Trader Joes?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[jobob]

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.
....
That could vary from region to region though.

I agree! Maybe it's a Bay Area issue, but I've generally been underwhelmed with the produce at TJs.

It was our most reliable source for goat's milk when we were making chevre (which we haven't done sine the Austerity Plan kicked in, but we'll resume soon).

McCann's Steel Cut Oatmeal is significantly less pricey there than in our local supermarkets. And we do like the variety and quality of their frozen fish.

[Crankin]

No, it's not just in CA, the produce at the TJs 3.5 miles from my house, in Acton, is horrible. With a plethora of family farms, bakeries, and 2 outstanding gourmet farm markets that sell everything imaginable within 10 miles, I only go there for a few products I can't find elsewhere and a few occasional impulse buys/convenience foods.

Large dark chocolate bars that you can break into squares. We buy 5 at a time and eat 1-2 almost every night for dessert.
Machengo and Iberico cheese; it's the cheapest of any of the other local stores
Low fat provolone slices
lox
boxed soups: they have more flavors in low sodium than my local grocery store

Grocery stores in MA generally are not allowed to sell booze, although a few are grandfathered in to do so. The one I shop at is about a mile down the road from TJs and they sell beer and wine, although I buy my wine at a liquor store about half a mile from TJs.
The prices at TJs are definitely cheaper than other places; my son and his wife buy a lot of their food there.

[gnat23]

NUTS. Cheapest I've seen anywhere.

Clif/Luna bars. Sausages. Frozen fishies. And HEY it's almost Peppermint Green Tea and Salted Caramel season...!

-- gnat! (Just don't get hooked on any one food or they'll take it away from you)

[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
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