Trader Joe's

maxter · Jan 12th, 2007, 01:23 PM

A Trader Joe's finally opened up here in Wisconsin. We would always stop at one on our way home from Chicago. Even the kids love to go!

Have you shopped at one and what are your favorite products?

Madarin Chicken - kids fav
Orange Peach Mango Juice - kids fav
JoJos - everybody's fav!
Dark Chocolate Covered Prezels - oooohhhhhh!
Orange Champagne Viniagrete - makes the best salad dressing.

amanda · Jan 12th, 2007, 02:23 PM

they've just opened up two in the northern suburbs of Atlanta where my parent's live, and i was a little underwhelmed. i ADORE the natural grocery that i shop at in Athens, i could spend hours walking around in there (and it's not very big), so i think if i hadn't found that a few months ago, i would have loved Trader Joe's. it kind of bothered me that almost everything was their brand, i like some variety in picking. plus the meat counter was kind of small, and the organic meat at the grocery i usually go to is SO amazing.

bleeaptn · Jan 12th, 2007, 02:25 PM

I had a brief but mad addiction to their banana crisps.

Other faves:
Free range eggs (such a good price)
Some of their simmering sauces
Their version of "Pirates Booty"

Tammy518 · Jan 12th, 2007, 02:49 PM

Marsala simmering sauce
Tuscan bean medley
La Boca Chardonnay

bagsnbags · Jan 12th, 2007, 02:57 PM

I love TJ..

I got most of my grocery from wholefoods but I love getting my snacks from TJ..my favs roasted soy beans and edamame, pecan preline..
Love to get my pizza dough from there..they have very limited organic products..

mcmug17 · Jan 12th, 2007, 04:53 PM

Snacks:
- Papadum chips
- Ginger chews (candy)
- Dried prunes
- Their version of oreo
- Spicy cashews

Groceries:
- Chicken stock and Veggie stock
- frozen chopped herbs (parsley, cilantro)
- Cheese
- Bread
- Fresh salsa
- Chunks of pounds of dark chocolate for making desserts
- Pasta sauce
- Korma curry sauce
... OK I'll stop

Leelee · Jan 12th, 2007, 07:45 PM

So do you think it's worth going there? One just opened up here on my way home, but I haven't tried it yet. I get my veggies and produce at Whole Foods (although, it will always be Fresh Fields in my heart!). My regular groceries I buy at Giant, which I loathe and detest more than anything in the world!

mcmug17 · Jan 12th, 2007, 08:11 PM

^^I only go there for fun foods.

Veggies and fruits? Not for me. I only have to cook for me and my BF, so we usually end up buying ONE zuccini, ONE onion, TWO tomatoes, TWO apples, TWO oranges, etc (you get the idea). My TJs has all the veggies wrapped up in multiples, which I don't like.

I believe things are cheaper in TJs than in WFs. I'd say give it a chance at go at least once, since it's on your way anyway.

The Snorks · Jan 13th, 2007, 01:53 AM

We have discovered that Trader Joe's is the preferable medium, pricewise, between Safeway and Whole Foods (aka "whole paycheck). My favorites:

Samosas
Bean & Cheese taquitos
Some of their chips
English Muffin toast
the 2-buck chuck!
the cheeses!!! Seriously, I have found some fantastic cheeses that sell for one to two dollars more at whole foods.

maxter · Jan 13th, 2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amanda

it kind of bothered me that almost everything was their brand, i like some variety in picking.

Trader Joe's negotiates deals with other manufacturer's to make their item under the TJ brand. For instance, the TJ pizzas that look like Connie's pizzas are actually Connie's pizzas with the TJ label. And then they will sell it for less than the name brand. I know this for a fact because they were negotiating with my brother-in-law's bread company.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leelee

So do you think it's worth going there?

Definitely, but not on a Saturday, too busy!

twinkle.tink · Jan 13th, 2007, 12:18 PM

Congrats! And I do mean congrats...I love TJs.

