do you have to microwave that?
― He grew in Pussyville. Population: him. (call all destroyer), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 03:51 (4 years ago) Permalink
s: that white cheddar w/ the carmalized onions in it (<---- my favorite shit ever)
― The Reverend, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 03:51 (4 years ago) Permalink
s: mango mochi
― The Reverend, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 03:52 (4 years ago) Permalink
classic:vege medley w/balsamic butter dressingvege medley w/potato wedges^both great tossed with spag and oilvegan choc chip cookiesalmond caramel clusterschocolate ice cream (some of the best ice cream and it's CHEAP)hashbrownsfrozen vege lasagna
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:18 (4 years ago) Permalink
i wish trader joe's was not so crowded so i could go more often and buy cheap delicious things.
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:19 (4 years ago) Permalink
their fresh fruit is shit - every time we get stuff from there it goes rotten in a couple of days
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:28 (4 years ago) Permalink
no one's mentioned the dark chocolate ginger pieces...they're...delightful
― dbro, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:34 (4 years ago) Permalink
oh i had a party and put out the dark chocolate covered almonds rolled in dark cocoa and ppl were like omg nommmmm
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:34 (4 years ago) Permalink
lacey cookies A++++++ not sure if they're TJ brand though
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:38 (4 years ago) Permalink
Yeah, produce is generally hit or miss. I like buying their big bags o' mixed chard or "southern greens." I love cooking greens and cleaning/cutting them is such a pain, especially in my tiny-ass kitchen.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:57 (4 years ago) Permalink
As far as crowds -- best time to go is 10AM or earlier on a weekend (well, excluding going on a weekday during work hours, which you probably can't do). Another good time -- dinner hours, Friday evening.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:58 (4 years ago) Permalink
the way they treat their apples makes me want to cry. you can paw through a whole shelf of apples and find none that aren't bruised
i always feel sorry for the people who are holding the signs that shepherd the line. at first i thought it was a pretty good lazy job, then i realised that it's queueing, ALL DAY LONG, never getting anywhere. when you're at the bank and there's a massive line, you always rely on that schadenfreude of other people piling up behind you and having to wait longer. but if you're the trader joe linesman ... always at the end of the line.
they also call it 'twelve items or fewer' which is nice
― deveraux billings (schlump), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:02 (4 years ago) Permalink
I always find the cashiers super nice -- do they pay unusually well or something?
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:03 (4 years ago) Permalink
their bagged greens do seem to last really well - we get the baby spinach a lot, it's a big bag and stays fresh for close to two weeks.
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:04 (4 years ago) Permalink
dinner hours?? no way. that is also known as 'after work' when everyone in the world goes!
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:04 (4 years ago) Permalink
omfg
― can u do me a kindness (jergins), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:06 (4 years ago) Permalink
But Friday night it seems to work, like maybe 7:30 or later.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:08 (4 years ago) Permalink
good:
breadpeanut butter (also almond butter)three cheese frozen pizzasole filetssharp cheddar (cheap!)chocolate-covered edamametomato soup (okay, not as good as Amy's)
always disappointing:
anything salsa-relatedproduce
i stay away from the frozen dinners and pre-marinated crap too, and the overpriced meats.
― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:09 (4 years ago) Permalink
they have nicely prized frozen meats. i prefer whole foods' frozen fishes.
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:10 (4 years ago) Permalink
cheeapest clif bars off the net!
― can u do me a kindness (jergins), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:11 (4 years ago) Permalink
"good:
bread"
But not good, the plain-old "Whole Wheat Bread" (the one with very small slices) -- cardboardy. Same with the bread that comes in imitation Alvarado Street Bakery packaging.
It's funny how TJ will have like five different brands of the same product that are all TJ's and all knockoffs of other brands, and then they compete against each other.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:12 (4 years ago) Permalink
classic x100: free samples of coffee
― iatee, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:12 (4 years ago) Permalink
Suggest Ban Permalink― deveraux billings (schlump), Tuesday, March 10, 2009 10:02 PM Bookmark
I have never seen this
― The Reverend, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:12 (4 years ago) Permalink
I like the "New Zealand Grass Fed Organic Cheddar" -- very cheap! (not as yummy as Cabot, but, you know, in this economy...)
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:13 (4 years ago) Permalink
i have never bought any of the cheese/fresh meats because the line wraps around the store and makes it impossible to get to anything in that case
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:22 (4 years ago) Permalink
do you live in somewhere with a breezy, unencumbered open plan trader joe's? like one in arizona where they test out new products?
i think there is a bit on the website dedicated to regional variations, if anyone is keen for more idiosyncratic tj innovation
― deveraux billings (schlump), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:31 (4 years ago) Permalink
I like the "New Zealand Grass Fed Organic Cheddar" -- very cheap!
