Thread: New Trader Joe's

check the wines. also any frozen vegetable you see, with/without sauce is
probably good, organic pb lee


"Nunya Bidnits" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:ivpls6$pc7$[email protected]..
> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less than a
> mile from home. They just opened today.
>
> They haven't sent out any flyers or announcements but I see where I can
> subscribe to a flyer and have pulled up the current one on line.
>
> So what's worthwhile? I'm not real big on processed and prepared foods but
> people seem to rave about this store.
>
> There are a few things touted in the flyer that interest me.
> Tuscan Cantaloupe
> Wasabi Arugula
> Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette (Is it sickly sweet like most fat-free
> dressing?)
> Simply Fat Free Sour Cream (same question)
> Sweet Pineapple Chunks in Pineapple Juice (in cans? any good?)
> Tortilla Chip Rounds look like a decent deal
> Arctic Char - ten bucks lb
> Uncured Chicken Hot Dogs - sounds more like chicken sausage
> Wasabi Almonds
> Josephsbrau Summer Brew
> Carne Asada Autentica - hmmm, I know it's prepared food but...
>
> Anything else I should make a beeline for?
>
> MartyB
>

Nunya Bidnits wrote:
> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less than a
> mile from home. They just opened today.
>
> They haven't sent out any flyers or announcements but I see where I can
> subscribe to a flyer and have pulled up the current one on line.
>
> So what's worthwhile? I'm not real big on processed and prepared foods but
> people seem to rave about this store.
>
> There are a few things touted in the flyer that interest me.
> Tuscan Cantaloupe
> Wasabi Arugula
> Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette (Is it sickly sweet like most fat-free
> dressing?)
> Simply Fat Free Sour Cream (same question)
> Sweet Pineapple Chunks in Pineapple Juice (in cans? any good?)
> Tortilla Chip Rounds look like a decent deal
> Arctic Char - ten bucks lb
> Uncured Chicken Hot Dogs - sounds more like chicken sausage
> Wasabi Almonds
> Josephsbrau Summer Brew
> Carne Asada Autentica - hmmm, I know it's prepared food but...
>
> Anything else I should make a beeline for?
>
> MartyB
>
>

• "Hofbrau" beer. (they sell individual bottles and cans of beer
without inflating the price, so you can mix-and-match your own variety
6-packs)
• Green and red tuna curries
• frozen mangoes, both halves and chunks
• pecan pralines (look like sugar-coated pecan halves) Don't buy the
mixed nuts that look the same for $1 cheaper, they are not nearly as good.
• The naan bread is pretty good
• I really liked the noncrystallized candied ginger, but it
disappeared off the shelves 4 or 5 months ago :-(
• The English Toffee is really good, but not as good as the pecans
• The dried California apricots are a really good price, but I like
the cheaper Turkish aps better and I usually buy those at Fleet Farm.

That's all I can think of right now.

-Bob

On Jul 15, 10:20*am, "Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidn...@eternal-
september.invalid> wrote:
> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less than a
> mile from home. They just opened today.
>
> They haven't sent out any flyers or announcements but I see where I can
> subscribe to a flyer and have pulled up the current one on line.
>
> So what's worthwhile? I'm not real big on processed and prepared foods but
> people seem to rave about this store.
>
> There are a few things touted in the flyer that interest me.
> Tuscan Cantaloupe
> Wasabi Arugula
> Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette (Is it sickly sweet like most fat-free
> dressing?)
> Simply Fat Free Sour Cream (same question)
> Sweet Pineapple Chunks in Pineapple Juice (in cans? any good?)
> Tortilla Chip Rounds look like a decent deal
> Arctic Char - ten bucks lb
> Uncured Chicken Hot Dogs - sounds more like chicken sausage
> Wasabi Almonds
> Josephsbrau Summer Brew
> Carne Asada Autentica - hmmm, I know it's prepared food but...
>
> Anything else I should make a beeline for?
>
> MartyB

You must live near me - I'm about 2 miles from the Ward Parkway
store. What I buy there when I'm in cities that have them - nuts
(they always have hazelnuts, which are hard to find outside of
Christmas) and chocolate (I use the pound plus bars for truffles and
other things for gift-giving). All the cheese I've tried has been
good.

