665170 Fri Nov 06 08:11:07 -0800 2009 76 32 Chains 0 5160763 I'd like to know what holiday foods TJ's has that you can't wait to see this year. I'm always happy to see the pumpkin ice cream, peppermint bark, and Vintage Ale. Fri Nov 06 08:11:07 -0800 2009 142652 madgreek 1 5160824 ooooh ooooh ooooh <thrusts hand into the air>: white chocolate peppermint bark bar (by the checkout counter). and lebkuchen (sans chocolate). (i tossed out that pumpkin ice cream --- it was so intense and sooooo heavily spiced. bleh). Fri Nov 06 08:28:38 -0800 2009 5160763 105717 alkapal 2 5161101 peppermint joe joes! YUM Fri Nov 06 10:01:21 -0800 2009 5160824 65780 jujuthomas 1 5161215 i REALLY REALLY REALLY hope they bring back the sea salt caramels. those were the perfect candy. i ate 3 boxes last year and i don't even like candy. Fri Nov 06 10:33:42 -0800 2009 5160763 1118691 Jelly71 2 5161245 Ooooohhhhh. Good Call. Fri Nov 06 10:44:37 -0800 2009 5161215 142652 madgreek 3 5161554 Based on reviews here, I bought a box of those last year and found they were highly overrated. I didn't detect much of a salty flavor and, frankly, I didn't think they were much of a step up from Kraft. On the other hand, I LOVE the dark chocolate-covered caramels TJ's usually has this time of year, the ones with large grains of Dead Sea salt sprinkled on top. Very sweet + very salty = da bomb! Also, I hope TJ's brings back their Scottish shortbread cookies, if for no other reason than they've always been outrageously inexpensive, at least compared to the identical Walkers brand. Fri Nov 06 12:18:20 -0800 2009 5161245 16564 Arthur 4 5162562 yes, the shortbread, for sure. i'm finishing a box i saved from last year. not bad for the time in the box! not bad at all -- esp. when i dip it in milk! '-). Fri Nov 06 19:33:23 -0800 2009 5161554 105717 alkapal 4 5168131 the ones with Dead Sea Salt and dark chocolate were the ones is was referring to. i didn't know there were others. i went to TJ on Fri nite and picked up a few boxes. a friend in OR found them at her TJ's so it looks like they are available now. Mon Nov 09 14:22:14 -0800 2009 5161554 1118691 Jelly71 1 5162804 I liked the pretzel snowflake things, pretzels covered in a yogurt frosting. I'm going to pounce on some french truffles too as soon as they appear. Sat Nov 07 00:03:30 -0800 2009 5160763 184593 givemecarbs 1 5162831 They always have gift boxes of chocolate, perfect for office gifts, but a couple of years ago they came in a 3 foot long skinny box that was very impressive. For under $5. Last year though just regular square boxes. I'm going to check back in early December to see if they bring those back, the girls at work were very impressed. Sat Nov 07 01:31:11 -0800 2009 5160763 11097 coll 2 5176349 ooh that would be nice for holiday gifts! what was the packaging like? Thu Nov 12 12:19:13 -0800 2009 5162831 217807 cheesecake17 3 5176548 It was like a big fat yardstick, so easy to hand out (especially with all the swine flu around ;-) Maybe 2 chocolates wide, but delicious Belgian like they always have. I think they even came with nice gold ribbons on them, so just buy and hand out. I was so disappointed not to find them last year. The square boxes look so ordinary and nobody oohed and aahed. Thu Nov 12 13:11:55 -0800 2009 5176349 11097 coll 4 5176600 very cool.. if you see them again, let me know Thu Nov 12 13:27:50 -0800 2009 5176548 217807 cheesecake17 5 5177086 I'll be going there about a week after Thanksgiving, I'll post what they have this year. Thu Nov 12 16:08:36 -0800 2009 5176600 11097 coll 6 5178662 thanks! Speaking of holiday food gifts... I bought a really nice gift set of truffle cookies last year from Costco. If TJ's doesn't have anything, I'll see what Costco has Fri Nov 13 08:47:12 -0800 2009 5177086 217807 cheesecake17 7 5178704 Costco has been selling Christmas items since the