in a skillet, then wrapped in one of their Habanero-Lime tortillas, but I'm on a diet, so I need to exercise control. Frozen brown rice! Yes! sure it's not as good as baking your own, but since I'm avoiding white rice these days, it's great. After paying much more for Nature's Promise 100% pomegranate juice, I like that they have a version that is less costly. I also like the plastic boxes of tiny heirloom tomatoes that come in all shapes and colors. Finally tried the Soy Chorizo, I fry it in a pan and put it in a bowl with their boxed Black Bean Soup, it's good and makes me feel virtuous. Oh, and the shredded goat cheese mozzarella cheese! I put it on my whole wheat pizza crusts. The nays: Something I've been disappointed in is the rock-hardness of their almonds. The Marconas are fine, no problem there, but the others are just too stale or something. Much harder than the large national brands like Emerald, etc. Also, maybe I'm not cooking it correctly, but the chicken sausages (all varieties) are rather tough to eat. I feel like an animal ripping off chunks with my teeth if it's in a hot dog roll. I don't care for the boxed Tomato Soup. it. Has a strange flavor to my palate. Same with the low-sodium canned Chicken Soup. Way too much of one herb in there. Thu Oct 22 12:22:23 -0700 2009 1882629 12752 MsDiPesto 1 5139517 they got me hooked on mexican wedding cookies and tall cylinders of caramel corn w/ almonds and cranberries and now I can never find at any of their stores. Thu Oct 29 02:21:45 -0700 2009 1882629 270512 divadmas 1 5139519 and canned foods are not bpa free as they once claimed. msn just had article on 10 worst foods, canned tomatoes #1 because of bpa, endocrinologist said never eat. Thu Oct 29 02:24:55 -0700 2009 1882629 270512 divadmas 2 5142300 the only BPA-free canned food brand sold in the US is Eden. Fri Oct 30 05:11:28 -0700 2009 5139519 103920 goodhealthgourmet 1 5139980 This thread started 3 years ago, so many of the items it discusses have been discontinued. As with the What's for Dinner Thread, which starts a newer one when they hit 200 posts, there is a New Trader Joe's Yea/Nay thread, with 140+ posts so far. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/635387 Thu Oct 29 08:06:05 -0700 2009 1882629 159317 greygarious 2 5142285 hey greygarious, when that fills up, will there be a "new new trader joe's yea/nay thread"? ;-). Fri Oct 30 04:48:52 -0700 2009 5139980 105717 alkapal 1 5141165 The canned refried beans that are suppose to be spicy are awful, they might as well be soup they are so watery, I didn't find a single bean. The thin crust frozen pizza from Italy is terrible, it reminded me of those Appian Way pizzas that came in a box with a can of tomato sauce and the bag of flour when I was a child in the 70's. Just because it's from Italy doesn't guarantee it's going to be any good. Thu Oct 29 14:21:23 -0700 2009 1882629 245351 Enric