<p>I love this thread too. We’re getting a Trader Joe’s soon, so I’m taking notes.</p>
<ol>
<li>Orangina</li>
<li>Reed’s Ginger Beer</li>
<li>Blueberry Scones</li>
<li>Korma and other indian Sauces</li>
<li>all those chicken sausages</li>
</ol>
<p>I love TJ’s - it is my primary source of groceries. Some of my favorites:</p>
<ol>
<li> refrigerated precooked French lentils - caramelize an onion or two, stir in lentils, serve on:</li>
<li> whole wheat tortillas</li>
<li> organic steel-cut oatmeal (not frozen; in cylindical cardboard box)</li>
<li> ??% dark chocolate bars for cooking</li>
<li> pumpkin ice cream (seasonal)</li>
<li> cheeses, e.g., manchego - horribly expensive everywhere else</li>
<li> frozen buffalo burgers - my kids don’t realize they’re not beef</li>
<li> frozen potato dumplings (pierogi?)</li>
<li> Japanese mochi ice cream (green tea, mango, strawberry)</li>
<li> organic milk - does not go bad quickly</li>
</ol>
<p>The mandarin orange chicken is quite good. We also like the turkey tenderloins (wrapped in bacon!) My daughter loves the Joe’s O’s (their take on Cheerios). The Santa Maria Tri-tip is excellent. I would second the bruschetta toppings.</p>
<p>TJ’s Chocolate chips: they are the best I have ever had. Every 6 months or so I call my SIL in Nevada or my sister in New Jersey to send me 12 bags. They freeze them overnight, wrap them individually in foil and FEDEX them to me in Florida. I use them both in cooking and to just eat out of the bag.</p>
<p>OK, I seriously intend to print out this thread and take it on my next trip to TJ’s. There are so many things I haven’t tried and now want to try!</p>
<p>We love…</p>
<p>the coffee expresso desserts which are not too fattening
the frozen macaroni and cheese
frozen chicken breast are great to keep in the freezer
tried the marsala chicken in the fresh food section – excellent
thick flour tortillas – amazing
french onion soup
frozen chocolate covered bananas</p>
<p>Mochi ice cream, over and over and over again.</p>
<p>TJs Organic Shade Grown French Roast coffee is wonderful.</p>
<p>Holy Guacamole! I’ve just logged on for the first time since starting this thread and there are already 28 responses?! Can’t wait to read them and make my wish list. Thanks, all.</p>
<p>chicken pot stickers
vegetable egg rolls
chicken egg rolls
roasted red pepper and garlic spread
peach salsa
40% less fat potato chips
dark chocolate covered raisins
whole wheat pasta and couscous
vanana yogurt (vanilla and banana blend)
cuban black beans</p>
<p>Wow, look what I’ve been missing. Cannot wait to make a trip there. Great suggestion to bring a cooler. What are simmer sauces? Packets of dry seasoning? Or jarred liquids? Where will I find them?</p>
<p>Is there a consensus that Trader Joes prepared foods are “better” ( healthier, tastier, a better value, more interesting) than other prepared foods?</p>
<p>There’s a great site called Trader Joe’s Fans. People have written in about their favorite products. They also have recipes. It is not sponsored by the store. Just started up by shoppers who love the store!</p>
<p>As my daughter was packing to leave for orientation far away, she said one of the things she would miss the most from home: Trader Joe’s – and especially Jo Jo cookies. So, as a surprise we paid to ship a couple boxes of Jo Jo’s to arrive as a surprise for the start of orientation. As she was moving in, she discovered a Trader Joe’s 5 minutes from campus! She immediatley felt less homesick by the sight of TJs!</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, IMHO, TJ’s prepared foods are generally tastier, more interesting, and a better value than most other offerings. They have a great variety of foods, and the nicest, most helpful employees I’ve ever encountered. As far as healthful- there are healthful and organic offerings, but you have to read the labels, just like everyplace else</p>
<p>cat119- I am going to Trader Joe’s Fans website right now. Thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>Turkey meatballs are delicious. Love their Korean barbecue beef as well.</p>
<p>Another Fan site! Tracking Trader Joes</p>
<p>[Tracking</a> Trader Joe’s](<a href=“http://www.trackingtraderjoes.com/]Tracking”>http://www.trackingtraderjoes.com/)</p>
<p>[Seth’s</a> Blog: Lessons Learned from Trader Joe’s](<a href=“http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/05/lessons_learned.html]Seth’s”>http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2006/05/lessons_learned.html)</p>
<p>Marketing guru Seth Godin says that one of Trader Joe’s secrets of success is that they cater to their customers, and we like Trader Joe’s so much that we do all their advertising by word of mouth for free. Judging by this thread, he’s right!</p>
<p>I just took out the new Trader Joe’s cookbook from the library - did anyone mention the chili lime chips?!?</p>