The TRADER JOE'S Thread

[Jeff Lebowski]

If I had to give JL any TJ-related advice, it would be to not purchase the following items:
frozen polenta
thai red curry
frozen lasagna
whole grain pancake mix
chicken valencia
sweet potato gnocci

And continue to purchase at least these items:
Cookie butter
pizza
pumpkin pancake mix
orange chicken
shepard pie

But since the recently-announced Boise Trader Joe's has not yet been constructed, I don't have any actual TJ shopping experience. This TJ-related advice is only based on theory.

Weird. I was thinking the same thing.

[MarkGrace]

I'm sorry to hear that the Trader Joe's frozen lasagna didn't meet your expectations, JL. Especially because frozen lasagna is usually so delicious.

haha

I think the only frozen meal we consistently buy is the mac and cheese. I don't think the lasagna is very good either.

[Flystripper]

haha

I think the only frozen meal we consistently buy is the mac and cheese. I don't think the lasagna is very good either.

My kids won't eat Kraft mac and cheese anymore because of tj's.

[Jeff Lebowski]

haha

I think the only frozen meal we consistently buy is the mac and cheese. I don't think the lasagna is very good either.

Really? Frozen mac and cheese sounds gross. We need to give it a shot.

[Tim]

Bad news: New York-area Trader Joe's don't carry Trader Jose's Salsa Especial.

[YOhio]

JL, I've probably posted this same thing somewhere else in the thread, but here are the things we always get from TJ's that are consistently good and cheap.

Frozen vegetables - broccoli, edamame in the pod, shelled edamame, melange a trois (tri-color peppers), peas, white corn
Frozen tuna steaks
Frozen potstickers (chicken and pork)
Orange chicken (I see you've already made this discovery)
Tzatzicki
Mediterranean hummus
Maple syrup
Natural, uncured all beef hot dogs
Shredded parmesan cheese
Frozen turkey meatballs
Fruit leathers
Feta

For the most part we use TJ's for cheap and consistently good ingredients as opposed to frozen prepared food. It's nice to grab a bag of frozen peppers or shelled edamame to throw in a stir-fry or pasta on short notice. My normal grocery store doesn't have the variety or quality, so we always have a stock on hand. On most trips I seem to pick up something that looks unique or good, but rarely does that item make it back on the big list.

[Surfah]

The orange chicken is the bomb diggity. I wish TJ's was closer. The one we visit is down in Richmond but it's super tiny and has a limited selection compared to others I have been to.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Thanks, YO. I will check some of those items out.

[Northwestcoug]

The orange chicken is the bomb diggity. I wish TJ's was closer. The one we visit is down in Richmond but it's super tiny and has a limited selection compared to others I have been to.

Eh. We initially loved it, and went on an orange chicken run for awhile, having it at least once a week. Then all of a sudden I started noticing the quality of the chicken under the orange. It's still OK, but we haven't gotten it a while.

The one meal we buy that the kids consistently like is the gorgonzola gnocchi. Haven't gotten tired of it yet.

[BigPiney]

Eh. We initially loved it, and went on an orange chicken run for awhile, having it at least once a week. Then all of a sudden I started noticing the quality of the chicken under the orange. It's still OK, but we haven't gotten it a while.

The one meal we buy that the kids consistently like is the gorgonzola gnocchi. Haven't gotten tired of it yet.

I can't stand to eat something more often than once a month or even every few months. Eating the same thing once a week would be dooming me to never eat it again.

[Clark Addison]

I used to buy the orange chicken a lot, but I noticed that when I would eat it, I would always eat an entire bag. I don't think they are supposed to be single serving, so I buy them less.

[Northwestcoug]

I can't stand to eat something more often than once a month or even every few months. Eating the same thing once a week would be dooming me to never eat it again.

Now you tell me!
Yeah, we probably did this for about a month, right after Trader Joe's opened here. And we got tired of it, and haven't had it for probably a year.

[old_gregg]

Frozen vegetables - broccoli, edamame in the pod, shelled edamame, melange a trois (tri-color peppers), peas, white corn
Frozen tuna steaks
Frozen potstickers (chicken and pork)
Orange chicken (I see you've already made this discovery)
Tzatzicki
Mediterranean hummus
Maple syrup
Natural, uncured all beef hot dogs
Shredded parmesan cheese
Frozen turkey meatballs
Fruit leathers
Feta

what's the best way to cook these? i bought a couple last week and it turns out they do not cook anything like fresh tuna, even completely thawed.

[MarkGrace]

what's the best way to cook these? i bought a couple last week and it turns out they do not cook anything like fresh tuna, even completely thawed.

I would imagine they don't, but I've never bought them. Don't really want to eat the fish in there that's frozen like a block.

[YOhio]

what's the best way to cook these? i bought a couple last week and it turns out they do not cook anything like fresh tuna, even completely thawed.

I'm probably the wrong person to ask because the others in my home like their fish on the overcooked side. For the tuna steaks I make a honey/lime/cilantro marinade and throw it on the grill for fish tacos. Goes well with mango salsa.