Trader Joe's Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

This is a pretty ordinary store-bought chocolate cake--maybe somewhat moister than most, but overall nothing extraordinary. With the first bite or two, I thought I tasted olive oil in it, but that sensation dissipated quickly, and I can't be sure that even that passing perception wasn't just expectation playing tricks on my mind.


Will I buy it again? 

No. I don't really bake, but I can make a chocolate cake from a super-easy mix that is as good or better than this, and cheaper.

Trader Joe's Gummy Xs & Os

The texture of these candies is OK--maybe a little softer than ideal for gummies, but not a dealbreaker. It's the flavors that are the problem. There are three colors, and three flavors. The flavors are not identified anywhere on the package, but I think they are cherry (red), vanilla (pink), and coconut (white). And they're just not very good. The vanilla in particular seemed harsh and artificial. Nina didn't agree that the white ones tasted like coconut, but she couldn't figure out what else the flavor might be--which is not a good sign.


Will I buy it again? 

No. This went back to the store for a refund, where the clerk quietly admitted to me that he hadn't liked them, either.

Trader Joe's Organic Italian Artisan Pasta--Capunti

I had never heard of capunti before seeing this in the new-products section of Trader Joe's. The shape is supposed to be like an open pea pod. (See here for a guide to all the different pasta shapes.)

This stuff is slow to cook, and because it's not an even thickness, it leaves spots that are a bit tough and underdone, much like TJ's Trofie Colore.


Will I buy it again? 

No.

Trader Joe's Italian Mini Ravioli With Cheese Filling

Nina served this for dinner at her house last night. I had never noticed it on the TJ's shelves. Is it new? She says it was in the pasta section, not the new-products shelf. But I don't know how I could have missed it if it had been there long.

Anyway, I wasn't missing much. Even when the pasta was cooked just right, the dried cheese filling remained tough, an unpleasant lump of not-very-authentic-tasting cheese, approximately the texture of an old wad of chewing gum discovered under a school desk.


Will I buy it again? 

No.

Roundup

This is my weekly compilation of news and other links about Trader Joe's.


My favorite items from Trader Joe's

Expand your wine horizons at Trader Joe's

21 uses for Trader Joe's "Everything But the Bagel" seasoning

5 Trader Joe's recipes that cost less than $5 per serving

Costco versus Trader Joe's price comparison

14 Trader Joe's items that will basically change your life

10 frozen vegan food items from Trader Joe's to try

Everything you need from Trader Joe's for a Super Bowl party

8 types of people who shop at Trader Joe's

Why are Trader Joe's salads so sad?



Best tweets of the week:

I highly recommend this combo - Cookie Butter from #TraderJoes with @girlscouts Trefoil cookies! Yum! pic.twitter.com/JR6ywyUx0x

— Denise Enriquez (@MsDEnriquez) January 28, 2018

Current Mood: #Stress eating #TraderJoes #CookieButter out of the jar. #work #MondayMotivaton #caseofthemondays

— Colin Dowd (@ColinDowd) January 29, 2018

Trader Joe’s... A BIG supporter of Shakespeare for everyone! #codpiece #wild #lean #firm #versatile #shakespeare #TraderJoes pic.twitter.com/wiV6DOBQO0

— Bill Friday (@ThatManFriday) January 26, 2018

Me: Puts 4 bottles of wine on checkout counter.#traderjoes guy: Buy 6 get 10% off!
Me: Puts 2 more bottles on counter.
Spends $20 to save $8.
🍷

— Betsy Kling - WKYC (@BetsyKling) January 30, 2018

Why We Love #Tourists: The best use of a #TraderJoes shopping bag we've seen in the #Oakland #SanFrancisco Bay this year. Hahahaha https://t.co/IORxCRHM5s pic.twitter.com/5RWydmzkMC

— Oakland Photo Vault (@BlackKangoPhoto) February 2, 2018

When it’s a Friday night and I’m going to see my boyfriend Joe at his inexpensively priced but quality grocery store. #itslit #TraderJoes

— Connie (@conniexy) February 2, 2018

And finally, here's this week's cute cat with a Trader Joe's grocery bag:

Adoptable #cat #Rosey_STSLCA_02 My favorite #shoppingbag! #TraderJoes https://t.co/7NAlS61boO pic.twitter.com/d8FXXyHrfT

— AdoptMeModesto (@AdoptMeModesto) November 10, 2017

Plus, bonus video of the above cat and bag:

Trader Joe's Montasio Cheese

I had never heard of Montasio cheese before seeing it last week at Trader Joe's, as their feature cheese. You can learn as much as I know about it here.

I don't understand all the glowing descriptions in that article. I found its flavor to be mild to the point of blandness, and its texture to be waxy. Nothing offensive, and I had no trouble finishing the block I purchased, but I think it will quickly vanish from memory.


Will I buy it again? 

No.

Trader Joe's Organic Coconut Sesame Seed Clusters Snack

This is a new product; see Trader Joe's own description of it here.

But that's not how I learned of its existence. I learned of it when Nina brought me an empty bag--with apologies. She had intended to eat just half and leave the rest for me to try, but found it so deliciously addicting that she couldn't stop. So I bought my own.

It's pretty good, but I didn't flip for it the way Nina did. It's kind of just crunchy bits of toasted coconut. The sesame seeds are pretty, but I can't tell that they add anything in terms of taste. The whole thing is pretty heavily sweetened, which I thought was its biggest flaw.


Will I buy it again? 

Not for myself, but now I know that I can get Nina to do anything I want by holding a bag of this stuff in front of her.