wanted: tj's lust list

17 years ago

Okay swap buddies, time to share!

If you don't have a Trader Joe's nearby, what are some of the things you read/see/hear about that you'd love to receive in your surprise package?

And you lucky ones, what are some of your favorite TJ's items? (Preferably non-perishable so they can be shipped.)

Trader Joe's

I'll go first. I'm lucky enough to have several TJ's nearby and these are some of my frequent buys:

Honey Sesame Sticks (Warning: addictive!)
Organic Ketchup
TJ's Bold and Smoky BBQ Sauce
Vanilla Beans ($3.99 for 2!)
Hot & Sweet Mustard
yummy Pappardelle Egg noodles
Olive Tapenade
Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
and unfortunately, lots of perishable goods :(

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Comments (26)

goldgirl
17 years ago
Was just there tonight picking up some goodies ;)
kent4489
17 years ago
finally, I'm glad you started this post...I'll be interested in the replies. I live fairly close to two TJs (and a Penzey's too!). Not close enough to go all the time, but close enough to go whenever I want. In the past two swaps, my partners didn't have TJs, so I was able to include a few items.

I buy all different kinds of things, usually always cheese and nuts. I always buy Total Greek Yogurt...love that stuff! I really like the apricot sauce...I put some on the yogurt or use it to make apricot muffins or just eat it straight. Sometimes I buy the roasted red pepper spread, but don't use it often so it lasts a while. EVOO and white balsamic vinegar. Chocolate! Wine. Meyer lemons in season (can't find then anywhere else around here). DH loves the chocolate biscotti dipped in chocolate. Lots of other stuff too.
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goldgirl
17 years ago
BTW, I've been snacking on TJ's wasabi peas and they are HOT! My sinuses haven't felt so clear in ages LOL.
Terri_PacNW
17 years ago
Our TJ's is over an hour one way away..so I stop once in a while.

I love their dark chocolate bars. I use their vanillas and Grill Seasoning.
annie1992
17 years ago
I've never been to a TJ's so I only know about the things people have given me. Their chocolate is great, but I'm afraid it's going to be too hot to ship safely, it was 93F here last weekend.

I love the roasted red pepper spread, so much that I've been working on a recreation that I can myself. I've had their white balsamic vinegar and I like it very much, along with their garlic oil and the chili lime pistachios. I liked the mole sauce, but that's discontinued.

I'm very open to experimentation, so I'm sure I'd like nearly anything as long as it doesn't contain jello or olives. LOL

Annie
lowspark
17 years ago
I got to visit a TJs last year when driving through NY/NJ/MA last summer (can't remember which state we were in when we happened to come across one). I only was able to peruse the place for about 15 minutes so I couldn't get a good feel for all the things they had. I did pick up two of their huge chocolate bars (dark chocolate and one with almonds I think) and they were wonderful.

In a previous trade I got some TJ's (Trader Guisseppe) Bruschetta spread which was delish.

I'm pretty open to any TJs stuff, so if my partner lives near one and wants to throw in something from there, just throw in what you like, I'd love to try it whatever it is!

I will say that I live near Whole Foods, Penzey's and Central Market (which I believe is only in Texas but they have a lot of really interesting unusual stuff) and I usually throw in stuff from Central Market just because I love to shop there. But maybe we ought to start a similar thread for Penzey's!
doucanoe
17 years ago
Well, as you all know we finally got a TJ's here, but it is over an hour from me so I don't get there often, and when I did go a couple weeks ago it was a disappointment. Probably cuz it's new....

But when I visit my daughter in Chicago, I usually make a special trip to at least one of the stores there. Some of my favorites

Bruschetta
Jarred roasted red peppers
Marinated artichoke hearts
Olive Tapenade
Wines
EVOO (one of my favorites is Castellano which they only have on occasion)
Balsamic vinegars
Vanilla extract (beans at 2/$3.99??? gotta look for those!)
Chocolate bars (their 70% dark is delish!)
Macadamia nuts (Tim always requests these...lightly salted)
Dog treats
Pastas
Sausages
Cheeses

I have tried a few of their frozen seafood selections, too and they are really good.
Wish they wouldn't have discontinued tomato paste in a tube, can't find that anywhere else.
Okay, so pretty much like everything they sell, with the exception of their shampoo and conditioners.

Linda
stacy3
17 years ago
yeah, I'veonly been to one once...maybe twice but I can't figure out if the first time was just a dream...

So I don' thave a big wish list - I loved some trail mix stuff I got with some sweet coated cashews and stuff in it...no coconut though.

I would love to try anything from them.

Are they all the same size? THe one I went to (2nd one- if the first wasn't a dream) sseemed really small...

Stacy
mustangs81
17 years ago
Cappuccino Chocolate Truffles
Chili Lime Pistachios
Stone Ground Mustand

I'm pretty open to anything but liver.
sburkhart
17 years ago
I'd be happy just to have a Trader Joe's or live near one. Never even been to one. I am getting a little envious of those who do!!! Man all the talking about seafood, CHOCOLATE, nuts, CHOCOLATE, spices, and of course CHOCOLATE!!!

Stacey
bubbeskitchen
17 years ago
keys to the store! :)

I love their nuts and dried fruits, jarred apricot sauce (with apples too, I think),
their house basalmic is nice for making friut desserts or for poaching garlic or for reductions. I'll add more later.
girlsingardens
17 years ago
Since I have never been to one, anything would be great. I think the closest one is several states away. I would love to shop at one though. DH is convinced that I am the only one he knows that will go on vacation and shop at every grocery store and haul things home;) But knowing you all I am not the only one.

