topic Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions in Community Chat

Trader Joe's Suggestions

2tired4it — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:50:27 GMT

Hi...I've never been to a Trader Joe's but found out that we have one about an hour away so was thinking of going there over the weekend to check it out. Anyone have any suggestions on items to try?

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

gardensla — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:59:14 GMT

Where to begin!

ginger snap cookies

cookie butter

greeting cards

frozen mac and cheese

marcona almonds

chocolate orange sticks

pine nuts

fresh flowers

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

Vamp — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 17:09:27 GMT

We love:

Champagne Pear Vinaigrette salad dressing (in the produce section). It is good on any salad, but my favorite is greens with chopped ripe pears, candied pecans, dried cranberries or cherries, and blue cheese.

Croissants (in the freezer section). This is a treat we usually save for company or special occasions, but it's nice to have in your freezer. I put them in the oven overnight to proof and bake them in the morning, and they are as good as any I've had in a patisserie in France. They come in plain (mini), chocolate, and almond.

Bring a cooler, because they have a lot of good frozen foods that you won't find anywhere else. My kids love the Mac and Cheese and the frozen mashed potatoes, which are easy to pop in the microwave if you just want a small portion. The Gyoza (pot stickers) are good, too.

They have a good selection of cheeses at TJs, and our favorite is the Pesto Gouda. It makes great grilled cheese, and we also use it on pizza (little bit of olive oil on the dough, pesto gouda, sundried tomatoes, olives, artichoke hearts).

I could go on, but I'll let others weigh in with their favorites.

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

Moonchilde — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:02:49 GMT

As of yesterday, my local still had the pumpkin bread pudding in the freezer section. Yum!

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

LaurenNicole — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:13:12 GMT

Frozen: Mandarin Orange Chicken, Turkey Bolognese, Arancini Balls (rice balls w/fontina), Mushroom Risotto, Polenta w/spinach and carrots, Mac n Cheese, Croissant, French Onion Soup, Chicken and Cheese Tamale, Pear Tart, Cookie Butter Ice Cream

Peanut Butter Cups (dark and milk chocolate), Maple Leaf Cookies, Lemon Curd, Sea Salt Caramels

Grade B Maple Syrup

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

BichonEmma — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:15:49 GMT

Their nuts are so fresh if you like nuts at all I reccomend them. The fetta in brine is very good as well. The cereal bars have more fruit in them than the nutrigrain ones and are only $2.

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

I am still oxox — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:18:52 GMT

Lemon Bars

Fried Rice

Teryaki Chicken

Turkey corn dogs

all in the freezer section

Almond Biscotti

Greek Yogurt

Hawaiian BBQ chips

and so many other things I am forgetting

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

Caligurll — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:22:49 GMT

Ultra Dark Chocolate Ice Cream

Hummus

Pizza

Joe's Os Cereal

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

Cookie777 — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:23:10 GMT

Good coffee and tea

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

HonnyBrown — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 19:26:55 GMT

Pork Belly - it's cooked in the prepared foods section

Fresh Fruit - they always have something I don't see at my regular market. The last time I went, I got some Thomcord grapes.

Diced Prosciutto - I love this for making omelets

Ginger Lemonade

21 Gun Salute Seasoning

Coffee & Garlic Rub

Comte Cheese

Wine

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

FastDogWalker2 — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 01:37:21 GMT

Agree with so many of the suggestions and would add their version of K cups. They offer a nice variety box for around $8.00. Enjoy!

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

CinNC — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 01:42:28 GMT

I love their half salt tuna, no salt tortilla chips and they have the lowest salt salsa I've seen anywhere. Best price on shelved Almond Milk and wonderful instant coffee.

Cheeses are wonderful!

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

terrier3 — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 01:59:32 GMT

Their baking mixes are outstanding and very reasonably priced.

Banana bread, cornbread, pumpkin cornbread, truffle brownie mix - they are all delicious.

