Trader Joes?

[Irulan]

So they finally opened one here, really close to my house actually. People are going nuts! It is an absolute zoo down there. People have been asking for one for over 10 years. I went in and grabbed a few things but it was so packed I didn't spend much time there
So, TJ lovers.... what do you like to get there, or why do you shop there?

[Veronica]

I shop once a week at TJs: milk, Fage yogurt, organic OJ, eggs, cinnamon almonds, pre cooked chicken breast, organic frozen veggie mix, protein powder.

Veronica

[Catrin]

Trader Joe's is the first place I shop at - then I go elsewhere for what I can't get there. They have good prices for organic veggies, and some of their prices on other things are quite competitive and good quality. I get my skim milk, no-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, fruit, cereal, turkey bacon, sprouted bread, olive oil (price on this rocks), some of my beer and other things.

[tangentgirl]

Dark chocolate covered caramels. The best.

[Tokie]

Soy milk,cow milk, yogurt, bread, cheese, nuts, trail mix(to put in my yogurt),organic bell peppers, organic apples, grapefruit, persimmons, low sodium turkey lunch meat, tofutti cuties (although I think they no longer have these), frozen wild blueberries, Ak-Mak crackers, frozen veggie bacon, fresh turkey breast with dressing, organic zucchinni,white balsamic vinegar, Spicy Smokey Peach Salsa, Jalapeno Hot Sauce, the fresh whole wheat pizza dough,wild arugula. And always a little snack food sample!

[indysteel]

The ones in Indy aren't very close to my house, so I tend to get non perishables there when I am otherwise in the area. Nuts, oats, trail mixes, veggie and chicken broths, bread, beer, dried fruit. They have a lot of packaged and premade food that I have never really tried. I don't buy a lot of that in general. I do like their hummus though.

[ACG]

Here in Pasadena, they are everywhere. I think they were born out here.

I go to TJ's first. Then hit other stores later. Pricing is very good. For example. Loaf of bread at TJ's is 3.49 at large chain market 4.49. Same brand.

Lots of tasty healthy alternatives too.

[Owlie]

Treats, mostly: those sugar-cinnamon almonds that will probably break your teeth but are totally worth it, toffee, chocolate-covered espresso beans, other stuff like that. They used to have really good naan and samosas, but I don't know that they still make them.

[Tokie]

a few I forgot - hummus, reduced sugar organic preserves,mustards, mayo, soy dogs, hot dog buns, "Joe's Os" (like cheerios),Whole wheat Pita Bread - regular or mini size, whole wheat flatbread, kleenex, tea tree oil, Charlie Bear dog treats, sparkling water, herbal teas,Reuced Guilt woven Wheat Wafers", choclate dipped almond biscotti. Their belgian chocolates and truffles are great Christmas treats. We buy very little at the grocery store - it's TJ's and the farmers market for almost everything. (Coach's Oats and Walnuts at Costco) tokie
'

[Veronica]

Personally, I don't think their fresh fruit and veggies are as high quality as my local grocery store so I almost never get fresh produce at TJs. We've had issues with finding "things" in some of their house brands - bits of plastic in a granola bar. And I think their cereal tastes like cardboard. We have also noticed that frozen items take longer to cook than the packaging says.

That could vary from region to region though.

I prefer to shop there first thing in the morning - much less crowded.

Veronica

[salsabike]

I love the TJ's enchilada sauce.

[malkin]

We'll never have Trader's in UT because of the stupid liquor laws.

I miss the cookies most.

[Pax]

I drive four hours round trip to either Indy or Chicago to go to TJ's. Love their frozen pizzas, cookies, pesto, Thai peanut sauce, and canned organic beans.

[trista]

Personally, I don't think their fresh fruit and veggies are as high quality as my local grocery store so I almost never get fresh produce at TJs.

+1 to that. I like Whole Foods and Kroger for produce.

TJ's for me is: WINE! We also like their frozen brown rice - cooks up quick in the microwave. I get the TJ-brand frozen pizzas for the kids.

[7rider]

We'll never have Trader's in UT because of the stupid liquor laws.

Why? The County controls our liquor sales here (Montgomery Co, MD) and no grocery stores within the county sell liquor/beer/wine. That includes Trader Joes (of which we have a few). They are just "dry" TJ's. I'm actually surprised to hear/read they sell liquor.

I tried their Thai Lime Chili cashews once. They were awful. I rinsed them off and threw them out for the squirrels, but I don't think even they would eat them. Otherwise, I like to go there every once in a while. I like their boxed Pad Thai for a desperation lunch at the office. I find they are good for "fun" things - entertaining supplies and special treats. Only in the past few years have I found that their fresh fruits and veges have gotten better. But that might be a local thing depending on the store.