Kitchen

[ical]

On 9/29/2014 FunkyHulaGirl said:

Well, then by all means, pay the ripoff prices at Whole Foods if it makes you happy, but don't knock those of us who like Trader Joe's.

You didn't read carefully, my comments. Trader Joe's costs more for how I shop and what I buy. And the stores are very small and dull, imo.

I live by a Trader Joe's and a Whole Foods. Perhaps one day I'll buy exact products from both stores on the same day and take a picture of the receipts.

[ical]

On 9/29/2014 FunkyHulaGirl said:

Well, then by all means, pay the ripoff prices at Whole Foods if it makes you happy, but don't knock those of us who like Trader Joe's.

Oh, and by the way. Please quote anywhere (anywhere) where I "knocked"? I didn't.

[lovemyparrot]

Am I really peculiar? Well, maybe, but I just love the fresh brussel sprouts stalk that TJ's sells at this time of year. They are in already, and I couldn't wait to buy my first one - will be available now thru maybe Thanksgiving and a little beyond.

Yes, I love pumpkin too but brussel sprouts - - yum !!!!!

[Moonchilde]

It's been said in other TJ's threads but it might bear repeating - the stores in states/cities for whom a TJ's is a novelty do not seem to be the same size or have the same inventory as areas that have many stores. In my area they are like smaller versions of any chain store, with lots of TJ's brand merchandise. They're fun to shop in, and I have never (in 30+ years, in any store) found unhelpful or surly employees. Do they exist? I'm sure they do, but they're not the norm. Most TJ's employees in my state actively enjoy working there. They din't claim to either have all the stock of a nationwide chain, or all the "health food" of Whole Foods, Sprouts, etc. They aim to serve their many happy return customers - nothing more nor less. One thing about many of their products I have noticed is that in general they tend to be more low carb/diabetic friendly than the Safeway/Vons chain, for example. I will be quite content to continue shopping at TJ's for many things, and have no fear for my health, well-being or wallet by shopping there. But that's just me :-)

[Caitlinh429]

I love how this turned into a whole foods vs tj's thread when the op was clearly stating how awesome the seasonal products are at tj's.

anyways back to the op- when i want to treat myself to a product, tj's is the way to go. great products for cheaper prices. i fricken LOVE the cookie butter ice cream and just tried their pumpkin ice cream which was AWESOME. the pumpkin waffles i bought for when i'm in a rush in the morning and they are yummy, not super sweet, just a hint of pumpkin flavor. they also had a new product launched before the pumpkin stuff, called cowgirl bark which is white chocolate bark with pretzels, cranberries and other things baked on top. OMG was it so good.

Love tj's for their items, always a fan of their pizzas too (made in italy btw & shipped over), cheap & not one i haven't liked so far. also loving their pre-marinated chickens, ribs, etc for when i'm too lazy/in a rush to do so myself. for the most part everything is cheaper than my local shaws or stop and shop and usually health-wise better (sodium, calories, etc). i can go to s&s & get around 4-5 bags of groceries for $100 where as tj's i can get 6-7 bags for $100, depending on what i buy obviously.

[ical]

On 9/29/2014 lovemyparrot said:

Am I really peculiar? Well, maybe, but I just love the fresh brussel sprouts stalk that TJ's sells at this time of year. They are in already, and I couldn't wait to buy my first one - will be available now thru maybe Thanksgiving and a little beyond.

Yes, I love pumpkin too but brussel sprouts - - yum !!!!!

$2.99

[ical]

On 9/29/2014 CaitlinH said:

I love how this turned into a whole foods vs tj's thread when the op was clearly stating how awesome the seasonal products are at tj's.

anyways back to the op- when i want to treat myself to a product, tj's is the way to go. great products for cheaper prices. i fricken LOVE the cookie butter ice cream and just tried their pumpkin ice cream which was AWESOME. the pumpkin waffles i bought for when i'm in a rush in the morning and they are yummy, not super sweet, just a hint of pumpkin flavor. they also had a new product launched before the pumpkin stuff, called cowgirl bark which is white chocolate bark with pretzels, cranberries and other things baked on top. OMG was it so good.

Love tj's for their items, always a fan of their pizzas too (made in italy btw & shipped over), cheap & not one i haven't liked so far. also loving their pre-marinated chickens, ribs, etc for when i'm too lazy/in a rush to do so myself. for the most part everything is cheaper than my local shaws or stop and shop and usually health-wise better (sodium, calories, etc). i can go to s&s & get around 4-5 bags of groceries for $100 where as tj's i can get 6-7 bags for $100, depending on what i buy obviously.

Not one thing you love would I eat, not even close.

Actually, when you say "health wise better", what are you basing this on? I'm wondering how you reached that conclusion--about health, and also cost, as well.

Interesting post, but I wouldn't be putting any of what you love in my shopping basket. That is the truth. If you want, I'll take a picture of my receipts and show you years and years, and more years, of not eating what you love.

But I do love to eat good food. Really!

[ical]

On 9/29/2014 moonchilde said: It's been said in other TJ's threads but it might bear repeating - the stores in states/cities for whom a TJ's is a novelty do not seem to be the same size or have the same inventory as areas that have many stores. In my area they are like smaller versions of any chain store, with lots of TJ's brand merchandise. They're fun to shop in, and I have never (in 30+ years, in any store) found unhelpful or surly employees. Do they exist? I'm sure they do, but they're not the norm. Most TJ's employees in my state actively enjoy working there. They din't claim to either have all the stock of a nationwide chain, or all the "health food" of Whole Foods, Sprouts, etc. They aim to serve their many happy return customers - nothing more nor less. One thing about many of their products I have noticed is that in general they tend to be more low carb/diabetic friendly than the Safeway/Vons chain, for example. I will be quite content to continue shopping at TJ's for many things, and have no fear for my health, well-being or wallet by shopping there. But that's just me :-)

That makes sense. That's why I said, initially, it just might be the state I'm currently living in--it may be a regional attitude, of sorts, lol. I would like to go to a large TJ's because the one near me is small and most of the store is busy on one side mostly--the side with alcoholic beverages! The other side is mostly people walking around squeezing fruit.

[Caitlinh429]

ical, this thread was for tj's. plus, i do not care what you would or what not eat I was responding to OP as they were asking what WE love from tj's. it sounds like you do not like much from the store, why not post a whole foods thread instead? just saying.

[sueinsf]

On 9/29/2014 FunkyHulaGirl said:

For you pumpkin fans, on the website's home page they have these:

Apparently they're mini ice cream sandwiches with pumpkin ice cream and ginger cookies.

Was in TJ's earlier this evening and saw these. I also saw the kringeles (about 15 there). They also had Pumpkin Cheesecake (very popular when I brought it to a party a couple of years ago), Pumpkin Macaroons, Pumpkin Bread Pudding and the previously mentioned Pumpkin Ice Cream -- all in the frozen section. I didn't see the Pumpkin Biscotti (although they may have been there) but did see the Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Sea Salt Caramels. They also had Pumpkin Joe Joe's, Pumpkin Iced Scone Cookies and Pumpkin Cornbread Croutons as well as Pumpkin Granola, Oatmeal and Pumpkin Spice Coffee as well as some other Pumpkin items.