I may be converting to a Trader Joe's fan. I stopped in this morning to buy my usual few items (dark choc raisins, blueberries) and somehow wound up looking at the cheeses. I never eat cheese - it's a lactose thing - but a package of sliced yogurt cheese caught my eye. I asked the guy working in that section if he knew anything about it, such as how it tasted or what it was similar to, and he said we could open a package and taste it - such good service! Anyways, the yogurt cheese was actually pretty good. It's a little tangy but very mild, and reminded me of string cheese. I'm not sure how it would work in cooking or if it would melt well, but I'm very excited I found a cheese to eat as a snack.

One of the things at TJ's that I tend to not buy are the baked goods. They always look a bit wilted and not particularly great. However...I was in there a few days ago and I was having folks over for dinner last night and I thought I'd maybe pick up some sort of bread. It was convenience mostly -- and I ran across a package of TJ's Parker House Rolls. They looked really good -- and weren't too expensive -- $3.00ish for 12, i think -- and so I took them. Let me tell you -- once you heated them up -- it was almost as if I could have baked them myself. They were really good. Excellent crust -- just a little sweet -- really good soft interior texture -- just like a good parker house roll should be. I'm a believer.

It's an evil place, really. Everytime I go in there -- I go in there for a few finite items. And I always end up finding things I shouldn't pick up and spending way too much money there!

While looking for the chocolate croissants in the freezer section, I saw they had canneles. (sp?) Anyone had them? I was talking with a friend recently who wanted to try making them, but they are so much work. I'm hoping, like the croissants, these might be good?

Some reactions to TJ's caneles in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=20865&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=caneles

Since the Grace/Lincoln Store is a two minute drive from my garage, I do tend to shop TJ's quite often. Sure, the produce isn't the greatest, but if you want something for a recipe you're making that day, its more than serviceable. The Margherita Pizza is probably as good a frozen pizza as you can find. While many posts have taken shots at the packaged bread, my nine-year-old swears by the Sprouted Grain .

I also tend to buy on a regular basis:

Jojoba Oil (for the scalp!)
Organic Peanut Butter
Multigrain Baking & Pancake Mix
Uncle Sam's Cereal (Way Cheaper than any other store)
Organic Marinara Sauce
Olive Oil
Chips
Chicken Sausage
Guacamole (Both Regular and GuacaSalsa)
Goat Cheese
Blueberry and Vanilla Yogurt
2% Milk
Frozen Briyani Rice
Frozen Green Beans
Frozen Tamales
Brown Rice (Frozen and Packaged)
Blueberry Toaster Waffles
This ____ walks into a Bar
Joe's O's
and my absolute favorite...
Old Fashion Cinnamon Graham Crackers (the package of which I'm now consuming).

Their meats are generally nothing even remotely special, but I did previously love their Bulgogi (Kalbi). At some point in time, the manufacturer must have changed, because it went from transcendent to foul.

Overall I do get TJ's; It's convenient, relatively economical and has some real standout items you can't find in most grocery stores for the price. Plus you can't beat the Customer Service; they'll take anything back, no questions asked. My only pet peeve are those damn bells when they need a 21 year old to ring up the 3 Buck Chuck. That gets real old, real fast.

rickster wrote:Some reactions to TJ's caneles in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=20865&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=caneles

Thanks. I think I'll pick some up.

Four additional products I've been digging at TJ lately:

chili-lime dried mango slices (sweet, hot, lovely)
carnitas ($3.95-5.95, vacuum-sealed, crisp up perfectly in a skillet)
garlic mustard aioli (perfect for Cuban sandwiches or salad dressing base, rich but low-fat)
truffled mushroom flatbread (as mentioned in frozen pizza thread)

I picked up a box of honey oat crispy granola bars last weekend, which looked like a new product since they had big displays next to the registers. They're a pretty good substitute for Kashi bars, which I like, at about 60% of the cost. They are a little too sweet though.

Trader Joes is probably the only market I can walk out of empty handed as I have the last couple of times I have visited. I am not a fan of frozen foods, frozen fish, terrible produce, and the other items I wont eat that I see lining their shelves.

I guess I am not in their marketing demographic.

I love their house brand of goat's milk yogurt; add a little honey and it is seriously good eats. I also like their ginger cashew granola, which is made even better by the addition of fresh strawberries.

When TJ first opened up out here, we made several visits. But now there are very few things we buy there.

The biggest problem was that too many things we've bought there spoiled VERY fast compared to similar items bought elsewhere. I don't know if there stuff isn't properly refrigerated in the store, isn't properly handled, shipped, or whatever. Cheese spoiled in a matter of days, other things even faster.

With Caputos to the north, and Woodmans to the south, we shop elsewhere.

jimswside wrote:Trader Joes is probably the only market I can walk out of empty handed

As can I, which seems insane for anyone who knows me. My brother and his wife, with 4-kids between them and neither time or inclination for scratch cooking, would pretty much starve without Trader Joe's.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:

jimswside wrote:Trader Joes is probably the only market I can walk out of empty handed

As can I

Me three. I stop in sometimes wondering if something will catch my interest, but it doesn't happen.

