PrintBest Find from Trader Joes?
I am from California and I was thrilled when TJ's finally came to the east where now live. (No more hauling things back on the plane!). My favorite find is the Gold Label Balsamic Vinegar. I was just wondering what other folks favorites are.
(I don't, however, care for the TJ's reduced fat mayo. Odd jello-like texture.
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45 Comments:
I love their 2% Greek-style yogurt, which is considerably less expensive than Fage, but indistinguishable; the frozen organic wild blueberries (the two pair up for a wonderful meal-in-itself smoothie); and most recently in the pasta aisle, the anelletti, little pasta rings that I swear are the same ones for which I used to trek to the Arthur Avenue market in the Bronx before moving to the west coast. My family is fond of O's and peas, with a little butter and parmesan. The peas rest charmingly inside the pasta O's. I have to admit that I did a little victory dance in the pasta aisle when I spotted these.
latteaday at 5:46PM on 09/01/07
Favorites: spicy California rolls, Israeli feta, goat brie, whole wheat tortillas, peanut butter sandwich cookies (though I hardly ever dare buy them), Avocado's Number and E=Guaca Salsa guacamoles, organic milk (cheaper than the co-op), honey mango shaving lotion, frozen artichoke hearts, peanut butter, blackberry crush juice, multigrain baking mix.
Don't like: in case anyone's listening - soy breakfast patties, sesame oil, the new goat "gouda", teas in general and chai in particular (too much clove), yogurt (the Greek kind is ok), battered Pacific cod (good idea, but poor quality fish).
I miss: fair-trade decaf coffee (Pacifico), orecchiette (hard to find, and overpriced elsewhere), the old (non-TJ's) green tea chai.
emily20008 at 6:11PM on 09/01/07
I love the "greens with envy" frozen veggie mix, chips, juices, cheeses (a log of Silver goat from Vermont is about $4.00 cheaper at TJ's than my regular supermarket). We also can't get through a week without the organic frozen pizza (my 7 year old's favorite).
Not a fan of the boneless rolled & stuffed turkey breast. Very disappointed.
SSMom at 6:36PM on 09/01/07
their dried fruits, nuts and trail mixes, wasabi peas, mint chocolate chip meringues, mini cookies, light feta and goat cheese crumbles.
LiveToEat at 7:28PM on 09/01/07
I second the "greens with envy", great organic staple to keep in the freezer. Frozen organic peas and corn are good and cheap too. The nuts are always good and I like to get the assortment with triangular dividers.
Organic raspberry jam is great. Let's also not forgot about the wine..love that lambrusco. Many more goodies just haven't been in awhile so I can't remember them all.
izzy's mama at 11:28PM on 09/01/07
Black Mountain cabernet - best $5.99 wine I've had in a long while!
Medium frozen cooked shrimp
Feta (the one in the yellow and green packet)
Red bell peppers
Ham and gruyere pizza
Edamame
Dark chocolate with hazelnuts
Blood orange soda (mix this 3 to 1 with campari, yum!)
Lavendar shower gel
Organic firm tofu (the non-organic is not good)
Broccolini (can't use regular broccoli in stir fry any more)
Salami with pepper rind
tastas at 12:59AM on 09/02/07
I like their fresh flowers ... always long lasting and less expensive than elsewhere. I also like their frozen edamame in the shell ... great snack food. Thirding the "greens with envy..." makes a really good base for a gratin. And they sell this really great mix of israeli couscous and other grains, near the rice... forget what it's called, but it's a tasty side, esp. if you make it with chicken broth. And I always buy a couple cans of their canola oil spray ... makes seasoning and re-seasoning cast iron pans a breeze.
DaveFaris at 1:37AM on 09/02/07
As noted before, their "Three-Buck Chuck" wine assortment is unbeatable and 'can't function without their vegetable wash. All produce that comes into the home gets a wash in this, a good rinse and a twirl in the spinner. Almost all supermarkets now have comparable specialty sections and our neighborhood has a great deli that has been around for decades. TJs is good but not unique. Only go once every couple of months and I don't spend a lot of time examining the stock for exceptional treasures.
czken at 2:42AM on 09/02/07
Their almonds never fail me. I also like their 50% less salt pistachios and cashews. Dried fruits like peaches and pears are fantastic. To tell the truth, the only negative Trader Joe's private label experience was with their frozen spring rolls. Very fishy, very oily and generally not very good. Hate to say it, but their frozen tilapia and salmon are pretty good in a pinch.
hereandthe at 1:26PM on 09/02/07
Mandarin Orange Chicken, coffee, goat brie, tomato products, dried fruit, salamis, Na'an, potstickers/gyozas, frozen sea scallops when available, lamb. Not crazy about soups (everyone I know likes them)
Cary at 1:34PM on 09/02/07
Raw nuts
Frozen edamame
TJ Pound-plus chocolate
Peanut butter
Olive oil
Thai chile & lime peanuts
butterface at 2:05PM on 09/02/07
I love Joe-Joes and the banana chips!
chlamers at 2:32PM on 09/02/07
I love their coffee. The Ethiopian has this incredible flowery taste. I know, it sounds weird, but it's fabulous, really. The Volcano is great, too. If you like the lighter type, try the NM Pinon. Their sweet Italian sausage is, as far as I know, the best around. And their chocolate covered raisins... mmmm... there is too much to list, really.
