The Trader Joe's Product Discussion Thread (S/D)

I'm a believer in that olive oil, dow. Very good for that price.

And I have a bag of that shiitake mushroom chicken in my freezer, think I bought it on a rec here. Haven't tried it yet.

not product but the stores here have changed their pos system

Here, too. Their new credit card machines take for-fucking-ever.

my go-to TJ's oo has been the kalamata

omg using a card takes forever at my store too

I use Apple Pay.

TJ's Sour Patch Kids equivalent: very very good, brilliant natural flavors, even the colors are cool
Gummy Bears: quite bad

yeah, except world market probably pays a little more per bottle and you pay a little less at TJ's, that's their value proposition

― μpright mammal (mh), Sunday, 6 March 2016 00:48 (Yesterday) Permalink

i'm going to do some field sampling. i don't remember the price difference

World Market has had problems keeping their stock fresh, I've found. You kinda never know how long something's been sitting on the shelves.

i don't shop there usually. i sometimes need non-US products, and they are the ones that carry them

there are deals to be had at world market but it's definitely no substitute for a good ethic grocery store

It's my connection for my favorite cheap white wine - Rene Barbier Mediterranean White - and their beer deals can be good. I buy some packaged Indian foods and pastas there occasionally.

lol @ ethnic. i'm buying british products

i'm not about to drive an hour in los angeles traffic to a british shop

blood sausages

TJ's Sour Patch Kids equivalent: very very good, brilliant natural flavors, even the colors are cool
Gummy Bears: quite bad

Swedish Fish (Scandinavian Swimmers): Bizarre, slightly off-putting

ew yeah i bought those once and even as a gummi addict i was not really into them. they were really sticky. i stated my thoughts on the gummi polar bears with the goo inside them upthread.

I tried the orange chicken and loved it, so easy to make too.

I haven't bought the kung pao chicken but I sampled it yesterday and it was terrific, not too spicy either.

the frozen orange chicken is a classic, it used to be their top selling product of all time. not sure if that's still the case

my roommate got a TJ's chocolate babka that looks pretty good, its been sitting on the kitchen table for a couple days and i've been tempted to steal it

yes they are both v v great re: frozen chickens, esp when you whip up some rice to go with them, so easy and yum

really like the provençal mustard

Anyone try the cooked pork belly?

I bought a box but gave it to my old neighbor, when she made it it was gray and flavorless... but that describes much of her cooking tbh.

Yeah I've had that, it was good

yeah I've had that a few times and it's always been great. This recipe for crispy pork belly + kale is awesome http://www.traderjoes.com/recipes/recipe/269

kettle cooked chicken soup is excellent

wait what?

http://news.yahoo.com/trader-joe-close-stores-2017-104416372.html

april fools?

oh right

not seeing it anywhere else so I am suspicious - altho that was posted 10 hours ago and it isn't April 1st yet

yeah but i don't see it anywhere else

read below the wine photo

ah passed over that as I am not in the habit of reading apparent captions to photos of wine

it's april 1 in other time zones

Kale slaw in a bag, w/ three smaller packets inside: cranberries, sunflower seeds, and dressing. Really good.

We get that all the time.

It goes kinda fast, but damn.

They've got paella now! (Product of France, iirc.) Pretty good and a nice, easy lunch, especially for $5.

I overheard that trader joe's just suspended/took off the shelves a TON of different things due to quality issues, has anyone been recently? I'm going today, I need chips/guac/pico so those better not be missing...

They're always shifting stock around, changing sourcing, etc.

I still weep about the large stoppered bottles of ginger beer that got recalled. Their newsletter claims they have it back in normal-sized bottles

Of course but they usually don't pull things off the shelves and trash them during that process...

They have their own house brand of ginger beer now...I prefer reed's though since it's a little sweeter, but theirs is good too.

I was pretty hopeful for the TJs ginger beer but Reed's is def better. Bundaberg's even better but I have to go to another store for that shit.

costco has bundaberg's but i have been resisting it the last couple trips

i drink it all way too quickly and it just tastes too good with alcohol

i drink it all way too quickly and it just tastes too good with alcohol

― μpright mammal (mh), Saturday, April 30, 2016 12:36 PM (1 minute ago)

so otm

I don't drink much at all. But yeah when I have a bottle of dark rum and some Bundaberg's...

Island salsa is solid.

bundaberg is so dope

good bottle shape

Chicken and Vegetable Wonton Soup (frozen) is really good. Broth might need a little doctoring to your taste but the veggies are crisp and fresh and the wontons are just fine. (This comes after a string of frozen disappointments)

the lamb vindaloo is p good