Home › Forums › WSB Reader Recommendations › A Trader Joe’s Confession
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April 21, 2008 at 5:15 pm #586794
flowerpetalMemberI have a confession to make. In the past within the forums and on the blog I have made dsiparaging remarks about TJ’s. (Can you see where this is going?)
Last week I was going to a meeting on Capitol Hill where people would be bringing their own lunch while meeting. I had left overs at the office which would need to be reheated. So I decided to stop at TJ’s to grab a ready made salad. Being a bit early for my meeting I took time to stroll a few aisles after picking out a Asian Chicken Salad. I ended up with TJ’s Everything Crackers, TJ’s Barbecue Sauce, Olive Tapenade, and a hunk of Canadian Extra Sharp Aged Cheddar Cheese.
Everything was excellent! And worth going back for again. I immediately thought about my WSB brothers and sisters… and knew I would have to confess my ways. Am I a convert? Not sure. I will still be shopping at other grocery stores to get those ingredients needed to do some “from scratch” cooking; but I will be putting TJ’s on the “occasional list.”
Can I know return to the fold?
April 21, 2008 at 5:22 pm #622596
charlabobParticipantWelcome to the fold, FP. I became a convert when wine snob friends told me that two-buck chuck wasn’t bad for a table wine ordinaire. They were right. I snooped among the other stuff. Found some things I bought in designer stores were less expensive (OK cheaper). Found TJ brands were often quite excellent. Found myself marveling at how MUCH I bought for $40 rather than how little. Now it’s on our official shopping route.
April 21, 2008 at 6:21 pm #622597
WSBKeymasterBesides the prices on certain items, we find some staples there are just BETTER than elsewhere. For example — their mayonnaise beats standard supermarket brands all to heck, and it’s cheaper too. Sadly, their pasta is no longer cheaper … used to be about 70 cents a pound for those cute little bags of various types, now it’s 99 cents (as of last weekend). They also have a better price on Isernio’s Italian sausage. Which reminds me, time to harangue their PR department again to see if there’s any news about “real estate” … TR
April 21, 2008 at 6:32 pm #622598
andreaParticipantthe prices at TJ’s are as ridiculously good as their food is! if you’re a peanut butter fan, their ‘better n/ peanut butter’ is only 2g of fat for 2 tblsp and $4 a jar, whereas a jar of Jif is 16g of fat and $6 a jar. And don’t get me started on their hummus, cheeses, and salsas. To die for! I seriously don’t know how one can save money and not shop at TJ’s ;)
April 21, 2008 at 6:53 pm #622599
hopeyParticipantas I’m reading this, I’m munching on TJ’s peanut butter filled pretzels. I don’t remember how much they cost, but they are both cheaper and BETTER than the similar product I used to purchase from Whole Foods.
Same goes for their fruit-filled granola bars. Better product, cheaper price.
However, because the location isn’t terribly convenient, I find myself doing “stock-up runs” about once every six weeks. I’ll buy three or four bags of the pretzels, several boxes of the granola bars, etc. Most of the things I buy there are either dry pantry goods or frozen. I purchase dairy and fresh produce elsewhere.
April 21, 2008 at 10:37 pm #622600
Bikefor1MemberTrader Joe’s is the shizzle. No need to apologize.
April 21, 2008 at 10:48 pm #622601
charlabobParticipantBikefor1, I would like to thank you for shizzle, which sent me to google, which sent me to the Urban Dictionary — what a find! (And yeah, I didn’t know shizzle — what can I say?) :-)
April 21, 2008 at 11:27 pm #622602
BonnieParticipantLove Trader Joe’s! I especially love their wine selection. Since having kids we just can’t afford the $25+ bottles of wine anymore. It’s TJ’s for us. (although I don’t recommend the $3 Chuck reds but the chardonnay is okay)
dinner is always fun after a trip to TJ’s.
April 21, 2008 at 11:30 pm #622603
barmargiaMemberOkay, so I was never a huge fan of TJ’s, but maybe with all this endorsement I should give them another try. My thought was always that they were more expensive than a regular store, but I’m guessing that may not be the case on a lot of things.
