I shopped at Trader Joe's for the first time

[Bluebear]

It's a bit of a trek but I wondered what all the hoopla was about. Holy tomolley, did we have fun!! Please don't tell me it is a freeper store, it will break my heart :)

[NMDemDist2]

1. no freepers there, they're on the "Buy Blue" list all the way

enjoy!!!

so what did ya get?

[Bluebear]

6. GOOD NEWS!

I got frozen handtossed goat cheese pizzas made in Italy that taste for all the world like you are in Naples.

I got frozen shrimp and vegetable tempura from Thailand.

I got dried fruits and Italian lemon soda and coffee and white cheddar popcorn and bruschetta topping and apricot preserves and and and and...

and I need a bigger freezer!!!! :)

[Shakespeare]

19. TJ's Bay Blend coffee is the BEST.

It's all my husband and I will drink anymore. Super, super dark blend--very rich coffee!

Look for the big blue can! ;-)

[SW FL Dem]

2. You are SO lucky!

We had a TJ near us when we lived in CA. I miss it.

[Shakespeare]

3. It's like a religious experience, isn't it?

If you're bored out of your mind, you could do a search here and probably find more than one "let us all praise Trader Joe's" threads that I either started or participated in.

I LOOOOVE that store! :7

[Bluebear]

7. It is going to be a regualr monthly run for us

I have to quit Sam's Club, and make Costco and Trader Joe's a monthly run for us. They're about 45 miles away but so worth it!

[The empressof all]

4. Congratulations-You have arrived at foodie land

I happened to be there today as well. I picked up some of the Spinach/Onion stuffed foccacia, Meyer lemon bread/cake mix, truffle brownie mix, Panko crusted Tillapia, Strawberry Greek Yogurt (oh god it's good), honey roasted peanuts, assorted cheeses including the marinated mozzarella and basil/Prosciutto Rotelle,......

I just love Trader Joe's.

[Bluebear]

8. OMG those all sound good too

Somebody stop me!

[cally]

5. You have to try the frozen garlic cubes

They are located near the frozen dinners and soups. Throw these into your sautes or soups and noone will ever know it wasn't fresh garlic. My favorite food stuff ever.

Mine has organic meats, milk, and dairy products. I still don't recommend the bread but I love Trader Joe's.

[Bluebear]

9. Done!

I did try a loaf of challah that was good, not the best I''ve had but good. Thanks for the garlic cubes tip! I have been using the minced in a jar but these sound very handy!

[Lugnut]

10. None of those here

All Trader Joe's in PA are in the Philly area. :(

[Stinky The Clown]

11. I'm right in the middle of three of them

45 mins <---- this way or this way or that way ----> 45 mins
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.........................45 mins

damn ..... :(

[Lugnut]

24. I could do 45 minutes

I'm closer to two hours away from Philly here in Luzerne Co.

[grasswire]

12. the cheese prices are great!

Specialty cheeses that sell for $16 per pound in other places sell for half that at TJ. My current favorite is the bleu that is aged in California gold mine shafts. Who knew?

[demnan]

13. I miss shopping there

I moved to the outer suburbs and there is no Trader Joe's here. I used to love their 5 layer Mexican dip and organic nachos.

[livetohike]

14. Have fun!

Take a small cooler along next time you go to transport all the great products you can buy. I buy all of my dairy items there because the prices are much better than at our other grocery stores.

My dogs love their "Buddy Biscuits". :-)

[Shakespeare]

20. TJ's diary products are all hormone & antibiotic free, too!

And the prices? The best. Anywhere. Same on eggs--I can get a dozen jumbo hormone-free eggs for around $1.70. That's WAY cheaper than any of the supermarkets.

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. Would Whole Foods be on the same order as Trader Joe's?

Whole Foods is what we have in San Antonio. I don't know if they are repub. owned.

[Beaverhausen]

16. T Joes is far less expensive than Whole Foods

I am at TJs 2-3 times a week.

Don't forget the wine aisle...if your state allows that.

