So Trader Joe's is opening several locations in metro ATL; WHAT is the main attraction?? Because of GA law, seems there is a problem re: what the newspaper refers to as "3 Buck Chuck!" which may not be available. So why should I go look?

Trader Joe's started here in the San Fernando Valley. It's an Icon. Sauces made just for them, Pasta's Cheeses, Wines - Gourmet groceries that you can't find elsewhere that are great and reasonable prices. Prepared food that's tasteful - lots of organic things.

Here it's only 2 Buck Chuck and it's actually wine that's affordable and drinkable. Their Zinfandel won several taste awards. They buy wine from Franzia (formerly Jug wines) that's higher end and overproduced.

It is about time that something is cheaper in California than it is in Georgia.
We love Trader Joes!

We would probably starve if not for Trader Joe's. I believe that they don't carry any products with artificial ingredients. Not everything is healthy, though - wonderful baked goods, breads, desserts, chocolate...

Their prices are reasonable, especially for cheeses, nuts, wine. Great prepared and frozen foods. I could go on and on - give it a try!

Dena

We have two Trader Joe's here in the Coachella Valley and Greg has been trying to get me to stop by and see what they have. Been WAY too busy lately, but it sure sounds like I should make time!!!

What brands/varieties of wines do they have? We need to restock!!!

Kristin, besides their house wines (2 buck chuck), they have a wide variety of both foreign and domestic wines. You can get some really good deals. Many times a quality winery will have an overproduction, re-bottle it under another name and sell it to Trader Joe's (and probably other vendors). I have a friend who was in the wine business in Canada. When they come here for the winter the first thing I ask is, "which wines should I buy at Trader Joe's?"

Trader Joe's sends out a quarterly flyer highlighting new products and special wines.

"Another Kathy," I love their cheese straws (not at all healthy). They also carry nutritional supplements, and fresh flowers and plants as well as produce, frozen foods, fresh meats, dairy products, etc. Sort of like a "Harry's" but more choices and a little more "health food" oriented.

Hi Kathy,

All I have to add to the above is this:

Step inside Trader Joe's and you'll immediately become a frequent shopper. TJ's is THE best! Between TJ's and COSTCO, I rarely shop anyplace else.

Let us know what you think. Trust me, TJ's shopping is addictive (in a very good way)!

Wahh! Still no Trader Joe's here in Big D! Yes, we loves out 2 Buck or 3 Buck Chuck! Great Merlot for the money. Also when we were in Vegas last year, our company had a dinner at Caesar's Palace and after dinner our boss ordered a round of Limoncello for the table. When he got the bill he found out it was $25 a pop. :eek: The next day we picked up a big bottle of Limoncello at Trader Joe's for $10 and gave it to him. After we got home he tried it and saild that it was twice as good as what we had at Caesars. Actually I think he said that it was easier to swallow! LOL We even have a couple of bottles still in our freezer for when the mood hits.

Yeah! I just went to the TJ website and found out that a Trader Joe's is coming soon to Cary, about 50 miles from me. (We just got our first Target 2 weeks ago. The closest Sam's is 20 miles away and Costco is 80 miles. I'm shopping deprived. :mecry: ) Plus my niece lives in Roswell, GA, so many we'll pop into TJ's while I'm in ATL for Thanksgiving. Another experience to come!!

Beth,
Coming soon: Raleigh Costco, at Six Forks and Wake Forest roads, opening Oct. 25.
Debbie

Thanks for that shopping news update, Debbie. With Hwy 540 connecting with the new Hwy 264 sometime soon, shopping trips to north Raleigh will be so much more enjoyable.

We have a couple of TJ's here too, one not very far. I use to shop there all the time when we lived in Calif. The wines are a really good buy and as said above, good prices and good food.

I don't go there as often now, because we have so many great markets around us, Whole Foods, Wegmans, even Harris Teeter, but I do still go there, especially when we need some 2 Buck (well its 3 Buck here)Chuck

Lucky you!

Oh my Kathy, I can't imagine life without Trader Joes! We usually buy $2 Buck Chuck by the case, good everyday wine. Tonight we're eating a skirt steak wrapped in bleu cheese from TJs. Between Costco, TJs, Target and ebay...I'm set!

Trader Joe's prices are much lower than Whole Foods. In Chicago we call the wine Cheap Charlie's. We live between 3 Joe's, 3 Whole Foods and 2 Costcos.

We have a Whole Foods about 10 minutes from our house. I find Whole Foods very, very expensive.

We are fortunate to live in an area that has at least 4 Trader Joe's, 2 COSTCOs, 1 Sam's, and 1 Whole Foods within a 10-20 minute drive!

You guys are really making me jealous! We live in northern Michigan (read in the boon docks) and we just love visiting friends and relatives who have all of these great shopping choices.

Jackie--
We will be in Chicago this weekend to cheer our daughter-in-law on as she runs in the Chicago Marathon. Our son introduced us to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's when we first visited them a few years ago. Actually makes grocery shopping fun!

(another) Jacki

Jacki: We don't have much down here either - Costco and Fresh Market so guess that's enough - but having the choices when visiting CA sure makes it fun!!!

Thanks for all the info; something to look forward to, especially the "prepared foods!"

Agree that Whole Foods is quite pricey!

Joanna, wondering if TJ's is comparable to Fresh Market?

Kathy: TJ's much bigger deal than our local Fresh Market - others may be bigger but one here small - has great meat and bakery - I don't shop there regularly too $$$$$ but so nice to have it vs the regular old Publix and Winn-Dixie for special treats-

Gosh! Jan and I have been to a Trader's Joe
in Mission Viejo while visiting.
Then it was 2 Buck Chuck. We were shocked watching people buy 6 cases at a time. The poor staff could hardly keep up with it.