April 22, 2008 at 1:44 am #622604
JoBParticipantbarmargia…
try their shampoo and conditioner…
i have superfine hair and very sensitive skin and I use it… i am amazed.. and grateful.
i am going to try their skin cream next…
i have been spending ridiculous amounts of money on product:(
not now :)))
April 22, 2008 at 1:47 am #622605
barmargiaMemberThanks JoB, I’m always on the lookout for good product. I have sensitive skin also. So I guess you TJ fans have convinced me to check it out and give it another go. Darn you all :)
April 22, 2008 at 3:59 am #622606
JeraldParticipantTry the Jumping Cow Amber Ale (to drink, not wash your hair). It’s super, even if from California. And the Persian cucumbers and lamb’s lettuce.
April 22, 2008 at 4:00 am #622607
JoBParticipanti wonder what the jumping cow would do for my hair?
somewhere in the depths of my memory is a beer rinse experience.. but for the life of me, i can’t remember when or why:0
April 22, 2008 at 4:14 am #622608
AnonymousInactiveJoB, to help jog your memory, it may have had something to do with the hops. I’ve heard hops are very good for your hair, so it wouldn’t be that unusual to wash your hair with beer.
April 22, 2008 at 6:07 am #622609
LBGMemberJoB, if you are going to wash your hair with beer, which sounds like a splendid idea, make sure and keep an ice cold pitcher handy.
Seems like a good way to kill two birds with one stone. Healthy hair and an ice cold pitcher of beer to celebrate said healthy hair.
April 22, 2008 at 6:18 am #622610
BonnieParticipantWasn’t there some shampoo that had beer in it back in the 70’s. I also remember a shampoo that had egg in it because it was supposed to be good for your hair. LOL! i remember putting mayonnaise in my hair, all in the name of beauty. LOL!
April 22, 2008 at 6:23 am #622611
ErikParticipantBonnie – my mom bought me ‘beer shampoo’ in the early 70’s.
Here is some beer shampoo from the 50’s:
April 22, 2008 at 6:25 am #622612
AnonymousInactiveI remember pouring beer on our hair and letting it dry outside in the sun. Was supposed to give you natural highlights or something.
April 22, 2008 at 6:29 am #622613
BonnieParticipantSo funny! I even remember the shampoo with honey in it. Oh…the 70’s….
April 22, 2008 at 4:08 pm #622614
JoBParticipantbonnie.. i think i am guilty of all of those.. and more.. including avacado…
now i am tickled just to find shampoo i can use…
as for the pitcher of cold beer.. it would have to be for the friends who gathered to watch the entertainment.. sadly.. alcohol and i are no longer compatible:(
April 22, 2008 at 4:57 pm #622615
carrisimaMemberThe 3 buck chuck Shiraz is really the best red they make, I don’t care too much for the cab or merlot either.
April 22, 2008 at 5:14 pm #622616
AnonymousInactiveSince there don’t seem to be many fans of the reds at Trader Joe’s, I would like to suggest the merlot or cab you can get at Met Market called Bandit. It’s about $6.50 in a cardboard? packaging. You’ll find it on the bottom shelf and it’s really good wine (especially for that price)!
April 22, 2008 at 5:52 pm #622617
squareeyesParticipantThe 3 buck chuck sauvignon blanc is super sweet (imho) so if anyone likes sweet whites you can’t beat the price. I like sauvingnon blancs for their lack of oak, but that particular one is a bit cloying. Still, I don’t refuse it if a friend is pouring.
I did enjoy the 3 buck shiraz.
April 22, 2008 at 6:03 pm #622618
squareeyesParticipantMy biggest TJ’s pleasure is the sun-dried tomato pesto in the fridge section – rich and soooo delicious. It’s got a short shelf-life so I recently tried freezing it which worked well. In view of that success I can now happily stock up whenever I find myself in a TJs locale instead of limiting myself to a single container.
April 22, 2008 at 9:29 pm #622619
missaudreyhorneParticipantI always thought that TJ’s was more expensive before I actually started going there as well. I have to say, this is my FIRST stop for putting together a good cheese plate on the fly. They may not have the extensive selection that Met Market has, but they have amazing price tags. Also, try the mediterranean yogurt dip with sea salt pita chips if you have a chance, I swear it is like heaven in your mouth.
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