How many people shop at Trader Joes??? I just discovered this store in the past year. When we drive 2 hours for our pulmonary appt we are within a couple of blocks of Trader Joes and now I always bring a cooler and stop and shop.
I just love this store. I find the most interesting foods and many of them are as cheap or cheaper than the strores where I shop at home.T hey have Gluten Free products and this makes it even better. Some freezer foods that are Gluten Free and other surprising little items. I am able to get out of there with a fairly good supply of frozen vegetables, pastas, cheese, etc and my favorite is the pre made pizza crust that is in the cooler. It is in a nice round soft little plastic bag just waiting to be warmed up so that it can be patted into a pizza pan to rise and filled with pizza goodies. Cost is 1.19 per crust. I have done the round pizza pans, but it also works well for a bigger cookie sheet.
Have any of you had some interesting finds there/ I also have access to another store that is a little closer and my sister and I will head over that way one of these days. Just curious. Irish
Trader Joe's shopper here! Have been for a good 15+ years. I get a lot of Gluten Free things there, including pasta - the rice pasta is cheaper by far than anywhere else. It takes a lot more water to cook it and constant stirring/monitoring, otherwise it turns into a pile of mush. I love my pasta, and while it isn't quite like regular pasta, I do really like it.
LOVE Trader Joe's!
We don't have one near me and we have to travel to get there. It is so worth it for what we can buy. The produce seems so much fresher than what I can get in the supermarket and I can find a nice variety of natural foods. I recommend this place just for the produce alone.
I have friends that drive over 3 hours to shop there. The Maple Grove, MN store is just a few minutes from my house. It is interesting but most of what we purchase is in larger quantities so we shop at a warehouse store. we only stop in about twice per year at Trader Joe's.
Love, love love Trader Joes!
They just put one about a mile from my house and it is so convenient now.
I get nuts and cheeses, plus the artichoke hearts and chickpeas are like half the price of other stores. The wine selection also is great and of course all the gluten free stuff.
Hey Irish, do they have gluten free pizza dough? That would sure be nice. I miss pizza...
TJs has some great things. We're lucky to have one nearby. Their Grade B maple syrup is the best. Good place for nuts, tea, spray olive oil, dried tomatoes (great in quiches), hummus. They're good about not putting gluten in things that don't need it (e.g., BBQ sauce, tartar sauce). But their products are apt to be pretty salty - read labels if you're sensitive.
We have a Trader Joe's about two miles from our house.
It's adorable but expensive to my way of thinking.
I shop Walmart, Costco, Sam's and BJ's.
There's also a Whole Foods two miles away, and the Super Walmart AND the BJ's are also two miles away, as are Lowe's and Home Depot! The last two aren't for food, but my husband makes several trips a day to those hardware stores. Sam's and Costco are further, maybe 10 miles.
My husband makes hummus. We don't eat natural or organic or gluten free. There are several Farmer's Markets, one huge one in Raleigh, every day, and a smaller one on Saturday mornings 6 months of the year in our town, Cary, NC.
Everyone says that real food shopping heaven is a Wegmans. I haven't been to one, so can't say. One will come to Raleigh one of these days, then I can find out. Right now the furtherest south is the DC area.
Hugs
Elaine
Sniff, sniff . . . we don't have a Trader Joe's Grocery store near me. :( In fact, I had never heard of it before so I HAD to do a search on it. Here in IL they are all located in the Chicago area. Unfortunately, that is three hours north of me.
Just for curiosity sake, I looked in other states they are located and find there is one within 20 minutes from my Dad's house in OH. So, if I get time when I'm home visiting in June, I might head over there to "check 'em out".
Enjoy your shopping at Trader Joe's . . . wish I had one close by. :'(
Bucky
Absolutely love TJ! Look in frozen section for GF pizza (have not see just the crust). I have not tried it yet as I haven't been eating dairy, but it's in my freezer waiting for the day. Their GF brownie mix is sensational, even my husband, who does not care for GF foods, loves them.
Also have great and not very expensive chicken planks (which are organic), so easy to take a couple out of a bag and toss them in a pan with some veggies. Great fish, nitrate free bacon (turkey and pork), and personal care items in addition to other items that have been mentioned.
Maybe it's just our area, but prices are better than Wegmans (ours used to be wonderful, it's been slipping over the past year). and even Wal Mart. Although the produce at our TJ has not been uneven in quality.
If you are GF and looking for a break on cost try Amazon, they have lots of products. You have to purchase more, say a box of 12 apple bars, but the per bar cost is much lower than in a retail store.
I have one and a whole foods store about an hour away. My only complaint was that the GF food was not in a separate section from other food so you really had to watch/seek and find what you want. I must try it again. I always get lost getting out of the city. LOL
Winnie :)
We do not eat much meat, but do eat fresh wild caught fish...
I buy three or four salmon steak and season each one differently...that way we have a buffet style...and then I flake left overs on top of salad.
Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Won't Sell GM Salmon
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/03/trader-joes-and-whole-foods-wont-sell-gm-salmon
I do most of my food shopping at TJs. And I love the free coffee samples--I'm usually out of energy and dragging my a$$ when I get there, so first I go to the coffee! Good variety of products (but sometimes low quality and veggies not so fresh)---we buy A LOT of almond butter and blueberry preserves, though. And lots of nuts. Simple store--only a few items of each category to choose from---i.e.--only one "brand" of toilet paper---easy decisions!
Calli
Quote from: Calli66 on May 02, 2013, 03:34:47 PM
.--only one "brand" of toilet paper---easy decisions!
Calli
toilet paper...LOL
Up here in the NJ area Marcal was one of first paper re-cylers, more than 60 years in that business. Way before any trends. I have always stayed "brand" loyal because of this.
Quote from: Calli66 on May 02, 2013, 03:34:47 PM
I do most of my food shopping at TJs. And I love the free coffee samples--I'm usually out of energy and dragging my a$$ when I get there, so first I go to the coffee! Good variety of products (but sometimes low quality and veggies not so fresh)---we buy A LOT of almond butter and blueberry preserves, though. And lots of nuts. Simple store--only a few items of each category to choose from---i.e.--only one "brand" of toilet paper---easy decisions!
Calli
Calli not fair! I am a TJ shopper and have never gotten free coffee samples! Still, you have to love this store for the best products.
Quote
Calli not fair! I am a TJ shopper and have never gotten free coffee samples! Still, you have to love this store for the best products.
Oh no! I thought it was in all the TJ stores. Over by the food samples they hand out...no coffee? You gotta tell the management! Shoppers' protest!
C
I love TJ's! I feel like a kid in a candy store every time I go.
At our TJ I've been told more than once by staff that I can try anything I want, just bring the package and they will open it so I can sample it (of course not meat or similar items).