That stuff's good -- it's a little earthy-tasting, though. I usually just get the Wisconsin sharp white cheddar.
You know what's pretty good, and new I think (at least in my neck of the woods)? The edamame hummus.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:46 (4 years ago) Permalink
My favorite of their hummuses is the Mediterranean Hummus
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:54 (4 years ago) Permalink
should be its own thread/poll, but i have come to the conclusion that all other houmouses are bullshit. i have been burned too many times. original is BEST, though red pepper is sometimes acceptable.
― deveraux billings (schlump), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:58 (4 years ago) Permalink
Do you specifically mean Trader Joe's original or are you just against flavored hummuses in general?
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:59 (4 years ago) Permalink
The cioppino is the absolute most refined, delicious, and clutch frozen dinner I have ever had. Throw it on some spaghetti and you have an even bigger meal.
― throwbookatface (skygreenleopard)
One of my all-time faves too. I put it on rice at first but it's even better on pasta. And you can cook the seafood/sauce in a pan - no microwave necessary.
Also the Chicken Gorgonzola in the frozen section is classic. Make a sandwich with their cibatta.
― nickn, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 06:16 (4 years ago) Permalink
A lot of their frozen stuff works in the toaster oven if you can wait around for a little while.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 06:19 (4 years ago) Permalink
their veggie meatballs are awesome. also, their wheat tortillas are shit for everything EXCEPT making enchiladas, we discovered today, in which case they are the best tortillas you can possibly buy.
― akm, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 06:35 (4 years ago) Permalink
Do the frozen stuff (entrees & such) on the stovetop with a little oil, maybe a little water--set it on medium-low and stir.
― WARS OF ARMAGEDDON (Karaoke Version) (Sparkle Motion), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 06:37 (4 years ago) Permalink
best: chocolate covered pretzelschocolate mint hot chocolatechocolate covered fruitlacey cookiesbrie - good price compared to Whole Foodssome of the frozen appetizers - mushroom turnovers I remember being pretty yummy, though I haven't had them in awhilegreek style yogurtdecent prices on fancy brand hard liquorbig jugs of juicespiced apple cider
― what happened? I'm confused. (sarahel), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 07:36 (4 years ago) Permalink
agreed - Whole Foods has frozen soft-shell crab. They spent almost a year building a Whole Foods down my block, and I resented it a lot. Then I saw the frozen soft-shell crab. Best sandwich I've ever had was a soft-shell crab prepared burger like. Sorry to derail TJ thread with WF talk.
― what happened? I'm confused. (sarahel), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 07:41 (4 years ago) Permalink
I fuck w/ the mushroom turnovers
― as per diddy's twitter (The Reverend), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 07:41 (4 years ago) Permalink
i don't really buy stuff from the freezer aisle much, but the frozen naan is classic! dud: i bought some frozen egg rolls recently and they came out kinda mushy and greasy. but classic: frozen puff pastry. and their pizzas aren't half bad, esp. the roasted vegetable one.
i'm stoked that they have the winter loaf fruit and nut bread right now! it's super-delicious, esp. the bits of candied orange peel.
one of my other favorite things is the nitrate-free pastrami, which has a very beefy/briny flavor.
if i buy pre-sliced sandwich bread at all, i buy the milton's whole grain bread or the new repackaged TJ's version of it (it's cheaper).
the cheese selection is somewhat meh, but i'm all about that cotswold cheddar. and i've been keeping little hunks of their grana padano around to grate on pasta, etc.
they used to have these triple-shot cans of iced espresso at a very good price. i'm deeply dismayed that they've stopped carrying them.
― NYSE:JAH (get bent), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 07:56 (4 years ago) Permalink
so many things i've had from TJs were good or great the first time, horrible the second. the veggie chorizo, for instance. i hardly buy anything but staples there these days, the occasional lazy can of veggie chili... my wife loves their frozen pizzas. i find them pretty disgusting. they got rid of a lot of my favorite stuff in the past year or so.
quinoa bread - yum. not good for toast, though, just making sandwiches. everything bagels are okay. i'm really straining to think of anything exciting... um, chili-lime pistachios.
the balsamic veggie medley - blarrgh. canned soups - blarrgh.
― WEREWOLF CONGRESS (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 08:06 (4 years ago) Permalink
when has something called a "veggie medley" EVER been good?
― NYSE:JAH (get bent), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 08:16 (4 years ago) Permalink
they had this half-round of sourdough bread, might've been whole wheat sourdough that was awesome.
― what happened? I'm confused. (sarahel), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 08:31 (4 years ago) Permalink
maybe if it was fried veggie medley, it'd be good. However, most things called "veggie medley" tend not to be fried.
