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

many thanks to this thread for alerting ppl to the existence of Everything But The Bagel

The next time I am near a Trader Joes I am loading up on it to bring back. It's not quite the same when I try to make the blend.

For a while I didn't see it at my local TJs and asked about it. The employee said that one guy came in and bought them all up. I'm guessing perhaps dude was from a Pirate Joe's-type of operation.

Bought some zhoug on the way home tonight. Ate half of it with Triskets.

Me too! I recognize it now from falafel — they serve it at the Maoz chain

i like the norwegian crispbreads
ate them every day for breakfast with avocado and now that is my favorite breakfast
they're sturdy, tasty, & nutritious

and gluten-free if you care about such things

I miss Trader Joes so much that I am just looking at pics on their website.

I'm considering making a list of every product mentioned on this thread, whether the consensus was positive or negative, and the current production status as a shopping reference

not really, but it comes to mind every time I see someone have a solid opinion

They show the sumatra coffee brownies with a scoop of ice cream on top.

that sounds like a damn cheat to me

I am going to look at the TJ What's New tab every time I feel any sense of ennui creep in.

i love the fearless flyer, it's a good read

it is! I haven't gotten one in the mail for a while, so they must be distributing fewer of them further away from the stores (my local one is in a suburb) or I've fallen off a mailing list

I like the coffee brownies but you've gotta microwave them.

Zhoug is so good, thanks thread.

Since posting, the details of this item may have changed due to fluctuating market prices, federal regulations, currency rates, drought, pestilence, bandits, rush hour traffic, filibusters, clowns, zombie apocalypse, punctilious product developers

Okay hipster wing of Aldi Einkauf GmbH & Compagnie, oHG, take my wallet.

Kinda stole Sanpaku's idea and made guacamole with zhoug in it (delicious) and ate it as a side with the zucchini fritters or whatever they're called that come with pickled beets and tzatziki. Solid meal.

I had some of the zhoug with sweet potato fries (not TJs) and that's a good combo.

made taco with zhoug + fajita meat + mac&cheese + soft-boiled egg. thank you, zhoug.

Oh zhoug, is there nothing you can't improve?

^^^

Lol I had zhoug in a sandwich today

Those of you who don't like spicy hot should head to your nearest Indian grocer and seek out coriander chutney. Its fairly similar, and is evidently the expected sandwich condiment in Mumbai.

Sanpaku, when you made the zhoug yourself did you use coriander seed or coriander powder? Did you think the cardamom pods were necessary (I may only have powder)? I think I will try to make that this weekend. Did you only use cilantro leaves or some of the stem?

I will ask my coworker friend which grocery to go to, and expect a long nuanced explanation of the pros and cons of chutney sourcing

(good chutney tip, thanks!)

Yerac: I used coriander powder, and freshly ground cumin and green cardamon. I noticed coriander seed is actually not part of the TJs product recipe, so I'll omit it next time (just cumin/green cardamon/salt in a ~2:1:1 ratio). I trimmed the cilantro/coriander stems just below the first leaf, discarding the stem. The stems themselves are similarly flavorful, but as they're not cooked here, I've found in the past they mostly contribute a fibrous (like pureed celery) texture that isn't in the TJs product.

Evidently Yemeni zhoug is freshly ground with mortar and pestle and contains no oil. But American restaurant zhougs are invariably made in blenders with added oil.

That's the way I usually use coriander in general too. Thanks.

Anyone fucking with the coffee syrup? Wondering if I need to buy it and what it would be good for other than pouring in cold brew and making coffee³

I got some zhoug & made zhougamole per Sanpaku’s suggestion. Super good.

And Everything But The Bagel seasoning is great on grilled chicken. Bagel Chicken yum!

"Banh Mi Inspired Noodle Bowl" is kinda like a Thai slaw with the dressing. I like it a lot, predict I will buy it four more times but only eat it three of those times.

I liked it, but I didn't $4.99 like it. There weren't enough noodles.

Shit was it $4.99? OK yeah that's definitely $2 more than it should be.

Shawarma chicken thighs. Has anyone tried yet? I have not had very good results from their premarinated meats but I am also not meat savvy.

I'm liking the Belles Vignes Suavignon Blanc, Great value for $5.

How is the TJs podcast?

fridge tamales >> frozen tamales

there are TOO MANY frozen pizzas!! Is there any consensus on which ones are the best and worst?

None are the best, most are terrible. The roasted veggie one is just OK.

I like the flatbread ones more.

It actually kind of strange that the frozen pizzas there are not that great.

are any frozen pizzas actually great?

I love certain digiornos varieties, in particular their pizzeria styles.

I like digiornos too.And I feel like in other non US countries the frozen pizzas in the chain supermarkets (monoprix, sainsbury etc.) are pretty tasty.

the bakery where i worked in high school used to have amazing frozen pizzas. they were more like tomato pies with sicilian crusts

oh wow, i just looked online and the source for those pizzas (the bakery owned by the dad of my boss) is now the brooklyn club alphaville

Not TJ's but this gluten-free pizza is preeeetty good, although I add sliced tomatoes, some salt, more parmesan. But the crust and sauce and cheese are DECENT which is saying something.

http://againstthegraingourmet.com/assets/images/products/box-pesto-pizza.png

the problem with the TJs pizzas is their crusts are the hardest crusts of any pizza on the planet. I have the roasted veggie one occasionally, it's reasonably healthy-seeming at least. health aside I'd rather eat any other frozen pizzas.

hot take: the only good frozen pizzas are the bottom-of-the-barrel ones, they're an entirely separate entity from "actual" pizza and attempts to be what they are not end up disappointing

Pretty sure that after college I was 15% tombstone pizza and I admit that brand and Red Baron are still the only frozen pizzas I have weird nostalgia for.