Trader Jose's Corn Tortillas (10 oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Jose's Corn Tortillas (10 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.99 + tax
Purchased on: (1/23/07)

Review: Here in Chicago, corn tortillas are a dime a dozen (sometimes literally), so why would I pay a dollar for the same?

Trader Joe's corn tortillas are your typical pressed corn discs with a bland flavor. When pan fried in oil, they crisp up nicely and absorb the flavor of the oil you use more than other brands. Their primary difference (and the one that wins me over) is that even if you don't fry them thoroughly (or at all), these tortillas don't taste as mealy as other brands. You wouldn't want to just eat them straight from the bag, but the un-mealiness is an important factor when dealing with the foundation of another culture's cuisine.

Rating: 4 / 5

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Trader Joe's Soy Sauce (17.6 fl. oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Soy Sauce (17.6 fl. oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $2.99 + tax (01/23/07)

Review: This huge bottle of soy sauce is a bargain for only $3.00. Since my girlfriend and I cook with tofu and other protein cakes made from soybeans, I tend to use soy sauce often. Not in large quantities, mind you, but quite often. Just a little dab of soy sauce here or there can make a world of difference in a tofu dish. Think of the difference between a White Castle Slider and a T-Bone steak from Morton's. There is more to it, of course, but soy sauce is important.

You don't want that sickly sweet sauce that you find in most grocery stores that is made for western tastes. Sure, it's salty, but it almost makes your bowl of rice taste like candy.

What you want, is your soy sauce to have a bite that balances delicately on the fence between spicy and bitter. That's exactly what this soy sauce offers you.

It's also low in sodium, which I didn't even notice until I got home. loses a few fractions of a point for that... I'd rather have had the full flavor regular style.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

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2 Trader Joe's Organic Black Beans (15 oz. cans)

Item Purchased: 2 Trader Joe's Organic Black Beans (15 oz. cans)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.99/ea. + tax (01/23/07)

Review: To be completely honest, I can't tell the difference between these beans and the regular Trader Joe's black beans. I suppose it comes down to trusting the label "organic" or fishing around in my pocket to see how much bean change I have left.

These beans taste fantastic, are not mushy like many canned beans end up and fry up nicely. The only difference I noticed was that this can of beans did give me more gas than the average can of beans. My girlfriend tells me that I just need to eat more to get my body used to it. Well... as long as she can stand me, I'll keep eating these delicious and affordable legumes.

Rating: 4 / 5

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2 Lightlife Three Grain Organic Tempeh (8 oz.)

Item Purchased: 2 Lightlife Three Grain Organic Tempeh (8 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.69/ea. + tax
Purchased on: 01/23/07

Review: If tofu is a vegetarian's staple, then tempeh is a nail gun. Tempeh has enough substance and natural flavor that it is much more likely to be the food that will make a stubborn carnivore stop ridiculing you for hugging cows and eating plants. Made from whole soybeans that are soaked and partially cooked then fermented, tempeh takes the form of a dense and solid brick. Often mixed with varying other beans and whole grains, tempeh often has a nutty rich flavor before it is even cooked.

Unlike Tofu, tempeh's natural firmness makes it much more manageable, yet it is still absorbant enough to fare exceptionally well with a marinade. Its firmness also allows for thinner slicing (I've heard of people making tempeh bacon), easy sandwich construction and finger food accessibility.

$1.69 for eight oz. of tempeh is a price that cannot be beat in Chicago (prove me wrong... I'm cheap) and the nutty flavor of Lightlife's three grain is some of the best store-bought tempeh I have tried. Tonight, I'm making Fajitas with the recipe to be found on the inside of each package.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Trader Joe's Limes (bag of 6)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Limes (bag of 6)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.99 + tax
Purchased On: 01/23/07

Review: The good thing about Trader Joe's produce is the freshness and the price. To put it plainly... they're fresh and affordable. The bad thing about Trader Joe's produce is that most of it must be bought in bulk. Of course, this isn't so bad if you cook regularly like me.

