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
they dont have liquor or wine @ the bk outpost
― rip dom passantino 3/5/09 never forget (max), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 14:13 (fifteen years ago) link
tbh i have not really been feeling tjs lately after eating nothing but stuff from their store all thru college
― rip dom passantino 3/5/09 never forget (max), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 14:14 (fifteen years ago) link
will ride for the chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels tho
those Maple Cream cookies are out of control good.
― brotherlovesdub, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 14:34 (fifteen years ago) link
that sounds absolutely disgusting
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 14:34 (fifteen years ago) link
chili mango slices <3
These are not being appreciated enough.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 14:35 (fifteen years ago) link
I've ventured into Trader Joe's out of curiosity, but I always get frustrated and leave empty-handed. I can't stand the in-no-way-intuitive layout (soy sauce is stocked in the freezer section next to eggrolls?) and there are huge gaps in what they stock (Thai rice sticks were the only non-Italian noodles I could find). But I don't buy prepared foods or snacks, so maybe TJ wasn't meant for me.
― lindseykai, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 14:56 (fifteen years ago) link
ugh, we got the chili mango slices and found them GROSS.
BUT WHY TJ DID YOU STOP SELLING THE CHOCOLATE COVERED PEANUTS? My gf asked, they said they weren't selling. WTF
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 15:07 (fifteen years ago) link
But I don't buy prepared foods or snacks, so maybe TJ wasn't meant for me.
Possibly. CHILXor dan m. has said the same. I don't really go nuts with all of the snacks and cookies and shit, either, but there are two things that I eat with a great deal of regularity -- cereal and sandwiches -- and TJ's is definitely good for things like cheese, soy milk, condiments, etc.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 15:10 (fifteen years ago) link
bread talk: quinoa bread is some crumbly shit.the half-loaves of sourdough are great though. i don't really understand wholewheat sourdough, but the white loaves. also the tuscan panes and similar little seeded breads.
i remember someone speaking up for soy chorizo a while ago and being curious, because i don't really go in for faux-meat stuff. but the backlash has dissuaded me. are veggie meatballs good: for real?
also: little cherry tomatoes. can't really find them anywhere cheaper.
― deveraux billings (schlump), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 15:21 (fifteen years ago) link
― dan selzer, Wednesday, March 11, 2009 11:07 AM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark
Someone told me they have some kind of fairly strict system where they rotate out the bottom x% of products (in sales terms).
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 15:24 (fifteen years ago) link
If you don't like prepared foods it's true that TJ doesn't have a lot to offer besides staples. It's definitely not a store for true foodies or cooking enthusiasts. Produce at the little green markets in the area is equally cheap and generally better. And Sahadi's and Damascus Bakery are good for specialty items.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 15:27 (fifteen years ago) link
got to chime in for this lemon pepper w/ grinder trader joe's sells. my mom bought it for us randomly and it took my wife and i a couple months to actually try it, but now we cannot live without it. which is a problem because we're running low and we live in a state with no Trader Joe's. Mom?
― tylerw, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 15:29 (fifteen years ago) link
still so sad that tjs discontinued the flax pasta. brown rice and whole wheat is proving to be no substitute. the flax one ended up being just the right consistency -- not to chewy, but still on the firm side that let you know it was a bit more healthy than white flour. one of the managers told me a few months back they'd be trying out another flax variety, but no dice so far.
― robotsinlove, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 15:38 (fifteen years ago) link
may god help me if they ever get rid of darrell lea black licorice
life without it would be bleak
― figgy pudding (La Lechera), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 15:41 (fifteen years ago) link
omg that reminds me the 25 seasoning salute is like a gift from the heavens!
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 16:49 (fifteen years ago) link
Third on the veggie meatballs...also:
-super lazy but the three-packs of frozen brown rice somehow microwave perfectly every time and are great on-the-fly
-boil-in-bag Indian dal (nice w/ their mango chutney)
-GARLIC NAAN (not frozen)
-strawberry kefir (drinkable yogurt)
-red pepper-tomato soup in the carton thingy
― Hadrian VIII, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 17:29 (fifteen years ago) link
O yeah the carton soups have generally treated me well.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 17:58 (fifteen years ago) link
third the carton soups - the red pepper/tomato is a fave of mine too
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:13 (fifteen years ago) link
big fan of these.
Also, A ________ Walks Into a Bar
― Your heartbeat soun like sasquatch feet (polyphonic), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:14 (fifteen years ago) link
the red pepper/tomato is pretty good, but honestly i kind of live on Amy's low-fat cream of tomato.
― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Also:
Green apple granolaVegetarian sushiLentil wrap
― Your heartbeat soun like sasquatch feet (polyphonic), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:17 (fifteen years ago) link
Vegetarian sushi
Should've mentioned this earlier as a do-not-want. It's kind of gross.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:19 (fifteen years ago) link
my boyfriend loves those soy nuggets - we discovered, by accident (lol), that the trick is to totally overbake them (45mins at 400)
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:20 (fifteen years ago) link
It's lettuce, rice, squash and a little bit of tofu. What makes it gross?
