What is good at Trader Joe's

Brian Christiansen · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 16

I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
shelled pistachios.

There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?

Brian Christiansen

Archived from group: rec>food>cooking

Sqwertz · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 92

On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:27:43 GMT, Brian Christiansen wrote:

> I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
> was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
> handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
> while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
> thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
> that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
> shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?

You'll get more than $1,000 worth of suggestions here. Just bit
the billet and spend the lousy $15 on something you think looks
good.

People come here looking for suggestions on how to cook this, or
where to eat in Podunk. Only to come back later and say they
ignored all the suggestions and went off on their own.

It's $15. Knock yourself out. Live life on the edge.

-sw (who seen at least 200+ TJ's threads over the years)

Serene · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 91

Brian Christiansen wrote:
> I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
> was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
> handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
> while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
> thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
> that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
> shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?

The cranberry "dunkers" cookies have, I believe, at least a little
cocaine in them. I don't even like oatmeal cookies, but I can't stay
away from them when they're in the house, they're that addictive.

I love their greek yogurt. I mean LOVE.

Haven't really had anything else of theirs that was worth writing
home about.

Serene

Julie Bove · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 494

"Brian Christiansen" wrote in message $Ch6.7349@newssvr11.news.prodigy.net...
>I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
>was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
>handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
>while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
>thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
>that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
>shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good
> there?
>
> Brian Christiansen

I get some meals for my daughter that are pretty much chicken, beans and
rice. She likes them. We like their hummus. We can get a better price on
some of the special gluten free cereals daughter likes. I used to like
their pizza but they changed it and I can't eat any that they have now.
Husband seemed to like it though. They also have good prices on cheeses and
lunch meats. I also get some little fruit flavored hard candies. They are
tiny and wrapped in bright foil. Very good price.

Kent · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 50

"Brian Christiansen" wrote in message $Ch6.7349@newssvr11.news.prodigy.net...
>I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
>was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
>handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
>while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
>thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
>that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
>shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good
> there?
>
> Brian Christiansen
>
smoked salmon, proscuitto[not parma], arugula, two buck chuck,

Kent

Blinky the Shark · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 227

Brian Christiansen wrote:

> I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
> was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
> handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
> while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
> thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
> that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
> shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?

Their corn salsa is a treat.

http://blinkynet.net/stuff/tjcorn.jpg

--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
Blinky: http://blinkynet.net

LeoS · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

TJ's carries a lot of organic veggies and some excellent veggie
mixtures -- Harvest Hodgepodge is our favorite. Their cheeses are
also very good, and an excellent value. Try the feta and their Baby
Swiss Cheese. I also like the reduced salt mixed nuts w/o peanuts.
Following these suggestions should take care of your $15
certificate. Smile

Leo

MareCat · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 29

"Brian Christiansen" wrote in message $Ch6.7349@newssvr11.news.prodigy.net...
>I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
>was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
>handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
>while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
>thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
>that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
>shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good
> there?

We like their coffee (the Bay Blend and organic coffees are very good),
olives (I can get a big jar of pitted kalamatas there for about half the
price of what that would cost at a supermarket), and snacky-type items
(e.g., tortilla chips, salsa, hummus, habanero pistachios--those are
*totally* addictive, wasabi peas, etc.). We also love their chocolate and
frozen foods (they have some good frozen veggie blends, potstickers, and
appetizers).

Steve's right, though...you're gonna get an awful lot of replies, with
recommendations to try about a thousand different items. It's only $15. Go
to TJ's and buy what looks good to you.

Mary

koko · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 41

On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:27:43 GMT, "Brian Christiansen"
wrote:

>I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
>was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
>handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
>while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
>thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
>that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
>shelled pistachios.
>
>There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
>probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?
>
>Brian Christiansen
>
Congratulations on your award. I was involved with toastmasters years
ago and loved it.

I shop TJ's before anywhere else. I get, among lots of other things,
the lamb, nitrate free applewood smoked bacon, and other nitrate free
cold cuts, prosciutto, cheese etc.....I get the New Mexico Pinon
coffee there also. TJ's is the only place I can find heavy cream that
is not ultra-pasteurized.

When it comes to gift certificates I use them to buy things I normally
wouldn't buy but always wanted to try.

Let us know what you decide. Happy shopping

koko
---
http://www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 2/24
"There is no love more sincere than the love of food"
George Bernard Shaw

Puester · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 70

Brian Christiansen wrote:
> I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
> was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
> handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
> while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
> thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
> that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
> shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?
>
> Brian Christiansen
>
>

Among other things:

cheese
olive oil
olives
sauces
wine
chocolate
triple ginger cookies
imported cookies
juices
pastas
teas
artichoke spread
olive spread
etc.

gloria p

Melba's Jammin' · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 160

In article ,
"Brian Christiansen" wrote:

> I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
> was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
> handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
> while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
> thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
> that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
> shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?
>
> Brian Christiansen

Their dried apricots from California;
the orange muscat champagne vinegar;
the instant oatmeal with flaxseed and dried cranberries;
the triple ginger cookies (about 1-1/2" diameter, in plastic tubs above
the frozen foods);
the mojito chicken simmering sauce;
the cioppino simmering sauce;
the cheap wine;
they've a double cream brie that's not from France but was pretty darned
good;
the frozen fruits;
their cocktail spreads -- tapenades, bruschettas. (You can mix some of
that into some cream cheese and butter for a nice cheese spread, too.)

Most of the money I spend there is on the apricots.

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com; I Think I've Seen it All, 2/24/2008

Samantha Hill - take out · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 8

Brian Christiansen wrote:
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?

My whole family could live on their Pesto Tortellini ($2.69 for a dry
pound bag), and their prices on basic pasta are excellent - 69 cents a
pound. That and Baclava are about all I ever buy there since they
stopped carrying Brown Cow yogurt.

maxine in ri · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 24

On Feb 26, 11:27 pm, "Brian Christiansen"
wrote:
> I won the speech evaluation contest at my toastmasters group, and the prize
> was a $15 gift certificate to TJ's. I have probably only been in TJ a
> handful of times in my entire life, and most of those were to kill time
> while they were changing to oil in my car over at the garage. The only
> thing I have ever bought there was some shelled pistachios for some recipe
> that I was making, and the store that I usually shop at did not have any
> shelled pistachios.
>
> There seemed to be quite a few prepared foods there, which is what I will
> probably use the certificate for. I was just wondering what is good there?
>
> Brian Christiansen

I like their simmer sauces, Indian style flavors. If you liked their
pistachios, try some of their other nuts. I love their dried fruits,
which are usually cheaper than most places. Nice cheeses, fun frozen
appetizers (we like the veggie gyozo).

My most recent find was non-meat "chicken" in the freezer case.
Tastes just like chicken, but the kidlet who is nominally vegetarian,
will eat it.

My "secret" sin is their off-beat flavored chips. the one with the
goat cheese is yummy.

maxine in ri

It must be good... It's a 100 year old recipe. BOB in loving memory of "moosmeat"

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