Trader Joe's...have you been to one?

[DISshopkeeper]

We have a WaWa in our high school!! It's run by the students. How cool is that?

And it's been my experience that the WaWas that sell gas are usually cheaper, by a few cents, than any of the other gas stations in the area.

Really cool! I had no idea WaWa did that!

 

[fairykin]

So Delicious... their packs of 100 calorie chocolate bars.. very smooth

 

[ZPT1022]

I look through their baked goods for the ones low in fat and high in fiber. They need to go into the freezer right away, as they mold quickly (few preservatives).

I'll second that- we've had things mold within days if I forget and leave them on the counter but they seem to do good in the fridge or freezer


We love Trader Joe's. No high fructose corn syrup or other fake stuff that we try to avoid. A good selection of gluten free stuff for me which is nice since I am being forced to go gluten free.

the cereals are nice- DH is eating one right now called "twigs and sticks" or something like that. The kids are working on a box of peanut butter panda puffs. DH has also had a lot of nice granolas.

we do a lot of snacky stuff from there- nuts, trail mixes, veggie sticks, etc.... oh and the kids love the cat cookies, all the varieties, as well as the only animal crackers we've found without high fructose corn syrup. The snacky stuff seems to be a big hit when I send it in for snacks to the kids school. DS's teacher is thrilled I send in so much each month but it is all so reasonably priced, why not?

Good prices on organic fruits and veggies as well, in addition to finding some stuff occasionally that doesn't show up in my regular grocery stores. Last year I bought some kind of citrus that I thought would be neat to try- this elderly Italian guy DH works with was so excited to see that that I went back and bought him three bags- he was beyond excited, hadn't found them in a while.

It is a relatively small store but I manage to pack my cart(s) and find lots of good stuff. Actually, it's kind of a good lesson on how much we actually need

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

WaWa, Wegmans, Meijer, O'Malias? It's like a whole other language on the DIS.

So, my friend and I went to Trader Joe's yesterday. First we went to Christmas Tree Shops, then a BIG lunch at Olive Garden (after discovering that our "Fresh City" had closed and Carrabba's wasn't open for lunch). The trouble with going food shopping STUFFED is that it was hard to even think about more food, as opposed to going hungry and buying everything.

About 10 minutes after we arrived, the fire alarm went off. While we were waiting outside for the firefighters to do their thing, employees circulated among the crowd with cookies to sample. And being the good little doobie that I am, despite already being stuffed from lunch, I sampled them all. Chocolate chip, cranberry something dunkers, shortbread, cat cookies (after confirming that they are, in fact, for human consumption ). We saw so many people purchasing the cranberry something dunkers after that, and the shelf was cleared of them by the time we got there. But that's ok, cuz I bought plenty of other stuff.

It was a little overwhelming, all the new and different food items, so my friend and I decided we'd just have to plan to go back at some point soon.

I bought:
Multigrain crackers (good price!) which I've snacked on with garlic hummus
Peanut butter filled pretzels, which we all love
Passion fruit bar (for me )
Think Thin Chocolate Fudge bar (haven't tried yet)
Lumpy Bumpy Nougat Bar (for DH's stocking, except that I already ate it ...it was good, but very rich; DH wouldn't like it)
Butternut squash soup in a carton (haven't tried it yet)
Mandarin orange chicken...we'll be having it for dinner tonight
Shrimp fried rice stir fry (also for tonight's dinner)
Bacon & feta crustless quiche (haven't tried yet)
Butter (cheaper than S&S; haven't tried yet)
Spinach mushroom quiche (haven't tried)
Spinach and artichoke dip (haven't tried)
Marinated mozzarella...got some marinade on my finger opening it, and licked my finger and thought my mouth was on fire (I have a tough time with spicey foods), but mixed with the actual mozzarella, it's not so bad...tastes good, but a little too hot for me
Bruschetta sauce in a jar (haven't tried yet)
Maryland style crabcakes (haven't tried yet)
Spiced cider juice...spicey, but good

I didn't really look at produce, because I spent so much time looking at everything else. Next time.

Looking forward to going back and trying new things. I made a list of recommendations (THANK YOU!) from this thread, so I'll work my way through it.

The bell ringing was amusing.

 

[Cindy B]

I have no idea what that is either but after reading about umm Wa Was(is that the gas station) I'm anxious to see one of those in the next move. Apprently I need to see a Wegman's also.

Other stores I really need to see include the above stores, an Ikea, the Container Store, and something else I read about on here that I can't remember.

