Kitchen

[Helping]

I agree w/ terrier. Skip TJ's baked goods. I've found they lack flavor & taste kind of "plasticky." Local bakeries are usually better. Next trip, consider "Hold the Cone," little vanilla or chocolate ice cream in a sugar cone. 70 cal each, but they ARE tiny. Portion control!

[FunkyHulaGirl]

Well, the samosas are good, but a little too spicy for me. Maybe with sour cream?

The mini rainbow tomatoes are excellent, the mini mint ice cream sandwiches are pretty good, but I'm not at all impressed with their baked goods.

[HonnyBrown]

On 7/12/2014 FunkyHulaGirl said:

I would think that like with any grocery chain, some stores are managed better than others. Thus far, both TJs I've visited have been clean, well-organized, and the produce I've gotten has been fantastic.

I had some samosas last night for dinner. They were very good, but a bit spicier than I can handle anymore. The miniature heirloom rainbow tomatoes were excellent, the mini mint ice cream sandwiches pretty good (they need to have more ice cream in them), but I'm not impressed with the baked goods. It's going to be fun trying all these new things! And thanks for the info about returns; next time I go I'm going to get a refund for anything I don't like - such as the lemon poppyseed muffins which, IMO, are pretty bad.

I snacked on their heirloom cherry tomatoes today! I ate them like grapes, and they are just as good.

My husband wasn't fond of the poppyseed muffins either. When I was in LA, I used to buy their scones. I haven't looked for them here.

[Mary Bailey]

The frozen Greek yogurt is good. I haven't tried any other brands so I don't know how others compare to it.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

HonnyBrown, They did have the scones, but I already had enough - the muffins that I don't like, cinnamon rolls that are just so-so, and a small cinnamon coffee cake, which I guess I'll try for tomorrow's breakfast.

Maybe if I wasn't such a good baker I'd like these things more, although the muffins were really bad!

[ennui1]

I don't care for most of the baked goods either, but the Moroccan Olive Pugliese is amazing.

[Deadeye Daisy]

When you go to ANY TJs, you have to ask at the courtesy desk just WHERE specific items come from.

For a number of years after our first TJs opened here in GA, NONE of the baked goods were done locally. They were shipped down from Ohio. They also weren't very good in the freshness department. Once TJs gets several stores in an area, then they contract with local bakeries to do their baking to TJs specs.

Fresh produce, some meats, most dairy - much the same, until they start working with a local warehouse.

Same with the wine - you don't find the same wines in all TJs stores. They carry the ones that travel the least.

Just remember, TJs, like ANY grocery store wants their customers to be happy campers, so they will ALWAYS give you a refund if you don't like something. It doesn't have to be bad - if you don't like it, you get a replacement, credit or money back.

[terrier3]

On 7/12/2014 FunkyHulaGirl said:

HonnyBrown, They did have the scones, but I already had enough - the muffins that I don't like, cinnamon rolls that are just so-so, and a small cinnamon coffee cake, which I guess I'll try for tomorrow's breakfast.

Maybe if I wasn't such a good baker I'd like these things more, although the muffins were really bad!

I get their cinnamon coffee cake and banana bread dry mixes. I add their chopped walnuts to each mix.

They are very inexpensive and make FANTASTIC baked goods with just a few minutes effort.
Their gingerbread mix available around the holidays is fantastic too.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

I didn't really notice the cake mixes - I'll check next time. The cinnamon rolls were kind of dry - probably not really fresh, although the sell-by days is a few days off. I think I'm going to ask for a refund on them too.

OTOH, the mini chicken pot pie bites were outstanding - I could easily have eaten the entire box!

Now...what to have for dinner? Butter chicken? That pizza/calzone thing? Shepherd's pie? It's a great conundrum!

Oh, I got pizza dough too - half the price that it is in Publix.

[terrier3]

On 7/12/2014 FunkyHulaGirl said:

I didn't really notice the cake mixes - I'll check next time. The cinnamon rolls were kind of dry - probably not really fresh, although the sell-by days is a few days off. I think I'm going to ask for a refund on them too.

OTOH, the mini chicken pot pie bites were outstanding - I could easily have eaten the entire box!

Now...what to have for dinner? Butter chicken? That pizza/calzone thing? Shepherd's pie? It's a great conundrum!

Oh, I got pizza dough too - half the price that it is in Publix.

The dry mixes in my store are on the bottom shelf near the flour and oil. Trust me, they are OUTSTANDING. My son was sure I made banana bread from scratch!

If you liked the mini pot pies, the full size one in the refrigerated section (near the salads) is fantastic too. It is loaded with white meat chicken and veggies.