# Trader Joe's **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 24, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731 "2003-04-24T01:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/1 "2003-04-24T01:00:54Z")
I went to Trader Joe’s at lunch today. I got some seasoned sliced roast beef, two boxes for their _excellent_ frozen French onion soup, a big can of French Roast coffee for home, a smaller can of FR coffee for work, some instant Thai iced chai, a half-kilo box of frozen ground buffalo patties, some sliced fresh papaya, and a box of their _incredibly good_ Cocoa Almonds. While I shopped I tasted some sliced sausage in veggies and Italian red sauce that they were cooking (they always have something cooking to give to the shoppers around lunch time), two of their bite-sized chocolate chip cookies, and a little of their house-blend coffee. I just thought I’d share that with those poor deprived Dopers who don’t have a Trader Joe’s near them. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/2 "2003-04-24T01:06:08Z")
Haven’t been there in a while, but after reading your post, I must get there for some coffee, etc. I had that frozen onion soup, and it’s really good! I sometimes get Dr. Bronner’s soap there, too. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/3 "2003-04-24T01:14:53Z")
I MISS Trader Joe’s. You’re evil. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/4 "2003-04-24T01:17:49Z")
> [@](#): > > You’re evil. Aye. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/5 "2003-04-24T01:20:59Z")
**TJ** ’s is especially good for their wide selection of cheeses. They manage to keep prices down by maintaining store brands and narrowing their selection. They will occasionally have excellent deals on liquor and chocolate. This seems to work particularly well with the ladies. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/6 "2003-04-24T01:23:34Z")
I am moving from Las Cruces, NM, to Bakersfield, CA (yes, I’m a glutton for heat, apparently). Mostly, I’m excited about being near a Trader Joe’s again. You must try the frozen gyoza. Both the veggie and chicken ones are scrummy. I also love the frozen French green beans. And so many other things. Fizgig + Trader Joe’s = \<3 x 10 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/7 "2003-04-24T01:29:16Z")
[quote] TJ’s is especially good for their wide selection of cheeses. They manage to keep prices down by maintaining store brands and narrowing their selection. [quote] I’m still working on some provolone I got at Costco, but I did almost get some cheese. I don’t know about “narrowing their selection”. The selection is better than most grocery chains I’ve been to. > [@](#): > > They will occasionally have excellent deals on liquor and chocolate. They had cases of Two-Buck Chuck cabernet sauvignon and chablis. I didn’t look for merlot, as I have almost two cases already. > [@](#): > > I also love the frozen French green beans. Got 'em in the freezer. Had some twice since last week. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/8 "2003-04-24T01:43:20Z")
Yes, the cheese selection is wonderful, but they (rightly) limit the _overall_ selection of food items so that it reduces overhead which allows for lower prices. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/9 "2003-04-24T01:53:47Z")
I was TJ-deprived for a number of years, and then they moved into the DC area - and then I moved FROM the DC area back into TJ-deprivation. And poor Mr. Butrscotch is LOST without a source for his Double Rainbow ice cream! Alas, I don’t see them coming to N’Awlins any time soon. This is a TOUGH food market. There’s virtually no chain stores of any type, even grocery stores here, although Whole Foods did just move in and quite successfully. A girl’s gotta hope, though… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/10 "2003-04-24T02:00:32Z")
Well, there’s always Wiiiiiiiiiiin-DIXie! Ooh, _man!_ Was that roast beef sandwich _good!_😃 ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/11 "2003-04-24T02:03:23Z")
I most very very happy when they opened Trader Joe’s in the Chicago area. Up until then, I’d only been there when visiting friends in the L.A. area. mmmmm… cheese. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/12 "2003-04-24T02:15:17Z")
Man oh man. Whenever I go to TJ’s I walk out with a batch of calamari steaks. I’ve been sending packs of the chocolate-covered espresso beans to my friend in the military. He tells me that they got nicknamed “amphetibeans,” though the fact that four of them ate the whole package in one sitting probably has something to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/13 "2003-04-24T02:15:22Z")
Ah, the joys of TJ’s. We’ve been doing a lot of their stir-fry meals lately (particularly the shrimp, kung pao chicken, and garlic chicken stir fry meals); they’re quick, easy, and delicious. We add extra veggies to all of the above, usually sugar snap peas from TJs, or broccoli florets; I also add more TJ’s frozen shrimp to the shrimp stir fry. The other thing we’ve been doing a lot of lately is their vodka marinara sauce over their ravioli (from the refrigerated section, not frozen). Yummmm. And I _love_ their peanut butter. I get the chunky, no-salt-added variety. And their cereals; I think the maple nut flakes are my favorite. And their fresh hot salsa. And their breads. And…and…and…have I ever mentioned that I’ve got a bad habit of going into TJ’s for ‘just a few things’ and coming out with three bags of groceries? It’s a dangerous place. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/14 "2003-04-24T02:21:33Z")
Sniff… O Trader Joe’s, ye of the cheap brie, how I pine for thee. I’ll trade you all the SPAM in Hawaii for one of your TJs. Pretty please? With vienna sausage on top? ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/15 "2003-04-24T02:27:35Z")
Ditto on the onion soup and the gyoza! I always microwave it though…no time for waiting. A little extra Assiago cheese and I’m set. Salty, but set. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/16 "2003-04-24T03:27:41Z")
> [@](#): > > And I love their peanut butter. Word. No other peanut butter will do. > [@](#): > > I’ll trade you all the SPAM in Hawaii for one of your TJs. Pretty please? No. lAll your Trader Joe’s are belong to us. > [@](#): > > I always microwave it though…no time for waiting. No time for waiting. How… zen. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/17 "2003-04-24T03:54:16Z")
I love shopping at TJ’s–I’ve been working as a personal chef lately, and many of their products have been true godsends. I’ve been quite pleased with their bagged salad mixes; they’re fresher and half the price of what I’ve been able to find at other ‘fancier’ markets. Another thing they sell that I’ve grown fond of is their boneless & skinless turkey breast tenders. I make a little raspberry-chipotle glaze and broil them in the oven. They’re perfect. ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/18 "2003-04-24T03:57:16Z")
Gah! I forgot their Dulce De Leche Chocolates. Man, someone was able to put an orgasm into a bite-sized piece of chocolate joy, I tell you. Only $2.99! ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/19 "2003-04-24T04:03:41Z")
Is TJ’s “Two-Buck Chuck” really as good as I hear it is? I’m guessing it is, as the TJ in San Francisco is always out of it. C’mon! I just need one dang bottle to try it! ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731/20 "2003-04-24T04:10:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fizgig \* > Word. Four letter sentence award. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fizgig \* > No. lAll your Trader Joe’s are belong to us. No longer funny mangled Engrish line mutilated back into hilarity. Extra points. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fizgig \* > No time for waiting. How… zen. 😃 Why thank you. I’m fairly sure I saw it there, so be sure to look for: _Fromage D’ Affinois_ It’s a delightful double cream Brie redeaux as a perfect breakfast cheese with much more character than any Brie. If they don’t have it, request it, everyone will be glad you did. This is the best all purpose soft rind cheese I’ve seen in years. Be sure to serve it at room temperature on cibatta or baugette and you’ll hit the jackpot. [Hammer] Trust me, I know what I’m doing … [/Hammer] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes/170731.md?page=2)