TJ’s is fabulous. I stopped there after easter services and picked up some pinot noir for our host along with some tulips and dark chocolate for TheLadyLion
I’m the only one, but I hate Trader Joe’s.
We have one right across the street and an Albertson’s about 6(?) blocks away and I wish they’d switch.
Not enough selection and the prices are way too high.
Neat if you like unusual stuff, but a pain in the @ss if it’s 6 at night and you need a green bell pepper to add to your dish. (they only have red for some reason!)
Goodness I love Trader Joe’s. I always start out with the little hand basket, 'cause I’m only getting a few things. Half an hour later I’ve had to transfer to a regular cart. Never fails.
Do they still make spicy chicken sausage pizzas? I havn’t seen any around here for ages and those were nummy.
RTFirefly: I know exactly what you mean. I’ll say I’m only going there for milk, eggs, and a few other things, but I have yet to make it out of that place with only one bag.
I elder-sat for a friend, and as payment she is going to send me…a Trader Joe’s gift certificate!
Want anything?
There’s an Albertson’s about six blocks east of me, and a Trader Joe’s about 4 blocks south of me. Actually, I think there’s an Albertson’s and a Trader Joe’s about a mile west at Sepulveda and Palms. And another Trader Joe’s about a mile northwest at National and Westwood. And if I happen to be by the airport, there’s one six miles away from here in Westchester. And there’s the one in Orange that I can visit at lunch. But is there a TJ’s in Bellingham, WA where I often go? No! The closest one is in Everett!
Selection? It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want Kraft Macaroni and Cheese or Skippy peanut butter, then you have to go to a large chain. But if you want Cocoa Almonds (Joy!) you have to go to TJ’s. TJ’s has a better selection of cheese, and a good variety of vegetables. The wine selection is as good as Albertson’s, and cheaper. Lots of good bread, and I like their baguettes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen edamame at Albertson’s. Sure, you won’t find steaks, and their ground cow is frozen; but I think the selection is great! I’ve never seen buffalo at Vons. And I’ve found the prices to be competitive or cheaper than large markets.
I agree that it’s not the place for general grocery shopping. But for great party food shopping, it can’t be beat. Cocoa Almonds! Best cheese selection in town, and the prices are much better than Whole Foods (though I usually end up going to Whole Foods because it’s a lot closer). TJ’s absolutely cannot be beat for their price and selection on nuts. 4 bucks for a 12 oz bag of roasted macadamia nuts! Their salted, roasted almonds are to die for! Blister Peanuts! crunch crunch crunch…
I have to say I don’t understand the raving over things like the frozen salmon steaks at TJ’s. I can get outstanding fresh salmon anytime I want at the above mentioned Whole Foods (not that I really cook much), so I guess I don’t get the appeal.
I may stop at Trader Joe’s on the way home from work today.
Ooo, I think I’ll go after work. Never tried the frozen French Onion soup - I’ll have to look for it.
Things from Trader Joe’s I can’t live without:
their oil-free marinated mushrooms
frozen gyoza
cheap capers!
chocolate cat cookies (for people)
jars of roasted garlic (tho I haven’t seen these in a while)
vegan wrap sandwiches (tho I haven’t seen these in a while)
all the weird and wonderful frozen dinners
frozen salmon patties
You guys are so lucky! All the people I know on Atkins go to Trader Joe’s for their low carb things and they rant and rave online about how good it is. The closest one to me is upstate Virginia so I don’t guess I’ll ever be able to shop there.
I’ve managed it once or twice, but it’s rare. 
Bless her heart!
Hmmm…how about a jar of their creamy basil reduced-fat dressing? It’s with the refrigerated stuff! 
porcupine, when you talk about their party food, we gotta talk about those boxes of appetizers they have in the frozen section during the holiday season (but not the rest of the year, unfortunately). This year, I stocked up, so we have a supply if we’re having people over. Those suckers are seriously yummy.
TJ’s is great, but there stock level can be a pain.
is a typical TJ problem.
Here is a list of some things you should buy at TJ’s
Frozen French Onion Soup,
$20.00 XO imported French Cogniac,
Frozen New York Cheesecake,
$7.00 old inported Port.
They also have the best prices for pure cranberry juice, which can then be used to make the best cosmo cocktails.
No sugar, no carb chocolate bars! Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate. Unbelieveable but true, and they taste great! (They made with some sort of sugar alcohol that supposedly doesn’t raise glucose levels in the body)
And for the non-Atkins crowd, Mochi Ice Cream!