I'm very excited about the opening, but I think I'll wait a couple of
weeks before I go in. My gym is in the same mall, and I get there 3-4
times a week, so TJ's will be a very convenient stop.

Michelle

On Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:20:32 -0500, "Nunya Bidnits"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less than a
> mile from home. They just opened today.
>
> They haven't sent out any flyers or announcements but I see where I can
> subscribe to a flyer and have pulled up the current one on line.
>
> So what's worthwhile? I'm not real big on processed and prepared foods but
> people seem to rave about this store.
>
> There are a few things touted in the flyer that interest me.
> Tuscan Cantaloupe
> Wasabi Arugula
> Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette (Is it sickly sweet like most fat-free
> dressing?)
> Simply Fat Free Sour Cream (same question)
> Sweet Pineapple Chunks in Pineapple Juice (in cans? any good?)
> Tortilla Chip Rounds look like a decent deal
> Arctic Char - ten bucks lb
> Uncured Chicken Hot Dogs - sounds more like chicken sausage
> Wasabi Almonds
> Josephsbrau Summer Brew
> Carne Asada Autentica - hmmm, I know it's prepared food but...

I don't buy any of those things, except for maybe the fat free sour
cream and it's just like any other to me. You think fat free sour
cream is sweet? I don't eat it by the spoonful so I haven't formed
that opinion. It certainly doesn't sweeten up the gravy I put it in,
so it tastes like any other sour cream to me.
>
> Anything else I should make a beeline for?
>
Head directly to the cheese counter. Butter and eggs are always a
good price and I buy Fage there. I bought their chicken breakfast
sausage this week, but they were too salty and too fatty AFAIC.
Vegetable Root chips and the Potato Trio chips are good too. TJ's has
a nice wine department with reasonable prices. I like their frozen
food department and buy frozen vegetables when I see something that
appeals.

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

Ahh... another thread re-kindled...

Usually on my TJ's shopping list:

Pesto (Genova) green labeled shallow tub. Nut-free.

Valhrona 85% cocoa dark chocolate (purple ribbon label)

Pizza Margherita. Cooks up in 10-12 minutes. Thin crust.

Buffalo jerky (other flavors too) Hit or miss on freshness. All
natural/"nothing but buff!"

British muffins (think English muffins).

Guacamole, two really shallow tubs to a pack. Non-spicy. The net sack of
medium avocados are great but they all ripen at the same time, so invite
your friends and stranger for your homespun creation. OR be greedy and
draw the window shades!

For breakfast cereal, Joe's O's (Cheerios knock-off). Minimally
processed/additives.

Hawaiian potato chips (quite possibly the best), blue bag. Stands up to
dense dips! Addictive. At your own risk chips!!!

Most everything they sell is great. My list, of course, suits MY taste.
YMMV.

All TJ leaflets are also there, probably by the free samples area.

Also, since TJs is fairly region specific, ring yours about product
availability.

Best,

Andy
Anxiously tapping fingers. "WHERE'S MY DUMPSTER?!?"
Just goes to show, you can't rush progress. I just can't wait to start!

On Jul 15, 8:20 am, "Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidn...@eternal-
september.invalid> wrote:
> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less than a
> mile from home. They just opened today.
>
> They haven't sent out any flyers or announcements but I see where I can
> subscribe to a flyer and have pulled up the current one on line.
>
> So what's worthwhile? I'm not real big on processed and prepared foods but
> people seem to rave about this store.

I'm not much for their prepared foods. Generally too low on salt and
fat for my taste. I also buy little produce there. It's pre-packaged
(therefore usually not the right sizes) and overpriced. But I always
find their fresh fruit attractive as well as their dried fruits, nuts
and cheeses. Eggs are well priced and butter is very well priced.
Frozen fish/seafood and frozen plain veggies are good buys. The
coffees and wines are always worth checking out. We happen to like
their masala simmer sauce and their roasted red pepper soup but that's
just personal taste. Meats and poultry merit looking through but are
some good, some not. I do like their small unadulterated pork
tenderloins.
>
> There are a few things touted in the flyer that interest me.

