What to try at Trader Joe's?

Cafe Society
61

I just wanted to thank you all for the helpful suggestions.

I just returned from Trader Joe’s, where I was able to pick up some goodies, and have a list of stuff I want to try in the near future, when they stock up again, as some of the asiles looked like they were ravaged by a hoarde of hungry locusts since it’s grand opening on Friday. (I actually went past on Fri. afternoon, where there was easily a 45 minute line to just get in the front doors, so obviously I decided to wait a couple of days to let things calm down a bit, but it was still a mob scene today).

In general, the prices were quite uneven, with some stuff wildly overpriced (at least for this market, maybe not so much in other metropolitan areas) and other items (like their cheese, brie, and some of the Indian frozen meals) at 1/2 the cost of other local stores, which was obviously really nice to see.

Among other things, I picked up some brie, some spicy hummus, a few frozen Indian dinners, and a package of the candy-cane flavored oreos, which they were giving samples of.

They were sold out of the cherry-chocolates, guacamole, eggplant tapenade (I got some of the olive though) and sadly I didn’t see the seafood cioppino soup, which for some bizarre reason was the one single thing I was most looking forward to trying (bizarre because I have only had cioppino a couple of times before on visits to San Francisco, so it’s not something I would normally crave) but I am going to head back in a few days after the novelty has worn off a little and I can browse at leisure without jostling with a dozen other shoppers every square yard.

Finally, I was quite impressed with how many extremely attractive women were shopping at Trader Joe’s—There had to be at least 10 women for each man, from the younger, hottie granola types to stylish yuppie professionals pulling up in their Range Rovers and Volvos, lots of stunning soccer moms and every type in between.

A pleasant way to spend an hour, for sure…

62

Apparently you should steer clear of the butter chicken and peanut butter, at least for a while…

63

???

64

Dunno about the butter chicken, but previously they had a recall on peanut butter - the supplier who made peanut butter for them, Costco, and other places had a salmonella recall. They have a replacement supplier currently, as the old factory is still closed down.

65

Butter Chicken recall
Peanut Butter recall is over as noted by Ferret Herder.

66

The frozen French onion soup is quite good. You put the baseball-size block of soup in a bowl and nuke for 8-9 mins. It even has cheese and a few croutons, though one could certainly add more and pop under the broiler for a bit.

67

Cook it in the oven for 40 minutes. It’s better that way.

(Yes, I have some of those soup bowls with the handle, which are made to be used in the oven.)

68

I’d been planning to start bringing those to work for lunch, but just hadn’t gotten back to Trader Joe’s in a while…good thing!! :eek: Guess I’ll stick with the Chicken Tikka Masala w/Basmati Rice.

69

I buy 8 or 9 different types of coffee every time I go. (It’s an hour away, so I have to make it count!) I also load up on black licorice Scottie dog candy (so good it makes your mouth numb), Everyseed Bagel Chips, cheese, and those peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets.
And now I have a whole new list of goodies to try. I really need to plan a trip before Christmas.

70

I am moving and without a stove until the end of next week. I’m eating out, microwaving, and toasting.

71

Haven’t read through the thread, but my favorite things there are the dark chocolate caramels and dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Very yummy, especially the first one. I also generally get some of the oriental foods in the frozen section…pot stickers and the like. Oh…and they have fresh pizza dough that makes a REALLY good pizza (they also have sauce and fresh mozzarella and sausage and pepperoni).

Sometimes I get their old fashion cola as well, but I like the stuff at World Market better.