Why I love thee Trader Joe's

Oh come on it has been a while!!

I love my local TJ's where we are living now, I believe is the first or second one ever opened. It is tiny and always packed but the staff are so friendly, baby J always gets lots of attention, and I do probably 3/4 of my shopping there.

Right now I am enjoying a big old piece of their New York Style Cheesecake (with some strawberry syrup on top). Yum!

Other new favourites are their whole wheat cinnamon raisin bagels, soy yogurts, the big bags of shredded parmesan (good value), the organic chicken breasts, and bags of frozen mushroom fettucine (for when I don't feel like cooking).

What do you love?

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

Mmmm. I'm way over due for a TJ's run.
Honey Sesame cashews.
White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies.
Alphabet Cookies
Pirate Bootie--Tj's brand
(Can you tell I have late night munchies?)
Butternut squash soup
Apple/Mango Chicken Sausages

I think I'm going Friday. By myself. It is dh's day off!

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

:wee: A fellow Honey Sesame Cashew lover! That might just be the best thing about TJs.

I also love the Greek yogurt and the Handmade Tortillas. Those are two recent favorites. Recent favorite for kids -- toaster pancakes.

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

at the moment i'm in love w/the gingerbread coffee i picked up when we were in cleveland. i'm just kicking myself for not buying more.

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

It allows us to eat fast (i.e. premade foods) and healthy and it's good with NO aftertaste! I haven't been for a while, I need to go back and restock. I made their pumpkin muffin mix for DD on per birthday - VERY good!

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

I love our local TJ's too! I had never been to one before we moved here in May. It's a few blocks from our house and we walk there. It's so convenient. It is always crowded but everyone there is always so nice. DD1 spilled a 2 lb. container of blueberries all over the floor once and the people who worked there were so great about it. No dirty looks or eye rolling and they gave her a few stickers. All this mentioning of your favorite foods is making me think I should take a quick trip down there while she is at preschool.

[Thirteen]

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

Pirate's Booty
Their Prig Khing hot green beans
The Vegetable Shu Mai
Their rice noodle bowls
The Indian food that you can buy pre-packaged
How cheap the spaghetti squash is

What do I not love?

[DCJenn]

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

I told my husband to buy and extra suitcase while he's in California to stock up!

Jenn

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

Hey, this is a TJ LOVE thread, Julia!

I agree, the produce, especially fruit, is not so great for that reason. I end up doing a TJ's run every once in a while and do regular shopping elsewhere. That and the the random times that they don't have something I need and think they should have.

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

Know what I don't love about Trader Joe's? Their produce. Specifically that it's all pre-portioned and packaged. It can't ever be my primary grocery store for that reason - we end up with too much produce going bad. (I guess you could say we like variety in small quantity.) Do those of you who shop there regularly also shop at other stores? Just curious.

I agree. When I said that I get 3/4 of my food there....I get most of my produce at the farmers market or another grocery store. I hate all the packaging. And like you I prefer to choose whether I want 1 or 2 or 10 apples. Produce and DH's pop are the only things I go elsewhere for I think!

[alison]

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

Try their prepackaged brussel sprouts and fingerling potatoes. I don't microwave them (like the instructions on the bag says). I roast them!

I love the garlic hummus, tabbouli salad, crispy pita chips. Yum!

I live within 10 minutes of 3 TJs... Not good for the pocketbook.

Re: Why I love thee Trader Joe's

I absolutely LOVE TJ's! I was so happy when I moved to Philly to find out they had one downtown not too far from where I live. What I LOVE (try and you will too!):

spicy peach salsa with their whole grain chips
Oregon chai tea latte
whole wheat hotdog buns
Fage Greek strained yogurt
Cilantro salad dressing (low fat and full of flavor!)
Picata sauce (jar)
Curry sauce (jar)
chicken enchiladas (frozen)

Seriously the list goes on....