Kelly Spitzer at 3:43PM on 09/02/07
Best find ever was White Truffle Oil.
Favorites are their vinegars, italian salad dressing, spices, vanilla beans, paste, and extract. Honey, maple syrup, and organic fruit spread--love Apricot and Blueberry! Tomato-Basil pasta sauce.
Their multigrain bread is awesome. Nuts cheapest around, many cheeses. Filet Mignon and Australian Beef fantastic. I could probably go on, we drive 1.5 or 2 hours to get to TJ's in Ohio, and it's always worth the trip!
bobcatsteph3 at 5:47PM on 09/02/07
Marinara Sauce.... unbelievably good; I was incredulous it was only 99 cents!
Their whole grain English muffins... flavorful. Makes a fantastic egg sandwich.
Dark cohcolate
And the flowers really do seem to last a long time. Beautiful and affordable.
TrishMvhl at 8:20PM on 09/02/07
Their little lemon crisp cookies with a drizzle of chocolate are a delightful treat! I also find their frozen fish of pretty good quality for a great price.
July at 1:00PM on 09/03/07
Edamame, black-pepper cashews, Thai peanuts, blueberry waffles, traffic-light frozen peppers, steamed seasoned lentils, marinara sauce, pizza sauce, spinach dip, mushroom turnovers, mini-pita, coriander-yogurt dip...I love TJ's!
BaHa at 8:29AM on 09/04/07
favorites are frozen garlic naan, potstickers and some of their indian and thai frozen bowls.
ceforrester at 10:24AM on 09/04/07
We literally buy 5 bags of the frozen edamame a week. It's frightening. The pepper crusted salami, natural peanut butter, ff yogurt and hummus are also staples. My personal favorites are the Grainfest cereal and the rosemary marcona almonds!!
kll205 at 1:56PM on 09/04/07
i will second the thai chili lime peanuts
we also get these imported frozen pizzas, one of which has mediallions of goat cheese on it. that pizza is always solid, and i am quite picky about pizza.
goodbyeohio at 2:32PM on 09/04/07
TJ's dried pineapples are spectacular, and all others pale in comparison. Unsweetened but chewy and moist (as far as that can be said of dried fruit). I have never gone through less than an entire package at one sitting.
klg19 at 3:43PM on 09/04/07
I really like the mochi ice cream they sell! It comes in mango, green tea, strawberry and chocolate, and they're allll delicious. Until Trader Joe's, I was only able to find mochi in restaurants. Thank you TJ's!
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 5:21PM on 09/04/07
All these recommendations & I live >100 miles from the nearest TJ :(
JEP at 5:55PM on 09/04/07
Brown rice medley, dried cherries, nut selection, liquid hand soaps (lemony ones), fat free feta (good, for what it is), salads, chard in a bag, choco sunflower seeds, balsamic vinegar, dark choco raisin pecan bar, frozen spinach, lavash, euro style flavored yogurts, greek yogurts, fruit at the bottom fat free yogurts, salsas, etc, etc, etc. Very little not to like. And I think TJs is unique in quality and pricing. I shop most stores in the Bay Area for various things, but TJs has my heart.
KateC at 6:29PM on 09/04/07
I love many of the above-mentioned things, but don't forget the best company hors d'oeuvre: TJ's chicken stix in the Thai flavors of lemongrass and coconut. I've had guests who never wanted to progress onto the main course! And their balls of pizza dough turn out excellent, yeasty, thin-crusted, bubbly-and-charred pizza.
Teachertalk at 6:44PM on 09/04/07
I live about 50 miles from the nearest TJ's, JEP. We make monthly trips up there and stock up. It's worth it. Make a day of it...
Kelly Spitzer at 7:05PM on 09/04/07
You know, I know everybody loves Trader Joe's, but the one time I went to the store in Manhattan, I couldn't get out of there fast enough. There was virtually no fresh produce, shelves were chaotically organized, and the vast majority of products seemed to be designed to appeal to the NYU students in the dorm next door -- an entire aisle given over to various kinds of "trail mix, but they were out of butter, and all the chicken was frozen. Plus which the register lines were horrendous and the staffers were much more interested in comparing iPod playlists than in actually helping shoppers. I LOATHED it.
maggiesara at 7:20PM on 09/04/07
maggiesara's right: I've been to the Manhattan TJ twice, both times looking for my beloved dried pineapple--bupkis. The selection is poor and the service is appalling.
klg19 at 8:43PM on 09/04/07
Edamame shui mai, quiches, tofu in the two pack, amazing masala gardenburgers (i eat them over brown rice!), spinach mini-pizzas (i eat these topped with arugula dressed in vinegar and pepper, extra tang!), the frozen gnoccis... yum!
watchforbears at 10:29PM on 09/04/07
Love their dried fruit and nuts, especially the dried mangoes dusted w/chile powder and the wasabi tamari almonds. I always buy multiple bags of the greens with envy and the frozen grilled corn. I also love the frozen pastas and of course, the wine. What I like best though is that I never spend as much as I think I have and am always surprised when the cashier hits the total button.
