547 replies to this topic

[MsRamsey]

One nitpick I have with TJ's is their lack of plastic bags. Um, it's Seattle, it's raining, and I'm on foot. I guess I should just try to remember to take my own bag.

[Stone]

Years ago, Stone, there was a French Restaurant in Santa Monica called Bellevue that made a good bouillabaise.  Today, I think it's a Crocodile Cafe.

I still don't get this.

[chopjwu12]

Did you know that trader joes is owned by two german brothers who never come out and live in secret. they are in the top ten most wealthy people in the world. The story behind it is that one of the brothers was kidnapped or almost kidnapped i cant quite remmeber. but since that they have lived in hiding almost so it doesn't happen again. I saw a whole story on it when the 10 richest people in the world poll came out.

[Kim WB]

Awbrig, what did you think? I think Trader Joe's is a good place if you are a person with kids, looking for some interesting convenience food to supplement your cooking days..their frozen manicotti for soccer practice night, etc. And theri bottled dressings are great...I cook up Lima beans, add their wasabi or cilantro dressings, a little thinly sliced red onion, perhaps some julienned carrots...LUNCH. Teh closest TJ's is 20 miles a way, and I make the trip 1x a month, at least..oh, and their frozen string beans and endame are great!

[awbrig]

hey kim,

we're going this saturday - im excited to go!

[hjshorter]

Unfortunately in Washington the liquor laws prohibit the sell of liquor in grocery stores. 

You're not the only one who lives in a state with stupid liquor laws. I was a little baffled to hear everone talking about booze at TJ's because there's no such thing here in Maryland.

[awbrig]

And dare 'ya: Buy a coupla bottles of three buck chuck. 

Im buying 10-15 cases of the stuff, babe.

Whaddya thinking everyone will be drinking at my party, Opus One?

[Malawry]

Ms. Shorter, if you happen to be in Northern Virginia sometime, stop by one of their TJs. NoVa (indeed, AllVa) allows wine and beer sales in convenience stores, supermarkets, and gourmet markets...just not hard liquor.

[maggiethecat]

One nitpick I have with TJ's is their lack of plastic bags.  Um, it's Seattle, it's raining, and I'm on foot.  I guess I should just try to remember to take my own bag.

MsRamsey: Funny you should mention the paper bags. We love them! Our garbage collector/recycle folks will take newspapers, etc., only if they are in paper bags. The TJs shopping bags are ideal for our huge weekly pile of written matter.

But then, Chicago isn't as rainy as Seattle.

[awbrig]

do they have their own brand for things like toothpaste, detergent, toiletpaper, diapers...?

[hollywood]

do they have their own brand for things like toothpaste, detergent, toiletpaper, diapers...?

Don't think TJ does papergoods but I believe they have had tooth paste and detergent. Things come and go depending on popularity (cha-ching).

[nightscotsman]

Their personal-care products tend to be natural, healthfood store brands such as Tom's of Maine and Kiss My Face, though some are under their house brand name. Great prices on vitamins and supplements, by the way.

[maggiethecat]

And dare 'ya: Buy a coupla bottles of three buck chuck. 

Im buying 10-15 cases of the stuff, babe.

Whaddya thinking everyone will be drinking at my party, Opus One?

No Opus One!

Sniff, sniff, flounce:
We're not coming!

[ideefixe]

rader Joe's began in 1958 as a chain of convenience stores called Pronto markets in the Los Angeles area. It's founder, Joe Coulombe, wanted to expand the stores and enhance their image. In 1967 he doubled the floor space and began to offer imported wines and gourmet food items and reasonable prices, and "Trader Joe's" was born, opening the first store in Pasadena, Ca. The California Trader Joe's are today the state's leading wine retailer.

In 1979 Trader Joe's was sold to the Albrecht family. The two brothers from Germany, Theodore and Carl, also own and operate Aldi's. Aldi is a 4500 discount food chain in Europe and parts of the central Uniteds States. It also holds about an 11% stake in Albertson's, a national supermarket chain. The Albrecht brothers are often listed as one of the wealthiest families in the world. They were the 11th richest in 1997 Forbes "Richest People" list with $11.5 billion.

[col klink]

One nitpick I have with TJ's is their lack of plastic bags.  Um, it's Seattle, it's raining, and I'm on foot.  I guess I should just try to remember to take my own bag.

As a card carrying Seattleite (yes, it's a real word, check it out on m-w.com!), how come you don't bring your own bags? Shame on you! Be careful or the hippies will corner you in a dark alley, guilt you up and put their stink on you!

[hollywood]

One nitpick I have with TJ's is their lack of plastic bags.  Um, it's Seattle, it's raining, and I'm on foot.  I guess I should just try to remember to take my own bag.

As a card carrying Seattleite (yes, it's a real word, check it out on m-w.com!), how come you don't bring your own bags? Shame on you! Be careful or the hippies will corner you in a dark alley, guilt you up and put their stink on you!

Actually, doesn't TJ sell canvas bags?

Edited by hollywood, 20 February 2003 - 02:00 PM.

[nerissa]

TJ's was selling canvas TJ bags--I bought one for 1.99 yesterday. I asked if they gave credit for bringing in your own bags, as Whole Foods and my local coop does, and they said they were about 1/5 the size of Whole Paycheck. Canvas bags are much easier to carry--sling one over the shoulder.

