Charles Shaw wine - AKA "Two Buck Chuck". Wonderful wine that is now $2.99/bottle on the East coast but is still $1.99 in California...comes in all varieties. Really, really good.

Mobier cheese, pita bite crackers, frozen artichokes, any of their frozen seafoods (shrimp, scallops, seafood mix), any of their frozen desserts....actually, I've never bought a Trader Joe's product that wasn't wonderful!! Great quality, great prices.....

Here's one of the threads, which is fairly recent. I've started buying most of my groceries there, and it might be a good idea to start a thread of what you cannot buy there. For example, they do not have cornmeal or grits, both of which I consider basic groceries.

One thing I found there recently (which they have had for a long time) is dried wild blueberries, as well as a huge selection of other dried fruit.

I'm saving a lot of money by not visiting Ralphs as often as I used to, but I'm not crazy about the soda selection at TJs. The only one I like is Hansen's diet Tangerine & Lime. I only drink diet soda.

Lars

Pick up a couple of small boxes of the frozen mini croissants. They are $4 per box with 8 croissants ea., and simply wonderful. You proof them on your counter overnight, and bake them fresh in the morning. Divine!

Milk, cream, eggs, butter, cottage cheese, breads, cheeses, one-lb ham steak, packaged salads, frozen boned chicken breasts, frozen shrimp, frozen rice & asparagus, kosher cut-up chicken, granola cereals, wine, nuts, dried cranberries...

Trader Joe's is my go-to for all of these and more. Janicep said it best: "great quality, great prices."

One of my volunteers is headed to Seattle next week and asked me what I'd like from TJ's. I didn't want to make her haul back my mile-long list, but I'm having her bring some orange champagne vinegar and Three Buck Chuck.

I'm holding out. We're getting a TJ's this fall...an hour away....yay!

Lars,
I'm at the point where between TJ's, the local butchers and fish mongers and Italian deli, the farmers market and my own garden, and Penzeys, I rarely need to go to the "regular grocery store."

What I still buy at the "regular grocery store" - Qrowheat oatnut bread and Wheat Thins (which DS likes from time to time), Vernor's ginger ale (when I don't feel well), Zatarain's mixes, some beers (DH doesn't always like the selection at TJ's), braided Armenian-style string cheese, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Mountain High vanilla yogurt, Nutella. And DH buys popcorn and brownie mix :)

I second the croissants (chocolate too), dried fruits, nuts, pinenuts, frozen crawfish (since we can't get fresh), wine, cereals, almond butter with flax seed, cashew butter, all dairy (no hormones), sliced rosemary ham... the list goes on.

But, I admit, I don't like 2 buck chuck.

I do buy yogurt at TJs, but I buy the plain European style, which is my favorite. I like Mountain High plain yogurt, but I have to throw out the vanilla yogurt, if I happen to buy it by mistake. The container is the same color, but I have to look for the yellow vanilla flowers, or else I am doomed.

The last popcorn I bought was at TJs. For fish, we used to go to the Santa Monica Seafood Market, but they moved to a location with terrible parking (although close to Bay Cities Italian Deli, which we like), and so now we get seafood at Gelson's, which is pretty much like SMSM, but with a smaller selection. I need to find a new fish market. We buy sashimi at Mitsuwa, but not large pieces of fish.

I have to admit that I love the cookies at TJs, but I can't recommend them because they are too addictive.

Lars

A list of what I usually buy. I don't buy things I can get locally that are as good or cheaper. I don't buy their meats because I don't buy (want to pay for) organic meats. I usually get loss leaders at local stores.
I do buy their produce if I need something. The TJ's is an hour away and so far I been going every few weeks to stock up. I ADORE the multi grain rice crackers and will make a trip for these if nothing else.

unsalted, roasted cashews
raw almonds
garlic naan
gnocchi - in packages on the shelf
fish- mahi mahi, tuna, salmon
multi grain rice crackers
petite chocolate cookies- in a box
smoked oysters in olive oil
smoked trout in olive oil
la granja red wine
santa barbara chardonnay
chicken and cheese tamales
goza- I like shrimp best
red peppers- cheapest I've seen
asiago rosemary cheese
wine crackers
tortillas

There are many other things that look delicious to me but because of calories and price, I typically skip. All those appetizer thingies, for instance. Their cheeses look great but I have cut way back on cheese and dessert.

To me, their breads, except the tortillas, are awful.

I wanted rice paper last time I went (for summer rolls) and was so surprised they didn't have it.

I bought marinated mahi mahi last trip for the first time and it was a bit hot. They were out of the regular. I am a heat wus.

I like their cookies too, Lars, but have sworn off of them.
Thankfully, my favorite cookie, Swiss almond crunch, is either discontinued or was seasonal over Christmas. I bought cashew macadamia last trip and they are good but I still have some in the freezer.

