Trader Joe's Top Seven
After months of obsessive anticipation by Forest Hills foodies, it appears the opening of New York City's second Trader Joe's, on our very own Metropolitan Avenue, is imminent—perhaps just days away. Big deal, I know you residents of places other than Queens are thinking. Trader Joe's is overrated. Who wants all that prepared crap anyway? Well, if you saw (and smelled) the state of the grocery stores in the area, you would understand our excitement.
Anyway, even though I never go for frozen chimichangas and other such packaged meals, there's plenty of stuff at Trader Joe's to make me—or anyone—happy. In celebration of the best thing to happen to Metropolitan Avenue since the arrival of Danny Brown Wine Bar, I've decided to compile my personal Trader Joe's TopTenSeven List. (I tried to come up with ten. I really did.)
7.) Smoked Trout in a Tin
Okay, it's a bit weird. But add crackers, lemon wedges and Tabasco, and you have a great little snack.
6.) Tuscan Pane Bread
It bears little resemblance to any bread I've had in Tuscany, but slices of this chewy loaf are yummy toasted and buttered for breakfast. Also an excellent starting point for a ham-and-butter sandwich.
5.) Nuts, Nuts, Nuts!
Whatever your, uh, nutty needs—roasted, raw, seasoned, plain—Trader Joe's has a large selection and low prices. I always keep pine nuts and slivered almonds in my freezer to toast up and toss into salads.
4.) Weirdly Flavored Potato Chips
As stated earlier, I'm against buying prepared meals—but I have no such inhibitions when it comes to junk food. My personal favorite Trader Joe's potato chip flavor is "Goat Cheese and Herb," but these were unavailable for this photo shoot.
3.) Bag o' Avocados
Four organic avocados for $3.29. Sure, the price is nice, but what I really like about this product is that rather than my usual, more sensible, purchase of two avocados at a time, I'm forced to buy four. Which means double the guacamole. And how can that be a bad thing?
2.) Morello Cherries
These tart purple cherries come in a big jar and beg to be spooned over vanilla ice cream. Sadly, they were missing from the shelves of the Union Square TJs the other day, hence no photo.
1.) Peanut-Butter-Filled Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Nuggets
Do I really have to explain this one to you? Just buy them.
Hey readers—if any of you out there have favorite Trader Joe's picks, please let us know in the comments! I'd also love to hear about the duds.
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My favorite new product is the Artisan Puff Pastry, made with butter. It's a must-have in my freezer!
I'm not into prepared foods either, though I hear some of theirs are lovely...
I know these aren't particularly "stand out" but the eggs are super cheap- always cheaper than anywhere I can find in Queens or LI, really. And the frozen mangos are handy for smoothies or um, bento lunches, or whatever
Oh, and they have these small bags of dog treats for about $2, peanut butter something, they smell amazing (I have not eaten one though!) and the bag has lasted me months and months. Small round little cookies with paw prints on them. Hehe. I love TJs...
PS Hah! Astoria, LIC, nowhere else in Queens has a TJs... nanner nanner nanner.
Hi, Sarah and fellow readers ....
another TJ product I ALWAYS have on hand is their frozen pie dough, already to defrost and fill. I often make a galette in the summer with seasonal fruit or a savory pie! Yum, very convenient and easy to have on hand ....
As a fellow FH resident, I am glad they are nearby and hope to get there tonight. I like those garlic mashed potato chips - I make Ina Garten's pan fried onion dip to go with it and it's a great combination. I mostly like TJ's for getting the same brands as other places but less expensive, like Kashi and Barbara's cereals. I also like their spanikopita and the pizzas.
I'll have to try that bread - lately we've been addicted to bread we get at the Atlas Park greenmarket from Meredith's bakery. We love the peasant bread, it makes the best toast and panini I've ever had.
I've heard the frozen pizza dough is good and handy, but I'm more about the nuts, canned beans that that sort of stuff. I give the produce a thumbs down.
Hi Vanessa--I see a trend here--I'm going to have to try some of TJs dough products. I agree the produce section isn't too impressive, though sometimes you can get stuff unavailable at other places, like key limes.