Getting this topic back on track, it looks like Aldi has another TJs product:

http://aldi.us/us/html/offers/2827_16170_ENU_HTML.htm

This shows up maybe once or twice a year and doesn't last long.

Not a food item, but their Boulder brand garbage bags are the worst I've ever used. They completely fail at holding garbage. I wasn't expecting Hefty quality, but I did expect that they wouldn't be shredded when I put paper in them.

Must bring back and exchange for red pepper hummus

leek wrote:The Dunkin' Donuts coffee you can buy to make at home is nothing like the Dunkin' Donuts coffee you get in the stores. I have no idea why that is. I really dislike the in-store coffee and really like the make at home stuff.

Hi there! New to the forum...found you looking up donut store coffee reviews...actually, segued here (this was about the fourth stop) starting out looking for info on 'Seattle's Best' coffees. Is it ok to post here? I have not yet been to Chicago (boy I hope that changes soon!) - hubby and I are NC natives, and we have two Aldi stores here in our town. I love it particularly for the German products (my mom is German), and for the simplicity of the store.

We tried the donut store blend a year or so ago, and it is far and away his favorite. Mine was a Costa Rican blend that I sadly finished up the other day....had I known it would go away and stay gone, I would have bought them out and frozen them! I hope it will be back. Our favorite way to make the donut store coffee is in the French press....about five slightly heaping tablespoons to about 30 ounces or so of water, five minutes brewing time....yummmm! We have a strong Moravian community here, and it tastes just like the Moravian style coffee they serve at candle-teas around the holidays (they apparently brew their coffee with the milk and sugar).

I have only read the last three or so pages of posts on this Aldi thread, so this might have already been said (apologies if so). When I first started shopping at Aldi, someone clued me in - they said, if the packaging looks like a national brand, that's probably the company that makes it (one of their chocolate chip cookies looks like chips-ahoy, and tastes as good or better than that, at roughly half the price). From what I understand, whoever makes and packages food for Aldi is sworn to secrecy about it, so we'll never know for sure, but I believe DD makes this coffee for them, for what it's worth. I hope they continue to carry it. Oh - they now carry it in whole beans as well!

denela wrote:

leek wrote:I have only read the last three or so pages of posts on this Aldi thread, so this might have already been said (apologies if so). When I first started shopping at Aldi, someone clued me in - they said, if the packaging looks like a national brand, that's probably the company that makes it (one of their chocolate chip cookies looks like chips-ahoy, and tastes as good or better than that, at roughly half the price). From what I understand, whoever makes and packages food for Aldi is sworn to secrecy about it, so we'll never know for sure, but I believe DD makes this coffee for them, for what it's worth. I hope they continue to carry it. Oh - they now carry it in whole beans as well!

I just got back from my week long trip to North Carolina.

I was the one that said that you could generally tell who produces for Aldi by their packaging. The examples that I provided was that their maple flavored cookies are identical to those made by Dare Bakeries in Toronto. The Triscuit-like crackers - woven wheats - are identical to those at Trader Joes (cross branding) and generally slightly cheaper. I have compared those products back to back. The devils food cookies look like and are packaged identically to those produced by Famous Foods of Virginia. All of the Aldi products are lower priced.

In addition, they carried a certain shortbread cookie from Germany for $1.99. The same product (and size) was $3.49 at Cost Plus.

Since you are new, I will give you a couple of places to look at:

http://aldishopper.blogspot.com/

http://www.city-data.com/forum/raleigh- ... opens.html

Don't regularly shop the River Forest Jewel Store. Had to use it over the weekend, While there, thought I'd compare prices of some of my usual Aldi products vs. Jewel. Chunky PB is 1.65 at Aldi and 3.50 for Jewel brand. Turkey franks 1.00 vs.1.89; egg sub 1.85 vs. 3.69, strawberry jam 1.89 vs. 3.50, tortilla chip varieties from 1.29 vs. around 3.00. The list goes on, but you get the idea. As in any store you learn what is a good value and what is lacking. (For instance, the Aldi dishwasher detergent is inferior to any national brand). But some some saving are pretty glaring. I have a hard time paying around 5.00 a large box for corn flakes at a chain store, when I can get a comparable box at Aldi for less than 2.00.

thick wrote:(For instance, the Aldi dishwasher detergent is inferior to any national brand).

You can get real bargains and some great products at Dollar Tree on cleaning supplies. The "Totally Awesome" brand does a tremendous job on spot removal and the like.

I have yet to find a non-food item at Aldi that has been much good.

