Roundup

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


50 tweets that sum up shopping at Trader Joe's

8 foods you should always buy at Trader Joe's

11 healthy snacks from Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's top-ranked grocery store chain



Best tweets of the week:

I just combined the #traderjoes vegan kale & cashew pesto with a little TJs vegan mayo and I feel like the queen of veggie dips rn. For all you #Veganuary folks. pic.twitter.com/SfbHa67qbC

— Nicole Marie Edine (@nme421) January 7, 2019

Used to love mosh pits for the aggressive human contact but now I just shop at Trader Joe's on a Sunday

— Simon Barrett (@Simon_Barrett) December 18, 2016

You may think #TraderJoes is the good guys but only the devil’s store would put instructions for cooking 1 1/3 cup of Israeli couscous on a 1 3/4 cup box.

— Fluff (@ThatsGymazing) January 8, 2019

When they still have a couple loaves of banana nut bread left at #TraderJoes you buy them all and then twirl all the way home pic.twitter.com/WlzKCk7lj4

— Angeline Holub (@angeline_holub) January 8, 2019

#TraderJoes discontinued the PB&J chocolate bar and I’ve never felt such a deep loss in my life

— AD (@_awwwdrey) January 9, 2019

I found a #peen-nut in my trail mix! 😂 #TraderJoes pic.twitter.com/Cu5oqwg4jj

— Lalo (@eddyuardo) January 10, 2019

I am scared to try this because I will eat it all. Grrrr #traderjoes
Trader Joe's Turned Buttermilk Pancakes Into a Loaf of Bread, and Consider Us Sold https://t.co/VVddzwX6MN via @POPSUGARFood pic.twitter.com/ooW274y2Ah

— Tara Jayne Sands (@TaraSandsLA) January 10, 2019

If #TraderJoes ever stops making those little peanut butter cups I’m concerned my life may spiral out of control.

— Chris Low (@chrislowauthor) January 12, 2019

Instead of the Golden Record, we should have just shot Trader Joe’s cheese and green salsa tamales into space. It’s a much better representation of humanity and also the greatest thing in the universe. #traderjoes #traderjose #tamales #welcomeouralienoverlords

— PoeSisterMeg (@PoeSisterMeg) January 11, 2019

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

Kenobi ❤️s #traderjoes bags pic.twitter.com/Pp7sbG6B9l

— BB-K8 (@Kamiduu) December 12, 2018

Trader Joe's Mini Blueberry Tea Scones

I have virtually no experience with scones generally, or with "tea scones" specifically, if those are something different. But whatever these are, and however they may or may not match up to their platonic ideal, I like them. They're sweet, soft, and flavorful--in every way pleasant to eat. I'm a sucker for that large-grained sugar they sprinkle on top.


Will I buy it again? 

To my surprise, yes. I did not expect that a plastic bag of mass-produced baked goods would be this tasty.

Trader Joe's Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Pros: Strong banana flavor. Moist.

Cons: Too much frosting. Dense. Occasional weird blobs of something (not banana) scattered here and there.


Will I buy it again? 

No.

Trader Joe's Triple Ginger Cake

Nina bought this; I had not noticed it in the store.

(Side note: The new-items shelf at Trader Joe's is great--but it's incomplete, because they obviously can't put refrigerated and frozen things there, which is about half of the store. I have several times suggested to employees at the Asheville TJ's that they post photographs of the new refrigerated and frozen products on the new-items shelf. Every time, the employee tells me what a great idea that is, and they'll take it to the manager right away. And yet it never happens. Sigh.)

I liked it. Its flavor is reminiscent of Triple Ginger Snaps. (Notice how they plant that connection in your brain with a few of the cookies snuck into the picture on the front of the box.) Nice, moist texture, with little bits of crystallized ginger as contrast.

Nina was even more enthusiastic than I was. It's rare for her to get excited about a frozen baked good.


Will I buy it again? 

Not often, but once in a while as a special treat.

Roundup

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


We compared Trader Joe's in the city and in the suburbs

Everything you need to know about shopping at Trader Joe's in 2019

The 25 best frozen foods from Trader Joe's

Is he flirting with you, or does he just work at Trader Joe's?

