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You really should try their chunky applesauce, it's great! virginia

@ prieta: Pretty much all stores do that with their eggs. You'll hear that story from anyone who has ever worked at a supermarket...though I am disappointed to hear that TJ's does it, that's definitely industry standard.

I've been going to Trader Joe's for close to 13 years, ever since the first one opened in my hometown in California when I was a teenager. The way they keep their prices low is by buying in bulk, and the quality of the food is obvious. I don't think that many people on Serious Eats would be fooled by their "atmosphere" - they have really good stuff.

I actually don't buy that much of their prepared food, as a lot of it's too salty for me (but their chili and green cheese tamales are great) - I do get nuts, tofu, frozen fruit, tortillas, cheese, cooking oils, vegetable stock, grains, and other staples for so much less than I would pay at Whole Foods, and a lot of the time, less than I'd pay at a big grocery (and much higher quality).

Also, their vitamins are extremely inexpensive, and when I was in high-school chemistry we tested our multivitamins to see which had the closest amounts of certain vitamins to what was listed on the label, and my Trader Joe's multivitamin was the best in the class.

I know there's no big company out there that isn't primarily looking to make a dime, but based on my experiences with Trader Joe's over the years and talking to folks I know who have worked there, they are the real deal. They're good to their employees and use savvy buying strategies to offer quality goods at lower prices than their competition.

Cat cookies!

It certainly isn't a one-stop-grocery-market and you do have to know what's good; not everything is good. But they do carry some delicious items at reasonable costs, and the atmosphere doesn't hurt either. I know it's a pretty big company now, but still the stores have a mom and pop feel to them, and the workers are almost always cheerful and helpful.

No, don't buy into the hype. Just try it for yourself. If you don't like it, you don't like it. That's all.

Black pepper cashews, roasted tomato-red pepper soup, perlini, European-style chocolate and mocha yogurt, forzen bell pepper strips, frozen berries, spinach artichoke dip, cocktail crab cakes, steamed vacuum packed lentils (which I will never run out of ways to prepare), citrus shampoo and conditioner...it's my happy place.

i have been using a pressure cooker with no discrenable difference (i think), and i have stock in like an hour. i have been thinking lately of duck stock ie magret, confit & stock!

but the best is this: ikea sells these giant ice cube trays. (the ice cubes are giant, not the trays). if you freeze the stock in them each is 1/2 cup. this is super handy. of course, because i am insane i vacum-pack them by the 6. i would hate to frostify our fine work.

OMG! I love that onion, ham, cheese tart (in the frozen pizza section)! I don't buy it often cause I can eat it in 30 seconds flat! next time i will buy a bottle of wine to go with it!

I think the TJ's on the West Coast is a bit different than on the East. I know that when searching for my favorite tzatziki and flat bread to bring to a bbq in Virginia, they looked at me like I'd lost my mind. However, if you can find it, you should definitely try it! I certainly do not possess a refined palate, so I am a huge fan of the Two Buck Chuck, though I suppose it's Three Buck Chuck, now. And ours does carry paper towels, etc. Oh! And they have a lavendar liquid handsoap that is divine!

Do yourself a favor and grab a Maitre Pierre Taste of Alsace (onion, ham and cheese tart), get a bottle of good Riesling elsewhere and enjoy.
3 Cheese Pizza and 4 Cheese Pizza are excellent, too.
Very good mayonnaise -- reminds me of the Japanese style mayo.
They just started carrying different kinds of antioxidant trail mixes that are delicious.
Jperezish already mentioned the Cuban Mojito sauce.

Peanut butter pretzels
Dark chocolate covered carmels
Corn (tomato-less) salsa
Mini whole wheat pitas
Whole wheat pizza dough
Sugar-free chai mix
... and the list could go on and on.

@Sindy - there's a Trader Joe's in Cary NC and another (maybe 2) opening in Charlotte. We are in GSO and make the trek regularly. Rumor has it that one is headed to town here soon...

With 2 kids and coming home late TJ's is the best place to quickly whip up something that doesn't suck.
The flash frozen chicken breasts do not taste frozen at all when defrosted and then cooked.
So I toss a couple of those in a skillet and then select one of their great sauces to drowned them in. The Cuban Mojito sauce is my favorite.
The frozen brown rice is great as well as a side, along with the frozen balsamic glazed veggies. Other things: the Bagels, the cream cheese, the fresh TJ OJ, any of their juices, their bay blend dark roast coffee, and so many other things...