Anyone else here a Trader Joe's fan?

[The_Black_Knight]

It's rare for me to say anything really positive about a supermarket, but I love Trader Joe's. (http://www.traderjoes.com/index.html) High quality foods, pretty reasonable prices, and most of the stuff is either organic or almost healthy. Most of the foods have ingredients that the average person without a PhD in Chemistry can understand.

Does anyone else here shop at Trader Joe's?

[jimking]

I do. Just bought some fresh wild salmon, very good. But do not buy their Chinese spicy cashew nuts, nasty. I like Trader Joe's because they sell products not found in most supermarkets.

[PrintDriver]

I like Trader Joe's but have had both good and bad experiences with the food.
But that goes for all supermarkets these days anyway.

Anyone else finding more and more that expiration dates are being extended to extremes?

[shellebelle]

I like them. They have these great little soy ice cream sandwiches called "Cuties" that I love (I'm lactose intolerant). Good breads and friendly people, too. Too bad they're so stinkin' far away.

[urstwile]

Yeah Trader Joe's is cool. We don't shop there very often as they're not terribly convenient for us without a car, but I've had some of their stuff. I like the unique assortment of stuff that they have there.

[urstwile]

Anyone else finding more and more that expiration dates are being extended to extremes?
I hadn't really noticed that PD, but ultimately your nose knows, at least with some things.

What kinds of things are you noticing are being extended?

[nyc_skater]

I'm a Whole foods (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/) fan myself

[Ned]

I love Trader Joes, and I will drive two hundred miles to do my shopping there.

Unfortunately, there is no Trader Joes within two thousand miles of where I live now...

[Red Kittie Kat]

I never heard of Trader Joes... I don't think there are any around here at all.

[Ned]

No, they would not have expanded that far, Kittie. The original Trader Joes is from South Pasedena, Cali. They are expanding faster than I can keep up with, but most locations are in the south, moving from west coast to east coast. Their website is showing locations in Jersey, D.C., and Chi-Town, so there'll probably be one in your area soon...

[PrintDriver]

They're all over Massachusetts. I go by 2 of them on my way home from work.

I like Whole Foods better for produce but TJ's flash frozen fish and chicken are the best.

Over-extended? Meats mostly. Chicken especially. Milk depending on where it comes from. Eggs, definitely.

[urstwile]

Then it that case, your nose definitely knows. I often use stuff like that past the expiration date, if it still smells okay. You can tell when that stuff goes bad. At least I can. I've often had perfectly good milk that's past expiration. And no, I haven't gotten sick. I just smell it. That's the giveaway.

I think most Americans get a little crazy with the expiration date thing, throwing stuff out just because the expiration date is past, when it's perfectly edible.

[PrintDriver]

Sorry, wasn't clear.
Actually I have more of a problem with things going bad before the date stamp. I've had more than a few meals ruined by general nastiness when opening the packaging.

[urstwile]

Eww, that sucks, and has happened to me as well. Which is why I generally disregard the expiration date and go with my nose. :)

I wonder how they decide that stuff, anyway? I mean, I'm sure that everyone's got different ways of storing food, different temps in their fridges, etc. I have no clue what the guidelines are for determining any of that stuff.

[CamarotaDesign]

I love Trader Joe's! I love the taste of organic, as well as its better for the environment and for the body so I try and buy organic as much as possible. I also like the all around low prices for everything else and the specialty foods. Niman Ranch hotdogs are the bomb, best hotdogs Ive ever had. Also love the wine and cheese selection and they have really cheap artichokes so I buy a lot of them! (heh heh, am I scaring you Morea?)

I just worry that as they continue expanding, will they be able to continue the quality? I sure hope so.

[urstwile]

Niman Ranch hotdogs, eh? I'm a hotdog lover, so I'll have to give 'em a try. Are they better than Hebrew Nationals?

[jimking]

Niman Ranch hotdogs, eh? I'm a hotdog lover, so I'll have to give 'em a try. Are they better than Hebrew Nationals?
I'll give the ranch dogs a try. The best dogs I've ever had are Omaha Steaks gourmet hot dogs.

[urstwile]

I dunno, Jim, somehow gourmet and hot dogs seems like an oxymoron. I love 'em, but I don't want hot dogs to go the way of coffee a la Starbucks. I'm just sayin'. :D

[jimking]

Can't help it. That's what they call them. They are damn good hotdogs. :p

[CamarotaDesign]

I think you guys will love these hotdogs! - They are sooooo good. I think they beat Hebrew Nationals, which are pretty damn good too. I havent had those omaha Steaks gourmets, but I bet they probably compare well also, I think I would consider the Niman Ranch's to be gourmet.

They really do it for me because they are big and juicy and dense with flavor and meat. And they have no nitrates, (uncured version) or biproducts. And I like how the meat comes from traditionally, natural raised cows. The price is a little expensive, I think its about 4$ for a package of 4. but each hotdog is huge, so its like getting 8 hotdogs. You'll only need one along with your sides for a full meal, but its so good, you'll probably want two!

How do guys you like your hotdogs? I love them cooked in an iron frying pan, piled high with caramelized onions, ketchup and mustard, and a side of oven baked potatoe wedges. mmmmhmm!

[The_Black_Knight]

How do guys you like your hotdogs? I love them cooked in an iron frying pan, piled high with caramelized onions, ketchup and mustard, and a side of oven baked potatoe wedges. mmmmhmm!I like mine with a little sauerkraut, too. Hold the ketchup. Or just put the ketchup on the potato wedges.

[The_Black_Knight]

Oh, and if you ever want to know what it's like to be on speed (or at least what I guess it would be like to be on speed), just try the Trader Joe's chocolate covered espresso beans. It's a caffeine and sugar rush, all in one. You can almost hear the buzz that these can create.

Just a warning: the crash after that high can be brutal.

[Red Kittie Kat]

No ... its not quite like speed ... but chocolate coffee beans are close :D


btw... I like my hotdogs with Ketchup, mustard, onions and hotdog sauce... anyone from anywhere around this area will know what I mean when I say I like them to taste like Dirty Johns :D

[jimking]

Spicy mustard, catsup :rolleyes: fresh Vidalia onion and relish.

[Red Kittie Kat]

Well....... Now I want a hotdog dammit!


:D

[CamarotaDesign]

Ah yeah, I love sauerkraut on my dogs too, but I've never mixed onions with the kraut, that might be a fun future experiment. Just lately grilled onions have been my preference for toppings. Love relish as well. Damn I want a hotdog now too!!!

I like mine with a little sauerkraut, too. Hold the ketchup. Or just put the ketchup on the potato wedges.

[CamarotaDesign]

Oh, and if you ever want to know what it's like to be on speed (or at least what I guess it would be like to be on speed), just try the Trader Joe's chocolate covered espresso beans. It's a caffeine and sugar rush, all in one. You can almost hear the buzz that these can create.

Just a warning: the crash after that high can be brutal.

Those are good, but I guess Im a little more immune to them, cause I've never gotten that buzz. (to be fair, I have a high caffiene tolerance, even though I dont drink a lot of caffiene.. weird)

Ever had a "Sparks" ? That alcoholic energy drink? Its a great way to give yourself a heart attack but man is the buzz is good! Havent had one in a while though, definately not good for me.