What are your favorite "finds" at Trader Joes?

[santarosie]

Chocolatey Cats Cookies (for people!)
A girl can get hooked on those......

Strawberry, Blueberry, Apple, and Fig Cereal Bars are very tasty, made with organic grains, sweetened with organic cane sugar, 2g protein per bar, and no hydrogenated oils (very bad).

[santarosie]

I don't remember if I, or perhaps someone else posted this, but TJ's has made a pledge towards a more sustainable fish policy.. this is very good news, as it shows that they are responding to public pressure to respect the dwindling fish supply, and to stop supporting unsustainable fishing practices.

Trader Joe's Announces Sustainable Seafood Policy | Sustainable Food | Change.org

I like TJ's, but for a private company to take 2 years to turn the ship around on sourcing products seems almost like non-action to me. And the link from the article to their website where the announcement was supposed to be was "not found". The article (published March 31, 2010, only a few weeks ago) says:

"Although not explicitly acknowledged by Trader Joe's, this announcement comes after months of intense lobbying by environmental groups..."

It seems like pretty weak pledge, and I think they can do better. Being picky about what you're buying (voting with your $$) is the best way to put pressure on a company or industry to change. Do research, know what's sustainable, read labels, and buy only that!

[theindependenteye]

2BWacco says:

Harris Ranch beef is the best.

Their label and their PR is very nice, but have you ever passed their feedlot on the I-5, near Coalinga?? It makes your eyes burn and nose shrivel from five miles away. At any one time there are about 100,000 cattle standing there, ankle-deep in their own muck, packed nearly as badly as the 101 at rush hour. Google "Harris Ranch feedlot" and you'll think twice about Harris Ranch beef.

[auroramagiceyes]

My room-mate and I decided to do Indian food last night for dinner so we trekked through Trader Joe's found a collection of very different curries and mixes (one looked like we were cooking an MRE) but in the end the food was awesome.

About half way through the meal we realized we didn't cook any meat, which should have been obvious since we ate dinner for two for less then ten bucks.

How ironic I stumbled across this video on TED last night....

[silkworm]

I just posted this with another comment about a horrible hair cut I got today . . .

Found one of the best pre-prepared frozen meals I've ever tasted at TRADER JOES (San Rafael).

CHICKEN GORGONZOLA. Has lots of sauce for your veggies and pasta or potato you might serve with it. Chicken is substantial. Includes: portabella mushrooms, diced tomatoes in gorgon... cheese sauce. (doesn't taste like cheese to me). Just delicious.

PUMPKIN PIE. I really like this one for $4.99. It beats the one at Costco twice the size for $7.

[Hotspring 44]

Trader Joe's Organic Corn Flakes; Price varies some but they cost less than all others that I can find anywhere, organic or not. Sometimes they don't have them stocked; they have re-stocked them after not having them so if you can't find them once; don't give up just look for them the next time you go.
I have seen them in Trader Joe's in So. Cal and in Santa Rosa too so I don't think it is limited regionally.

Also the Trader Joe's Organic Unsweetened Soy Milk @ 1.69 per Quart; the best price anywhere for Soya Milk of any kind and the "carton" has the screw lid that doesn't leak and it doesn't have to be refrigerated until after opening.

[lynn]

If you like dark chocolate and brandy....

The 'Brandy Beans'....Very yummy....They only have them this time of yr. for the holidays...

[sharmie]

The green curry sauce is great. You need to doctor it up a little with a chopped onion, jalapeno and some peanut butter and maybe cilantro, but then, all you have to do is throw some chicken or tofu in to simmer. It's terrific. For God's sake, buy the frozen chocolate croissants. They're incredible. You leave them out over night on a cookie sheet to rise, then slide them into a hot oven the next morning. Sift some powdered sugar on top and everyone will love you. They're as good as France, no kidding. They also have these new, triple chocolate biscotti that are fantastic. I always check the "what's new" cupboard and see what's up. The produce is....eh?, and the meat is boring. Most of the cheese, you can get at Costco for a whole lot less, especially at Christmas. Oh, yeah, the blueberry preserves. They taste better than any other brand, period. I once bought six different kinds at Safeway, just to see if I could get some that I liked as well, and none of the upscale brands even came close. They're called "Simply Blueberries", I think. Something like that.

[Bird Watcher]

Can't wait to try your suggestions. I agree about the produce. As for the meat, I mostly agree, but the Carne Asada strips in marinade are great. We had an impromptu gathering one summer evening, tossed them on the BBQ and served tortillas, salsas and other toppings. Beer, too, but not sure if Corona.