I haven't tried any of the things you listed. Might look for the
Arctic char. -aem

On Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:14:48 -0500, zxcvbob <[email protected]>
wrote:

> • I really liked the noncrystallized candied ginger, but it
> disappeared off the shelves 4 or 5 months ago :-(

Maybe it just wasn't popular enough at your store to keep it in stock.
I know my TJ's rotate things in and out depending on the volume, so
inquire. I bought some from the TJ's closest to me just two weeks
ago.

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>
> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less than a
> mile from home. They just opened today.
>
> They haven't sent out any flyers or announcements but I see where I can
> subscribe to a flyer and have pulled up the current one on line.
>
> So what's worthwhile? I'm not real big on processed and prepared foods but
> people seem to rave about this store.

Their prepared items tend to be a lot better than the competition are
regular groceries. Some are better than I could do at home, most are
just better than the competition and easier than making them at home.
Many of them have ingredients I like that aren't common so they save a
lot of shopping.

> There are a few things touted in the flyer that interest me.
> Tuscan Cantaloupe

Usually the produce is good but it depends ont he buyer.

> Wasabi Arugula
> Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette (Is it sickly sweet like most fat-free
> dressing?)
> Simply Fat Free Sour Cream (same question)

I like the Simply series but I don't get the point of fat free sour
cream.

> Sweet Pineapple Chunks in Pineapple Juice (in cans? any good?)

Better than Del Monte. Does not compare again a fresh pineapple.

> Tortilla Chip Rounds look like a decent deal
> Arctic Char - ten bucks lb
> Uncured Chicken Hot Dogs - sounds more like chicken sausage

Uncured any meat - It is cured with celery seed as its source of
nitrates.

> Wasabi Almonds

I love all sorts of wasabi coated snacks. My favorite is the wasabi
coated dried puffed peas.

> Josephsbrau Summer Brew

They have a very nice selection of wines and ales.

> Carne Asada Autentica - hmmm, I know it's prepared food but...
>
> Anything else I should make a beeline for?

Vitamins. Nuts. Assorted dried goods - Many varieties of rice and so
on. Some stores have a good variety of cheese some don't.

On Jul 15, 8:20*am, "Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidn...@eternal-
september.invalid> wrote:
>
> Anything else I should make a beeline for?
>
> MartyB

I second most of what everyone else has posted and add one of my
favorites....they have these little "everything" snack crackers that
are just wonderful. They taste like an everything bagel.

On Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:29:34 +0000 (UTC), Doug Freyburger
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Many varieties of rice and so on.

I looked specifically at rice the last time I was in the one closest
to me and they had a fairly small selection. I wasn't looking for
rice *mixes*, the type with seasonings in them, so I can't comment on
that but I was under-whelmed by the variety of rices in that store.
For instance, they only had Arborio for risotto. What I replenish as
soon as I use up my supply at home is their Brown Rice Medley - which
is long grain brown rice, black barley and daikon radish seeds. Yum!

> Some stores have a good variety of cheese some don't.

Their cheese prices are what's compelling, it doesn't matter if all
you're after is good old double cream brie - their prices are
significantly better than the grocery store in the same complex.

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

On Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:58:43 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
<[email protected]> wrote:

> On Jul 15, 8:20*am, "Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidn...@eternal-
> september.invalid> wrote:
> >
> > Anything else I should make a beeline for?
> >
> > MartyB
>
> I second most of what everyone else has posted and add one of my
> favorites....they have these little "everything" snack crackers that
> are just wonderful. They taste like an everything bagel.

Yum, I'll look for them. I'm currently stuck on those gluten free,
octagon shaped, crackers. They're perfect with home made hummus...
which I need to try making again, especially now that I know I can
make tahini at home so easily.

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

sf wrote:
> For instance, they only had Arborio for risotto.

?? I thought that was best for risotto.

