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Trader Joe's: Park Ridge

Trader Joe's: Park Ridge
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  • Trader Joe's: Park Ridge

    Post #1 - March 19th, 2007, 1:19 pm
    Post #1 - March 19th, 2007, 1:19 pm Post #1 - March 19th, 2007, 1:19 pm
    What a cornucopia of good food shopping of late.

    While the Sauganash Whole Foods and the new Trader Joe's, Park Ridge, are not excactly in my neighborhood, they're close enough for comfort.

    Today at lunch I picked up a sourdough baguette, fresh lobster ravioli, jarred picatta sauce, a cobb salad with chicken and bacon, frozen cod sticks (hopefully grown up fish sticks), and some peanut butter filled pretzels all for under $20.

    The baguette is quite excellent, good crust and a nice chew. The pretzels are decent and will be good for late night snacking. I ate the salad for lunch and I guess it was OK but I needed more protein. Perhaps I'll post on the other items as they are used.

    Aside from its location, there's nothing different about this Trader Joe's, as opposed to the Sauganash Whole Foods. It's great to have these two grocers within reasonable distance of my home and something I've been wishing for for a long time.

    Suck that Jewels and Dominick.

    -ramon
  • Post #2 - March 20th, 2007, 9:25 am
    Post #2 - March 20th, 2007, 9:25 am Post #2 - March 20th, 2007, 9:25 am
    Very exciting that they opened one close to my parent's house. I'm closer to the Arlington Heights one.

    Just a general TJ's question- they'd probably sell truffle oil there, right?
  • Post #3 - March 20th, 2007, 10:03 am
    Post #3 - March 20th, 2007, 10:03 am Post #3 - March 20th, 2007, 10:03 am
    I've read in several different places that they do but I have never noticed it (nor was I looking for it -- probably should!).

    -ramon
  • Post #4 - March 20th, 2007, 10:08 am
    Post #4 - March 20th, 2007, 10:08 am Post #4 - March 20th, 2007, 10:08 am
    One thing that's key to understand about shopping at TJ's is that they, like Costco, don't keep a set inventory. They sell what's available to their buyers, under a variety of parameters.

    What you see one week at TJ's may not be there the next.

    Best,
    Michael
  • Post #5 - March 20th, 2007, 11:33 am
    Post #5 - March 20th, 2007, 11:33 am Post #5 - March 20th, 2007, 11:33 am
    eatchicago wrote:What you see one week at TJ's may not be there the next.


    They *OUGHT* to do what Aldi's does. Indicate which items are "permanet items" and which ones are seasonal OR special purchases. That would give the consumer the opportunity to "stock up" before a product goes away.
  • Post #6 - March 20th, 2007, 11:55 am
    Post #6 - March 20th, 2007, 11:55 am Post #6 - March 20th, 2007, 11:55 am
    Hmm. I remember seeing an Trader Joe's shopping list on line yesterday. This would seem to indicate items they are stocking. I can't find it today, or the Frequent Flyer newsletter. Perhaps its in the process of updating.

    -ramon
  • Post #7 - March 20th, 2007, 3:58 pm
    Post #7 - March 20th, 2007, 3:58 pm Post #7 - March 20th, 2007, 3:58 pm
    Abe,
    Let me know if you ever find truffle oil at a TJ's.

    I go to the one on Lincoln and have never seen it.

    Ramon, how did you manage to leave a TJ's without a package of cookies? (it's my biggest weakness and they have DOZENS and DOZENS of cookie varieties)

    BTW their baguettes are jimthebeerguy's favorite.
    "Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you want and let the food fight it out inside."
    -Mark Twain
  • Post #8 - March 20th, 2007, 4:56 pm
    Post #8 - March 20th, 2007, 4:56 pm Post #8 - March 20th, 2007, 4:56 pm
    I go to the one on Lincoln too and I really like their Green Tea yogurt. I bought it on a whim, not sure if it would be my thing or not. I can be a little funny about yogurt textures/flavors. This one kind of tastes like melted green tea ice cream with a slight "tang" to it and a smooth finish. Yum -now I'm a little addicted.
  • Post #9 - March 20th, 2007, 9:44 pm
    Post #9 - March 20th, 2007, 9:44 pm Post #9 - March 20th, 2007, 9:44 pm
    Saint Pizza wrote:
    Ramon, how did you manage to leave a TJ's without a package of cookies? (it's my biggest weakness and they have DOZENS and DOZENS of cookie varieties)

    BTW their baguettes are jimthebeerguy's favorite.


    SP:

    As Mrs Ramon does the basic food shopping, I try to show some restraint.

    Cookies are generally under my radar, though I do appreciate a good one. I considered the basic Joe-Joes but skipped due to the "real vanilla flecks." I figured Brianna would have objected, but, in retrospect, she probably wouldn't. Which ones do you specifically recommend?

    Yes, the baguette was exceptional.

    BTW, the lobster ravioli was no better than its $2.99 price tag. Of course, its hard to be happy after you've made your own.