― Your heartbeat soun like sasquatch feet (polyphonic), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:21 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm on the fence about soy nuggets.
― Bonobos in Paneradise (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:22 (fifteen years ago) link
xp They're a little sweet, which isn't something I want in sushi. I'm guessing it's preservatives.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:26 (fifteen years ago) link
oh those fruit leather things w/ fiber added :)
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:27 (fifteen years ago) link
i haven't been to tj's in like, months, though.
we discovered, by accident (lol), that the trick is to totally overbake them (45mins at 400)
Wow, you have far more patience than I do. If I'm eating soy nuggets, it's because I don't want to spend more than 5 minutes preparing a meal. (I just microwave them.)
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:30 (fifteen years ago) link
frozen mac n cheese is amazing
― cool app (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:30 (fifteen years ago) link
expensive tho
you can make real food in 45 minutes!
― Tracy Michael Jordan Catalano (Jordan), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:42 (fifteen years ago) link
^^Yeah, that's my point!
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:45 (fifteen years ago) link
i KNOW that - but cooking is one of my least favourite activities, esp since me and my bf and pretty much polar differences when it comes to tastes.
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:47 (fifteen years ago) link
;_;
if you come visit i will teach you to <3 cooking :)
― yur twit (tehresa), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 18:54 (fifteen years ago) link
i don't have either the patience, efficiency or creativity to ever really enjoy cooking. the whole thing just stresses me out!
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:09 (fifteen years ago) link
This is mad tasty (although I prefer the tandoori naan) but I end up freezing it anyway because otherwise it goes bad v quickly
xps: yeah, as someone who doesn't enjoy cooking at all (although my capabilities in that department are pretty good, tbh), TJ's is a godsend
― The-Reverend (rev), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:16 (fifteen years ago) link
me too, rev - i CAN cook, and often do a reasonably good job of it. i was cooking family meals for 5 most week nights from the time i was 12-13. but i hate thinking about food and how to make it. which is also why tj's is so good - i can eat prettily healthily without putting much effort in.
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:24 (fifteen years ago) link
Recent TJ's classicness:Asparagus Risotto (might be too salty for some, but this is pretty much all I'm getting from the frozen aisle)German Mountain cheeseChicken sausage and polenta lasagna
― Chris Barrus (Elvis Telecom), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:42 (fifteen years ago) link
Love:Columbus Salame Co. coldcuts (although these are not TJs exclusively)Cheaper prices on vino and booze, even if maddingly inconsistent stocking of beer brandsFlavored pita chips - OMMFG.
Hate:Milk - sour in like, 4 daysProduce - just not well-looked after, even in CA
On the whole, TJ for froze and pre-packaged, and bread if I'm feeling meh about Von's selection. As detailed on numerous other threads, the South Pasadena area has an embarassment of riches when it comes to grocery stores - WF, TJ, Vons, Ralphs, Bristol Farms and Pavillions all within 2 miles, and a BevMo in the mix, as well.
You pretty much can cook anything you want on an hour's notice.
― Barackin' In the Free World (B.L.A.M.), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:44 (fifteen years ago) link
never had problems with TJ's milk
― The-Reverend (rev), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:46 (fifteen years ago) link
i can eat prettily healthily
Not to sound self-righteous -- because God knows I'm not the healthiest eater -- but if you're buying anything that's prepackaged (unless it's just like frozen green beans or whatever), you're definitely sacrificing a certain amount of healthiness. Trader Joe's items are usually better than what you'd find at a mainstream supermarket (I don't recall seeing high-fructose corn syrup in any of their products, for instance), but any ready-to-eat product is still going to have way more sodium and other chemical preservatives than if you just made it yourself.
This is a big part of why I gave up those TJ's burritos. For a while I told myself they were a cheap, healthy meal -- vegan even! -- and then I read the nutritional info more closely. TJ's also has a tortilla soup in a jar that I had a couple times and liked but stopped buying when I realized it contained like 80% of your RDA of sodium.
― Bianca Jagger (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:49 (fifteen years ago) link
IIRC, South Pasadena has a pretty good farmer's market on Thursday.
And yeah, TJ's produce is uniformly poor but I do like those big tubs of fresh basil.
― Chris Barrus (Elvis Telecom), Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:50 (fifteen years ago) link
that's why i said 'pretty healthily' - i do realise i don't have the most amazingly nutritious diet, but i have to make a compromise: i could eat super healthily and feel stressed about it every day and dread coming home to cook, or i can do what i'm doing now.
― just1n3, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 19:58 (fifteen years ago) link
and then I read the nutritional info more closely
this is where you went wrong, I think
― iatee, Wednesday, 11 March 2009 20:09 (fifteen years ago) link