As far as quality goes, we have it lucky here in CA. Everything is a lot fresher, produce-wise. A few years ago when I was broke, a movie star buddy of mine gave me a BS job doing odd jobs and just basically helping him w/ stuff.

One of my chores was going shopping for the house, a "money no object" endeavor. Whole Foods was the cheaper of the places I went, I'd stock up on cashew butter and breads/cereals/etc. All of the produce came from Vicente Foods on SV and Bundy in Brentwood. Holy mother of god, that place is high-end. The best produce I've ever seen in my life, including CA. farmers markets.

We'd sit around eating like kings and making cappuccinos on the commercial grade Italian job, never had to leave the crib other than to re-load. Hard-knock life...

Sorry, talking about Whole Foods sent me off on a tangent there.

Farmer's Market isn't what it use to be 25 years ago when it was a real market with easy parking.

I have not heard of Vicente Foods. Are they wholesale only? Interesting.

Todd,

There's a little fish market in Glendale, right off the 134, that sell sushi grade fish to restaurants. Sushi restaurant owners are pretty intense about their sushi grade fish from what I understand. They do sell to the public as well. He also has a little restaurant in there. The food is great but the place is nothing fancy but pricing is ok, but not cheap for sure. I got talking with the owner, he told me there are only a hand full of fish markets like that around LA. There are a couple of them out near you. We try to go there once a month. If you are looking for that stuff, next time I go, I can find out for you. Your wife must like the really fresh fish. I am talking about freshly killed and steam immediately. Most Chinese like that.

Is there a "People of Trader Joes" site?

I found the Trader Joe's on Manhattan Beach Blvd to be one of the greatest places to hit on chicks in the south bay.

lots of later 20's-mid 30's hotties.

Vicente Foods is just a little fancy supermarket there on the corner of SV and Bundy in Brentwood. Same corner/lot as the drug store. Check it out sometime and tell me what you think. Better produce than WF, and that's saying something in SoCal.

Heading there now, will report back with pics...:D

TJs
 

Owned by the same guys who own Aldis (sp?)
Hence
M

Trader Joes, the parking lot will be full of Volvos and people that don't drive well.

I love Trader joe's! For certain things. I am not a huge fan of their produce. And you guys crack me up. You guys can change something as mundane as grocery shopping into something sexual. Men! I have to admit it is amusing and entertaining to hear you guys speak of "yoga pants" and MILFs. Hilarious! Unfortunately, the experience will never be the same when I go shopping there because I will be thinking about all your posts. Thanks. Thanks a lot! :D

Whole Foods bought Wild Oats. About 4 years ago.

boxed tomato soup, sourdough bread, guyere cheese.

i had grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup last night. all from trader joes. super easy after a hellish commute.

TJs has some great deals. You just won't be able to buy everything you need there. If you eat breakfast cereal, it's 30-50% cheaper to buy TJ brands. I find more interesting stuff per square foot than in any regular supermarket. Most is high quality.

Store personnel have great attitudes and the 'hot chick' factor is very high.

People don't realize TJs is a multibillion dollar business ($8.5B this year) because they cultivate a funky, small business vibe.

I've never been in a trader joes and have no desire to change that. My wife goes there occasionally and brings home some off-the-wall over-priced product that she's all excited about because one of her friends at bunko said it was great, but in reality it never is.

My take is that in most cases, trader joes is simply a trendy place to go and to talk about at social gatherings to impress others.

"These are not the trader Joes products you're looking for!"

You don't have to buy their ready to eat stuff to be shopping there. They have a good selection of high quality imported and orgainc foods:

Here is what I like:
Beer - Bitburger and Henninger
Organic oats (multigrain)
Organic dried fruits including rasins
Organic milk, butter and eggs
Wine (2 buck Chuck and others <$5)
Cheese
Almonds

I don't buy produce there, even for CA, it isn't terribly fresh and comes with a lot of packaging. It also isn't competitive in price compared to local produce markets.

George

Funny, I never noticed the chick factor (maybe because I am in SoCal and surrounded by beautiful women)

I go to TJ's because the have the best price and a good selection of whole bean coffee... period... I browse the booze section on my way out and grab anything interesting... done

Some real truth with some posters.
Volvos in the parking lot. Yes. We have an 850 turbo that visits Trader Joes around four times a year.
Always parking next to a Prius, Saab some low performance VW, Etc.
The woman are healthy and some attractive... you know... the healthy food
equates to some nice bodies.
If I was single and young (30-40'ish) that is where I would find dates. No doubt.
I have no idea if the products are better or cheaper but I do know that the
black licorice we get is awesome if you like licorice.
You don't have to walk around people in wheelchairs. Hey nothing wrong with being disabled but you just don't have the Wal-Mart people rolling down the isles.