[fimbul]

My only beef with Trader Joe's is that they quit carrying the very nice frozen duck breasts they used to have. The clerk I spoke to claimed they did it to placate "PETA" (though I find no support that the scruples they listened to were anybody's but their own). Apparently, Trader Joe's wants to be assured that the duck they buy has been treated humanely and kindly. A laudable goal, perhaps, but, dammit, I want my duck.

[hjshorter]

Ms. Shorter, if you happen to be in Northern Virginia sometime, stop by one of their TJs. NoVa (indeed, AllVa) allows wine and beer sales in convenience stores, supermarkets, and gourmet markets...just not hard liquor.

Thanks for the tip! I have family in No. Va. but always forget to buy my booze when I'm over there.

Inspired by this thread, I made a trip today to the TJ's in Gaithersburg, MD. What a haul for $50! Gruyere, pasta, Total yogurt, chocolate, a couple of sauces, Fiji water, and the best - tuna in olive oil for $1.50 a can. That's $2 less than I pay for olive oil packed tuna at Whole Foods.

[awbrig]

great choice on the Fiji water!

[hollywood]

great choice on the Fiji water!

So, 'brig, are you an American Idol?

[hjshorter]

great choice on the Fiji water!

I had never tried it before. It's terrific - a noticable difference from regular old spring water. I think I'll get a case the next time I go.

[Peter B Wolf]

Closest TJ for me is 130 miles, but worth the drive every three or so months. One example: one quart Maple Syrup, their brand $ 7.45, and it's 'Grade B', which I feel has a stronger 'Maple' flavor (which I like). Plugra at $ 4.00, Morello Cherries and very good imported Swiss Jams. All worth the money, but more important: IT IS QUALITY!!

[awbrig]

Well, we are on our way!

[bobdavis]

Living in Texas, we don't have TJ's - but I've heard it's nice. Central Market, on the other hand, is by far the best grocery store I've ever been in. It smokes Whole Foods.

It's owned by the HEB chain, and includes a lot of the "normal" stuff you'd find in any super market. It also has an amazing produce selection, a deli with all of the good exotic meats (cured, smoked, weird Euro sausages, etc.) and cheeses, a wall of olive oil, etc. Their wine and beer selection is also very good.

If you're ever in San Antonio, Austin, or Houston ( I think that's all there are) look for a CM and stick your head in. It's been called "Disney Land for Foodies".

Central Market's Web Site

(oh, and they have duck)

Edited by bobdavis, 22 February 2003 - 09:47 AM.

[Andrew Fenton]

Oh man, I love Trader Joe's. Every month or so I drive from Philly to the wilds of Jersey on a food-buying circuit (wine store, TJ's, pastry shop, onion rings) and they're the highlight. Always wind up spending way too much money there (because it's so cheap and all). Once we realized how much money we were spending, we wanted to buy stock in the company, but couldn't... Damn those German brothers, anyway!

I think I've got some of those TJ's chocolate-covered espresso beans left... time for a rainy afternoon fix!

[vengroff]

Just came back from my first trip to Trader Joe's in Arlington, VA. What a pleasure. I can't believe I've been shopping at Giant and Whole Foods since I moved here.

We picked up a bunch of different things to sample from different corners of the store: everything from coffee to pasta to rack of lamb to half-sour pickles. Of course we also got some Fiji water and three-and-a-half-buck Chuck. I look forward to sampling the goods over the coming days.

[awbrig]

We also just got back from TJs in Chicago...

It was so awesome!


Emory entering Trader Joes -Chicago


Emory and TJ helper recommend 3 Buck Chuck


The wine that costs $3 a bottle - trying it tonight...


Em picks a few items




Liam and Emory and 2 carts of great food


Frenched to the bone Lamb chops




All done shopping...what did we get...

2 packages lamb
large frozen shrimp
frozen sea bass
frozen Australian Filet Mignons
Niman Ranch Bacon
frozen chicken breasts
Belgian Truffles
2 cases Shaw wine
Fiji water
Plugra butter
Batali sauces

and tons tons tons more..I was going to list everything but that would be pages of stuff

we spent $450 dollars and have more great food you can imagine and it was a lot of fun! The employees have a great sense of humor and were of great help. I highly recommend this place!

PS The person in front of us was buying 10 cases of the Shaw wine and the check out clerk told him, "There's not that much winter left... " The people in the Chicago store have a great sense of humor...one of the reason I really like this place...and they also double bag your groceries without asking!

Edited by awbrig, 22 February 2003 - 02:28 PM.

[vengroff]

Great pics, Awbrig!

We just had at TJ's lunch. The great revelation of this meal was that the half-sour pickles kick butt. They're very garlicky and much crunchier than any other supermarket pickles I've ever had. The liquid they are packaged in is slightly carbonated. It bubbles when you open the jar. I assume this is due to fermentation in the jar.

Shredded BBQ pork was also a pleasant surprise. There were good size chunks of pork, worthy of further pulling, not just some stringy bits in a tub of sauce. The sauce itself wasn't bad; in fact, with some hot sauce added, it was a good quick lunch.

On the down side, the bread doesn't seem great.

Fiji water, which I've never tried before, tastes purer (in the sense of lower mineral content) than my usual Evian. I don't have a bottle of Evian to compare the labels.

We'll have a bottle of Chuck tonite.

[Jason Perlow]

we spent $450 dollars

Jesus Christ.