Rottenmom at 7:38AM on 09/05/07
i'm on the bandwagon with the "greens with envy". i keep a bag in the fridge for impromptu pastas and such. i also like doctoring up their Chicken Chili Verde soup. They have a Chianti and a Pinot Grigio sausage that are very tasty on a cheese or meat board. All flavors of coffee that I have tried from TJ's are very good, also.
runningwithtweezers at 8:23AM on 09/05/07
runningwithtweezers.. would like to hear your ideas on doctoring up the chili verde.. often pick that up myself.
goodbyeohio at 9:08AM on 09/05/07
The basil and garlic sausage, cranberry/choc./almond granola bars, tiramisu, frozen burritos, Oregon chai (up to $3 cheaper than grocery stores!), wheat pitas and tortillas, pistachios, plantain chips, sparkling pink lemonade and more. I always end up spending more than what I thought I'd spend.
misseditor at 2:26PM on 09/05/07
chicken enchiladas, potstickers and triple ginger cookies! also like their trader grotto's sauce with sausage.
youthlarge at 3:12PM on 09/05/07
A bunch of folks mentioned the frozen edamame. Anyone happen to notice if its imported from China? At Fairway that's all they've got and I'm a little wary of Chinese anything these days.
kqrbob at 4:32PM on 09/05/07
Frozen roasted corn - it's amazing and works well by itself or combined in dishes - especially good in chowders. They have cans of steel-cut oats for $4 less than the regular grocery stores here. I love to put the dried orange-flavored cranberries in oatmeal. In the winter, I get the frozen french onion soup - the flavor is good and it's a good alternative to making a huge pot (I'm the only one in the house who will eat it).
Also, just great variety of stuff for a semi-fast dinner. We're very partial to the frozen pizzas, especially pesto, chicken bbq and the greek olympiad.
anninva at 5:16PM on 09/05/07
My father made weekly trips to Trader Joes. After his heart surgery he had to move to my area, and the one thing he missed was TJs. They opened up a store within sight of his assisted living home, and by doing to has added years to his life. I have found a number of the things that he bought on a regular basis at cheaper prices at COSTCO, under the manufacturer names. However, the cheese prices at TJs are so much cheaper than other places that it is astounding. Beats Fresh Market, Whole Foods, the local speciality stores (Sendiks, Larry's, V.Richards). The fresh flowers as well are always a treat.
exvaxman at 7:31PM on 09/05/07
The Trader Joe's brand minestrone soup is especially good.
eatbemerry at 4:39PM on 09/06/07
Chicken Tamales. Dang easy to make.
helenjane at 2:48PM on 09/07/07
oil-cured moroccan olives!
sabrina at 5:22PM on 09/07/07
raw nuts
tamari-roasted almonds
dried fruit
fage yogurt (considerably cheaper than elsewhere)
cereal
dettling05 at 9:56PM on 09/07/07
They have a maple rosemary mariande that is out of this world on a pork tenderloin
BostonFoodMan at 8:14AM on 09/08/07
I like their creamy tomato soup, black-pepper cashews, goat cheese, korma sauce, frozen pizzas, pound-plus chocolate w/ almonds bar, chocolate ganache torte, and lime cheesecake. I also like their ham which has more flavor than the usual supermarket brands.
I miss the raspberry salsa and the citrus blend marmalade and some of the cookies they don't sell anymore.
The best thing about TJs is the combination of dependably tasty products (they are great about taking things back if you don't like them, which almost never happens) and excellent prices, especially for dried fruit (love the cherries) and nuts.
librarinan at 4:03PM on 09/08/07
I must add to the post I made previously. Yesterday, I bought a container of Trader Joe's "Gourmet Chicken Salad": white meat chicken, almonds, and currants. I just polished the last of it while sitting here. Straight out of the container. It's sooooo good.
runningwithtweezers at 2:58PM on 09/12/07
The chocolate!! I can't go back to the grainy, cloyingly sweet Hersheys stuff anymore; I can't afford to buy only high-quality imported European brand names, what's a girl to do? TJ's has some of the best store-branded chocolate, most coming from Belgium, for only a bit more than generic American chocolate. :) Mmmmmmmmmmmm!!
Pammeh at 1:55AM on 06/17/08