Their mexican stuff is AMAZING: I highly recommened the garlic chicken enchiladas. The other burritos are also good.

Their brick oven style pizzas are good, inc. the spinach one and vegetarian one. The stir fry stuff is good and easy, as well as their shrimp fried rice.

The prepared chicken stuff is amazing inc. Chicken Fontina (oven on 350 for 35 mins) and the pork chops and the tortellini (fire roasted vegetable) and the olives stuff with garlic or jalapenos or feta.

LOVE IT THERE.

Jeff

My friend likes to call Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck," but they are good. Traders is amazingly cheap though and I love the food there, so generally, it's where I go.

Jeff

The thing about Whole Foods is that it isn't really a grocery store. It's a convenience store for people of affluence, meaning that, if the difference between spending $150 vs $250 weekly on food is not meaningful to you, you can get a more yuppified shopping experience at Whole Foods, with a large prepared food section while you get bombarded with messages designed to make you feel good about being healthy or socially conscious.

Whole Foods is a deathtrap for budgets. Their prepared foods are awesome (the burgers are just amazing, as is the gelato), and their meat counter is a sight to behold. If I am hitting a BBQ or something, Whole Foods is perfect- I can grab a couple of premium steaks, stop by the deli for some sort of salad to bring along, and I am on my way. Sure, it will cost me $50, but sometimes it is worth it

Luz, your animated gif made coffee come out my nose.

All,

I'm gonna make a trip today or tomorrow. I just asked astro for some TJ "classics" I must buy. Gorgonzola gnocchi, burritos, and potstickers are some of mine. Astro mentioned the following:

peanut butter pretzels are amazing
burritos are amazing
papadum chips are good, the masala ones are better
frozen eggplant parmesan
lemongrass chicken rice bowl
gazpacho

I'll report back later.

I think the nirvana veggie burgers are far superior to any other kind of veggie burger. also the dried berries are awesome.

turnip,

I'll keep that in mind next time I am looking for veggie burgers HAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAA

I like the banana chips. Got nice crunch and texture to it.

Alright, just made a trip. Here's what I got save a few extra boring items:

Hothouse Tomatoes on the Stem
Green/Yellow Baby Squash
Brussel Sprouts

(I got them cuz I just read this recipe in the Ruth Reichl book: 400 degrees. Brussel sprouts on baking pan, sprinkle w/ olive oil and toss to coat all sprouts. Spread them in single layer and top with diced bacon. Cook, turning sprouts once, for about 20 minutes or until they are very dark and crisp. Serve at once. Almost incinerated, which gives the little nuggest an amazing, almost candy-like sweetness. Even people who think they don't like brussel sprouts invariably like these.)

Organic Creamy Tomato Soup
Carrot-Ginger Soup
Butternut Squash Soup
(the ones in boxes)

Roasted Chicken Sausage w/ Sweet Peppers & Onions

Pork Gyoza

Beef Enchiladas
Cheese Enchiladas
Chicken Enchiladas in Salsa Verde
Cannelloni Tres Formaggi

Sockeye Salmon Steak

Unfortunately, they were pretty much out of all the refrigerated prepared stuff like quesadillas and burritos. The only burrito they had left was the potato and green chile in tomato/salsa tortilla. I decided to give it a shot and had it for dinner. In the words of Randy Jackson, "It was just aight for me, man."

I also got some dried chile spiced mango. This stuff is intense. Quoting Randy again, "We got a hot one tonight!" Very tasty.

interesting dessert: TJs Mochi.

little japanese ice cream ball things. the mango was super good and the girl i was with loved them.

i've only eaten tj's while dieting, so while i've tried a few "bad" things there is a wealth that i have yet to experience. i've tried a ton of things on the lighter side of the house though, and i'm sure it's caused me to find some things i might have overlooked.

the yogurt and chocolate covered blueberries are good. i think probably anything along those lines would be.

they have some amazing chocolate truffles. it's not a product i would normally buy or eat, but they've more or less converted me. you can mix it up by refrigerating them too. when they show up they tend to sell out fast.

bad beetz, I apologize for that...

my mom always made roasted brussel sprouts, (no bacon, but with lots of minced garlic), and I loved it. I couln't understand why they get a bad rep until I tasted a steamed one, blech it's like 2 totally different vegitables.

The chocolate mochi is the BOMB!

TWO BUCK CHUCK!! TWO BUCK CHUCK!!

Yes, this is good. I also like the Coconut ice cream they have that comes in the cocunut shells (same as the orange variety). And the frozen fruit (pineapple) is amazingly good.

Jeff

(from someone who used to work in PL grocery marketing).

I'm surprised to hear you say that. 365 is considered a top notch PL product, up there with Costco & Wegmans brands.

TJ's is a different beast, as so much of what they sell is PL.

quality wise, the 2 are pretty similar I would say

NYers-

does the new TJ under NYU Palladium at 3rd & 14th deliver your groceries? if so, what do they charge?

Did anyone get the adverstising booklet?
I took a glance and some of the items sound really good.
I dont have the booklet with me so dont remember which.
If you have tried any of the items in their, please post your recommendations.

The only one I've tried is the Banana Crisp. I liked them. Got a nice crunch to it and pretty light texture.

i was mostly referring to the quality of the packaging.

i know a lot of the stuff from tj's isn't "private label", but simply rebadged. the pesto pizza, for example, is amy's organic. they just put a trader giotto label on it.

yep. a lot of pl is simply rebadged branded products

I find their sushi to be pretty decent. At $3.50 for 7 pieces it makes two snacks or one light lunch, I recommend the Alaskan Halibut. Their vodka pasta sauce is good. Also, first crush applesauce. Yum.

Btw, Trader Joes makes a private label Hef. It's the worst beer I've ever had.

another awesome find: moral fiber organic bran/blueberry muffins. they're dark brown, very moist, very delicious. 280 calories and 10 grams of fiber in 1. they're less than $1 each and sold in a 4-pack.

they charge ~$5. zone is between canal and 34th (i think).