>What I replenish as
> soon as I use up my supply at home is their Brown Rice Medley - which
> is long grain brown rice, black barley and daikon radish seeds. Yum!

OK, that's on my list and it will likely be a good dinner carb serving for
my GF who just got yelled at by her doc this week about her A1C.

MartyB

On Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:13:32 -0800, Mark Thorson <[email protected]>
wrote:

> In the meat section, the Chicken Breakfast Sausages are
> pretty good.

<laughing> We can agree to disagree.

You must not have read my previous post, where I said that I thought
they were too salty and way too fatty. It's *chicken* sausage. If
they're going to make it that fatty, they might as well use pork.
It's in my mental "won't buy that again" column with an unhappy face
at the top.

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

Doug Freyburger wrote:
> Nunya Bidnits wrote:
>>
>> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less
>> than a mile from home. They just opened today.
>>
>> They haven't sent out any flyers or announcements but I see where I
>> can subscribe to a flyer and have pulled up the current one on line.
>>
>> So what's worthwhile? I'm not real big on processed and prepared
>> foods but people seem to rave about this store.
>
> Their prepared items tend to be a lot better than the competition are
> regular groceries. Some are better than I could do at home, most are
> just better than the competition and easier than making them at home.
> Many of them have ingredients I like that aren't common so they save a
> lot of shopping.
>
>> There are a few things touted in the flyer that interest me.
>> Tuscan Cantaloupe
>
> Usually the produce is good but it depends ont he buyer.
>
>> Wasabi Arugula
>> Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette (Is it sickly sweet like most fat-free
>> dressing?)
>> Simply Fat Free Sour Cream (same question)
>
> I like the Simply series but I don't get the point of fat free sour
> cream.

Understand and agree but my GF is diabetic and her blood sugar is pretty
reactive to the combination of fat and carbs, so the combination (ice cream
= bad!) contributes to her blood sugar spikes. But we both hate the flavor
of most fat free condiments because they are loaded up with fat substitutes
and sugar alcohols to replace the fat which whe think have a nasty sweetness
to them.
>
>> Sweet Pineapple Chunks in Pineapple Juice (in cans? any good?)
>
> Better than Del Monte. Does not compare again a fresh pineapple.

Of course not but the price seemed decent and I would drink the juice. ;-)

>
>> Tortilla Chip Rounds look like a decent deal
>> Arctic Char - ten bucks lb
>> Uncured Chicken Hot Dogs - sounds more like chicken sausage
>
> Uncured any meat - It is cured with celery seed as its source of
> nitrates.
>
>> Wasabi Almonds
>
> I love all sorts of wasabi coated snacks. My favorite is the wasabi
> coated dried puffed peas.

Yeah, I think some of that will have to come home with me.
>
>> Josephsbrau Summer Brew
>
> They have a very nice selection of wines and ales.
>
>> Carne Asada Autentica - hmmm, I know it's prepared food but...
>>
>> Anything else I should make a beeline for?
>
> Vitamins. Nuts. Assorted dried goods - Many varieties of rice and so
> on. Some stores have a good variety of cheese some don't.

There's the cheese again. And not big on nuts but the cashews and almonds
sound good. I'm looking forward to this. Also hoping they have a good deal
on basmati rice. It's ridiculously high at the grocery store, (and cheap at
Restaurant Depot if you don't mind buying 15lb at a time).

MartyB

sf wrote:
> Head directly to the cheese counter. Butter and eggs are always a
> good price and I buy Fage there. I bought their chicken breakfast
> sausage this week, but they were too salty and too fatty AFAIC.
> Vegetable Root chips and the Potato Trio chips are good too. TJ's has
> a nice wine department with reasonable prices. I like their frozen
> food department and buy frozen vegetables when I see something that
> appeals.

One of the prepared foods I will sometimes buy are frozen vegetables, or
just unprepared steam bags. But the grocery store offerings are terribly
limited and just boring and I'm hoping for some help on that at TJs. I was
wondering about the cheese and wine, sounds good!