Honestly, you aren't missing much with the Container store. We have one around here that opened last year. I don't know how it stays in business because there is hardly anyone in there.

It is overrpriced containers you can buy at Target/Kmart cheaper. They have some cute little stuff in the front of the store, but there is nothing that is gotta have it type things. Ikea is far more interesting store with more to see and do. The quality of some Ikea merchandise is fairly sketchy but it is is definetely a European style store.

 

[LakeAriel]

WaWa, Wegmans, Meijer, O'Malias? It's like a whole other language on the DIS.

So, my friend and I went to Trader Joe's yesterday. First we went to Christmas Tree Shops, then a BIG lunch at Olive Garden (after discovering that our "Fresh City" had closed and Carrabba's wasn't open for lunch). The trouble with going food shopping STUFFED is that it was hard to even think about more food, as opposed to going hungry and buying everything.

About 10 minutes after we arrived, the fire alarm went off. While we were waiting outside for the firefighters to do their thing, employees circulated among the crowd with cookies to sample. And being the good little doobie that I am, despite already being stuffed from lunch, I sampled them all. Chocolate chip, cranberry something dunkers, shortbread, cat cookies (after confirming that they are, in fact, for human consumption ). We saw so many people purchasing the cranberry something dunkers after that, and the shelf was cleared of them by the time we got there. But that's ok, cuz I bought plenty of other stuff.

It was a little overwhelming, all the new and different food items, so my friend and I decided we'd just have to plan to go back at some point soon.

I bought:
Multigrain crackers (good price!) which I've snacked on with garlic hummus
Peanut butter filled pretzels, which we all love
Passion fruit bar (for me )
Think Thin Chocolate Fudge bar (haven't tried yet)
Lumpy Bumpy Nougat Bar (for DH's stocking, except that I already ate it ...it was good, but very rich; DH wouldn't like it)
Butternut squash soup in a carton (haven't tried it yet)
Mandarin orange chicken...we'll be having it for dinner tonight
Shrimp fried rice stir fry (also for tonight's dinner)
Bacon & feta crustless quiche (haven't tried yet)
Butter (cheaper than S&S; haven't tried yet)
Spinach mushroom quiche (haven't tried)
Spinach and artichoke dip (haven't tried)
Marinated mozzarella...got some marinade on my finger opening it, and licked my finger and thought my mouth was on fire (I have a tough time with spicey foods), but mixed with the actual mozzarella, it's not so bad...tastes good, but a little too hot for me
Bruschetta sauce in a jar (haven't tried yet)
Maryland style crabcakes (haven't tried yet)
Spiced cider juice...spicey, but good

I didn't really look at produce, because I spent so much time looking at everything else. Next time.

Looking forward to going back and trying new things. I made a list of recommendations (THANK YOU!) from this thread, so I'll work my way through it.

The bell ringing was amusing.

I put the quiche back because I didn't know the price..Do you remmber what you paid?

BTW The peppermint Joe Joe's cheesecake IS delicious!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Mandarin orange chicken...we'll be having it for dinner tonight
Shrimp fried rice stir fry (also for tonight's dinner)
Spiced cider juice...spicey, but good

Three on the chicken and the rice!! DS had the spiced cider and loved it...I was surprised!

I put the quiche back because I didn't know the price..Do you remmber what you paid?

BTW The peppermint Joe Joe's cheesecake IS delicious!

I'll have to try the cheesecake next trip. But I SO don't need to fall in love with another cheesecake.

The quiches were both small. I've got my receipt right here...the bacon and feta cheese serves 2 and cost $2.99. The spinach and mushroom serves 1 and cost $1.89.

 

[LakeAriel]

Thanks! The cheesecake was only $1.99 and serves three..(generously)

I'll go back for the quiche!

 

[SundancePass]

i LOVE Trader Joe's! The ones in the Twin Cities sell wine...and cheap too....$3 buck chuck.

All the food is terrific. If you like nuts and jam with lots of fruit it it...don't shop anywhere else. On yes...and coffee too...cheese...Orange Chicken...Gingerbread house at chirstmas...sipping chocolate...JoJos....it just doesn't stop!

Buy some TJ bags too....they last forever!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Buy some TJ bags too....they last forever!

Oh, that reminds me...I had brought my reusable S&S bags (including insulated bags for the cold/frozen stuff, since the store isn't real close by), and entered a drawing for $25, for people who bring their own bags. I hope I win, I hope I win, I hope I win...