Ok - for you three.
I'm NOT an avid TJ's shopper. Last time I was in one was probably early summer. If you happen to find yourself in one, find the tubs of clear plastic cookies. I usually find them lined up in shelves along the top of the freezer cases. Triple Ginger Snaps. Try them. Another thing if you dig swet nut things: Honey Sesame Cashews in the whole dried fruit/nut section. I'll stand behind these products as being rock solid. Like i said, I'm no huge fan or anything. You can walk out of there with something decent with those two things- if you ever have to be in one again.

seebee wrote:Ok - for you three.
I'm NOT an avid TJ's shopper. Last time I was in one was probably early summer. If you happen to find yourself in one, find the tubs of clear plastic cookies. I usually find them lined up in shelves along the top of the freezer cases. Triple Ginger Snaps. Try them. Another thing if you dig swet nut things: Honey Sesame Cashews in the whole dried fruit/nut section. I'll stand behind these products as being rock solid. Like i said, I'm no huge fan or anything. You can walk out of there with something decent with those two things- if you ever have to be in one again.

I have heard items like these are good, but I am not a cookie, or cracker eater at all. Add to that the nuts, and wine that I have heard people I know talk about..

For the record I also dont like Whole Foods(I find their prices extreme, and I can get better meat, and seafood elsewhere), although I sometimes have to go to Whole Foods if I am having trouble finding some produce I may need for a recipe(typically I avoid organics).

jimswside wrote:

seebee wrote:Ok - for you three.
I'm NOT an avid TJ's shopper. Last time I was in one was probably early summer. If you happen to find yourself in one, find the tubs of clear plastic cookies. I usually find them lined up in shelves along the top of the freezer cases. Triple Ginger Snaps. Try them. Another thing if you dig swet nut things: Honey Sesame Cashews in the whole dried fruit/nut section. I'll stand behind these products as being rock solid. Like i said, I'm no huge fan or anything. You can walk out of there with something decent with those two things- if you ever have to be in one again.

I have heard items like these are good, but I am not a cookie, or cracker eater at all.

Totally OT, but -
You sir, are a better man than I. While I don't go for the salty snacks like crackers, I cannot, for the life of me, shake the cookie habit. Must be genetic - , papa seebee would have stashes of chips ahoy in the house that mama seebee would bust him with on a regular basis. Granted, I don't do the chips ahoy, but a good choc chip cookie* is irresistable to me.

*Current cookie crack is the Potbelly oatmeal choc chip version.

I walk out of there with cheap wine to cook with, and a chocolate bar for the road. Very occasionally I'll pick up cheese or frozen items, but not lately.

seebee wrote:

jimswside wrote:

seebee wrote:Ok - for you three.
I'm NOT an avid TJ's shopper. Last time I was in one was probably early summer. If you happen to find yourself in one, find the tubs of clear plastic cookies. I usually find them lined up in shelves along the top of the freezer cases. Triple Ginger Snaps. Try them. Another thing if you dig swet nut things: Honey Sesame Cashews in the whole dried fruit/nut section. I'll stand behind these products as being rock solid. Like i said, I'm no huge fan or anything. You can walk out of there with something decent with those two things- if you ever have to be in one again.

I have heard items like these are good, but I am not a cookie, or cracker eater at all.

Totally OT, but -
You sir, are a better man than I. While I don't go for the salty snacks like crackers, I cannot, for the life of me, shake the cookie habit. Must be genetic - , papa seebee would have stashes of chips ahoy in the house that mama seebee would bust him with on a regular basis. Granted, I don't do the chips ahoy, but a good choc chip cookie* is irresistable to me.

*Current cookie crack is the Potbelly oatmeal choc chip version.

just one more off topic comment(i may have mentioned before).. when my family would go for ice cream when I was a kid, I would get to go next door for an Italian hoagie, or a Philly steak instead.

Other snackers in my family like TJ's. its all good.

i had a very heartwarming TJ experience today. there are a few things there i like alot-reasonably priced probiotics, excellent sourdough bread are the two things i went for today. i was in the checkout line and asked if i could have a balloon as i was a little down, and the very chatty checkout guy said sure, and asked what was wrong. i told him i had to euthanize my beloved 18 year old cat last week and he told me to grab any bunch of flowers i wanted on my way out, as well as a balloon. i think his empathy level was extra high because he told me his wife's 18 year old cat had recently died. i was very touched and took home some beautiful fuschia colored roses (not the most expensive bunch on display). that sort of thing would never happen anywhere, i think, but TJ's. justjoan

{my warmest thanks to those who contacted me with condolences on zoe's death. your kind words are deeply appreciated. joan}

justjoan wrote:i had a very heartwarming TJ experience today. there are a few things there i like alot-reasonably priced probiotics, excellent sourdough bread are the two things i went for today. i was in the checkout line and asked if i could have a balloon as i was a little down, and the very chatty checkout guy said sure, and asked what was wrong. i told him i had to euthanize my beloved 18 year old cat last week and he told me to grab any bunch of flowers i wanted on my way out, as well as a balloon. i think his empathy level was extra high because he told me his wife's 18 year old cat had recently died. i was very touched and took home some beautiful fuschia colored roses (not the most expensive bunch on display). that sort of thing would never happen anywhere, i think, but TJ's. justjoan

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat...it's never easy.

