Trader Joe's Products (2017–)

[BeeZee]

Tried the guajillo salsa, which I think is new-ish (I purchased it a couple of weeks ago). Medium spice, fairly thin, good for drizzling over things, not many chunks.

[blue_dolphin]

Current vintages of these wines are in my stores now. This is a photo from last year.  Can't remember if I posted it or not. 

I admit to buying the French rosé on the left for the bottle. The labels, front and back, peel off extremely easily and it has a pink glass stopper.  I re-used last year's for homemade cherry liqueur.  Maybe some tequila por amante (strawberry-infused tequila) this year? Nice bottle to bring to a picnic or summer party and tastes just fine, this review concurs. It's $7.99, same price as last year. 

The Chilean rosé on the right is only $4.99 and a perfectly adequate summer slurp. Here's a brief review on that one. 

 

[heidih]

@blue_dolphin Haa! I would have succumbed to the allure of the bottle too. When I was introduced to champagne I was aways drawn to Perrier-Jouet -----for the bottle. And the gift set with the flowered flutes.   https://chilledmagazine.com/wine-bottles-works-of-art-perrier-jouet

[rotuts]

Strawberry issue ?

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/fda-investigating-strawberries-sold-grocery-stores-hepatitis-a-2022-5

 

Ive gotten a few packs  ( 2 )  @ TJ's

 

and one @ MarketBasket.

 

ive enjoyed tm

 

( so far ! )

 

now for a bit of a pause ?

 

thesis were in each store 

 

" Driscoll's"

 

hat to make of this ?

 

Ideas ?

[blue_dolphin]

1 hour ago, rotuts said:

now for a bit of a pause ?

 

Since they are investigating berries purchased between March 5, 2022, and April 25, 2022, I'd guess that the areas those berries are from have been fully harvested and current store stocks are from different areas. 

For these HepA cases, they are looking at organic berries branded FreshKampo or HEB. From their website, FreshKampo grows organic strawberries only in Mexico. And they sell to HEB so it could be just one source for the current cases. Per the WSJ, H-E-B has not received or sold organic strawberries from the supplier under investigation since April 16.  Makes sense as berry production moves north.  Of course, I suppose a filthy fingered berry worker could move north as well. 

Not sure why you mention Driscoll's. 

Edited May 29, 2022 by blue_dolphin
To add WSJ link (log)

[rotuts]

Ill ask TJ's tomorrow.

[Kim Shook]

New Products.

[blue_dolphin]

Bought a bottle of this "French Fizz" from TJ's last week.  $5.99. They also have a rosé.  I have previously confessed that I'm a sucker for reusable bottles which is why I bought it even though it doesn't even say "wine" on the label.  Turns out, it's a perfectly fine, light white wine to sip on a hot summer afternoon.  Alcohol level is 10.5%, also suited to warm weather.  Not going to knock anyone's socks off but $5.99. 

 

And after I got home, I realized it does indeed say "wine" in small print on the back label 🙃

 

[Katie Meadow]

On 5/30/2022 at 10:15 AM, Kim Shook said:

New Products.

Do I detect a buffalo theme? Vegan Buffalo Dip strikes me as pretty funny.

[rotuts]

 

I love corn chips , thick ones.

 

these are thick.  and have a serious dusting of ' green chili ' flavor

 

along w that dusting , salt  so that after ' too many '

 

your tongue ' burns out '  

 

you know what I mean 

 

like BBQ chips w way to much BBQ dust.

 

I love marinated artichokes 

 

I haven't found any , w/o searching too hard

 

that didn't have some ' choke ' still on the Arti.

 

these didn't have that , but perhaps 1/2 would benefit from

 

peeling off one ' leaf ' as it was a bit fibrous .

 

maybe a few needed two leafs removed

 

this, for me , was worth doing 

 

as after that , every thing was a very very good.

 

P.S.: 

 

 

I got a set of these containers a while ago .  Had plans for them

 

but forgot about them .

 

its very humid here , and who wants a crisp-less chip ?

 

the gasket is very tight , so , its all good .

 

 

Edited July 14, 2022 by rotuts (log)

[Martin Fisher]

7 minutes ago, rotuts said:

that didn't have some ' choke ' still on the Arti

[ElsieD]

46 minutes ago, rotuts said:

 

I love corn chips , thick ones.

 

these are thick.  and have a serious dusting of ' green chili ' flavor

 

along w that dusting , salt  so that after ' too many '

 

your tongue ' burns out '  

 

your know what I mean 

 

like BBQ chips w way to much BBQ dust.

 

I love marinated artichokes 

 

I haven't found any , w/o searching too hard

 

that didn't have some ' choke ' still on the Arti.

 

these didn't have that , but perhaps 1/2 would benefit from

 

peeling off one ' leaf ' as it was a bit fibrous .

 

maybe a few needed two leafs removed

 

this, for me , was worth doing 

 

as after that , every thing was a very very good.

 

P.S.: 

 

 

I got a set of these containers a while ago .  Had plans for them

 

but forgot about them .

 

its very humid here , and who wants a crisp-less chip ?

 

the gasket is very tight , so , its all good .

 

 

 

What make is the container?

[rotuts]

@ElsieD

 

Rubbermaid.  they come in various sets :

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091FM2ZJF/ref=sbl_dpx_dining-storage-container-sets_B08B7DT91L_0

 

not my exact set , but you get the idea

 

I like them .

 

P.S.:   my first ref ( now removed ) was a glass version

 

corrected now to the plastic version , which is what I have

Edited July 14, 2022 by rotuts (log)

[Dr. Teeth]

Their smoked trout gets a lot of positive shout outs on reddits focused on canned fish.   Anybody tried it?   Trying to eat more canned fish.