TJ's limes, in particular are a bit on the small side. They would be perfect if I were a bit Corona drinker, but some of you already know how I feel about that sorry excuse for a beer. As it stands, these limes are great for that little squeeze of juice you might use as a garnish, but if you are looking to get a cup full for a recipe, skip Trader Joe's and head for the next corner store. Or, I suppose you could just buy two bags and do a bit more squeezing. It would probably still save you a significant amount of money.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Trader Joe's Indian Fare Palak Paneer (10.5 oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Indian Fare Palak Paneer (10.5 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.99 + tax

Review: Palak Paneer is one of my favorite (and one of the most ubiquitous) dishes in Indian cuisine. I don't usually like to go the convenience route with a dish I enjoy so much, but while browsing the aisles at Trader Joe's I just couldn't resist.

Palak Paneer looks like a leftover fluid prop from The Exorcist, but don't let that turn you off. The pea-colored viscous stew in Palak Paneer is a mixture of pressure cooked spinach, garam masala, garlic, ginger, green chili paste and a handful of other spices. The cubed chunks are a form of mild unaged cheese (no rennet used in its making, for those of you who are strict vegetarians) called Paneer. The dish can range from mild to hold-on-to-your-hats spicy. I prefer the latter.

I didn't expect much from this modest and inexpensive box of pre-made palak paneer. It has been so long since I have had Indian food, that I would have been happy with something resembling it the way Chef Boyardee foods resemble fresh pasta.

To my surprise, this boil-in-bag convenience food was not only moderate in flavor, but extreme in spiciness. Despite all of the reaching for my water glass that eating this stuff caused me to partake in, the mild-but-competent flavor was still present and somewhat impressive.

Though nowhere near the quality of flavor that one can get on Devon Ave. here in Chicago, Trader Joe's Palak Paneer is a convenience product I can get my taste buds behind.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

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Trader Joe's Organic Basmati Rice (32 oz. bag)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Organic Basmati Rice (32 oz. bag)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $2.99 + tax (01/23/07)

Review: Maybe I was just really hungry, but this rice actually smelled amazing while I was cooking it! Most rice doesn't impress me nasally (basmati or not), but this particular batch lived up to it's name completely. Basmati literally translates as "Queen of Fragrance," ya know.

The taste, on the other hand, is nothing but bland grain taste. And this is fine. As a fairly priced organic basmati, this rice serves as a base to any dish you might cook up. It cooks quick, comes out tender and retains a slight stickiness which comes in handy when you eat rice dishes with chopsticks as often as I like to. I've paid upwards of seven dollars for a two pound bag of inorganic basmati before. Remind me to stock up the next time I am at TJ's.

Rating: 4.25 / 5

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Trader Jose's Handmade Whole Wheat Tortillas (15 oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Jose's Handmade Whole Wheat Tortillas (15 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $2.49 + tax (01/23/07)

Review: Very few tortillas can be enjoyed as a snack by themselves. Usually you need some kind of filling or topping (if not an entire meal) inside of tortillas to make them count as something edible. To my surprise, I found myself happily chewing on one of these tasty food wrappers today at work when I found myself getting hungry.

Since they are hand-flattened, these tortillas are thicker than most others and have a slightly bumpy texture that makes any dish you prepare with them large enough to satisfy most. They are made with honey and have a slightly sweet flavor, which would make them the perfect wrapper for ham or turkey. At two fifty, these tortillas are a bit more expensive than most, but the comforting thought is that the extra money is going toward a laborer somewhere in Massachusetts who spends eight hours of her day flattening whole wheat bread just so you can have a tasty burrito. It's probalby not an entirely true thought, but it is comforting nonetheless.

Rating: / 5

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Trader Joe's Tandori Chicken Wrap

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Tandori Chicken Wrap
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.69 + tax

Review: I almost didn't buy this wrap today because of the seemingly high price. My girlfriend then wisely pointed out that I have spent just as much on a substandard sandwich from 7-Eleven more times than I would like to admit.

Sold!

Get this woman a vacation, because the paltry three bucks and change I spent on this burrito almost seems as if it isn't enough. The meal-sized fist food is expertly wrapped in a tomato tortilla, stuffed with more chicken and carrots than you'd get in a convenience store salad and mixed together with a mild cucumber sauce. The chicken isn't as spicy as something with the word 'tandori' in its name should be, but the ingredients are fresh, filling and a hell of a lot better for me than the gristly turkey I usually eat on my budget lunch days.

If only Trader Joe's and 7-Eleven would exchange their ubiquity with each other, the world (and my stomach) would be a happier place.