But I dofeel bad that my swap partner has expressed an interest in some things and I can't get near a TJ's.

Stacie
chancesmom
17 years ago
I feel bad for my partner, we don't have any thing cool like that here in Northern Ontario...but we have persians! (a local pastry that is fabbo)

So since we have no Penseys or TJs...anything would be great with me. We grill alot, have a dinner club that tries lots of ethnic dishes, and we are open to anything!

In other words...I am easy, (just not cheap)

janet
lowspark
17 years ago
But I dofeel bad that my swap partner has expressed an interest in some things and I can't get near a TJ's.

Don't!! The fun of the swap is getting a great gift in the mail from someone you only know from the forum! Not in fretting that you need something from a particular store! This thread is just a fishing expedition for those who are near a TJs looking for clues. Believe me, no one is expecting any one thing and no one will be disappointed from no TJs in their box!
kent4489
17 years ago
Annie, good news! I just looked at the TJ website...listed under new products is mole sauce...they're calling it red mole sauce now.
dedtired
17 years ago
I live near two TJs and there's another one in the city. I usually buy baked goods and fancy jellies. All the frozen desserts are out of this world, but would not work in a swap box!

Their bruschetta is deelish but I can't always find it. I'll probably be there tomorrow so I'll look around. I enjoy a lot of their frozen foods -- again, a little difficult to ship to my partner!

Pam
annie1992
17 years ago
Hooray, Ashley just loved that stuff!

chancesmom, definitely do not feel badly, TJ's is just one of many, many options. I got my favorite BBQ sauce from Teresa in another swap and I just recently found it in Grand Rapids at a gourmet food store! New stuff is definitely good, and regional stuff is awesome.

Annie
teresa_nc7
17 years ago
Yes...I have TJ envy for those of you with a store nearby. Maybe someday they will come to my area - we've got enough people moving here now!

Have received some wonderful stuff from my last two swap partners, Jayne and Lee, but can't remember what items came from which partner:

lemon balsamic vinegar
orange muscat champagne vinegar (I could drink this stuff!)
bruschetta topping
chili lime pistachios
roasted red pepper spread - this is wonderful!

I'd love anything from TJ's: tapenade, vanilla beans, dark chocolate, etc. etc.

Annie, please share your roasted red pepper recipe with us when you achieve it???? Please!!

Teresa
sheshebop
17 years ago
chili lemon pistachios
honey sesame almonds

I love many things, but those are my favorites, and I am almost out of chili lemon pistachios. Oh! And I never turn down chocolate, lol
lindainct
17 years ago
There is a TJs close to me but I don't seem to get there too often but I will make a trip for chocolate and the topppings for bruschettas are good, too. Oh, and the nuts are very good. They finally got in plain pecans which I use alot. I would ask for them every time I was in.
Linda
Lars
17 years ago
There are two TJs in West L.A. that are only 10 blocks apart, and so I have them all around me. They're everywhere in SoCal. I generally buy fresh basil there (not good for shipping, and I have it in my yard now). I buy pine nuts there too. DB works about 2 blocks from a TJ's, and so he often goes there to pick up a lunch, and he will call me and ask if I need anything while he's there. They do have a good selection of dark chocolate, but it takes me a while to go through it. I have several bars on hand right now.

Lars
TobyT
17 years ago
No TJ's here I'm afraid. I don't think that they have any stores in Canada and the nearest one to me is about 2.5 hours away. Probably a good thing, as I don't know how much control I could exercise if I ever got to one. Chili Lime Pistachios, white balsamic, champagne vinegar, tapenade, vanilla beans, roasted red pepper spread, chocolate blocks...I would probably have to be physically restrained.
Jane
paulines
17 years ago
Jane, thank you. I've been thinking of items I might not normally buy at TJs - vanilla beans!!!
lori316
17 years ago
Vanilla beans here too.

I've only tried a few things from TJ's, but from what I have tried and what I've read here, I know I'd like the bruschetta, EVOOs, of course chocolate.

I love nuts (pistachios and cashews are my favorite) and once had their trail mix that is very addicting.
granjan
17 years ago
I live near 2 TJ's and one is right by my Weight Watcher's meeting so I go often but don't get a lot of things there. I have access to so many ethnic markets here that Tj's isn't always my favorite place to shop except for a few staples with great prices.I don't buy that many things there and several of them are frozen so they won't ship. Wish a few more people would post on this one!

Their fresh flowers can really be a good deal and I can't live w/o their olive oil spray. Always have 2 cans for backup. Their Belguim choclotae is a pantry staple for me as are their pine nuts, best price. (I keep them in the freezer.) I can't find the vanilla bean paste there anymore, sigh. Bought some at the grocery at a much higher price.
mjmercer
17 years ago
Great prices on sliced almonds and roasted, unsalted cashews ($2.99 per bag). J.W. Morris cabernet for $3.99. Greek-style plain yogurt. Shortbread cookies with bits of ginger. Luna nutrition bars for 99 cents each (in my area, anyway). Soy nuggets that really do taste like chicken, accompanied by TJ's house brand of hickory-flavored BBQ sauce. Three-packs of dark chocolate bars. They also have three-packs of milk chocolate and mint-chocolate.

I stumbled on a delicious combination of cilantro chicken sausage, roasted corn and sliced mushrooms sauteed in olive oil. All of these ingredients came from TJ's, and the dish really warms you up on a chilly night.

Karen

wanted: tj's lust list

Comments (26)

goldgirl

kent4489

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