end of September. Most is one time only/not renewed on the shelf. I buy now and people who only go at the last minute don't know where I got their gifts. Fri Nov 13 09:02:58 -0800 2009 5178662 12123 Cathy 8 5178843 It's too early to buy gifts now... last year I went the week before xmas and found lots. The only thing Costco didn't have was the smaller ($10) Starbucks gift pack.. Fri Nov 13 09:33:39 -0800 2009 5178704 217807 cheesecake17 9 5178939 They had that last week or maybe 2 weeks ago. Fri Nov 13 10:02:20 -0800 2009 5178843 12123 Cathy 9 5180407 I wonder if Costco will have V Chocolates again this year? http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/582677 Fri Nov 13 19:43:09 -0800 2009 5178843 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 5162865 What are everyone's thoughts on the panettone? I bought some last year and thought it was good, though admittedly I haven't had the bread from more than 1 other supplier. Sat Nov 07 03:51:19 -0800 2009 5160763 142652 madgreek 2 5167275 I've always bought the cranberry panettone and I like it. However, I've never had any panettone from any other company so I can't compare. I even used it last year to make french toast. Mon Nov 09 10:09:13 -0800 2009 5162865 112994 DianeCGW 1 5164153 Loved the dark chocolate covered shortbread sprinkled with nonpareils. Hope they're back again! Sat Nov 07 18:07:36 -0800 2009 5160763 11434 FlyerFan 2 5166093 wow that sounds fantastic! do you remember what the packaging looks like? i was at tj's briefly on saturday and was overwhelmed with the variety of holiday items. I tried peppermint joe-joe's for the first time, excellent. Now I'm curious to try the chocolate dipped ones. Sun Nov 08 19:49:29 -0800 2009 5164153 257605 betterbeheaven 2 5173484 I just bought some dark-chocolate star-shaped shortbread cookies sprinkled with white nonpareils. Very tasty and fairly small. If that's what you're looking for, betterbeheaven, keep an eye out for a pale blue box with a big star cut-out. The chocolate dipped peppermint joe-joes were way too big and too sweet for me. Wed Nov 11 12:59:59 -0800 2009 5164153 11231 Glencora 3 5173515 """"The chocolate dipped peppermint joe-joes were way too big and too sweet for me."""" one was enough for "dessert." Wed Nov 11 13:09:23 -0800 2009 5173484 105717 alkapal 3 5173844 I was just thinking that no one ever mentions these and I like them a lot -- both the chocolate and the cookie are pretty good quality. The star shape and the blue box make me think they're supposed to double as a Hannukah-related item. Anyone seen any kosher turkeys yet? Wed Nov 11 14:59:13 -0800 2009 5173484 10159 Ruth Lafler 4 5173905 the brined and kosher turkeysa are due into the stores (at least in so CA) friday. Wed Nov 11 15:13:58 -0800 2009 5173844 13335 chez cherie 5 5174571 Due to distance, I'd never considered purchasing our Thanksgiving turkey at Trader Joe's. Well, happy day, the largest TJ's in the U.S. opened a scant 20 miles away in Minnetonka, MN last Friday. There was quite the crowd around the Glatt kosher turkeys. I'd appreciate any feedback anyone could give me about these particular birds. (I just couldn't bring myself to wade through the crowd to read the packaging.) Wed Nov 11 19:49:03 -0800 2009 5173905 52023 justalex 5 5176911 I'd like to try a brined or kosher turkey from TJs but I need at least an 18 pounder. That is the lowest weight that will do as there are going to be three of us for Thanksgiving dinner. Do you think they will have any birds that have some real heft to them? Thu Nov 12 14:52:03 -0800 2009 5173905 184593 givemecarbs 6 5178074 I just got a TJs email and it says 12-16 lb Kosher turkeys. Fri Nov 13 04:59:25 -0800 2009 5176911 12123 Cathy 6 5178185 >>>""""18 pounder. That is the lowest weight that will do as there are going to be three of us""""<<<< am i reading correctly that