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Trader Joe's Favorites. We should start a new list 'cos lots more people have been
- Thread starter clofthwld
- Start date
Indian simmering sauces, frozen naan (just pop into the oven...
for a few minutes-very good!), love their frozen peas, bags of mixed lettuces cheaper than supermarkets', chicken sausages, yogurt cheese, good frozen pizza (Trader Giotto's Margherita), balsamic vinegars, olive oil, crumpets, chai tea, and those big chunks of chocolate sitting in a basket at the check-out smileys/smile.gif
for a few minutes-very good!), love their frozen peas, bags of mixed lettuces cheaper than supermarkets', chicken sausages, yogurt cheese, good frozen pizza (Trader Giotto's Margherita), balsamic vinegars, olive oil, crumpets, chai tea, and those big chunks of chocolate sitting in a basket at the check-out smileys/smile.gif
debbie_in_ga
Well-known member
Yes, thank you, clofthwld! What MUST I get on my first trip?
richard-in-cincy
Well-known member
I love their low fat chicken sausages, sun dried tomatoes, and garlic. Also, light coconut milk
That's how I felt for years
First, I will answer the question: When I go there I love the huge boxes of Barbara's and other health food brands of cereal for less than the tiny box in the grocery store. Some of their breads. Whole wheat english muffins and hand thrown whole wheat tortillas- I stock up on several of these whenever I go there. Their canola mayo, which has no sugar nor preservatives yet tastes just like 'normal' mayo. Whole wheat and imported pastas, fresh and cheap. Frozen mango chunks. Creamline yogurt.
I grew up north of San Diego and something like the fifth Trader Joe's to open (way before their huge expansion), was in the city in which I lived. So I've been shopping there for 19 or 20 years, maybe more? That was always my basic shopping stop, there were very few things that I couldn't get there.
When I moved out of the area I had severe withdrawals. We even called the corporate office and begged them to ship things to us, we would gladly pay the extra but no luck, they wouldn't do it (I can't believe we did that! lol). Every time I would visit my parents or friends I would pack up a giant box or two full of Trader Joe's items and bring it home in the airplane with me. I tried to only bring a carry-on, just so I could keep all of my checked baggage slots open for Trader Joe's stuff. This was when the only Trader Joe's stores were in San Diego area, Los Angeles area, and San Francisco area.
All of this was back before and just after the original owner died. The store's focus was to make good quality food available to students, artists and others who had a good palate but not much money. Imported brie and other wonderful exotic (at that time) cheeses for 1.99/lb. Etc. Everything was cheap, almost everything was wonderful.
I live about 20 minutes or so from a Trader Joe's now. I hardly ever go. The focus has shifted so much, I am sorely disappointed whenever I go there now. Most things are now the same price as equivalent items in a grocery store or a health food store, in many cases even more expensive. A lot of the things that I loved there for many years are now gone or have been reformulated.
First, I will answer the question: When I go there I love the huge boxes of Barbara's and other health food brands of cereal for less than the tiny box in the grocery store. Some of their breads. Whole wheat english muffins and hand thrown whole wheat tortillas- I stock up on several of these whenever I go there. Their canola mayo, which has no sugar nor preservatives yet tastes just like 'normal' mayo. Whole wheat and imported pastas, fresh and cheap. Frozen mango chunks. Creamline yogurt.
I grew up north of San Diego and something like the fifth Trader Joe's to open (way before their huge expansion), was in the city in which I lived. So I've been shopping there for 19 or 20 years, maybe more? That was always my basic shopping stop, there were very few things that I couldn't get there.
When I moved out of the area I had severe withdrawals. We even called the corporate office and begged them to ship things to us, we would gladly pay the extra but no luck, they wouldn't do it (I can't believe we did that! lol). Every time I would visit my parents or friends I would pack up a giant box or two full of Trader Joe's items and bring it home in the airplane with me. I tried to only bring a carry-on, just so I could keep all of my checked baggage slots open for Trader Joe's stuff. This was when the only Trader Joe's stores were in San Diego area, Los Angeles area, and San Francisco area.
All of this was back before and just after the original owner died. The store's focus was to make good quality food available to students, artists and others who had a good palate but not much money. Imported brie and other wonderful exotic (at that time) cheeses for 1.99/lb. Etc. Everything was cheap, almost everything was wonderful.
I live about 20 minutes or so from a Trader Joe's now. I hardly ever go. The focus has shifted so much, I am sorely disappointed whenever I go there now. Most things are now the same price as equivalent items in a grocery store or a health food store, in many cases even more expensive. A lot of the things that I loved there for many years are now gone or have been reformulated.
lin_in_seattle
Well-known member
There are so many things. One thing a lot of people don't realize is ....
that Trader Joe's prices are lower than many other grocery stores. The other day I was in Trader Joe's and they had posted, on the wall, a comparison of their prices for certain "staples" and another close by grocery store's prices and TJ's prices were approx. $30 cheaper! This included milk, eggs, cereal, fruit, baking mix, hamburger, bread,olive oil, vegetables, and I can't remember what else. I was surprised. Of course I don't think most people just by basics at TJ's.
My cat loves TJ's cat rocks (dry food) and does very well on them. I love their breads, eggs, butter, yogurts, produce, cheese, not a huge offering, but a very excellent array, their nuts and different snacks are great. Their bread sticks and pita chips are two favorites right now. For quick meals their alsactian tart, french onion soup, potstickers, et al., are great, as are their various chicken and turkey sausages.
I really like their evoo, truffle oil, vinegars, sauces, and their spices, while not extensive, are reasonably priced. Their chocolate is very good, especially the dark chocolate and one current addition is their dark chocolate covered mini pretzels. And I'm a fan of their cheap wines.
There is this site for TJ fans, not affilated with the company, that has some interesting info, discussion of products, articles, and even recipes some people have created, using TJ products. They even have contests, LOL.
http://www.traderjoesfan.com/
that Trader Joe's prices are lower than many other grocery stores. The other day I was in Trader Joe's and they had posted, on the wall, a comparison of their prices for certain "staples" and another close by grocery store's prices and TJ's prices were approx. $30 cheaper! This included milk, eggs, cereal, fruit, baking mix, hamburger, bread,olive oil, vegetables, and I can't remember what else. I was surprised. Of course I don't think most people just by basics at TJ's.
My cat loves TJ's cat rocks (dry food) and does very well on them. I love their breads, eggs, butter, yogurts, produce, cheese, not a huge offering, but a very excellent array, their nuts and different snacks are great. Their bread sticks and pita chips are two favorites right now. For quick meals their alsactian tart, french onion soup, potstickers, et al., are great, as are their various chicken and turkey sausages.
I really like their evoo, truffle oil, vinegars, sauces, and their spices, while not extensive, are reasonably priced. Their chocolate is very good, especially the dark chocolate and one current addition is their dark chocolate covered mini pretzels. And I'm a fan of their cheap wines.
There is this site for TJ fans, not affilated with the company, that has some interesting info, discussion of products, articles, and even recipes some people have created, using TJ products. They even have contests, LOL.
http://www.traderjoesfan.com/