I have tried different cookies each time: Meyers Lemon thins- ehh, petite chocolate something or other, pretty good but not addictive; some kind of health nut bar- gross.

I don't like ginger that much but the triple ginger cookies are popular.

Raisin Rosemary Crisps
Roasted Pecan and Blue Cheese dip
Together they are totally addictive!

I recently read an article that the croissants at Trader Joe's, mentioned above by claire de luna, are made by the same folks who make the croissants sold by Williams-Sonoma. At TJ's they are $4/8 and at W-S they are $40/15. The taster in the article found no discernible difference in the two brands.

A comment posted on a website testing the croissants:
"These are by far the best Croissants I have ever tasted and at 235 lbs I have tasted a lot."

I don't think I can add anything to that endorsement.

Try the Fleur-de-Sel Caramel Sauce. Very good.

TJs is a 4 hour trip for me, so I only go when I am at Elery's. So, what do I ALWAYS buy?

Triple ginger gingersnaps
Pound Plus Dark Chocolate
Flax seed chips
Olive Oil
Dubliner cheese

I make my own yogurt, so I don't need to buy that, but I like their cheese selection, lots of things to choose from. I'm not a fiend for cheese, I use it sometimes, but Elery loves cheese.

I also buy the orange champagne vinegar that katiec mentioned, and Elery likes the three buck chuck. I don't like wine, so you couldn't county on my opinion, LOL.

I also like the dried fruit and nuts and the kids like their peanut butter filled pretzels and the black cat cookies.

Yeah, I know I've forgotten something, I usually just wander through and then I remember. I do like their seeded bread too.

Annie

Trader Joe's is about two hours away from me but only about 15 minutes away from my daughter's so we go there together when I'm visiting.

I really like their olive oil and the nut selection is wonderful. I've had their plain croissants and the chocolate and they're delicious. I think they sell out of them quickly so the last time I was there, I bought six boxes. (yikes)

I can't wait to go back--I got their Fearless Flyer in my email, listing some new items. I just wish they were closer.

Since a new Trader Joe's just opened near me in Shrewsbury, NJ, I had gone on a web search to find what people had recommended. Here's a list of recommendations I've gathered from various sources so far. Most of the comments in parentheses aren't mine The asterisk (*) shows which ones I've personally tried.

Frozen Foods:
â¨Tarte d�Alsace (a French-style flat bread with ham, caramelized onions & gruyere cheese)
â¨Garlic Naan Bread (cook on a pizza stone)
Trader Giotto�s Meatballs, Italian-style (beef or turkey)â¨
Pastry Bites with Feta Cheese & Caramelized Onionsâ¨
Penne Pepperonataâ¨
Seasoned Frenched Rack of Lamb
â¨Chimichurri
Wild Pacific Salmon steaks (grill, broil, or pan fry)
Green Garbanzo Beansâ¨
* Haricots Verts (french-style green beans)
*Dorot Chopped Cilantro and Basil (cubed in 1 tsp. portions)â¨
Organic Brown Rice
Steelcut Oatmeal- especially delicious with TJ�s Ginger Spread and heavy cream
Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (pretty darn to close to homemade-tasting)
New York Style Cheesecake
French Apple Tartâ¨
Gone Bananas � chocolate covered frozen bananasâ¨
Frozen Fruits: all berries, cherries, pineapple, mango (much cheaper than standard stores)
frozen salmon patties
* frozen mac and cheese- definitely outrageous
*TJ's frozen chickenless nuggets

Refrigerated:â¨
Pre-cooked Baby Beluga Lentilsâ¨
Whole wheat and regular Pizza Dough

Off the Shelf:
â¨Marcona Almonds with Rosemary (great for nibbling)
â¨Papadums chips (Yogurt & Dill and Tandoori Masala)
â¨Soy & Flaxseed Tortilla Chips
â¨Buttermilk Garlic Mash Chips
â¨Banana Crispsâ¨
*******Dark Chocolate with or without nuts
****Roasted Pistachio Toffeeâ¨
Mini Peanut Butter Cup (super creamy)
â¨Pecan Praline Granola
â¨Just the Clusters Ginger Almond & Cashew Granolaâ¨
*This Fig Walks into a Bar� (cereal bars in assorted flavors)â¨
Cornbread Mix (delicately sweet, the edges crisp up perfectly while the middle is moist)â¨
Wild Rice (fully cooked)â¨
Harvest Grains Blend (Israeli couscous, red and green orzo, split dried garbanzos, red quinoa)
â¨Lemon Pepper Papardelle Pasta
â¨*Organic Tomato and Red Pepper Soup (tetra pack)
â¨Red Mole⨠Cuban Mojito Simmer Sauceâ¨
Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce (try with pan-seared salmon; serve over steamed rice)â¨
Ginger Spread (add to oatmeal, plain Fage yogurt, for "tea" or serve w/ cheese)
Chocolate Macadamia Lacey's
*Chocolate Joe-Joes and now chocolate-covered Joe-Joes
Eggplant caponata (in a jar on the shelf)

Best Bargains:
â¨Assorted cheeses
*â¨Salsasâ¨
Nuts (large selection)â¨

The following I didn't try myself, but my dogs liked them:
*Natural...

