I know another Trader Joe's Post...
 

Quick question. The two Trader Joe's that I frequent here in NJ are sort of getting crappy. The prices are climbing and the selection isn't as good. Certain meats are in stock randomly and the now the morons are making the produce area bigger. How stupid is that? We have 5 supermarkets within 1 mile of each other and 2 fruit/veg. markets. We DON'T need more produce.

Is anyone else a loyal Trader Joe's shopper and are their problems in your area or is my district f'ed up?

Thanks, Pete

We don't have them here, but the last time I was in Scotsdale, stopped by the one near AJ's Fine Foods and found really cheap dog treats at TJ.:D

No Trader Joe's here, but back in CA they used to donate crates and crates wine for our conference every year.

We have one but its on a stretch of road that absolute hell to deal with (yes our wise county planners put ALL the area shopping centers on one street), especially noon on Saturday what all the DINKs are out shopping. So I hardly ever go there.

Maybe it's managers have reached their level of incompetence, like at Mercedes, or countless other once-admired enterprises.

TJ's in Delaware is still a fine establishment as far as I know. I don't get back there very often. Biggest problem is crowds. It's a small one, and the yuppies LOVE it. Lots of "nuevo riche" folks in there trying to prove how trendy they are. I find many or the products and prices great, though. They have great soups, jellies, nuts mixes and apple butter. Also stock Kashi cereal for a good price.

Been to the one in Stamford, CT area, near my bro's house. I wish there was a TJ's near by. Awesome French Fries!! chocolate and jellies....If I recall good coffees too.

I'm eatin' their chocolate covered raisins while I type! Pretty darn good.

Haven't shopped there that much, but did visit to buy my girlfriend some chocolate covered espresso beans for Valentine's Day. :)

I know they often have great wine for dirt cheap!

There's an example. The Kashi is now the same price as it is in the supermarket here... they were always cheaper in the past.

Oh Well... I went in yesterday. The store is still a mess and they are moving stuff around, but I found almost everything I wanted except that lamb is still not always in stock. I went with the beef this time. It is so friggin good and almost NO fat.

My store doesn't have booze. And probably a good thing for me! ;)

"Two Buck Chuck" has gone to $3.50, and they're running low.

I've been on a lamb diet this week. Bought some steaks/chops? and baked/boiled them in a turkey pan w/a little water, marjoram, salt, pepper and garlic... carrots and parsnips for good measure... 400 for 55 min. can't wait till lunch time. And don't forget the summer squash.

That sounds really good!!! It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of lamb. I think people really need to expand their horizons when it comes to meats. There is life beyond beef, pork and chicken. I'm not a big fan of chops, but I think that's just because I have really good luck with the legs.

Enjoy your lunch! :)

Pete

Here in the People's Republic there's a fair number of them. I can think of 5 that I've gone to. No major problems but I don't buy a lot of meat. Prices still good, quite a bit better than Whole Paycheck. TJs has the best Alaskan canned wild salmon and at a great price.

Never seen one in Denver, but there was one just down the street from the San Remo Hotel where we stayed in SF over Xmas. We shopped there a few times for on-the-go lunches.

Careful with the canned salmon. Tracy was giving me flack here last week for eating it canned.

Really? Canned salmon I mean? My impression was that canned is almost always wild caught whereas storebought is often the infernal, eco-insane, farmed salmon. I mean, I'd be happy to eat fresh wild, but the canned is pretty convenient.


Do you know what the bad rap was?

Why canned? The flavor of canned salmon is to salmon what bereavement to a life lived. Is fresh or even fresh frozen salmon inaccessible to parts of the country?

no tj in wisc yet. we travel to 2 in the chgo area when down there. we miss the tj hand lotion in the squeeze tubes. if i wanted corn huskers or whatever they are selling now i can buy that at any albertsons.

nice roadtrip food is the multi piece sushi platter. the wife feeds me while i drive. share a large bottle of water and some blue corn chips.....it all good.

Aw yes, salmon can inspire such poetry. I really like it smoked, as well.

You're right, I'll be looking for frozen. I'll look to see about the availability of fresh wild.

Canned salmon works really well for a favorite dish of mine at potlucks: salmon patties. Some of my Korean friends call them "salmon pancakes." They have some intersting pancake type dishes in Korean cusine.

A few cans of salmon, the smaller ones, one egg per can, squeezed lemon juice, bread crumbs and fresh dill. Fry til golden. Tartar sauce can be good, if sacreligious. People scarf 'em up and jealously compete for the last few pieces.

Salmon cakes are a nice treat, but if you’re gonna use that canned stuff, be sure to add lime jello with canned fruit chunks, marshmallows and cool whip as a side dish. It is a favorite at wakes throughout the western world. :P

FWIW Costco has frozen salmon that's pretty reasonable...

We got 2 of them here within driving distance,one in Plainview,the other in East Northport.

The selection is still fairly good,so are the prices for the most part,this is Long I$land,after all.............

Oh come on, it's not that bad. Whenever I make 'em, people scarf 'em up.

Besides, canning is a good way for the wild caught fisheries of Alaska to maintain their market viability in the face of all this farmed crap.

THAT should be the focus of your ire, not wild caught canned salmon. IMHO, of course. ;)