We've had Trader Joe's for a few years here in Ann Arbor, MI, where they carry 3 buck Chuck. The major thing I buy there is from the "squirrel food" aisle - we go through about 5# of dry roasted unsalted almonds per month. I also love their cheese and bread. And T J's is where I first discovered shelled soybeans in the frozen food section. We now eat them almost as frequently as green beans.

I have some very healthy friends who will only shop at Whole Foods, which is also in town, but I rarely go there.

I love how they label some of their food Trader Jose or Trader Giotto's - cracks me up. Their mini chocolate peanut butter cups are the best!

Yes, Andrea, Trader Joe's management has a great sense of humor. Just heard an add on the radio this morning encouraging customers to hand out frozen chicken balls and pot stickers as Halloween treats!

I have to agree about TJ's Marketing departments's sense of humor. Their "Fearless Flyer" can be very amusing.

Tonight I'm using Trader Ming's General Tsao Stir Fry cooking sauce for my chicken and Chinese veggies.

Andrea, those mini chocolate peanut butter cups are great! I may need to use them in the next batch of cookies I bake.

Mmmmm, Denise. I bet they'll be tasty! Enjoy!

I LOVE Argentinean steak with Chimichurri sauce - in the latest "Fearless Flyer", it was mentioned that TJ carries a fresh Chimichurri sauce...so I picked some up and that's tomorrow night's dinner. Well, the steak is not Argentinean, but TJ's meats are pretty good and reasonably priced. The checker asked if I'd tried the sauce before and said his friends devoured it when he served it with grilled steaks. Looking forward to Saturday night dinner!

Dena

Hi Dena,

You mentioned one of my favorite's at TJ's - Chimichurri sauce! We have friends from Argentina who make that when they BBQ. TJ's is almost as good. It used to be in a jar in the non-refrigerated section of TJ's. This is a new sauce, that's refrigerated.

We purchase flap meat (also known as skirt steak) at COSTCO and marinate the meat in the sauce all day in the fridge. We then BBQ the steak. Fantastic. And, lots of leftover steak for steak sandwiches the next day, using crusty rolls, sliced tomatoes, pepper jack cheese and avocado.

Your dinner sounds great. What time shall Alan and I be over?

"And, lots of leftover steak for steak sandwiches the next day, using crusty rolls, sliced tomatoes, pepper jack cheese and avocado."

Denise we just booked Continental for your house dates to be announced - - please crusty rolls!!! Joanna

Joanna, that sandwich sounds like my idea of a perfect one! I have never combined steak with avocado, everything else but never steak and it sounds DELISH!!

We're lightin' up the barbie, Joanna!

Give it a try, Karen! It really is good!

Yum, Denise, pepper jack and avocado...I like the way you think! I only bought two steaks at TJ, so probably no leftovers :( - poor planning on my part, I'd say!

So many yummy things at TJ - love the simmer sauces in jars (Moroccan, curry, cacciatore, etc.), nuts (chile lime cashews, wasabi almonds, etc.), trail mixes, great low fat salad dressings (creamy cilantro, spicy peanut, ginger soy are our favorites), cheeses (love the Stilton w/apricots, goat w/cranberries), pesto/cheese/sundried tomato torte, veggies in bags for microwave, frozen steel cut oatmeal, frozen French Onion soup, juice bars, red licorice to die for, naan bread (try the garlic!), fresh tamales, UFO's (little medallions of dark Ghirardelli chocolate with mint flavor), marinated carne asada, precooked chicken that's all chopped up for salads or whatever, and whole wheat pasta that tastes pretty good. Good prices on dairy and eggs too.

Can you tell I'm hungry?

Dena

LOL, I read Joanna's message and didn't realize she was quoting you, Denise! I will be right over....

Denise: Do I leave Ken at home?? Oh let's... he is so skinny and "braggy" about his weight -

If Karen and Joanna come for BBQ at Denise's, I will bring the chimichurri sauce! And the avocados, too! Name the date...

Dena

OK Karen - I have Ken's FF points - ha ha ha ha - we can book!!!!

Joanna,

Ken? Did you trade Tony in for Ken?

Dena,

Too many great items to list. Love the simmer sauces. Try marinating beef in the Mojito sauce. Have you tried their Garlic Naan? Thai spring rolls? Breaded Jalepeno shrimp? If they ever get frozen Argentine Red Shrimp in, grab bags and bags,as they sell out as soon as they get them in the freezer case. Last time they had them, I bought 10 bags! You sautee them in some garlic butter and it tastes like lobster!

If you love sharp cheese, they have an Amsterdam Gouda to die for!

If we keep this up, I will find myself hosting the next LCT gathering in my kitchen! I see an RSVP list forming here! Uh oh!

Lynn is going to foot the bill since she started this thread!

OK, you guys are making me more and more jealous. No TJ or Target in our neck of the woods! We're supposed to have Whole Foods in a couple of years but I've heard they're pricey and they're far (remember I live in HI where distance is a relative thing :) ).

Denise, host away, I'll come!
I like their Dubliner Irish Cheddar (available at Costco too.)

I can see I have some catching up to do. Have some of those sauces in my pantry but need to try that shrimp. Hmmm, guess I better stop concetrating on the wine.

Amanda, you might be missing a Trader Joes, but you have trade winds, those coconut rum drinks and frangiapani flowers. I'll switch with you!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Denise:
[QB] We're lightin' up the barbie, Joanna!

I hear Barbie I hear KEN!!!! BBQ??? HA HA HA HA HA HA lighting up Ken at home takes time??

Oh, Joanna, I have a joke for you. Will send via private email.