My favs:
microgreens
mixed mini peppers
ham and onion tarte
gnocci (both kinds, with red sauce and gorganzola) kids love these too
sesame cashews
lowfat cheese puffs

The kids love:
Jojos
the juice bars
the ice cream bon bons
buried treasure (like pirates booty)

gymangel812 · Jan 13th, 2007, 05:00 PM

this is good to know, there's one 10 mins from me and i've thought about going

jclr · Jan 13th, 2007, 10:35 PM

Here in the San Francisco Bay area gourmet food shops abound, but TJs is part of my grocery stops. Their product offerings have improved over the years and I have too many items on my TJs list to mention here. You will find that some of their brand name items will be cheaper than at your local store. I would have a hard tie living somewhere w/out a TJs.

Tammy518 · Jan 14th, 2007, 02:28 PM

Oh, forgot to add Mochi (ice cream) to my list.

elizabethk · Jan 15th, 2007, 12:06 AM

oooooooooooh good thread.
strawberry juice---absolutely wonderful
dixie peach juice --wonderful as mixer and even better with cheap champagne to make bellini's.
bulgogi korean meat---i never knew Korean food would be so good, and all you have to do is fry it.
the best for last chimmichurri sauce

fage greek yogurt w/ honey compartment---amazing

napa river chardonnay --the best 4.00 chardonnay i've ever had
ham and guyere tart in the freezer section good as a cheap lunch, snack

Jan 12th, 2007, 01:23 PM	#1
maxter Where's the honey? Location: Theatre of the Absurd	Trader Joe's A Trader Joe's finally opened up here in Wisconsin. We would always stop at one on our way home from Chicago. Even the kids love to go! Have you shopped at one and what are your favorite products? Madarin Chicken - kids fav Orange Peach Mango Juice - kids fav JoJos - everybody's fav! Dark Chocolate Covered Prezels - oooohhhhhh! Orange Champagne Viniagrete - makes the best salad dressing.

Jan 12th, 2007, 02:23 PM	#2
amanda I Bleed Georgia Red Location: Athens, GA	Re: Trader Joe's they've just opened up two in the northern suburbs of Atlanta where my parent's live, and i was a little underwhelmed. i ADORE the natural grocery that i shop at in Athens, i could spend hours walking around in there (and it's not very big), so i think if i hadn't found that a few months ago, i would have loved Trader Joe's. it kind of bothered me that almost everything was their brand, i like some variety in picking. plus the meat counter was kind of small, and the organic meat at the grocery i usually go to is SO amazing. __________________ PROUD TO BE A UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BULLDOG! Read my blog: http://graduationday.wordpress.com

Jan 12th, 2007, 02:25 PM	#3
bleeaptn Member Location: Southern CA	Re: Trader Joe's I had a brief but mad addiction to their banana crisps. Other faves: Free range eggs (such a good price) Some of their simmering sauces Their version of "Pirates Booty"

Jan 12th, 2007, 02:49 PM	#4
Tammy518 Just one more... Location: Virginia Beach, VA	Re: Trader Joe's Marsala simmering sauce Tuscan bean medley La Boca Chardonnay

Jan 12th, 2007, 02:57 PM	#5
bagsnbags got tempted easily! Location: Psssttt...Secret!!!	Re: Trader Joe's I love TJ.. I got most of my grocery from wholefoods but I love getting my snacks from TJ..my favs roasted soy beans and edamame, pecan preline.. Love to get my pizza dough from there..they have very limited organic products.. __________________ Go Lakers!

Jan 12th, 2007, 04:53 PM	#6
mcmug17 Member	Re: Trader Joe's Snacks: - Papadum chips - Ginger chews (candy) - Dried prunes - Their version of oreo - Spicy cashews Groceries: - Chicken stock and Veggie stock - frozen chopped herbs (parsley, cilantro) - Cheese - Bread - Fresh salsa - Chunks of pounds of dark chocolate for making desserts - Pasta sauce - Korma curry sauce ... OK I'll stop __________________ Current Wishlist: Hermes Kelly Pochette in black, leather TBD Hopefully... a Hermes Birkin 30cm in etoupe, BJ, or orange... ???

