Roundup

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


10 of the best gluten-free products at Trader Joe's

The best wines you can buy at Trader Joe's

13 new Trader Joe's products to try in June

Trader Joe's launches "Your Friendship is Worth $3" line of wines

Best dried gluten-free pastas

Trader Joe's top picks

15 new vegan products to try at Trader Joe's

22 tweets about Trader Joe's

16 Trader Joe's items for summer beach trips

Trader Joe's announces recall of cantaloupe slices



Best tweets of the week:

Trying to do some shopping at #traderjoes, but the place is infested with raptors! #JurassicWorldAlive #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/Fvj4IyS6dR

— Rob A. (@rlattruia) June 1, 2018

Surely this was deliberate #codpiece #TraderJoes pic.twitter.com/2VUQXctw5H

— Ben Geurens (@bgeurens) June 4, 2018

25 days and still no cauliflower gnocchi in stock. In related news. I am convinced that #TraderJoes of Old Town Alexandria thinks I am a stalker.

— Seersucker Optional (@SeersuckerOpt) June 7, 2018

there’s a woman at #TraderJoes with a cart full of banana chips. full.

i’m legitimately concerned that she’s hoarding monkeys somewhere.

— amie_in_indy (@amieinindy) June 8, 2018

When Trader Joe’s tries to charge you over $3000 for a can of pineapple juice. #traderjoes #really pic.twitter.com/btIWWexM9V

— Lily (@Lily_Goodwin1) June 9, 2018

Sadly, I found no new cute cats in Trader Joe's grocery bags this week.

Trader Joe's Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce

Two years ago, I bought a jar of an identically named TJ's product, used it to cook up some fake chicken, put the mixture over rice, and ended up loving the result. At that time, I intended to do more cooking with the sauce--but then I forgot about it and never did.

A few months ago, Nina was making dinner at her place, and I noticed that she was using a jar like the one shown above--very different (and far more boring) from the one I remembered. Clearly TJ's had changed the recipe, and probably the supplier. Comparing the two lists of ingredients makes it even more obvious that this is not the same stuff, despite the same name. They're similar, but with different proportions and spices.

I did basically the same thing with this as I had with the other one. I liked the result just fine. However, I was less excited about it than I remember being with the original. I'm not sure if that's because of the changed formula, or changed expectations on my part, or maybe the use of a different brand of fake chicken (this time, one called "Comrade Cluck," from the Asheville-based company "No Evil Foods"). The coconut component seemed less prominent, which was one of the things I most liked about the previous version. Most unfortunately, the color was about as unappealing as it could be--an icky gray-brown--though this may have been largely the fault of the Comrade Cluck, not the sauce, or perhaps a specific interaction between them.


Will I buy it again? 

Yes. I wish I had jar of the old stuff to compare directly; maybe they're more similar than I'm thinking. But regardless of what might have changed, I like the result enough to add it to my regular rotation.

Trader Joe's Foaming Hand Soap--Peony Blossom

This is very like the "Botanical Bounty" version from two years ago.

Differences:

• The scent is much stronger than I remember of the other one. 
• I'm not sure I could identify the smell of peonies to save my life; it reminds me mostly of strawberries. 
• I apparently got a bad sample, with a pump mechanism that doesn't work smoothly. It makes an irritating grinding/squeaking sound when in action. 
• It rinses off quickly and easily, unlike its predecessor. 

But the bottom line is basically the same: It's expensive, too smelly, and not refillable/reusable.


Will I buy it again? 

No.

Trader Joe's Multi Grain Toaster Waffles

These are completely dull, ordinary frozen toaster waffles, except a little browner and with a slightly "grainier" taste than most.

Nothing to see here. Go back to your homes.


Will I buy it again? 

No. They can't hold a candle to the Belgian Waffles.

Trader Joe's Gone Berry Crazy!

Think of Trader Joe's Gone Bananas. Now substitute strawberries for the banana slices, and you've got this.

Even though I generally like strawberries more than bananas, I prefer the original to this. Maybe it's the relative novelty of the banana/chocolate combination, compared to the commonplace strawberry/chocolate match-up. Or maybe it's how the banana slices seem pleasantly cold but not really frozen, whereas these strawberries have a definite sense of ice crystals throughout.

Anyway, they're really good, and I could eat a ton of them. But they're short of the Top Ten amazingness of their banana brethren. Note also that they're more expensive--$2.29 for 150g versus $1.99 (I think) for 227g.


Will I buy it again? 

Yes.

Roundup

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


13 foods Trader Joe's employees can't resist

How much longer will Trader Joe's last?

5 things you shouldn't buy at Trader Joe's

A Trader Joe's marriage proposal

12 new Trader Joe's items perfect for summer picnics



Best tweets of the week:

When #TraderJoes is out of #CauliflowerGnocchi pic.twitter.com/A7IlSkiRQF

— (((WendyLuxenburg))) (@wjlux) May 26, 2018

A #Buffalo wearing a Hawaiian shirt. That’s all. #traderjoes pic.twitter.com/21X5VibiFp

— Jill Hewitt (@jimich527) May 28, 2018

#traderjoes Vibes🖤 pic.twitter.com/zCqTT9Bl4Y

— Hannah Caidin (@HannahCaidin) May 27, 2018

The grinder cap came off, spilling a significant amount of the bottle’s contents across the floor, and now I have UN inspectors in my kitchen.
.
.#ghostchili #bhatjolokia #chemicalweapons #traderjoes https://t.co/jomuN8TrDS pic.twitter.com/tcnzdJQmka

— John Olore (@john_olore) May 31, 2018

Friday night date plans = grocery shopping w/ bae at trader Joe's #datenight #datinginyourlate20s #traderjoes

— Leeann (@leeannriley) June 1, 2018

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

Uhhh, time to head back to #TraderJoes. My corgi has confirmed that bag is indeed empty. pic.twitter.com/rGmkMELzV2

— Lana (@TimeForTea23) May 31, 2018

Trader Joe's Vegetable Pastry Puffs

These are strange things, without parallel in my memory. Little puffs of admirably flaky pastry, topped by a dollop of a vegetable puree. But that puree is so dominated by the tomato that the overall effect is like pizza sauce.


Will I buy it again? 

No. There's nothing bad about them, really, but I just don't see a need for tiny pastry squares with pizza sauce on them.