Rating: 4.25 / 5

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Trader Joe's Grass Fed Gouda Cheese (0.785 lb.)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Grass Fed Gouda Cheese (0.785 lb.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $4.31 + tax

Review: Trader Joe's does it again! Bigger blocks of cheese for smaller chunks of change! Not only is this Gouda a lot less per oz. as the May-Bud I am used to buying, but it also packs a richer and creamier taste than the never-to-be-bought-again cheeses I have fallen back on like the stuffed animals that used to keep me company in my crib. As for being grass-fed, I'm not sure what else dairy cows would eat. I hate to think that there are farmers out there feeding their cattle Totino's pizzas and Baby Ruth bars. Isn't the forage that is fed to most cows made up of grass and hay (dried grass) anyway? Perhaps the label on this cheese simply means that the cows are fed fresh grass? I've read the reports and heard the stories of how cows are fed remnants of their slaughtered and ground up brethren. I'm not sure if it bothers me more that a dairy product must say "grass fed" on the label to ensure that I am not eating a cow that has eaten a cow or the fact that I don't see many labels that do state this.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Cabot Naturally Aged Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese (0.545 lb.)

Item Purchased: Cabot Naturally Aged Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese (0.545 lb.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $2.56 + tax

Review: I know this may get me kicked out of my home state of Wisconsin when I go back to visit, but I have to say it. Vermont has the upper hand when it comes to cheese making. Maybe Wisconsin does milk better. I don't know. All I know is that I have not had a better cheddar in my life. End of story.

This naturally aged cheddar packs a bite and flavor unmatched by anything that Packerland has ever churned out. Though dry and powerful in flavor, there is still an underlying creaminess to this white cheddar. It is a disappointment that this is another product that doesn't claim to stay away from factory farming or rBGH, but I will admit that it would be hard for me to switch brands based solely on those factors. With a taste like this, even sensible health concerns fall to the wayside.

Sometimes my hedonistic tendencies disgust me. Of course, we're talking about curdled milk and mold here, so who's going to split hairs with that?

Rating: 4.75 / 5

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2 Trader Joe's Organic Tomato Paste (6 oz.)

Item Purchased: 2 Trader Joe's Organic Tomato Paste (6 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.79/ea. + tax

Review: Step aside O Organics, there's a new kid on the block! Sweeter and fresher than your pureed paste, Trader Joe's tomato paste is my new pick for pasta sauce base. Since I don't make it to Trader Joe's very often and make my own sauces extremely often (Paul Newman is good, but I'm better dammit), perhaps I should invest in a case of this paste so that I will never have to settle again.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Trader Joe's Reduced Fat 2% Milk (1 qt.)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Reduced Fat 2% Milk (1 qt.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.39 + tax

Review: This is one of the few dairy products on Trader Joe's shelf that doesn't claim to be organic or explicitly say that it is made from cows that have not been treated with rBGH. This is disappointing for a few reasons. First of all, Trader Joe's seems to take pride and go out of their way to stock affordable and healthy selections. Though still in deliberation, many foodies and health nuts consider rBGH an unhealthy choice in dairy production. Secondly, though Trader Joe's does stock organic milk brands, none of those brands come in a quart size. I do not eat very much cereal anymore and do not drink milk plain. As a result, I do not go through more than a quart of milk in any two week period. I will use milk to make sauces, pancakes, other baked goods and to cream my coffee. That is all. I would much rather buy organic, but organic milk that goes bad is more of a waste than non-organic milk that will be used completely. Ultimately, it is a minor setback in the grocery decision making process that costs me a few more seconds.

As for the taste, I will be honest. I cannot tell the difference between this milk and the major grocery store brands I usually buy. Does anyone know where I can buy smaller containers (1 qt. or less) of organic, non-rBGH infused milk in this city for a reasonable/comparable price?

Rating: 3 / 5

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2 Trader Joe's Organic Vegetable Broth (32 fl. oz.)

Item Purchased: 2 Trader Joe's Organic Vegetable Broth (32 fl. oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.99 ea. + tax

Review: This veggie broth is lighter on salt and bulkier on flavor than the usual broth I get from Dominick's. Since I have reconciled my disappointment with broths coming in such large containers by using whatever excess I have to cook up whatever kind of rice or other grain I have in my cupboard, I decided to buy two boxes. Chances are, I will use both of these broth boxes up by the end of the week. More than likely, I will use them up sooner than that, since the taste of Trader Joe's organic products are so good that I would actually consider heating this broth in a sauce pan as-is and slurping it as a soup.

