quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:

Honeycrisp or Jazz at $3 for 2#.

HoneyCrisp is the favorite apple in the V-Tail household. Buck and a half a pound is like stealing them. That's way cheaper than even buying them at Costco!

Now you have talked me into driving over to the Trader Joe's in Winter Park.

After a crusade against rough treatment of produce, apples in particular, waged with staff at three stores, which went up to corporate several times, staff is now handling produce more gently.

There was one cashier who held the bag of apples a good 20" above the paper sack and dropped them, in response to my request to handle them gently.

TJ handles volume. Sometimes an entire shipment is bruised. So choosing a 100% bag can be a victory. But usually the racks are 90% good.

Pacific Rose and Envy are seasonal and worth the money. The 'organic' apples I have not bought. I figure, hey, aren't they already organic?

When you need one onion it can be a good deal. I'll be in AZ shortly, and the Trader there will have oranges a buck less than here. And better onions.

The Made-In-Ireland jelly beans, 20 flavors, $2 for a four-ounce box, is not intended to be a single serving.

The Pastrami smoked salmon is a decent product. Tinned mackerel in sunflower oil from Tunisia comes and goes as a favorite as well.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by John Steed:
I just bought some Dijon Mustard at TJ's based on a comment above. Haven't tried it yet. I can vouch for Key Lime Pie, it is very good. Sadly, it is seasonal so you may have to wait till next year to buy one.

For certain seafoods, like salmon burgers and, fish n'chips their Tartar Sauce w/dill & jalapeño is quite good. Always have some in my fridge.

I use tartar sauce a lot. Thanks for the info.

Place sucks as far as I am concerned!

quote:

Now you have talked me into driving over to the Trader Joe's in Winter Park.

Running errands in the area yesterday we stopping in, small store, off brands on everything if you're used to Publix/WalMart

Picked up some Three Buck Chuck Merlot, wife picked up some frozen veggie things, we agreed we'd head back because we could get things that are different.

Parking sucks.... Actually it's a crowded area off the main drag, so yeah it does suck..

after you shop, hit the Shake Shack for a burger

TJ Discovery:

Enegren Helles style Lager

It's been pretty hot around here lately so, hoppy, ales are no bueno but, an ice cold, clean tasty lager hits the spot. This is the closest lager I've drank since Germany, took me right back to the long hike in the mountains and getting a stein at the cabin restaurant for lunch. Very clean, good flavor and hit the spot in a frozen pint glass.

quote:

hit the Shake Shack for a burger

Another one of those "boutique" burger places where you'll pay six to twelve bucks for a burger (assuming no sides and no drink), and they insist on incinerating it to the point where it is dried out and one hundred percent flavor-free.

I just had a can of TJ's $1.99 Beef Chili. Better than what you get in most restaurants around here.

quote:

Originally posted by John Steed:
I just had a can of TJ's $1.99 Beef Chili. Better than what you get in most restaurants around here.

Tried a sample of their stag chili, not too bad.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

hit the Shake Shack for a burger

Another one of those "boutique" burger places where you'll pay six to twelve bucks for a burger (assuming no sides and no drink), and they insist on incinerating it to the point where it is dried out and one hundred percent flavor-free.

Yes but then you can post a bitch about it here lol

They have some really good cheeses.
I like their bread too, it's good substantial stuff. A slice of Aged Swiss on a slice of Sprouted Wheat makes a good lunch.

quote:

Originally posted by John Steed:
They have some really good cheeses.
<snip>

Not so fond of TJ’s cheese. I like cheddar, but TJ’s older cheddars (2 years or more) are crumbly. At least from the TJ’s near me. Bristol Farms, an upscale grocery near my home, has Wisconsin and English cheddars up to 6 years old that aren’t the least bit crumbly.

I forgot to mention one of my favorite items at TJ’s: smoked trout. Comes in a tin and is found in the tinned sardines area. Very tasty by itself, or in a sandwich.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I forgot to mention one of my favorite items at TJ’s: smoked trout. Comes in a tin and is found in the tinned sardines area. Very tasty by itself, or in a sandwich.

Are there bones in it?

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

I forgot to mention one of my favorite items at TJ’s: smoked trout. Comes in a tin and is found in the tinned sardines area. Very tasty by itself, or in a sandwich.

Also makes a great breakfast, with scrambled eggs.

quote:

Originally posted by Spokane228:

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I forgot to mention one of my favorite items at TJ’s: smoked trout. Comes in a tin and is found in the tinned sardines area. Very tasty by itself, or in a sandwich.

Are there bones in it?

No bones. Just coherent pieces of light to pink meat.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

I forgot to mention one of my favorite items at TJ’s: smoked trout. Comes in a tin and is found in the tinned sardines area. Very tasty by itself, or in a sandwich.

Also makes a great breakfast, with scrambled eggs.

Also, trout has astaxanthin, an extraordinary antioxidant – the only one I know of that passes the blood-retina barrier. Maybe helps prevent macular degeneration. The only natural sources of astaxanthin that I know of are trout, shrimp, and certain pond algae (ugh). Astaxanthin produces the pink tint in trout and shrimp.

Pipe Smoker, as usual, comes up with the most esoteric reason for eating his esoteric foods. May he live a hundred years!

My wife and especially my daughter are regular TJ shoppers.
TJ is not a supermarket: they limit their choices, so probably have more turnover than the usual market.
We've found most things great except fresh meats, which we don't buy there.

When we lived in Maui I would fill up a suitcase of goodies from TJ to take to my friends, echo techs, etc. back on Maui. Examples: dark-chocolate flavored orange slices; dark chocolate flavored almonds; dark chocolate peanut butter cups; dark chocolate Rittersport bars with hazelnuts (are you detecting a theme here?).

My daughter buys organics; if you're into that TJ's has a lot. Prices are reasonable.

I'm going to look for that Enegren Helles style lager. Hoping it tastes like Tuborg.

I like their greeting cards in the back ($0.99).

They are my go-to for organic walnuts and almonds (trader joe's (TJ) brand). Cheaper than nuts.com.

I usually get some cheese:

TJ double cream gouda
TJ 1000 day gouda
grana padano parmesan blocks
TJ organic dutch

I have to be careful eating ^ these as they can and do disappear as fast as candy used to.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: f2,

Candy cane oreos.
Chocolate covered almonds rolled in turbinado sugar and sea salt.
Speculoos Cookie Butter.
Healthy women in yoga pants.

Reason enough to visit.

Bruce