I only buy two things at TJs, red wine and chocolate, but even then, Ralphs sells wine with a 30% discount if you buy six bottles. I don't buy white wine there because it's never chilled, the prices are hit and miss.
I can see where some TJs might have good looking women but I haven't noticed any in the two stores that are closest to me. Volvos and bad drivers.

A Trader Joes just opened up in my city. Its crazy to see how busy it is. Like people never saw a food store before.
So far, the things I like are: cheap drinkable wine, cheese, pot stickers (cheap, and about as good as I can make them with a fraction of the time).
I bought a bag of frozen shrimp- tasted like bleach. They ruined an entire shrimp stir fry.
Ill have to try the coffee.

The first of the chain was in my old home town....crappy little suburb in North East LA.

Anyways, they strive to carry good quality foods with natural flavors and no additives that make you glow in the dark.

Bonus to the person who names the town/community.

Wasn't it Pasadena?

Close but no patchouli....

from Wikipedia:

"The first store named "Trader Joe's" opened its doors in 1967. This store, on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, California, remains in operation."

First one AFIR was in Eagle Rock.....right next door. I saw it open.

I guess my Mommy was wrong 'cause the internet says so....oh well.

Sorry Mikez. That was all that I could find. Since you have first hand info from your mother, you should make the correction in Wikipedia.

Wasn't the first Bob's Big Boy in Pasadena too?

I used to shop there sometimes when I lived around the corner. Impeccable offerings and the service was the best of any sizable market I have ever seen, including Gelsons.

With regard to Trader Joes, we do as much as 1/3rd or so of our shopping there now. A very nice store opened up in our neighborhood last year whereas previously it was a 5+ mile schlep. I eat a lot of their prepared/frozen meals these days as I have no time to cook anymore and barely any time to eat. Also buy their decadent goodies, coffee, nuts & berries, cheese and yogurt, chips/crackers and various other stuff. Still go to Albertsons for most staples and household goods.

Aldi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"In the United States, Aldi Nord is the parent company of the Trader Joe's niche food stores, while Aldi Süd operates the regular Aldi stores in the country.'

Aldi
-Has the lowest prices on almost everything, hands down.
-Ready cook bag meals($3.50 versus $6.50).
-Pizza also cheap.
-Chocolates(especially during the holiday) are often Belgium and of exceptional quality.
-Beer is $6 and mid-grade, which is suprising from a German company. Wine is passable, barely. Trader Joes is a bit better, but both are cheaper than anywhere else.
-There's a lot of the same foods that Americans normally eat, but is not packaged/displayed right and often unseen/overlooked.
-Bring a quarter for a shopping cart, and cloth bags if you remember.

TJ's
-Best sourdough bread anywhere except a bakery.
-Good frozen selection. Expensive seafood(but it all is). Gyozas and bagged vegetables are excellent.
-Lots of different chocolate snacks, all good.
-Exotic sauces in jars to experiment.

We like them...

It's rare than one of their pre-made meals isn't good. ...and it's inexpensive... ...and they use little or no preservative's. Compared to the supermarket, they are heaven. ...and no "pretentious tax" like whole foods.

i LOVE Aldi (or as they call it in Austria...Hofer). I've mentioned on here before how much I like their business model. The cashiers are timed for efficiency and must meet a minimum item/scan time. A lot of their dairy is locally sourced dairy with their own label on it. I used to throw HUGE parties where I'd 50 people over or so, and I always provided the food and beverages. $500 in alcohol (couple of kegs and liquor) and then a few hundred bucks of food from Aldi would keep 50 people happy all night long. Their frozen appetizers and snack stuff was awesome. During the winter, they get a lot of german strudel type things. a lot of their stuff is seasonal.

...oh yeah, and i love the lack of errant shopping carts just sitting in the parking lot. that's my number one pet peeve.

Americans may have a difficult time adjusting on their first trip to ALDI.
"What, I need a quarter to get a cart?"(returnable)
"What, I need to bag my own stuff?" (takes a minute and they give you a counter)
"What, I need to pay .05 for a bag?" (after saving many tens of dollars)