three people eat an 18-pounder? Fri Nov 13 06:07:19 -0800 2009 5176911 105717 alkapal 7 5178251 We have 3 or 4 and I consider 20 to be minimum weight. We do love our leftovers though. Fri Nov 13 06:27:33 -0800 2009 5178185 11097 coll 8 5178271 how many pounds of meat do you get from a 20# bird? Fri Nov 13 06:34:31 -0800 2009 5178251 105717 alkapal 9 5180036 Usually it's supposed to be 25% bone to 75% meat when figuring portion size. But since we don't eat the dark meat (goes into stock pot and then into enchiladas etc) it's not all that much. Enough for 4 or 5 days of sandwiches and asst leftovers. I don't go to all that trouble to only eat for one day! Fri Nov 13 16:31:03 -0800 2009 5178271 11097 coll 7 5182511 If we must, alkapal. I think about four years back I managed to wrangle a 28 pounder, now that rocked. Sat Nov 14 22:29:07 -0800 2009 5178185 184593 givemecarbs 8 5182821 a 28lb that was kosher??? Sun Nov 15 06:39:23 -0800 2009 5182511 18598 shoelace 9 5184575 No, not kosher. Thinking of trying a kosher bird from TJ's this year if I can find one big enough. Last year's selection was kinda puny but they may have been picked over. I was being kind of a smart aleck. Alkapal asked me if I really meant an 18 pound turkey for three people, and I said yes, if that is what I have to settle for. I really do like to get a heftier bird than eighteen pounds, that is my minimum requirement. Bigger turkeys are a dream to cook. lots of filling and great gravy, and it is much easier to get the dark meat cooked while keeping the white meat moist. What can I say, I can be kinda lazy. And all those leftovers. I love dinner the day after Thanksgiving. So easy after all the effort getting everything hot to the table. I'm smiling right now thinking of my plate piled with all those wonderful leftovers. This year I'm thinking about a turkey pie a few days after thanksgiving. I made one years ago with just a bit of rutabaga in it. I love Thanksgiving! Sun Nov 15 21:17:45 -0800 2009 5182821 184593 givemecarbs 6 5179180 Wow, 18 lbs for 3 people! I had a 14 lb. bird for 7 last year and had a lot of leftovers. You should change your name to givemeprotein! Fri Nov 13 11:05:05 -0800 2009 5176911 10832 Humbucker 6 5182382 went to TJs tonight, and they had 18 pounders. Sat Nov 14 20:22:18 -0800 2009 5176911 265047 puddin head 1 5171300 It would be the frozen pumpkin pie - but no - I've been told no frozen pumpkin pies this season. Tue Nov 10 16:47:06 -0800 2009 5160763 117932 trhirsh 2 5173456 I never even noticed if TJ's has one. I did find a frozen pumpkin pie locally for $1.25. At that price, I couldn't say no. Not to mention it was all natural (all the same ingredients I use in my recipe) and tasted freakin' awesome! Wed Nov 11 12:52:46 -0800 2009 5171300 142652 madgreek 1 5178342 Escargot? I have heard that they have a decent escargot app on the West Coast but have never seen it in the Chicago area. Nothings says "Holiday" like snails... Any info on this???? Fri Nov 13 07:07:15 -0800 2009 5160763 14726 twodales 1 5178372 The last couple holiday seasons, they've had these stacks of single origin dark chocolate bars from around the world. The chocolates are delicious and it's really fun to pick out the nuances in flavor between each one. I think there were 9 or 10 bars to a stack, around 3" square, very reasonably priced. Fri Nov 13 07:16:34 -0800 2009 5160763 57371 operagirl 2 5178691 that sounds fun. i haven't seen those, operagirl. but, now i'll be on the lookout. Fri Nov 13 08:59:22 -0800 2009 5178372 105717 alkapal 2 5178705 not to derail this on costco stuff, but now is the time when you should be able to buy their chocolate-covered dried fruits -- in the plastic tray-like container (sometimes oblong, sometimes circular). dried cherries, blueberries, apricots, etc. dee-licious. Fri Nov 13 09:03:03 -0800 2009 5178372 105717 alkapal 