Trader Joe's

[sharbear]

I have to do some Christmas shopping on Thursday and I'm going to be near a Trader Joe's.

Is is worth stopping there? What's good and is there anything special I could buy for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanks

 

[Crankyshank]

Love Trader Joe's. Can't wait til the one in Cranston is built!

If the one you are going to has a liquor license, check out charles shaw wines (especially their shiraz) and La Boca wines. Both are $3 bottles of wine that taste like $20 bottles.

They have lots and lots of great gourmet snack treats. I have to stop by there soon and pick up what I call "crack nuts" for gifts. That's their yin/yang nuts. It's wasabi peanuts and honey roasted peanuts combined. It's seriously like crack.

Also if you do a lot of cooking for the holidays - they have the best price on nuts, especially pecans, and fresh mozarella

 

[Laurajean1014]

TJ's is a great place. More of a food boutique than a food store. They do not necessarily have the same stuff every time you go, but the food is usually fresh and tastey. Try their scones - very good. Their meats are sometimes steriod free, yogurt and nuts are good. Things can get pricey, although I do not think their food is expensive.

Frozen section: Desserts are to die for. Fish is a good buy, too.

Go late at night when it's not busy and shop around. Read all the labels (not everything is good for you.....).

However, try their homemade Chocolate Chip cookies (their mini's) my DS loves them and you can pop many in the mouth....

Enjoy!

 

[KarenC]

We just got their flyer the other day. They have cooked, peeled and frozen shrimp for $6.99 a pound. Just thaw and serve with cocktail sauce!

My kids like their peanut butter filled pretzels.

And I second the suggestion about the Charles Shaw Shiraz! Nothing like 2 buck Chuck!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

The peanut butter pretzels alone are worth the trip.

That and coconut cashews. Oh, yeah, and Habenero (sp?) pistachios! (not overly hot, I can eat them and I don'y like spicy that much)

 

[CyranoJones]

Rosemary Marcona almonds! To die for! And TJ's has them for a very good price.

 

[Spinning]

DISshopkeeper
You do know they opened on in Downtown Media! Even have parking! I love going! I use to drive to the one in Delaware all the time but now there is one right down the street! in "everybody's home town"

 

[Galahad]

If the one you are going to has a liquor license, check out charles shaw wines (especially their shiraz) and La Boca wines. Both are $3 bottles of wine that taste like $20 bottles.

Yes. Checkout their "2 buck Chuck" and their Chilean wines for $3 also. Excellent wine deals on very nice wines.

 

[piglet too]

The pasta sauce is real good too!!!!!

 

[Yardbird]

They have chocolate truffles that are awesome!

 

[Cindy B]

The ones in NJ does not have a wine selection, they sound great.

I love, the peanut butter and chocolate bites (think resses but smaller and in a larger container), eggrolls, sushi, and the wasabi peas.

Some of thier dishes are excellent!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Jenz, when is the one in Cranston supposed to be built? I looked on the website, but they don't mention it.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

LOVE TJ's!! Awesome store!! We buy our milk there since it doesn't have the bovine growth hormone.

The kids love going there to get the chocolate cat cookies and cheap orangina. DH likes the soups and cheap cheese!! The boursin prices alone are worth the trip!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Originally posted by Spinning
DISshopkeeper
You do know they opened on in Downtown Media! Even have parking! I love going! I use to drive to the one in Delaware all the time but now there is one right down the street! in "everybody's home town"

I did know that!!! Watch for the Hallmark store to move into the liquor store space next to TJ's after Christmas. Then watch for that Hallmark store to get to be a REALLY nice store.

 

[ahutton]

They have imported Hungarian chocolate covered cherries - I don't know what the alcohol in there is but boy are they really good. They have fantastic holiday candy selections, great deals of frozen seafood that is vacuum packed and they sell Tillamook cheese in most stores. That is the best cheese ever - DH grew up in that town and I've managed to convert my cheese loving family!

 

[SoonerKate]

Originally posted by CyranoJones
Rosemary Marcona almonds! To die for! And TJ's has them for a very good price.

YES, YES, YES! Those are the best. I will warn you though, they're ridiculously addictive.

 

[Alice28]

Another TJ's fan here...you can get some really nice frozen appetizers there- we like the mushroom turnovers a lot!

I agree with the nuts and snacks- great prices, fantastic quality.

I also like their frozen veggies and for a long time at this time of year they had a frozen pumpkin cheesecake....very, very tasty!

Their bread is GREAT and inexpensive.

 

[Cindy B]

I was reading Forbes yesterday, and found something interesting about TJ's.

TJ's and another grocery chain are owned by the an overseas corporation.

Guess which other grocery chain it is? Its not who yould would expect, another high end specialty chain... It is .....



ALDI!

Yes, Aldi, and Trader Joes are owned by the same overseas corporation.

It shocked me! (This is in the November 29 issue of Forbes)

 

[Crankyshank]

I've never heard of Aldi.

Mare, it's posted on the bulletin board at the Framingham store. I asked the manager when it's expected to be open and they said sometime in the spring. no idea if they are selling wine, but I would imagine they are since it's the only one in the state.

I'm not sure where in Cranston it will be.

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Crankyshank
I've never heard of Aldi.

Aldi is a deep discount, cash and carry place that is known for off and generic brands. This is the type of store you need to pay to use a cart!