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Trader Joe's is a newcomer to my neck of the woods, opening in Chapel Hill just a few months ago. I'm a huge fan – whenever I can deal with the crowds I head over there to pick up my growing list of favorites. So far my favorites include their almond butter, Greek yogurt, sweet and spicy walnuts, paper bag pecks of "eco apples," Triple Ginger snaps, dried mango with chili and red pepper hummus. But I have also had some real losers. The frozen hamburgers I had a few weeks ago were as hard as hockey pucks, with a weird, almost gamy smell. An apricot flan tart tasted of sticky cardboard, like an office meeting Danish left to dry for a week on the boardroom table. I was thinking of picking up some dessert for tonight, but I don't want to risk another disaster.
There have been plenty of Trader Joe's "favorites" lists in the past, but seeing how their stock changes so ridiculously fast, I'd love to start another one. So tell me, please, what's your favorite thing at TJ's? What to avoid?
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2-25-2008 @4:55PM becky said... Frozen Organic pre-cooked brown rice and Horseradish Hummus!
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2-25-2008 @4:58PM Ariel said... frozen pork gyoza!!!
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2-25-2008 @5:04PM jessie said... I'm currently obsessed with their Veggie Masala Burgers, which are really less Veggie Burgers and much more Indian Spiced Potato Patty. They taste just like the inside of a samosa, and I adore them. I also love their chicken shumai. They also have individual bags of frozen pre-cooked brown rice that are delicious. All of that is in the frozen section.
In the non-frozen section, I love their jerkys. Turkey, buffalo, and beef in a bunch of different flavors, without a lot of nitrates or preservatives.
I'd stay away from their sushi, but you can tell just by looking at it - very heavy on the dense, too sweet rice and light on the not very good fillings.
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2-26-2008 @4:55PM morganen said... The chicken taquitos in the freezer section are the worst! They are utterly tasteless.
I love the margarite pizza with fresh basil in the refigerated section. As far as dessert goes, you can't go wrong with the sorbets.
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2-25-2008 @5:20PM Cara said... Trader Joe's Turkey meatballs, chocolate chip cookies (frozen section), chocolate croissants (frozen section), Trader Joe's Pepperonata, Gnochi (both kinds), Green Chili Tamales, Naan, Cilantro Hummus, Vanilla Almond Granola - all fabulous.
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2-25-2008 @5:36PM guest1234567 said... Frozen microwaveable jazmine rice.
Frozen roast vegetables.
Madelines (my wifes favs!)
And I'm not too proud to admit, 2 Buck Chuck by the case!
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2-25-2008 @5:24PM phlipper said... I like almost all of the hors d'oeuvres. Also, their nuts are great and very well priced, even for Cashews and Turkish Pistachios (if you can find them). Blister peanuts, too. Papadum chips are also fun.
I avoid frozen red meat at Joe's, and cuts I usually wouldn't buy anyway, like tri-tip (who eats tri-tip?). Also, the Stilton with fruit (cranberries, apricots) is nasty. Also, their pre-packed produce, especially the cut-up stuff, is sketchy.
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2-25-2008 @5:24PM clumberkim said... Best: frozen Mac & Cheese, chocolate lava cakes, cinnamon almonds, vanilla shredded wheat, roasted garlic hummus, sun dried tomatoes (jar), pear sauce, vanilla baking mix (My kids would want me to add Joe's Os, frozen spinach pizza, and organic peanut butter crackers to this list. They live on them.) Not back until next fall: peppermint marshmallows
Worst: The scones are disappointing, as are the muffins.
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2-25-2008 @5:25PM greg said... Where do I start?
Peanut Butter (both crunchy and smooth)
Pancake/Waffle mix
Thai curry simmer sauces
Frozen chicken rolled tacos
Nitrate-Free pastrami deli meat
Joe-Joes (Oreo knockoffs)
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2-25-2008 @5:26PM ESC said... love: ginger snaps, mini quiches, cranberry white chocolate dunkers, breakfast blend whole bean coffee, raspberry chocolates, already marinated bul golgi (not sure if I'm spelling that right).
the only thing I've had there that I've INTENSELY disliked was their whole wheat pizza dough. maybe it was too old when I bought it. It refused to rise, and when baked had a flat, dead taste to it, and the texture was not at all the crisp-yet-chewy combination that crusts should have. I will still to my grocery store deli's homemade pizza dough from now on!
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3-06-2008 @11:36PM Denise said... I've been shopping there for the past 2 years and I love their Asiago pepper bread, but nothing compares to the Tarte d'Alsace. It's a very thin, crispy flat bread crust topped with I don't recommend you try this if you haven't already - they are postively addicting! Once you start you can't stop. It's starts with 1 tart a week and then next thing you know you're going early in the morning so you can grab every last one on the shelf.
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2-25-2008 @5:54PM dee said... Garlic Nan (frozen)
Mojito Sauce (jar)
Chicken Shu Mai (frozen)
Alsatian Pizza (frozen)
Almonds in oil with Rosemary (Marcona Almonds? Marcopa Almonds? something like that. a little pricey and worth every penny!)
Gelato (any flavor)
Creme Brulee (frozen)
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2-25-2008 @5:45PM Stephanie said... He buy the multigrain sprouted sliced bread -- as good a Alvardo St. and 1/2 the price (we actually switch between the two depending on what store we are stopping at). I also really like the triple ginger cookies, and they have some great dark chocolate by the checkout (Unique origin). Have not tried many of their desserts, except when they are sampling them (yum).
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2-25-2008 @5:47PM ear said... Surprised at the "who eats tri-tip" comment above. We love those and get them frequently for summer BBQs. While I prefer the costco ones, the Trader Joes ones are still quite good.
For work lunches, I love love love the frozen Sheppard's pie.
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2-25-2008 @5:51PM helen said... Favorites:
1. frozen edamame in shell lightly salted
2. trilayer hummus with red pepper/regular/cilantro
3. mushroom filled thingy appetizers (frozen)
4. marinated 3 beans in a can
5. Panko crusted talapia in frozen section
6. Black bean spicy dip (has a kimchi flavor to it)
Avoid:
1. soy corn dogs. blech
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2-25-2008 @9:20PM MikeSims said... I've been hit or miss with Trader Joes.
I like the Naan. It's a great easy compliment to a homemade curry. I like the hummus. I like the greek yogurt for indian food or tzatziki. I like the mini stroopwaffles. TJs BBQ is ok. Not impressed with the produce.
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2-25-2008 @7:39PM jrsygir1 said... i like any of the frozen desserts...the fresh ones not so much.
i love the roasted edamame in the snack section..i could eat those all day. and the pistachio cookies.
i have also found their lamb to be not only better tasting than supermarket lamb but also cheaper.
not food but
i also like their flower bunches and they are the only place around here with dr bronners peppermint castile soap...magical,
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2-25-2008 @6:10PM Bob Sassone said... My favorite foods at Trader Joe's are the candy, the nuts, and some of the breads.
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2-25-2008 @6:18PM C(h)ristine said... their hummus is the only store-bought hummus our household will eat! (otherwise, it has to be homemade).
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2-25-2008 @6:21PM Bear Silber said... They had this smallish (maybe 4 serving) carrot cake that was my favorite thing in the universe.
I don't care much for their produce, 90% it's just not good.
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