I’ve got some Oregon Chai decaf mix stuff in my fridge right now! Mmmmmm. And yes, the gyoza are pretty good, as well as some frozen spanakopita we got the other day. Oh, and the Terra Chips & Pirate’s Booty, as well. Hmm. I’m getting hungry… 
OTE]*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. *
**Selection? It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want Kraft Macaroni and Cheese or Skippy peanut butter, then you have to go to a large chain. But if you want Cocoa Almonds (Joy!) you have to go to TJ’s. TJ’s has a better selection of cheese, and a good variety of vegetables. The wine selection is as good as Albertson’s, and cheaper. Lots of good bread, and I like their baguettes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen edamame at Albertson’s. Sure, you won’t find steaks, and their ground cow is frozen; but I think the selection is great! I’ve never seen buffalo at Vons. And I’ve found the prices to be competitive or cheaper than large markets. **
[/QUOTE]
I’m talking about what I consider basic things. There just isn’t a lot of variety. Here are some examples I pulled off the top of my head.
Green peppers. They have red, yellow, every color of pepper under the sun but no green ones!
Iceburg lettuce. None. You gotta buy it in the salad bags already mixed up with other stuff.
Croutons. All we found was one small bag about the size of my fist for $6.
Jalapenos. Okay, maybe this isn’t “basic”, but I was really surprised they didn’t have it considering all the other similar items they carried.
This is just off the top of my head, I’m sure I could think of more if I sat down and thought about it.
Then again, this is the Trader Joes near me. Maybe there are other ones with better selections.
What’s better about Trader Joe’s? They have a good wine selection, but I don’t drink wine. ^^ And despite all the wine, the beer section is pitiful. Although they do have more osake then Albertson’s.
And they have a wonderful seafood section, but my fiancee is sick of seafood.
Cheese, their cheese is good.
I haven’t checked out their breads, since I work at a bakery and get them for free.
I think Trader Joe’s is great if you are looking for unusual or exotic items. Their mochi ice cream (what most people call mochi is actually the shell around the icecream) is good (or my boyfriend wouldn’t buy it), but their gyoza are horrific. I’ve heard that their indian spices are the best found outside of houses.
But they are expensive. I’m the type who saves every reciept and is always looking for the lowest price, so for general shopping, I’ve noticed Trader Joes is more expensive. There are some items that are cheaper at TJs. Like mango slices and Snider’s pretzles.
I’m a college student and without a car, we have are limited to just those two markets. Also, being poor, we can’t afford to buy all the nice cheeses except on rare occasions. When I have more money and a car I will not detest Trader Joe’s as much as I do now, but I still wouldn’t shop there every week, just like every other month or so.
Just went last night:
Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels
East Meets West Coffee
Strawberries
King Salmon &
Trader Joe’s Ginger-Ale - the best anywhere and only $1.99
Oh yes it can. [url=“http://www.andersonsstore.com”]Anderson’s General Store[/url. Plus, after I pick out my wine, cheese and fresh bread, I can get a new car battery installed, pick up a box of shotgun shells, and go play with the hedgehogs. And get the kitchen sink.
ava - you’re right about TJ’s produce selection. What they have is good, but the choices are limited. You really have to go to a regular grocery to get what you want.
They’ve got most other staples, though: milk, bread, peanut butter, canned tuna, OJ, cereal, that sorta stuff. And most of it’s better than the stuff in the regular groceries, and the prices are comparable.
The one complaint that surprises me is that of price. Before TJ’s, I did almost all of my grocery shopping at Food Lion, a chain that’s strictly about low prices. I was pleasantly surprised at how competitive TJ’s was with them. I expected to pay a lot more at TJ’s, and instead the difference was pretty negligible. But it’s been awhile since I was on a student budget, so I may be less sensitive to small but real differences in price than you are.
Maybe it can’t be beat in Ohio, Unc. I mean, it’s irritating that TJ’s isn’t everywhere yet, but at least they’re in more than one state!
Lets not forget Fat Weasel Amber Ale, TJs is the only place I can find it.
Ah, Trader Joe’s. I’m going this afternoon.
Our favorites-
Salmon burgers
Breaded cod fillets
Chicken burritos
Chocolate seashells filled with hazelnut cream
Those cool sorbets in orange peels
Cheese
Orangina!
Small artichokes & baby artichokes (my grocery chain seems to think bigger is always better…)
Specialty mayonnaise- we like the roasted garlic and the wasabi
Lemon kitchen soap
Great picnic baskets and flowers
Frozen French onion soup (sounds strange but trust us- 40 minutes at 200 and sheer bliss)
Damn, I’m hungry now. I think I’ll go!
Actually, I would like to forget Fat Weasel Ale. Tried it. Didn’t like it. But at least those who do like it can get it there!
They used to have Frugal Joe’s beer. I think it was like three bucks for a 12-pack. Or something like that. Really cheap. It wasn’t the best beer around, but it was drinkable and inexpensive. I have a friend whose hobby is drinking different beers from all over the planet. He said Frugal Joe’s was pretty good. I haven’t seen it for years, though.