HEY JOE.

[surreallis]

So, my small and progressive, yet somehow still backwoods, city has finally gotten a Trader Joe's. And we might be going tomorrow. So, tell me, dear friends, what do you get there that is good? What do you get that is horrible and I should avoid at all costs? GIVE ME RECS!

Comments

[surreallis]

People keep mentioning dark chocolate almonds with sea salt, and I'm sort of obsessed now. They HAVE to be good, don't they? Mmm.

[kymba]

COOKIE BUTTER.

[surreallis]

Hahahaha! Two words that sound good together!

[kymba]

Girrrrlll....it’s basically a gingersnap-flavored Nutella, and it has ruined my life. I need a 12-step, STAT.

[sjhw_tolerance]

I think Trader Joe's is good for unique and different items--putting together a fun picnic or something like that. But for everyday shopping, not so much. They do have an awesome selection of all different kinds of beers and wines, so it's easy to try some different types and experiment.

It seems like lots of their stuff is seasonal and the stock is always changing, so if you get attached to an item, it does have the possibility of not being there the next time. Mostly, it's fun to walk through and see what they're selling and the people who are buying it!

[surreallis]

Yeah, it's far too inconvenient to be an everyday shopping place, for sure. Even if it had everything I wanted and the best prices. The gas I'd use to get there would even the odds. I'm always looking for a good price on nuts and stuff though, which seems to be a big plus for it, and I can buy those every few months. It'll be interesting!

[rihansu]

okay, prepare for a novel!

-fresh naan, it's amazing, I use it for pizza crust. And everything else.
-everything bagels, they're real chewy bagels and the smoked salmon is really good and pretty cheap.
-lentils, best selection and price outside of an Indian grocery store.
-sweet chili dipping sauce, amazing on chicken/turkey burgers, or for actual dipping.
-all of their frozen Indian dishes are great (except the pakoras, I think they're just not meant to be frozen) but especially the butter chicken and chicken tikka.
-chile lime chicken burgers and vegetable masala burgers are my go to weekend lunches when I want to avoid grocery shopping for another day.
-french style ham, Gruyere, and caramelized onion pizza.
-dark chocolate covered cranberries.
-they have a cheese called Tintern or something that has chives and shallots in it. Put it on the naan and toast it and have a religious experience.

Okay I'll stop now, oh except if you know anyone with an elderly dog, TJ's has the cheapest glucosamine and chondroitin pills I've found.

[surreallis]

Ooh! My brother has an elderly dog that takes pills. Hmm. If I see them there I'll take a pic and send it to him so he knows.

That pizza sounds awesome. Awesome! Mmm, naan. And bagels!

[rihansu]

And I forgot to mention the purple potatoes. The purple potatoes are the best potatoes!

[stargazercmc]

PRETZELS OF DOOM. And by that, I mean pretzel bites stuffed with peanut butter and dipped in chocolate. Trader Joe's is where beanpot always got them for everyone.

[beanpot]

Yep - but now I'm addicted to their english toffee and black bean toquitos.