2 5192384 Those were great. They were really high quality but cheap enough that I could buy them in large quantities for holiday baking (though it is a pain to open so many small packages). Wed Nov 18 14:03:33 -0800 2009 5178372 159436 potato or yam 1 5178696 a few years ago, they had round straw trays of mixed nuts. i liked them (and still use those trays as plate holders when watching tv). has anyone seen mixed nuts this year? Fri Nov 13 09:00:50 -0800 2009 5160763 105717 alkapal 2 5181501 I went to TJ's today. OMG I felt like a kid in a candy shop. I couldn't stop tasting and trying things and deciding what to buy. It was rediculous. I literally just walked down the candy aisle and sampled 3 or 4, maybe 5 different things. It was like lunch almost lol. The Those Dead Sea Salt Caramels covered in Chocolate, i tried those they were very good and like fattening too I think 11g of fat for 1..wow. And their were some other kind of caramel I picked up a box of those, not chocolate covered though, but its in my pantry now though lol..has like a sea salt too, very good and soft and creamy in a white box. i think what another poster said "sea salt caramels" Saw the usual P Joe Joes..now they have some new Joe Joes? like Extra Thick kind? I didn't try those, by the time I got to those I was full of the caramels! Are they good eh? Maybe next time I will sample. Oh I tried some Dark Chocolate Covered Caramel in plastic container..Awful. I spit it out. It was hard as rock and tasteless. So next time I think I will look for the choc. pretzels and some shortbread ...they are pretty good eh? And the turkey..it's good? I've always been weary bout meat from TJ's. I mean they did just have an ECOLI recall :/ Sat Nov 14 12:04:11 -0800 2009 5178696 226945 Woof Woof Woof 3 5184833 i may be alone in this, but the chocolate covered pretzels were just "meh" to me. Mon Nov 16 04:29:38 -0800 2009 5181501 105717 alkapal 4 5188901 They actually have three different types of chocolate covered pretzels (actually, now that I think of it, maybe there are four). If you only tried the milk chocolate ones, try the dark chocolate ones, which come in both the "knot" shape and in the thin, crisp style (the fourth would be a vague memory that they also have chocolate covered "baton" shaped pretzels). The chocolate covered thins fall into the "I can't buy them because I'll eat the whole package in one sitting" category for me. Tue Nov 17 10:51:05 -0800 2009 5184833 10159 Ruth Lafler 3 5185337 woofwoofwoof said: "I literally just walked down the candy aisle and sampled 3 or 4, maybe 5 different things. It was like lunch almost lol." You're trolling again about sampling without permission, aren't you? Mon Nov 16 08:35:09 -0800 2009 5181501 15807 Steve Green 4 5186887 I caught that too Steve. I admit it does sound like fun. Mon Nov 16 16:25:10 -0800 2009 5185337 184593 givemecarbs 3 5187645 I tried the dead sea salt caramels and didn't like them at all. I LOVE salted caramels and try them at most chocolatiers I visit. I was hoping these would be a lower cost option, but they had such a strong palm/coconut oil taste I spit it out. Sorry chowhounds have to disagree on this product. Mon Nov 16 21:56:50 -0800 2009 5181501 15001 jsaimd 4 5187764 I've got a box in front of me, jsaimd. There is no palm oil listed in the ingredients. The caramels do contain what appears to be a small amount of coconut oil, listed about 2/3 of the way down. To each his/her own, but I highly doubt many people will be as offended by the trace flavor of coconut oil as you seem to be. And Woof: There are 11 grams of fat in a serving of THREE pieces, not in each piece. Huge difference. Tue Nov 17 00:04:01 -0800 2009 5187645 16564 Arthur 4 5188879 I noted the coconut oil taste when I first reported on them last year (or maybe the year before). To me, I can taste it but it's not