My other favs at TJs:

a vast array of tasty dips
a decadent selection of frozen desserts
great french roast coffee beans
great crackers and snacks
cheese, cheese and more cheese
Did I mention the wine????

[The empressof all]

17. Marinated Mozzarella

This alone is half the price at TJ's than at the upscale grocery 2 miles away. By the way it's my favorite product of the week. Try cutting open a stuffed spinach/onion bread, layering marinated mozzarella and fresh tomatoes. Close and grill--OMG.....

[Eurobabe]

23. I'll be damned, there is one in Cincy

at Kenwood. I musta missed it when I was there last week! I keep seeing it up in Columbus, now I know to stop in - thanks for the tip.

[cally]

26. I agree..TJ is far less expensive

I went to Whole Foods today to buy a bulk tea I like. I was hoping to shop there so I didn't have to go to another store. The free range chicken was about $11 a pound. I went to TJ and it was $5.50 a pound. I can buy organic produce at TJ for about the same price, or less, then I would pay for corporate produce at other stores.

[tishaLA]

21. Whole Foods is more expensive and anti-union

They are just TERRIBLE about unions. They do have some good produce and some great 365 Brand products, though, especially olive oil, butter, and nuts. But you cannot beat Trader Joe's for most stuff.

[Mandate My Ass]

18. LOL. Be careful, it's an addiction

I remember reading a lot about it before TJ's came to my neck of the woods. I thought I'd go there once every few months. Ha. I'm like Norm from Cheers when I go in there, all the check out people know me.

Their cheese selection and prices rawk!

Oh, and if you're into baking, their 1 lb. Belgian chocolate bar can't be beat -- and it's cheap!

[cmf]

22. We went there a few weekends ago

It's a bit of a trek for us as well, but well worth it to stock up on certain items!

[baby_bear]

25. Frozen items are generally good at TJ's

Particularly the chicken (not turkey) pot pies and the dim sum. I buy my vitamins and minerals there, almonds and walnuts and avocadoes to combat cholesterol, pita bread, and lots and lots of inexpensive but very decent wine. Also, their canned marinara sauce is really nice, and they sell a good assortment of dry pastas.

I'm lucky to have a TJ's not 10 minutes away. It's the only fun place I know of to shop.

b_b

[opiate69]

27. Yeah.. they just opened one about 15 miles from here..

I'm hooked.. Truffle Butter, the Madras Curry simmering sauce, Indian spinach sauce, cous-cous.. we just had a tiramisu from there tonight.. and holy shit, the spices.. saffron and vanilla beans for less than $3 per jar, whereas the grocery store has saffron for $18.99 and vanilla beans for $21.99 .

[The empressof all]

28. Punjabi Spinach Sauce

This is one of our TJ addictions. I brown up some Chicken Thighs, throw them in the crock pot, add the sauce and let them simmer all day. I add a bag of fresh or a box of frozen spinach at the end just to make it more spinach-y. We have pronounced this very good.

I also love the frozen Mandarin Orange Chicken. Great quick dinner!

[opiate69]

29. I'll have to try that too.. sounds awesome

So far all I've done with it is dump it into a pot, add a can of garbanzo beans and heat it up.. served as a side for my curry chicken.But when Mrs. Opiate and I go out to our favorite local Indian restaurant, she usually has a shrimp dish drowning in a spinach sauce.. I need to try to figure that one out too.

[kwassa]

30. Been to the original Trader Joes, and been since 1979

I've been to the original Trader Joes on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, plus half a dozen others in the Los Angeles area. The original is not too imposing, actually.

Been eating the blue corn tortilla chips and salsa since then.

I moved to Maryland in '95, and TJs folowed me here, about a mile from my house. The only problem is that because of liquor laws in Maryland, there is no beer and wine and port, like in California!

When the original owner sold out, and it was bought up and expanded, I was afraid it was going to go all to hell, but they have maintained the high quality, low prices, and expanded the food lines.

Most of their products are wonderful.

Most of the bottle sauces are exceptional, great to add to any dish.