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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
no one's mentioned the dark chocolate ginger pieces...they're...delightful
― dbro, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:34 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
lacey cookies A++++++ not sure if they're TJ brand though
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 04:38 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
omfghttp://justinsomnia.org/images/trader-joes-chocolate-croissants.jpg
― can u do me a kindness (jergins), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:06 (fifteen years ago) link
But Friday night it seems to work, like maybe 7:30 or later.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:08 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
they have nicely prized frozen meats. i prefer whole foods' frozen fishes.
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:10 (fifteen years ago) link
cheeapest clif bars off the net!
― can u do me a kindness (jergins), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:11 (fifteen years ago) link
"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 (fifteen years ago) link
classic x100: free samples of coffee
― iatee, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:12 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
My favorite of their hummuses is the Mediterranean Hummus
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 05:54 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
I fuck w/ the mushroom turnovers
― as per diddy's twitter (The Reverend), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 07:41 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
when has something called a "veggie medley" EVER been good?
― NYSE:JAH (get bent), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 08:16 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
yes:veggie meatballs (addicted to these)garlic hummus dipcoffee
no:produce (obviously)"soy nuggets"
― congratulations (n/a), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 11:51 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
^different from English muffins?
― f f murray abraham (G00blar), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:39 (fifteen years ago) link
Not that I can tell.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:43 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
That's the Welsh influence.
― f f murray abraham (G00blar), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:48 (fifteen years ago) link
Undoubtedly.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 13:56 (fifteen years ago) link
decent prices on fancy brand hard liquor
where do you live that they do this? i want to move there.
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 14:12 (fifteen years ago) link
should mention that i've grown past charles shaw (hooray i am old!) but i still like to buy wines at their wine shop cause they're about $3-8 cheaper for most things than the shop in my neighborhood.
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 14:13 (fifteen years ago) link
i used to think "every bit counts" when it comes to plastic waste but you're point is probably right, mh. like it's a bigass world with neverending plastic at this point.
at least those yogurt containers are likely to get recycled, Lilyxp
― Half Japanese Breakfast (outdoor_miner), Wednesday, 1 March 2023 14:48 (one year ago) link
Hopefully plastic-eating bacteria gets scaled up soon
― G. D’Arcy Cheesewright (silby), Wednesday, 1 March 2023 16:50 (one year ago) link
If not it’ll evolve eventually
I seem to recall a great Carlin bit about plastic. The gist being, what if the planet *wants* plastic, and evolved us to harvest it for them, while simultaneously ensuring our own doom? So that it can live happily ever after with all the plastic and none of the people.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 1 March 2023 17:26 (one year ago) link
I wish there were, like, a gas station for yogurt
I was actually looking around for local bulk white vinegar, so I could just bring in a gallon jug rather than buying a new one - alas, this doesn't appear to be a thing
― Andy the Grasshopper, Wednesday, 1 March 2023 17:31 (one year ago) link
When my sister lived in Sacramento, she would shop at a store called Refill Madness, which only sold items in bulk. You had to bring in and tare your own containers. Idk if that concept is widespread (nothing like that exists here in the Inland Empire) but I think it will become more prevalent over time to the point that mainstream stores will also have to start accommodating it.
― john shopkins (naus), Monday, 6 March 2023 05:05 (one year ago) link
There is a store in Pasadena that does that, though I've never tried it. And we used to have a food co-op where you could do that for some items.
― nickn, Monday, 6 March 2023 08:42 (one year ago) link
There are a few places/products that encourage that, especially for shelf-stable stuff like shampoo. A few years back I want to say I heard a radio piece on how difficult it was to find a pizza place that would allow you to pick up the pie minus the box, using your own container.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 6 March 2023 12:41 (one year ago) link
https://www.wbez.org/stories/can-you-get-takeout-without-a-side-of-trash-in-chicago/fdab4761-534c-4cb2-9131-17979e34ae66
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 6 March 2023 12:43 (one year ago) link
https://preview.redd.it/gdbv8dnsntta1.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=133b2e5b0d90d6574e60b0667937f0cde3ea41da
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 17 April 2023 02:30 (eleven months ago) link
Top two look like hippos, middle two like goats, far right is a horse, lower left maybe a tiger, or a polar bear.
― nickn, Monday, 17 April 2023 02:37 (eleven months ago) link
Maybe top center is a rhino with a truncated horn.
animals.
― Cinta Kaz is comin' to town (Sufjan Grafton), Monday, 17 April 2023 02:57 (eleven months ago) link
I just ate an entire Jalapeno Cheddar Bread in one and sitting and aside from feeling like I'm about to burst, my biggest regret is that I don't have any more to eat tomorrow.
― Sid Bream You My Love (Leee), Monday, 8 May 2023 04:05 (ten months ago) link
The French onion focaccia is really good too. Also those new Thai noodle rice snacks.
― just1n3, Monday, 8 May 2023 05:27 (ten months ago) link
Picked up the chai black-tea concentrate last week, mixed it with milk, and am absolutely hooked.
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Wednesday, 21 June 2023 17:27 (eight months ago) link
how caffeine-y do you feel it is (one tbsp for 2hrs alertness, 5tbsp for neversleep)?
― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 21 June 2023 18:22 (eight months ago) link
TRADER JOES AMERICAN CHEESE DOES NOT MELT CORRECTLY
― kurt schwitterz, Wednesday, 21 June 2023 20:56 (eight months ago) link
I'm usually pretty good about bringing my own bag to Trader Joe's, but after making an impulse stop last night (I was getting my 16-yr old some driving at night hours in on the road) I realized I forgot one. "What about that?" she asked, pointing to the collapsable crate I'd bought at Costco but not yet brought out of the car. "That's perfect!" I said, excited. And boy did the Trader Joe's crew get a kick out of my BYO crate, ooh-ing and ah-ing over it, pawing at it, congregating by the register to admire it. And as I left I absolutely know the guy scanning my stuff loved telling me "your receipt is in the crate."
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 1 August 2023 15:22 (seven months ago) link
lol
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Tuesday, 1 August 2023 20:28 (seven months ago) link
Okay, my local was out of Vermouth so I decided to try this oddball instead... Pronto! Made in Italy, 24% abv, $9.99 for 750ml
Bitter, sort of like Campari or even Cynar, a muted plum color... poured over ice with a splash of lemonade (in the American sense), it's pretty darn good for the price! The label mentions 'intriguing aromatic herbs and a hint of orange peel'.. I might be buying this again, very refreshing in the hot California sun
https://i.imgur.com/NCRHhXO.jpg
― Andy the Grasshopper, Wednesday, 27 September 2023 23:31 (five months ago) link
good to know! Very sad about the hatch unexpected cheddar spread being done.
― Sufjan Grafton, Thursday, 28 September 2023 00:15 (five months ago) link
huh, really curious who is actually making that amaro
― jaymc, Thursday, 28 September 2023 01:13 (five months ago) link
the amaro person
― ɥɯ ︵ (°□°) (mh), Thursday, 28 September 2023 03:46 (five months ago) link
less paper plane and more budget airline.
― horizontal, Thursday, 28 September 2023 15:37 (five months ago) link
Going to try out their porchetta tonight...
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Sunday, 24 December 2023 20:56 (two months ago) link
Porchetta worked out great. Had it out of the fridge most of the afternoon, had it in the oven a bit longer than instructed. Tasty!
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Monday, 25 December 2023 03:00 (two months ago) link
Damn do I love their pastrami-style smoked salmon.
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Tuesday, 2 January 2024 03:18 (two months ago) link
Enjoying snacking on the spicy tempura seaweed and the rosemary nuts
― that's not my post, Tuesday, 2 January 2024 03:41 (two months ago) link
Did they discontinue their jalapeno cheesy bread?!
― Beverly Step On Me Crusher (Leee), Tuesday, 2 January 2024 05:02 (two months ago) link
I’m bummed out over their decision to stop carrying the “Simply Eggless” egg substitute. It was way better and cheaper (by a few dollars) than the Just Egg. It was so easy to work with and never stuck to my cast-iron pan.
― john shopkins (naus), Saturday, 13 January 2024 09:55 (two months ago) link
The Trader Joe's Soyaki sauce is quite nice. However I've been informed by those in the know (i.e. my wife and her friends) that labelling it as a 'Trader Joe san' product is inaccurate, as you can't use the '-san' suffix for yourself in Japanese culture. Instead, it translates as "Dear Trader Joe, from Soyaki" or possibly "Dear Trader Joe, here is Soyaki from Japan".
Perhaps they meant that?
― help me I am in hull (Matt #2), Tuesday, 12 March 2024 15:23 (one week ago) link
The proof
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31L0m5W1imL.jpg
― help me I am in hull (Matt #2), Tuesday, 12 March 2024 15:38 (one week ago) link
The fact that they still do this kind of "ethnic" "marketing" (or mockery, as I would call it) is truly insane afaic.
That said, had a few people over about two weeks ago and the "everything but the bagel" dip literally disappeared in about five minutes.
― butt dumb tight my boners got boners (the table is the table), Tuesday, 12 March 2024 16:03 (one week ago) link
there's also the whole "dismantle the administrative capacity of the federal govt" thing :(
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/10/starbucks-trader-joes-spacex-challenge-labor-board
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Tuesday, 12 March 2024 16:05 (one week ago) link
well if you choose to boycott TJ's for their stance on the NLRB you can always buy the name brand version of that product. I have been marinating salmon in it for years (and it has its own ethnic marketing spin that as a Jew I have never decided how I feel about)
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71AeHdXtmiL._SX679_.jpg
― Lavator Shemmelpennick, Tuesday, 12 March 2024 16:21 (one week ago) link
As a child, i was forced to attend las vegas for an extended family vacation with cousins. Our parents also made us wear hawaiian shirts like the griswolds for a day. Nobody should be forced to wear a hawaiian shirt at their job.
― 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 12 March 2024 16:23 (one week ago) link
Doesn't teriyaki sauce always have soy sauce? A bit like making your own ketchup mix and naming it "Tomatchup"
― 145 feet up in a Jeffrey Pine (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, 12 March 2024 16:28 (one week ago) link
yeah you can make it with soy sauce, mirin, and sugar
I think the TJ's one and others throw in garlic and ginger, but you can do lots of variations
― ɥɯ ︵ (°□°) (mh), Tuesday, 12 March 2024 16:36 (one week ago) link
thought the revive might be for this
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/madness-trader-joes-mini-tote-bags-reselling-for-up-to-500-amid-social-media-craze/ar-BB1jI1r3
people are insane
― omar little, Tuesday, 12 March 2024 16:52 (one week ago) link