unpleasant. Tue Nov 17 10:45:54 -0800 2009 5187645 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 5181760 Just back from TJ's in Alameda (Northern California). Turkeys are in, both kosher and "natural." Fresh Italian chestnuts, $4.99/lb. Brussels sprouts on the stalk Organic canned pumpkin, pumpkin butter Chocolate Palatte: a stack of 9 different single-origin dark chocolates is back They were tasting the turkey gravy and I wasn't impressed. Sat Nov 14 14:27:38 -0800 2009 5160763 10159 Ruth Lafler 2 5184834 pumpkin butter is a real winner! i'm *thinking* that they may have it year round, now. Mon Nov 16 04:30:26 -0800 2009 5181760 105717 alkapal 2 5187771 Ruth, they have had the organic canned pumpkin year-round. Pumpkin butter, though, has definitely been a seasonal item, and I see no reason to believe TJ's will change that. After all, this is the store that recently gave ordinary pie crust a seasonal designation. Tue Nov 17 00:26:14 -0800 2009 5181760 16564 Arthur 1 5184692 The wafer thin crackers w the cranberries in them. Sun Nov 15 23:20:51 -0800 2009 5160763 10426 shaebones 2 5186916 Guindilla peppers are very good as are the pumpernickel pretzels. Mon Nov 16 16:35:39 -0800 2009 5184692 12980 stevuchan 3 5187962 Hey (And not talking horses here), TJs allows for open and free sampling. I for one did not want to buy the whole aisle of Holiday Selections. I tried a few things new to me, and bought those Sea Salt Caramels, after sampling a couple of course cause they were excellent. I left the box for others to try too :) (Could of bought the Dark Choc. Sea Salt ones too...delicious as well) Can't wait to be back to try the Pretzels, Shortbread, Peanut Brittle, & Choc. Covered JoJos :) Tue Nov 17 05:36:43 -0800 2009 5186916 226945 Woof Woof Woof 4 5190790 I know this has come up before, but I cannot believe TJ's encourages this behavior. I would NEVER take a sample from a box left open on a shelf. How do you know if it's been tampered with? There's a reason things are sealed to a fare-thee-well these days--can you say Tylenol in Chicago?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Tylenol_murders Wed Nov 18 05:02:20 -0800 2009 5187962 109573 coney with everything 5 5190809 i've never seen it done "on one's own", but if you do want to try something, you can take it back to the gal at the sampling station and she'll open the box and give you some. that's how i first tried the white chocolate peppermint bark bar (actually, no, i was asking about peppermint bark, and the gal recommended the bar instead, and then went and got one, cracked it open, and gave me a chunk.). Wed Nov 18 05:10:46 -0800 2009 5190790 105717 alkapal 5 5190824 Yeah, it came up before, and it was the same poster. Woof must be trolling. T.J.'s would never let this person in the store again if he/she were continually opening up packages and sampling without permission as claimed. I fell for it last time like everyone else, but I just don't believe this any more. Wed Nov 18 05:21:38 -0800 2009 5190790 15807 Steve Green 6 5191916 I'm with you Steve. But alkapal that was pretty awesome that the sample monger did that. I'll have to ask about prime rib next time I go. :) Wed Nov 18 11:23:27 -0800 2009 5190824 184593 givemecarbs 7 5192019 I did have a similar experience to alkapal's once. I was at checkout and told the checker that I'd changed my mind and didn't want a particular item -- that I didn't want to take a chance on it (it was some cookie IIRC). She said in so many words, "Hey, wonder what it's like -- let's try it", and proceeded to open it up and hand samples to me and other nearby customers. I ended up not liking it, but that was a nice gesture on her part. Wed Nov 18 11:54:02 -0800 2009 5191916 15807 Steve Green 8 5192213 That was nice, but I'm not surprised, they have some of the nicest employees there. But everything is so cheap