Trader Joe's announces new policy on plastic and packaging

The worst things I've tried from Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's announces annual customer choice awards voting

On Aldi and Trader Joe's



Best tweets of the week:

That moment when you realize a baby #demogorgon is actually a tasty #snack 😆😂🤣😁 #hibiscusflower #driedfruit #traderjoes https://t.co/sLcKwPYzPm

— Valerie Forsythe (@ValerieForsyth3) December 29, 2018

Millennial update to the dating advice “watch how your date treats the waitstaff” = “watch if your date bags their own groceries at Trader Joe’s” #traderjoes #datingadvice #datingformillennials

— SandriaSays (@sandria_says) December 30, 2018

I gave up coffee in Sept. but now my weekly coffee is the tiny sample cup at #TraderJoes & I look forward to it all week 🙃

— Rebecca Brenner (@rebeccabbrenner) December 30, 2018

I love #TraderJoes but I hate when they introduce something new that I go crazy for and then they yank it forever.

— Neveryoumind (@TheRealArtzilla) December 30, 2018

Thanks #TraderJoes for a gorgeous float! When described what was used to make it, I got hungry.#RoseParade pic.twitter.com/h7XsHWOY0h

— JJ the Santa Barbarian (@cookiesinheaven) January 1, 2019

#roseparade #traderjoes @ Pasadena, California https://t.co/sPXnyOvtSN

— Leonard Sackett (@AlyasSakay) January 1, 2019

#roseparade probably my favorite float today #traderjoes https://t.co/KgumK7yNo8 pic.twitter.com/drjh916fmb

— Daren Ulmer (@DarenUlmer) January 1, 2019

bought a box of cheddar rocket crackers from Trader Joe’s and this is more entertaining than the goldfish crackers because u can imagine that you are a black hole and absorb all the tiny rockets

— Karen Gail (@inadowarspiral) January 3, 2019

Today I lit my favorite #TraderJoes grapefruit candle, positioned it so I could enjoy its lovely scent during my study session, opened my laptop, leaned back to get comfortable, and set my hair on fire. 🔥

— Katie Nuss (@katie_nuss) January 4, 2019

You guys ever go shopping at #traderjoes and just completely re-evaluate your career choice? Like damn, maybe I should just work at Trader Joe’s. The employees are always so damn happy. 😂

— Brett Kenyon (@BrettKenyon13) January 4, 2019

I thought I was being gluttonous all day, eating a #TraderJoes peppermint meringue everytime I went in the kitchen. Then, I looked at the nutritional info and discovered that a serving size is 11 cookies and only 80 cal?! F'king hell! I'm giving up all other food. O.o

— Kimberly Hodel (@KimberlyHodel) January 5, 2019

I go through about two bottles of this a month.... i think i have a problem #TraderJoes pic.twitter.com/e4RB9MFbIa

— Peter Owen -KrakenKid YT (@TheKrakenKid) January 5, 2019

These #Hibiscus Flowers from #TraderJoes look like little octopus monsters. Or #Cthulhu. pic.twitter.com/YepwCti2cu

— Apocalyptic Thoughts (@ThinkApocalypse) January 5, 2019

So comforting that #TraderJoes oats will be “Best by” next millennium. Hope my great great great great great great great great great great great ...............grandchildren enjoy their inheritance. #breakfast #forever pic.twitter.com/amOajOcLwo

— Mr Taz (@MrTaz49) January 5, 2019

A special shoutout to this whole Twitter thread--you have to click on it and go read the whole story:

I just opened up my bag of Ghost Pepper Potato Chips from Trader Joe’s and there’s a whole ass potato in the bag. I’m not kidding. An entire potato. I can’t even take the bag back cuz who the hell is gonna believe a full potato was in it. They’re just gonna say I put it in there.

— X (@XLNB) December 28, 2018

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

A clone of my Bella was at the bottom of the sack from #TraderJoes We’re not giving her up. pic.twitter.com/4vaiuYwBUT

— Donna Trussell (@DonnaTrussell) August 18, 2018

Trader Joe's Peppermint Bark Popcorn

This is some weird stuff. Mixing chocolate and peppermint is perfectly standard, of course. But adding caramel to that is unusual. And it takes a mad food scientist to decide to throw all of that on top of popcorn.

It's not bad, but it's strange. I don't think the flavors and textures work well together; I find the whole experience kind of jarring and dissonant. But Nina loves it, even though she's not usually big on chocolate and peppermint. Go figure.


Will I buy it again? 

No. Except maybe as a stocking stuffer for Nina next year.

Trader Joe's Marinara Sauce Made With Crushed Tomatoes, Garlic & Basil

I thought this was above average in flavor, with a nice acidic bite to the tomato sauce, the way I like. But I wasn't keen on how easily it separated, leaving chunks on top of the pasta, and watery runoff underneath. I also just generally prefer more thoroughly pureed spaghetti sauce over chunky ones like this.

Nina paid it the ultimate compliment in saying that it was very much like she would make for herself--simple and with few ingredients. But that would also prevent her from buying it, because she would just, y'know, make it herself.


Will I buy it again? 

No.