We like the bacon cheddar cheese, the persimmon salad, fresh fruits.

The ONLY thing we don't like are their baked goods (but the Kringle from the WI bakery are phenomenal!).

We like tart 100% cherry juice - their price is dollars less than our regular market.

Their vitamins, body butters and other beauty products are top quality and well priced too.

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

NYC Susan — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 02:07:56 GMT

There are several other threads similar to this one, so you might want to do a search to get some other ideas too. :-)

I love TJ's, and my best suggestion is to just grab a cart and go up & down every aisle, as slowly as you want to. Look at everything, and see what appeals to you. Most of my favorites at TJ's are things I discovered completely on my own. And some things come & go so every trip can lead to new discoveries. For me, that's a lot of the fun of it!

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

FunkyHulaGirl — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 02:51:41 GMT

I also have to drive 100 miles or so to the closest TJ, and the croissants alone are worth the trip!

Their macaroni & cheese is the best I've ever had.

Pound plus chocolate bars

Kona Coffee cookies

Chocolate covered almond-coconut candies

Mini pizzas

Fresh mozzarella

Nitrate-free hot dogs

Fluoride-free toothpaste (tastes like licorice)

Catsup (no HFCS)

My dogs go crazy over their kibble

Check out the produce section for unique things you won't see elsewhere.

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

Tigriss — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 02:56:08 GMT

Now that is worth spending the night for and hauling several coolers and dry ice. I'd have to go 3.5 hours away for one of those!!! Same thing for Whole Foods and anything other than a Harvey's, WalMart, or Save A Lot!

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

Moonchilde — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 04:41:42 GMT

I have recently tried the mac & cheese bites - yum! Something else I have a fixation on is their Nurnburger bratwurst. The sausages are small (2 fit in a hot dog bun). Imported from Germany, they have real German spices in them and taste authentic. I like their breakfast goodies - pancakes ready to eat, waffles, French toast, and blintzes. I also like their frozen steel cut oatmeal & their oatmeal in packets. TJs foods many times have somewhat lower carb counts than foods bought in the supermarket.

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

lovesrecess — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 05:14:16 GMT

Just found out they are going to build a Trader Joes about 1/2 mile from my house! It opens in April...I can't wait! What is cookie butter?

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

coffee drinker — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 05:25:40 GMT

On 1/11/2015 terrier3 said:
Their baking mixes are outstanding and very reasonably priced.

Banana bread, cornbread, pumpkin cornbread, truffle brownie mix - they are all delicious.

We like the bacon cheddar cheese, the persimmon salad, fresh fruits.

The ONLY thing we don't like are their baked goods (but the Kringle from the WI bakery are phenomenal!).

We like tart 100% cherry juice - their price is dollars less than our regular market.

Their vitamins, body butters and other beauty products are top quality and well priced too.

Terrier, would you mind mentioning the brand of Cherry Juice. We were buying Cheribundi Tart Cherry Juice at our Costco, but it seems as though it's been discontinued there. A real shame because Costco sold 2- 32 oz. bottles for around $9 or $10. At Whole Foods it's $8.99 for 1 bottles and if we can find it in "regular" grocery stores, it's about the same. I don't drink it, but DH does. It's almost impossible to find this for a decent price. We've contacted Costco to bring it back, but doubt if they will.

TIA.

Coffee drinker

Re: Trader Joe's Suggestions

birdQ13 — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 15:06:43 GMT

Cat Cookies, chocolate my favorite. Snack attack.

No Fudge Pudge Brownie mix--- good portion control dessert.

Oronjeboom Beer in the tall cans. Oh yeah.

Fresh Triple Berry Pie is tasty.

Fresh Blueberry Mini Muffins with extra fiber, several to a portion.

Fresh Lemon Bars, wow.

Puffins cereal.

Some interesting fresh-made lunch salads to go.

Sometimes I go on a "Better Than Peanut Butter" kick.