MartyB

aem wrote:
> On Jul 15, 8:20 am, "Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidn...@eternal-
> september.invalid> wrote:
>> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less
>> than a mile from home. They just opened today.
>>
>> They haven't sent out any flyers or announcements but I see where I
>> can subscribe to a flyer and have pulled up the current one on line.
>>
>> So what's worthwhile? I'm not real big on processed and prepared
>> foods but people seem to rave about this store.
>
> I'm not much for their prepared foods. Generally too low on salt and
> fat for my taste. I also buy little produce there. It's pre-packaged
> (therefore usually not the right sizes) and overpriced. But I always
> find their fresh fruit attractive as well as their dried fruits, nuts
> and cheeses. Eggs are well priced and butter is very well priced.
> Frozen fish/seafood and frozen plain veggies are good buys. The
> coffees and wines are always worth checking out. We happen to like
> their masala simmer sauce and their roasted red pepper soup but that's
> just personal taste. Meats and poultry merit looking through but are
> some good, some not. I do like their small unadulterated pork
> tenderloins.
>>
>> There are a few things touted in the flyer that interest me.
>
> I haven't tried any of the things you listed. Might look for the
> Arctic char. -aem

Roasted red pepper soup.... right up my alley! And it's sounding like the
fish/seafood is going to be worthwhile.

From what everyone is saying, I'm sure it will find a niche in my grocery
shopping which usually requires visits to several stores weekly, plus a
monthly trip to Restaurant Depot.

MartyB

Michelle wrote:
>
> You must live near me - I'm about 2 miles from the Ward Parkway
> store. What I buy there when I'm in cities that have them - nuts
> (they always have hazelnuts, which are hard to find outside of
> Christmas) and chocolate (I use the pound plus bars for truffles and
> other things for gift-giving). All the cheese I've tried has been
> good.
>
> I'm very excited about the opening, but I think I'll wait a couple of
> weeks before I go in. My gym is in the same mall, and I get there 3-4
> times a week, so TJ's will be a very convenient stop.
>
> Michelle

Hi Neighbor! (Remember Milgram's? If not you're probably younger than I )

Yep, I'm 0.8 miles from Ward Parkway Center as the Google flies.

Good to know that they have decent chocolate since I've developed a recent
interest in chocolates and truffle making.

Several recommendations here on the cheese. If I can find anything similar
to the cheeses I like at Osceola Cheese Factory, life will be good.

I'll probably wander in there this evening.

MartyB

sf wrote:
> On Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:58:43 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Jul 15, 8:20 am, "Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidn...@eternal-
>> september.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>> Anything else I should make a beeline for?
>>>
>>> MartyB
>>
>> I second most of what everyone else has posted and add one of my
>> favorites....they have these little "everything" snack crackers that
>> are just wonderful. They taste like an everything bagel.
>
> Yum, I'll look for them. I'm currently stuck on those gluten free,
> octagon shaped, crackers. They're perfect with home made hummus...
> which I need to try making again, especially now that I know I can
> make tahini at home so easily.

How do you make the tahini? I've got a bad of sesame seeds which need to be
something.

MartyB

On Jul 15, 8:20*am, "Nunya Bidnits" <nunyabidn...@eternal-
september.invalid> wrote:
> Trader Joe's has come to town with 2 new stores, one of them less than a
> mile from home. They just opened today.

> Anything else I should make a beeline for?
>
> MartyB

TJ's is where we buy our dairy products, including French Village
(cream top) yogurt, Greek-style yogurt (twice as concentrated as
regular), and not-from-concentrate orange juice. Organic raisins.
Cheap sliced cheese and ham. Good crackers: something + flaxseed.
Their one-pound-plus bars of Belgian chocolate, for cooking and
baking.

Most of their produce is expensive, but they always have two kinds of
arugula, wild and organic. Two buck chuck for cooking.

Some times their private label wines are good, but it is hit or miss.
The Josephsbrau products are Gordon-Biersch from San Jose, and the
Simpler Times/Red Oval comes from the Minhas Craft Brewery of Monroe
Wisconsin (formerly Huber).