[rotuts]

@Dr. Teeth 

 

Ive had it ., but i can't give you meaningful details.

 

I know I liked it .  your post reminded me I better take a close look

 

at that section .

 

Tj's has a nice ( and convenient ) selection of can fish/mussels

 

and I similar selection of refrigerated smoked fish

 

I also like these 

 

 

however , if the cans ae packed in canola ( not all are , but probably most )

 

I always drain that off .   its oily dulness and subtracts from the fish

 

plas post your choices and experiences

 

they have a canned lightly smoked salmon ( cooked salmon ) 

 

its is delicious , and I drain it out of the oil.

 

it is also more expensive than the average TJ's tin.

 

that a neutral statement .   the herring and trout cnned

 

when drained , can seem a bit dry ( canola doesn't change this )

 

the canned salmon was unctuous ( in a very good way )

Edited July 26, 2022 by rotuts (log)

[blue_dolphin]

22 minutes ago, Dr. Teeth said:

Their smoked trout gets a lot of positive shout outs on reddits focused on canned fish.   Anybody tried it?   Trying to eat more canned fish.

Yes, they're a pantry staple for me and I think they are quite good.  Here's a link to a post with a photo of them in the swiss chard & smoked trout bruschetta that's one of my favorite uses. 

[rotuts]

some time ago 

 

I started using TJ's Cheddar

 

this stuff :

 

 

as sometimes my favorites  @ TJ's disappear 

 

I got 4 , and Vac's and froze in one bag

 

Ive been bringing them out , and using them

 

a sure sign they are doomed @ Tj's

 

and I discovered something interesting and useful

 

for me  : the flavor of the cheese is the same , but 

 

it now easily crumbles , and you can see strata

 

Im guessing from the' cheddaring '

 

anyway , I like it this way as I use this to crumble 

 

on to of things , and its mush easier now

 

w no apparent to me : loss of favor or texture of the strata.

 

the strata doesn't seem to stick together as much .

 

 

[Kerry Beal]

2 minutes ago, rotuts said:

some time ago 

 

I started using TJ's Cheddar

 

this stuff :

 

 

as sometimes my favorites  @ TJ's disappear 

 

I got 4 , and Vac's and froze in one bag

 

Ive been bringing them out , and using them

 

a sure sign they are doomed @ Tj's

 

and I discovered something interesting and useful

 

for me  : the flavor of the cheese is the same , but 

 

it now easily crumbles , and you can see strata

 

Im guessing from the' cheddaring '

 

anyway , I like it this way as I use this to crumble 

 

on to of things , and its mush easier now

 

w no apparent to me : loss of favor or texture of the strata.

 

the strata doesn't seem to stick together as much .

 

 

Love that cheese 

[rotuts]

@Kerry Beal

 

it really is .  im pleased it held up so well

 

Fz .  and for my purposes , was easier to crumble 

 

I usually stick to brie/camembert style

 

but this one was sooooo good , I get it from time to time.

 

I think I first heard about it here 

 

on eG

[Anna N]

35 minutes ago, rotuts said:

it now easily crumbles

I think this is one of the consequences of freezing hard cheese. The texture changes and appears to be better for you but not so much for others. 

[rotuts]

@Anna N 

 

I agree with you , to a point .

 

Ive Fz TJ's Parmesanish 

 

and there is much less effect there

 

id say , the texture of the strata 

 

clumps . at room temp is the same 

 

Id not suggest an experiment w 

 

two TJ's ' this same cheese '

 

only one Fz

 

and see the difference ?

 

I think Fzing this particular cheese 

 

does not need a chamber vac 

 

to get the effect 

 

Id say , Fz  

 

overnight in the package it came in 

 

w0uld get you to an interesting place

 

er Fz and not

 

right there !

 

 

[Katie Meadow]

On 7/26/2022 at 7:41 AM, Dr. Teeth said:

Their smoked trout gets a lot of positive shout outs on reddits focused on canned fish.   Anybody tried it?   Trying to eat more canned fish.

The smoked trout I've had from TJ's is not canned. It's in the fridge section. It is very very salty. The last time I bought it I could barely eat it, even in small amounts. Of course YMMV, and it is also possible that the product varies as well.

[Annie_H]

I've always liked that their cheese packages are small. No cheese monger to get a slice taste. But no big commitment like some 1/2 pound offerings in some places. 

On the phone with a friend a few weeks ago, oh and ahh for the mentioned here scallion pancakes. Her husband was serving small bites and trying new things. Big thumbs up for the waffle fries they said. And some sort of glass bottled Thai sauce. Maybe ginger. And a papadum chip. Heavy on the cumin. But they loved pretty much all their new finds. Not sure if they are using an air fryer but suspect yes. 

Not a TJ shopper because of the long lines mid-town. Downtown, the one in the converted parking garage, is a quick check-out. Can't remember anything else but she was served a dozen small bites during our call. Oh, a couple dips. One a truffle mayo. Sounds gross to me.

If I secure a loaner car when I need service, I piggy back a few stops like Ikea, CooksSupply, HMart, TJ's, etc., to kill time. Cooler bag in boot, I stock up on the frozen bags of baby artichoke hearts with the stem ends. That branch has expanded and renovated. Check-out is fast. 

[weinoo]

1 hour ago, Katie Meadow said:

The smoked trout I've had from TJ's is not canned. It's in the fridge section. It is very very salty. The last time I bought it I could barely eat it, even in small amounts. Of course YMMV, and it is also possible that the product varies as well.

 

Nah - it's too salty.

[blue_dolphin]

This Unexpected Cheddar Spread is pretty tasty. 

I thought it might be a bit gritty but it's very smooth and creamy. 

They mentioned an upcoming Toscano cheese spread, which I'll keep my eye out for as I like that cheese, too.