Ya know, I like their bags. The ones that are about the size and shape of a brown paper bag. Surfboards, I think. They are less embarrassing to take to other stores because they are easy to fill--they stand up on their own. They don't fold small and fit in your purse, but they are very functional!

blubird,

I was going to Westfield before they opened the one in Shrewsbury...... I am sooooo happy. I was there this morning about 8:30 with about 8-10 other shoppers . The last time I went it was way too crowded.

debnj3,

I was there about 12:30 today (actually yesterday - Saturday) It wasn't very crowded - there were empty checkouts. Amazing - I didn't expect to buy much this time - I managed to spend almost $100.

Bought some frozen croissants to try (among other stuff).

Helene

Everything!!! I love that store!!!

Linda

I've been going to the Shrewsbury, NJ store too. It doesn't have wine, liqors licenses are tightly held in this state, and another vendor in the same stip mall as TJs has the license. No Two/Three Buck Chuck for us.

I like the soups, expecially the Maryland Crab and Corn Chowder. And the frozen fruits are good too. I had to take the Triple Ginger Snaps to work I would have eaten the entire container at one sitting!

I've heard that the Princeton, NJ store has a liquor license. The Shrewsbury store has had someone from the strip mall's liquor store standing outside TJs with flyers each time I've been there (3 times so far) which I've found annoying.

The little chocolate ice cream cones I bought yesterday were a bit hit with the grandkids today for my son's birthday. The slivered almonds I bought yesterday were delicious - they went well with the Israeli couscous I bought - and made - yesterday for dinner.

We also liked the Chicken-less Pulled Chicken in barbecue sauce I bought and made the other day for a quick dinner.

I didn't care for their vegetarian patties - they tasted llike one of the Dr. Prager types which I don't care for.

Helene

I just need to chime in with my TJ favorites.
~ Triple Ginger Cookies, they melt in your mouth. I used them to make a crust for a banana cream pie, crushed them, added melted butter,finely minced crystalized ginger and a splash of brandy.
~the dark chocolate covered almonds.
~ Over the Christmas season, I bought a green peppermint tea that we really enjoyed, not sure if it's still available.
~any of the their cheeses and snack crackers.
and they have very reasonable prices on flowers!

Blubird
Happy to hear you are enjoying our new store. The Pathmark on Rte.35 in Middletown is closing April 16th. Rumor has it that it may become a Wegmans. I am keeping my fingers crossed! I also learned today that the new Top Tomato in the Holmdel shopping center closed. My oh my !

The TJ's low sodium broth is wonderful. It's really truly low sodium. And we like the LS cream of tomato soup, which doesn't give me heartburn.

debnj3,

The Wegman's near me in Manalapan is in an uproar right now. They have managed to spend at least 3 weeks, at this point, to rearrange just about EVERY SINGLE AISLE in the store. There are people with yellow T-shirts and lists attempted to assist shoppers in finding where everything has gone ...and not particularly successfully, either.

The prices on nuts and "grains" (couscous, quinoa, etc) are much cheaper in TJs than Wegmans, but I do find Wegman's prices are lower than most of the other local markets.

The Pathmark nearest me in Marlboro closed in October. I heard about the Top Tomato today, too. I have one near me in Freehold, but I haven't been impressed with their veggies and fruits. I actually like Livotis, on 34 in Aberdeen, for fruits, veggies and herbs.

Sushipup - the LS organic red pepper and tomato soup is wonderful, too.

Helene

I'd like the other soups, I know I would, but I can't get Jim to try them. Sigh.

Helene

(It tickles me to be talking to another Helene. I was named for a Helene, too.)

Blubird

I didn't care too much for Top Tomato and I agree with you about Livotis they are very good, I love their mozzarella! They catered an affair my dh attended and everyone loved the food. I hear they rented more space for their catering and that they will be serving food there.
I think Wegmans fruits and veggies are the only ones that last. I don't know why everything goes bad so fast.
Happy food shopping!

debnj3,

We love Livoti's mozzarella - I've been buying the unsalted, but both varieties are so smooth, creamy and FRESH!

Helene

Their frozen desserts are delicious and great for a small gathering so you wan't have a lot of leftovers. They have a round chocolate fudge cake , and a coffee ice cream pie with chocolate in the crust. They also have a checkers white chocolate and milk chocolate mousse cake. You have to try the three.They are to die for.