Hi- Probably 75% of what is at Aldi's, you can get cheaper at Dominick's and Jewel when it is on sale as a lost leader, and you have a coupon. Dominick's had Honey Bunch of Oats on sale last week through their J4U program for $1.44 a box, and there were $1 coupons you could print off the internet.

I've heard that the peanut butter at Aldi's is awful. Some of the stuff at Aldi's is good though. I buy their cottage cheese there, because that is one of the few things that is cheaper at Aldi's. They also have fresh pineapple on sale for 99 cents frequently at Aldi's.

BTW- I just went to Whole Foods tonight, and they have their Cedar's hummus for 99 cents through 1/18. It is normally over $3, although sometimes it is on sale for B1G1F. Now if I could just find a coupon for Cedar's.

Aldi's is cheaper for the person who does not want to wait until it is on sale at the other stores, and who does not want to deal with coupons.
Hope this helps, Nancy

jlawrence01 wrote:

thick wrote:(For instance, the Aldi dishwasher detergent is inferior to any national brand).

You can get real bargains and some great products at Dollar Tree on cleaning supplies. The "Totally Awesome" brand does a tremendous job on spot removal and the like.

I have yet to find a non-food item at Aldi that has been much good.

I have to agree on the Dollar Tree cleaning supplies. They get the job done fine.

As for non-food items at Aldi. We get the bleach and the laundry detergent but what I really love is the fabric softerner. Works well and smells heavenly.

NFriday wrote:Hi- Probably 75% of what is at Aldi's, you can get cheaper at Dominick's and Jewel when it is on sale as a lost leader, and you have a coupon. Dominick's had Honey Bunch of Oats on sale last week through their J4U program for $1.44 a box, and there were $1 coupons you could print off the internet.

I've heard that the peanut butter at Aldi's is awful. Some of the stuff at Aldi's is good though. I buy their cottage cheese there, because that is one of the few things that is cheaper at Aldi's. They also have fresh pineapple on sale for 99 cents frequently at Aldi's.

BTW- I just went to Whole Foods tonight, and they have their Cedar's hummus for 99 cents through 1/18. It is normally over $3, although sometimes it is on sale for B1G1F. Now if I could just find a coupon for Cedar's.

Aldi's is cheaper for the person who does not want to wait until it is on sale at the other stores, and who does not want to deal with coupons.
Hope this helps, Nancy

Can't argue with you there but I will have to add that Aldi can be in place if the closest Jewel or Dominick's is too far away. Dominick's for me requires too long of a car trip which can suck up my gas and while Jewel is not too far away, the Aldi's is the closest thing to me because it is only two blocks away from my home.

As I implied above, you have learn which Aldi goods suit your tastes. I have heard a few references to to how bad Aldi's peanut butter is. I can't agree. I'll put Aldi chunky pb up against any major or house brand. It is very chunky and pretty tasty, while being half the price. Just my two cents.

thick wrote: I'll put Aldi chunky pb up against any major or house brand. It is very chunky and pretty tasty, while being half the price. Just my two cents.

Same goes for the creamy.

Hi- All I eat is natural PB, and Aldi's does not carry it. I love WF 365 brand PB, but it has just gone up to $3.20 a jar. Unfortunately it is hard to find a good deal on natural peanut butter anywhere, although I have not checked TJ yet. I don't go to TJ very often. It is not convenient for me.

There are a few deals at Aldi'.s Their cottage cheese is cheaper than anybody else, and sometimes their sugar is cheaper.

Nonfood items are usually more expensive at Aldi's, and the quality isn't as good. There are always lots of coupons available for nonfood items such as detergent, and garbage bags.

Hope this helps, Nancy

I am very picky about PB, and I do not like the Aldi brand. It's fine for my husband, though.

Last trip I bought a banana nut cereal that has an over-the-top fake banana flavor (bad), and both chipotle and cayenne hummus (good, the cayenne is actually hot!).

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:I am very picky about PB, and I do not like the Aldi brand. It's fine for my husband, though.

Last trip I bought a banana nut cereal that has an over-the-top fake banana flavor (bad), and both chipotle and cayenne hummus (good, the cayenne is actually hot!).

My husband likes the garlic hummus from Aldi's so when I went to pick up some bread for breakfast toast yesterday morning, I picked up the cayenne for him. It just so happens yesterday was his birthday. Hope he liked his present He has yet to try it though but he will get back to me when he does.

The Aldi in Maywood is selling out their Christmas stuff. Boxes of candy for 75 cents. Bags of pfeffernuse for 15 cents, soft frosted ginger cookies for 30 cents, etc. Plus they've lately had great pineapple. I don't know what I paid today, but recently they've been as low as 99 cents. No brie, today, though.