― what happened? I'm confused. (sarahel), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 08:33 (4 years ago) Permalink
veggie medleys/mixed vegetable mixes are never good, this is true
pretty good -moroccan salted olivesgreek yogurtbaby beetsginger cookies, the small ones that come in a round plastic containersome of the frozen enchiladas (chicken chile verde)relatively inexpensive walnuts, almonds, also almond butter
― football consultant, oakland raiders (daria-g), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:16 (4 years ago) Permalink
yes:veggie meatballs (addicted to these)garlic hummus dipcoffee
no:produce (obviously)"soy nuggets"
― congratulations (n/a), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:51 (4 years ago) Permalink
I'm still into soy nuggets, though my girlfriend has gradually lost interest in them.
Other likes, with caveats:
margarita pizza (though it's no substitute for the great goat cheese pizza, which has since been discontinued)
frozen mildly spiced vegetable burritos (though I stopped buying them after I realized how calorie-laden they are)
fresh mild salsa (though it tends to get overly acidic after a couple of days)
I guess I have no complaints about the frozen seafood I've bought there.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 12:46 (4 years ago) Permalink
My gf also just walked into the room and said, "Did you mention BRITISH MUFFINS?" I said no because I don't give a shit about them, but for posterity, I should mention that she eats the cinnamon raisin variety pretty much every day.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 12:47 (4 years ago) Permalink
^different from English muffins?
― f f murray abraham (G00blar), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:39 (4 years ago) Permalink
Not that I can tell.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:43 (4 years ago) Permalink
Wait, I take that back: I guess they don't have Thomas-style nooks and crannies.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:44 (4 years ago) Permalink
That's the Welsh influence.
― f f murray abraham (G00blar), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:48 (4 years ago) Permalink
oh, I LOVE that cheese (and any other Brit cheese I've ever tried.
got a bottle of tj's habanero hot sauce not expecting as much heat as the label claimed. it's really really spicy with great flavor. I only wish it didn't have its final (unnecessary to me) ingredient xanthan gum which gives it just slightly more viscosity than I want. but it's still damn lovely
― making plans for nyquil (outdoor_miner), Sunday, 7 April 2013 17:28 (1 month ago) Permalink
whole grain pretzel sticks <-- i have no idea why you would buy these but if you ever consider it.... don't
― J0rdan S., Monday, 8 April 2013 03:45 (1 month ago) Permalink
sometimes they stray too far into the "is this bird food or people food" area
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 8 April 2013 03:46 (1 month ago) Permalink
or the "am i eating sheet rock territory?"
― J0rdan S., Monday, 8 April 2013 03:47 (1 month ago) Permalink
― carl agatha, Monday, 8 April 2013 12:34 (1 month ago) Permalink
seriously that feeling that i am not crunching food, but crunching my own teeth is the sensation i dread most when eating pretzels and those pretzels bring it
― and that sounds like a gong-concert (La Lechera), Monday, 8 April 2013 13:17 (1 month ago) Permalink
Has anyone mentioned the cinnamon roll bread? It is batshit crazy; it is basically a giant unfrosted Cinnabon in the shape of a loaf of bread. And just as oozy, which is kind of a problem when you freeze it and try to toast it. But it is p damn good!
― hoda nkotb (Stevie D(eux)), Friday, 12 April 2013 01:53 (1 month ago) Permalink
Though it's way too sweet to put anything on and there are all sorts of gaps and holes in it where the swirl is so you can't rly spread anything on it; I think I'm just gonna get the OG cinn raisin bread next time.
― hoda nkotb (Stevie D(eux)), Friday, 12 April 2013 01:54 (1 month ago) Permalink
I hate hard pretzels, I don't understand why ANYONE is into those shits. Not even for the saltiness! Nada! Nunca! Get that mouth gravel out of here.
― lets just remember to blame the patriarchy for (in orbit), Friday, 12 April 2013 02:18 (1 month ago) Permalink
soft pretzels only imo
― hoda nkotb (Stevie D(eux)), Friday, 12 April 2013 02:21 (1 month ago) Permalink
― 乒乓, Friday, 12 April 2013 02:23 (1 month ago) Permalink
ew fuuuuck no.
― hoda nkotb (Stevie D(eux)), Friday, 12 April 2013 02:40 (1 month ago) Permalink
must eat the whole bag
― I, rrational (mh), Friday, 12 April 2013 15:42 (1 month ago) Permalink
best thing: spread some tj's chana masala on a piece of tj's garlic naan, top with a fried egg, fold, and eat.