that I'm willing to take a chance occasionally, and I'm rarely disappointed. Wed Nov 18 13:02:09 -0800 2009 5192019 11097 coll 7 5193558 yes! prime rib! http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/576308 Thu Nov 19 04:54:27 -0800 2009 5191916 105717 alkapal 4 5192744 Um, I think this might be called illegal, as in stealing. Yes, TJ's allows sampling but via the sampling station. It would be a health code if you opened up a package yourself, put your dirty hands in the package and left the rest for others to do the same. I just don't get the entitlement and thought processes of some people. Wed Nov 18 16:37:33 -0800 2009 5187962 18011 Jacey 1 5188059 I LOVE the Wintry Blend coffee, but they seem to only have pre-ground this year. I have already written them a strongly worded (aka begging) email for the whole bean. And we may try to make our own at home. Also, another huge vote for the dark chocolate covered caramels with sea salt. YUM. Tue Nov 17 06:31:40 -0800 2009 5160763 1125198 schmecky 2 5188433 I was going to buy that coffee but wanted whole bean also. I wonder if TJs powers that be ever reads our comments here? Tue Nov 17 08:45:03 -0800 2009 5188059 184593 givemecarbs 3 5192138 T.J.'s would never let this person in the store again if he/she were continually opening up packages and sampling without permission as claimed. What are you talking about? Everybody does this. It is even written on the TJ's page that they guarantee their products. Why should a person buy a product, waste gas driving home, trying it, having it taste awful, then waste gas driving gas back to the store? Peppermint Bark sounds good too :) Wed Nov 18 12:34:51 -0800 2009 5188433 226945 Woof Woof Woof 4 5192221 I thought guarantee meant buy it, and if you don't like it, bring it back no questions. Not free lunch anytime you're in the area. Poor TJs, I feel for them. Wed Nov 18 13:04:53 -0800 2009 5192138 11097 coll 4 5192230 The TJ's policy doesn't, however, say you can go around the store opening packages you have no intention of buying and then leaving the open packages sitting there, or opening a package, sampling, and then buying an unopened package (all situations you've described when this topic came up before). As other people have pointed out, once the package has been opened and left on a shelf it would have to be discarded, since there is no way of guaranteeing it hasn't been tampered with. If you were really serious about wanting to sample the product with the intention of buying it and not just grazing for free, you could have it opened by one of the crew members. And no, "everybody" doesn't do this -- I've shopped at TJs for probably 20 years now and I've never seen anyone do it, nor have I seen evidence in the form of opened packages lying around indicating someone has done what you described. Wed Nov 18 13:07:09 -0800 2009 5192138 10159 Ruth Lafler 5 5193131 Seriously. The only packages I open in TJs (and other stores) are those meant to distract my toddler so I can actually get some shopping done...and I buy them whether she likes them or not. WWW just likes to get people's feathers ruffled with talk of renegade sampling. Wed Nov 18 19:55:57 -0800 2009 5192230 265047 puddin head 6 5194622 Well put puddin head. Thu Nov 19 12:53:39 -0800 2009 5193131 75862 newfoodie 7 5195408 Wow, haters. I still stand my ground that it is not a crime or much less wrong to sample the products at TJs before buying. Now, would I open a package I did not intend to buy at regular ol' Giant of course not. But TJs ENCOURAGES one to sample their variety of constantly changing products :) I went again today and gave the sample lady the choc. covered JoJos to try. Thought they were a new thing for 2009. She handed me a whole cookie. I was impressed, and bought a box. Very good. Thu Nov 19 19:35:45 -0800 2009 5194622 226945 Woof Woof Woof