I love that TJ's has a laid back, generous vibe. I suspect that their employee retention rate is higher than most grocery stores, because their employees seem genuinely happy to work there. I was walking through the frozen aisle one day when an employee grabbed a box of cookies off the shelf and announced to everyone in the aisle that she needed an afternoon pick-me-up. She then proceeded to pass cookies out to everyone (and even offered seconds). Can you imagine that happening at Jewel?

I do not shop there often, but the post about the flowers was just touching. I think anytime a corporate entity gives its employees the opportunity to act like human beings it is good for the shopper and good for the bottom line of the entity.

That said, I adore the dried rainer cherries, organic valencia peanut butter (all other peanut butters, organic or not pale in comparison) and thai chilli-lime spiced cashews. I generally go once or twice a month to pick up soy products, Morningstar buffalo wings and Gardenburger ribs for quick eats ( why on earth do they cost so much less here than everywhere else?). They also seem to keep in stock Meyer lemons, which are perfect in coke or coke zero over ice as well as the citrusade I make from time to time, plus they smell like summer. I did look at the Parker house rolls and will definitely pick up a pack to try the next time I am there.

Since I am a vegetarian and I like food, I tend to make several stops in my neighborhood including the Stanley's, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's Circuit that I always find others doing as well around North Avenue.

pairs4life wrote: and thai chilli-lime spiced cashews

Love these; I occasionally use them in Thai one-bite salad instead of toasted peanuts.

One other thing I forgot to mention in my list of things I dig at TJs is the ginger-almond-cashew "Just the Clusters" granola cereal. Best $2-a-box breakfast on the market for me. [edit: just noticed geli's post above. Right on.]

Santander wrote:One other thing I forgot to mention in my list of things I dig at TJs is the ginger-almond-cashew "Just the Clusters" granola cereal. Best $2-a-box breakfast on the market for me. [edit: just noticed geli's post above. Right on.]

Ditto. Sadly, I'm on my last box of the ginger-almond-cashew granola. One of my new year's resolutions was to make my own granola, so now I'm skipping the cereal aisle at TJ (except for the occasional box of Weetabix; I'm buying my oats at Aldi) for the dried fruit & nuts aisle. Mine isn't quite tasting like the stuff out of the box (yet), but I'm hanging in there. In the meantime, I'm stretching my last box of ginger-almond-cashew clusters as far as it'll go.

fleurdesel wrote:
Parmigiano Reggiano (the price is usually better than at Whole Foods)

I took a look at the "parmesan" they were selling at TJ's on Lincoln last week and it's not stamped Parmigiano Reggiano. This for me is a red flag. I want the real stuff, not a cheap impersonator...

I also agree that their frozen apps and entrees are not very good

I go to TJ's for a few things:

Organic avocados

frozen edamame

cheese, like gruyere or mozz for a recipe, not cheese to be eaten on it's own

bags of organic onions

whole wheat crackers with sesame seeds, I forget the brand name

Good Friends Cereal (hit or miss with this one)

frozen shrimp

But no matter what you go for, do not go to the Lincoln/Grace on a Sunday afternoon. It's madness.

And, they're out of tons of stuff!!!

Someone posted this on Facebook. It does a pretty good job of summarizing people's feelings about Trader Joe's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdB7GDZY3Pk

that fake tj commercial was fantastic! it really captured the essence of the store. justjoan

radiator wrote:Someone posted this on Facebook. It does a pretty good job of summarizing people's feelings about Trader Joe's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdB7GDZY3Pk

"It's the $2 wine that tastes like 4"

That's great! I feel like it affirmed my confusion about Trader Joe's - some days I love it, most days I just don't get the hype. Fall in love with a few good products and then they disappear

One of my favorite newish Trader Joe's products is on sale (at least, at the N. Lincoln Ave. location).

Lately, I've been enjoying the Trader Joe's Gourmet Flakes and Chocolate cereal. Nice flakes, wonderful semi-sweet chocolate shavings, and some kinda prebiotic fiber stuff (inulin). Yes, I enjoy chocolate for breakfast (my favorite workday breakfast used to be Stoneyfield Farms Chocolate Underground yogurt). The nice thing about the cereal, though, is that it has just enough quality chocolate to be tasty, but not enough to make you feel guilty for eating candy for breakfast. For breakfast cereal, I'd say that it isn't terribly sweet.

I'd seen the cereal for $2.99 and $3.19. Yesterday, it was $1.99. (cashiers didn't know if they're discontinuing or if they just had too much)

Ronna