Jan 12th, 2007, 07:45 PM	#7
Leelee Up On My Toes! Location: Highland, Maryland	Re: Trader Joe's So do you think it's worth going there? One just opened up here on my way home, but I haven't tried it yet. I get my veggies and produce at Whole Foods (although, it will always be Fresh Fields in my heart!). My regular groceries I buy at Giant, which I loathe and detest more than anything in the world!

Jan 12th, 2007, 08:11 PM	#8
mcmug17 Member	Re: Trader Joe's ^^I only go there for fun foods. Veggies and fruits? Not for me. I only have to cook for me and my BF, so we usually end up buying ONE zuccini, ONE onion, TWO tomatoes, TWO apples, TWO oranges, etc (you get the idea). My TJs has all the veggies wrapped up in multiples, which I don't like. I believe things are cheaper in TJs than in WFs. I'd say give it a chance at go at least once, since it's on your way anyway. __________________ Current Wishlist: Hermes Kelly Pochette in black, leather TBD Hopefully... a Hermes Birkin 30cm in etoupe, BJ, or orange... ???

Jan 13th, 2007, 01:53 AM	#9
The Snorks Caveat Lector	Re: Trader Joe's We have discovered that Trader Joe's is the preferable medium, pricewise, between Safeway and Whole Foods (aka "whole paycheck). My favorites: Samosas Bean & Cheese taquitos Some of their chips English Muffin toast the 2-buck chuck! the cheeses!!! Seriously, I have found some fantastic cheeses that sell for one to two dollars more at whole foods. __________________ "So you're the Fashion Editor at the Washington Post. Isn't that like being the Dance Critic at the Southern Baptist Convention?" ~Stephen Colbert

Jan 13th, 2007, 12:18 PM	#11
twinkle.tink Pixie Duster Location: Just call me Tink ;)	Re: Trader Joe's Congrats! And I do mean congrats...I love TJs. My favs: microgreens mixed mini peppers ham and onion tarte gnocci (both kinds, with red sauce and gorganzola) kids love these too sesame cashews lowfat cheese puffs The kids love: Jojos the juice bars the ice cream bon bons buried treasure (like pirates booty) __________________

Jan 13th, 2007, 05:00 PM	#12
gymangel812 <3OOO~~~ Location: Ohio	Re: Trader Joe's this is good to know, there's one 10 mins from me and i've thought about going __________________ wants: Rouge Theatre, Apple Green, 05 Turquoise, Vert Gazon firsts Chanel Black Luxe Ligne, & Violet Lady Braid flaps LV Panda Pouchette

Jan 13th, 2007, 10:35 PM	#13
jclr Member Location: In the Land of Milk and Honey	Re: Trader Joe's Here in the San Francisco Bay area gourmet food shops abound, but TJs is part of my grocery stops. Their product offerings have improved over the years and I have too many items on my TJs list to mention here. You will find that some of their brand name items will be cheaper than at your local store. I would have a hard tie living somewhere w/out a TJs.

Jan 14th, 2007, 02:28 PM	#14
Tammy518 Just one more... Location: Virginia Beach, VA	Re: Trader Joe's Oh, forgot to add Mochi (ice cream) to my list.

Jan 15th, 2007, 12:06 AM	#15
elizabethk Hermes Addict Location: USA	Re: Trader Joe's oooooooooooh good thread. strawberry juice---absolutely wonderful dixie peach juice --wonderful as mixer and even better with cheap champagne to make bellini's. bulgogi korean meat---i never knew Korean food would be so good, and all you have to do is fry it. the best for last chimmichurri sauce fage greek yogurt w/ honey compartment---amazing napa river chardonnay --the best 4.00 chardonnay i've ever had ham and guyere tart in the freezer section good as a cheap lunch, snack