    -ramon
  • Post #10 - March 20th, 2007, 10:12 pm
    Post #10 - March 20th, 2007, 10:12 pm Post #10 - March 20th, 2007, 10:12 pm
    Ramon wrote:
    Saint Pizza wrote:
    BTW, the lobster ravioli was no better than its $2.99 price tag. Of course, its hard to be happy after you've made your own.

    -ramon


    Agreed. I was unimpressed with their jarred piccata sauce for exactly that reason.

    The best cookies are probably the Swiss Almond Crunch, which will threaten to take out your fillings, so be forewarned.

    Never mind, I think my favorite are the Joe-Joes.

    I went tonight and found the truffle oil. They had both black and white advertised, but only white were on the shelves.
    "Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you want and let the food fight it out inside."
    -Mark Twain
  • Post #11 - March 20th, 2007, 10:37 pm
    Post #11 - March 20th, 2007, 10:37 pm Post #11 - March 20th, 2007, 10:37 pm
    Saint Pizza wrote:Agreed. I was unimpressed with their jarred piccata sauce for exactly that reason.

    The best cookies are probably the Swiss Almond Crunch, which will threaten to take out your fillings, so be forewarned.

    Never mind, I think my favorite are the Joe-Joes.


    Yea, the jarred piccata sauce was a stupid whim buy. Tasting it I said to myself: wine, lemon, butter, capers ... I've done this before. Doh!

    I'm sure to have some TJ cookies soon.

    -ramon
  • Post #12 - March 21st, 2007, 9:43 am
    Post #12 - March 21st, 2007, 9:43 am Post #12 - March 21st, 2007, 9:43 am
    I really like the seeded sourdough bread the best, and I always grab as many soy pita breads as they have, because they always sell out. I also go for the precooked Edamame in the freezer section, and the fat free pizza sauce is pretty good in a pinch. Other favorites are the frozen Australian lamb chops,deboned leg of lamb, indian lentils and dahl.
  • Post #13 - March 21st, 2007, 12:08 pm
    Post #13 - March 21st, 2007, 12:08 pm Post #13 - March 21st, 2007, 12:08 pm
    abe_froeman wrote:Just a general TJ's question- they'd probably sell truffle oil there, right?


    The one on Lincoln still had both black and white truffle oil for $8.99/bottle back in late January. A friend recently investigated the TJ's truffle oil supply here, and TJ's told her that while it is available at their west coast stores pretty much year round, they only sell it in the Chicago area stores around Christmastime.
  • Post #14 - March 21st, 2007, 3:11 pm
    Post #14 - March 21st, 2007, 3:11 pm Post #14 - March 21st, 2007, 3:11 pm
    Well that's annoying, LTE!

    Where else can I get decent, but not horribly expensive truffle oil? I have a recipe for lentil late that calls for it.
  • Post #15 - March 21st, 2007, 3:31 pm
    Post #15 - March 21st, 2007, 3:31 pm Post #15 - March 21st, 2007, 3:31 pm
    Saint Pizza wrote:Never mind, I think my favorite are the Joe-Joes.
    Did you have the peppermint Joe-Joes during the holiday season? Those were so good and addicting. I like the caramel tartlets - they're kind of like caramel twix but more cookie & less chocolate.
  • Post #16 - March 21st, 2007, 3:57 pm
    Post #16 - March 21st, 2007, 3:57 pm Post #16 - March 21st, 2007, 3:57 pm
    abe - the TJ's on Lincoln still has some white truffle oil, but is out of black truffle oil.


    Pucca - No, I didn't see the peppermint ones, but they sound SO good! Oh well, I'll just wait till next year! Thanks for the rec on the twix-like cookie - I'll look for it next time I go.
    "Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you want and let the food fight it out inside."
    -Mark Twain
  • Post #17 - March 21st, 2007, 11:19 pm
    Post #17 - March 21st, 2007, 11:19 pm Post #17 - March 21st, 2007, 11:19 pm
    jlawrence01 wrote:
    eatchicago wrote:What you see one week at TJ's may not be there the next.


    They *OUGHT* to do what Aldi's does. Indicate which items are "permanet items" and which ones are seasonal OR special purchases. That would give the consumer the opportunity to "stock up" before a product goes away.


    Actually, T'd have to say that TJ's does have a pretty large set of "permanent items". In fact, I would say that the nearly all the stock is permanent and the same in all the stores in the region. The fresh fruit, some cheeses, some meats, some wines and the fish are only semi-permanent, but even those are pretty much seasonal.

    I've been going to TJ's for over 12 years (I used to live in San Jose) and there used to be a lot, lot more turnover in the stock. The past three or four years things have stableized and the stock is pretty much set.

    By the way, TJ's is owned by Karl and Theo Albrecht who also own Aldi.

    Ralph
  • Post #18 - December 11th, 2024, 5:30 pm
    Post #18 - December 11th, 2024, 5:30 pm Post #18 - December 11th, 2024, 5:30 pm
    Trader Joe’s Is Coming To Jefferson Park. The popular grocery store chain is taking over a former CVS on Higgins Avenue

    https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/12/11 ... rson-park/
    Never order barbecue in a place that also serves quiche - Lewis Grizzard

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