Fifteen cent pfefferneuse? I am scoping that out tomorrow. I love those things, and have never met anyone else who feels the same way.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, Suzy C. Last year I bought *6* pfeffernuse pkgs at Aldi for Christmas. Yummmm.

My sainted Polish grandma made them by hand when I was but a pup, and that's where I learned to adore them.

Geo

No pfefferneuse cookies in sight. Either they're more popular than I think or Geo conducted a raid.

But they did have - dun dun DUN! - stroopwafels!

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:Fifteen cent pfefferneuse? I am scoping that out tomorrow. I love those things, and have never met anyone else who feels the same way.

You are wasting your time. They are GONE for another year.

When Aldi wants to get rid of their seasonals, they cut the cost to near nothing and watch the shelves empty in hours. I saw the Pfefferneuse at 75 cents on my last trip. However, I received a death threat if I brought home any more cookies .......

Stocked up on a lot of stuff at the Maywood Aldi's today. Bought the regular cupboard staples I usually buy. I always buy their whole bean coffee, (Costa Rican blend, one of the two usual whole bean choices). Today, they had a number of whole bean types , from Duncan flavored to French to "breakfast" blend. I bought the breakfast blend for around 5.00 per bag. I've never had a problem with any Aldi coffee before. I'll let you know if the record still stands.

They had Brie at my store on Milwaukee, but the macadamia nuts are gone. I also looked for the block of Parmesan, but didn't see any. I didn't need or buy much today. Some taco shells, 2% low fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese, that I can't find in any stores, Dominick's included. I usually can only find medium, peppered beef jerky, nuts and yogurt covered raisins was about it. They had some nice Turrano bread that looked good.

They had Brie at my store on Milwaukee, but the macadamia nuts are gone. I also looked for the block of Parmesan, but didn't see any. I didn't need or buy much today. Some taco shells, 2% low fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese, that I can't find in any stores, Dominick's included. I usually can only find medium, peppered beef jerky, nuts and yogurt covered raisins was about it. They had some nice Turrano bread that looked good.

New at Aldi this week: steel-cut oats. Also, a three-tier cooling rack for $6.99.

Hi- I was in the Aldi's in Skokie yesterday, and the steel cut oats is already in the clearance section. I did not get it though. It was still $2.49 for a small box, which was not cheap enough to tempt me. Does this stuff take a lot longer to cook? I have never cooked it. Thanks, Nancy

I went to Aldis a few days ago and I was in a hurry and bought 3 items. Celery, bananas and some tartar sauce. The clerk said your total is two dollars and some cents. I was completely floored as I did not look at the prices but never have I gone to a grocery store and gotten away so cheap. I saw some frozen lobster tails that I examined with great skepticism and did not buy. They seemed to be sealed well and said they were Maine lobster and the source was the North Atlantic. Anybody try these???

NFriday wrote:Hi- I was in the Aldi's in Skokie yesterday, and the steel cut oats is already in the clearance section. I did not get it though. It was still $2.49 for a small box, which was not cheap enough to tempt me. Does this stuff take a lot longer to cook? I have never cooked it. Thanks, Nancy

I bough some about a year ago and they are quick cook steel cut oats. They'll cook in like 5 minutes, as opposed to an hour or so with regular ones. They are pretty good.

toria wrote:I went to Aldis a few days ago and I was in a hurry and bought 3 items. Celery, bananas and some tartar sauce. The clerk said your total is two dollars and some cents. I was completely floored as I did not look at the prices but never have I gone to a grocery store and gotten away so cheap. I saw some frozen lobster tails that I examined with great skepticism and did not buy. They seemed to be sealed well and said they were Maine lobster and the source was the North Atlantic. Anybody try these???

I bought these for NYE and they were delicious. I defrost, split the tops, top with butter and broil for about 7-10 minutes. Let's just say not a soul complained....

Husband loved the cayenne humus. This week he bought himself some Spicy humus and that got raving reviews from him. I don't much care for humus but he does and all of the ones he has tried from Aldi's gets glowing reviews.

My weakness however are cookies. Back in December I bought a couple of packgaes (.49 cents!) of their Girl Scout thin mint cookie knockoffs. I ate the first package, liked them and forgot about the second package until about early January and we gobbled those down too. Now we can't find anymore. They were the Benton brand and I am so addicted that I can still taste them. Looking for thin mint cookie recipes online I have yet to find one that impressed me when I googled it. Anyone know of a good substitute?

No, you pretty much have to graduate to crack after that. It's the only comparable high.

Suzy Creamcheese wrote:No, you pretty much have to graduate to crack after that. It's the only comparable high.

Crap. I was affraid of that.