― is cereal a soup (get bent), Thursday, 25 April 2013 03:02 (4 weeks ago) Permalink
oh my god
― hoda nkotb (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 25 April 2013 03:07 (4 weeks ago) Permalink
I am very much into putting fried eggs on top of everything these daysAlso I am planning a trip to TJ's tomorrow; this will be in the worksIs it the frozen chana or the box/packet chana?
― hoda nkotb (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 25 April 2013 03:08 (4 weeks ago) Permalink
want
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 25 April 2013 03:08 (4 weeks ago) Permalink
frozen.
― is cereal a soup (get bent), Thursday, 25 April 2013 03:09 (4 weeks ago) Permalink
frozen is much better than foil pack anyhow.
― hoda nkotb (Stevie D(eux)), Thursday, 25 April 2013 03:41 (4 weeks ago) Permalink
Chicken Andouille sausages
Provedential Golden Belgian Ale brewed by Unibroue but way cheaper than anything with Unibroue branded bottling:
Both thumbs up!
And cosign the SPECULOOS choc bar being fantastic despite the disgusting name
― Lambo Sedan (Whitey on the Moon), Friday, 26 April 2013 06:18 (4 weeks ago) Permalink
omg cosign on frozen vegetable pad thai! tasty
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 29 April 2013 20:06 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I just got fired from my job where I could buy locally roasted coffee in bulk for $11.99/lb w/ a 20% discount ;_; So now I need to know where to buy decent coffee on the cheap, and I am turning to TJ's
Can we do another round-up of favorite coffees? I like full-bodied darker roasts but I don't like smoky, burnt, or super-acidic stuff, or really light breakfasty blend type jawns.
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 29 April 2013 20:47 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
They sell way too much coffee though. it's overwhelming.
I tried their Colombian SupremoIt was good for the price...I found it a little bit weak, but honestly pretty good for what it was.
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 29 April 2013 20:54 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 29 April 2013 20:56 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, April 29, 2013 4:47 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I think fair trade bolivian was the one I liked that most fit this description -- it's a "medium roast" iirc, but their darker roasts will probably range into smoky, burnt or acidic.
― huun huurt 2 (Hurting 2), Monday, 29 April 2013 21:17 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
ya i am fine w/ a medium roast as long as it is complex and full of flavor
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Monday, 29 April 2013 21:29 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I've been buying Costco coffee instead lfor a while. Better for the price, although the last batch of Colombian let me down somehow -- don't know if I got tired of the taste or it just wasn't fresh or what.
― huun huurt 2 (Hurting 2), Monday, 29 April 2013 21:30 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I like the Bali one, though I'm now drinking a coffee from Whole Foods and I'd say it's noticeably better (and also noticeably more expensive - $14/lb vs $8/14 oz).
― nickn, Monday, 29 April 2013 21:31 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I like Maragogype but I add soy milk to my coffee and don't notice acid/bitter/burnt notes so much.
― You can fondle the cube but it will not respond. (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 03:27 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
yeah whole foods coffee is really good
― huun huurt 2 (Hurting 2), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 03:35 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I got the Colombia Peaberry
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 18:06 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
look forward to yr report
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 18:09 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
Never been impressed by any peaberry, though the cans usually say the smaller bean concentrates the flavor I've never felt that to be true.
― nickn, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 20:22 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
I made an iced coffee w/ my aeropress; it's v bright and has a good flavor. Not bad!
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 20:27 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
also the can has a lot of purple on it and I like that.
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Tuesday, 30 April 2013 20:29 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
thai vegetable gyozas (frozen) are literal garbage
― 乒乓, Monday, 6 May 2013 15:46 (2 weeks ago) Permalink
made an iced coffee w/ my aeropress; it's v bright and has a good flavor. Not bad!
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Tuesday, April 30, 2013 4:27 PM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I'd never let you down with a coffee rec
― huun huurt 2 (Hurting 2), Monday, 6 May 2013 15:47 (2 weeks ago) Permalink
not impressed w/ the Cowboy Caviar (overly sweet)
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Friday, 24 May 2013 15:13 (6 hours ago) Permalink
Gonna try a different coffee, too (I am learning that I prefer less bright/acidic stuff)
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Friday, 24 May 2013 15:17 (6 hours ago) Permalink
I will try either the Italian blend (dark) or the Bay Blend (ULTRA dark) which acc to stuff I've read are both full-bodied and rich w/o being too burny. Will report back!!
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Friday, 24 May 2013 16:21 (5 hours ago) Permalink
i bought some of their frozen Aloo Chat pocket thingys? omggggggg so yummy
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 24 May 2013 16:39 (4 hours ago) Permalink
Oh yeah those are great!! I eat them at work.
― siouxsan sarandon (Stevie D(eux)), Friday, 24 May 2013 16:46 (4 hours ago) Permalink