Rating: 4 / 5

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Trader Joe's Grated Parmesan Cheese (0.61 lb.)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Grated Parmesan Cheese (0.61 lb.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.04 + tax

Review: Remember how I raved about the Bel Gioioso Parmesan cheese I purchased last month? Well, chalk that up to naiveté. This Argentinian Parmesan cheese tastes stronger, is just as fresh and costs less than half as much as that name brand ubiqui-grocer brand. Though I need this cheese for a dish I plan on making for a dinner party next Sunday, I find myself eating spoonfulls and marvelling at how this cheese melts in my mouth and leaves a watery greedy maw that begs for more.

This is just one of the many reasons I wish I could make it to Trader Joe's more often.

Rating: 4.75 / 5

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Trader Joe's Jalapeno Pepper Hot Sauce (5 fl. oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Jalapeno Pepper Hot Sauce (5 fl. oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.99 + tax

Review: I didn't think Trader Joe's sold hot sauce. My girlfriend didn't think so either (and she used to work there). You can imagine my surprise when I found this stuff tucked away on the bottom shelf next to the canned beans and salsa. Okay, maybe you can't imagine my surprise. Hell, I don't even know if I was surprised. I was, however, happy to find it.

The real surprise came when I tasted just a speck of this stuff on the tip of my pinkie finger. Wow! Not only is this pepper sauce hot as August in Arizona, but also fully flavorful. I could actually taste the roasted peppers in all of their breath-gasping glory.

I can't wait to make a rice dish with a splash of this hot sauce mixed in. I'm sure I'll be rolling the complexities around in my mouth as well as reaching for an oil drum of ice water.

A must for all spice-heads! You'll never go back to Tabasco again.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Goodness Greeness Certified Organic Garlic (2 heads)

Item Purchased: Goodness Greeness Certified Organic Garlic (2 heads)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.79 + tax

Review: You can always count on Trader Joe's to have fresh organic produce for a decent price. The one caveat is that you usually have to buy said produce in quantities larger than one. Fortunately, I eat a lot of garlic. Vampires got nothin' on me. I chop up a clove of garlic to make almost everything. Even if I'm just cooking up a couple of eggs, it is not uncommon for me to throw a little garlic in the frying pan and let it brown before cracking the shells.

As far as TJ produce goes, two of anything in a package is a small number. Avocados must be purchased in packages of four. Tomatoes usually come in threes.

This garlic is extremely fresh and is, on average, larger than most heads of garlic I purchase at the local Dominick's or Jewel. The warm fuzzy feeling comes with knowing that the garlic is organic, and hopefully the unfelt health benefits will come along with that. For now, I will take solace in the fact that this is a strong tasting, easy to chop, crush or mince garlic that will go well with the next "whatever" I cook up.

Rating: 4.75 / 5

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Dec. 10th - Previously Reviewed Purchases

[ Safeway Brand Paper Towels (8 rolls) ($7.79) / Trader Joe's Extra Large Brown Cage Free Eggs (12 eggs) ($3.49) / Frugal Joe's Ordinary Beer (6 - 12oz bottles) / 2 Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Bars (3 - 1.75 oz. bars) ]

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Trader Ming's (Joe's) Ginger Peanut Noodle Salad (10 oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Ming's (Joe's) Ginger Peanut Noodle Salad (10 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $2.49 + tax

Review: From their ready-to-eat section, Trader Joe's offers a lunch-size plastic container full of eastern noodles. I'm not sure how I feel about the cutesy attempt to make this item seem more authentic by changing "Joe" to "Ming," but the noodles sure are tasty.

Wheat noodles with a ginger soy dressing already cooked into them, this dish can be eaten hot or cold. I opted for nuking it and eating them warm. The ginger taste is subtle and even the soy isn't overbearing. Some might say this is a bland dish, but those people are probably the people who think that going to their local Chinese buffet and pigging out on deep-fried chicken strips dipped in sweet-and-sour sauce is eating authentic Chinese food. If your taste buds haven't been completely wiped out by American ethnic derivatives and fast food, you should enjoy this affordable lunch, perfect for taking to work with you.

My only complaint is the accuracy on the label. It says "Ginger Peanut Noodle Salad" and that is exactly what I got. A ginger noodle salad with exactly one peanut in it. Ah well, maybe next time, I'll buy some extra peanuts to throw in. I suspect, though, that I simply picked a dud.

Rating: 3.75 / 5