Making my first trip to a Trader Joes and Whole Foods

[Goblinmonger]

I am heading to Madison, WI tomorrow to check out the two stores I have wanted to go to (I live about 80 miles away and my mom is taking the train in to a nearby town to Madison).

What do I HAVE to get when I am there? Looking for some good first-hand recommendations. I'm pretty excited.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

1. Trader Joe's favorites...

I am lacto-ovo, so this is some of what I get everytime I go there:

frozen pasta penne arrabiata (very nice, quick dinner for two)
garlic and feta soy chips (super yummy!)
hummus
olive tapenade
marinated cheese rope

They have a lot of brand name stuff that is great, just cheaper than in your local grocery store. Whole Foods is too expensive for me, so I can't help you there.

Have fun! :hi:

[Goblinmonger]

3. My family is ovo-lacto, too

though my daughter is experimenting with veganism.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Beaverhausen]

2. TJs has lots of really tasty ready made sauces and dips

refrigerated and not. Cooking & simmering sauces, several kinds of pesto, hummus and other dips. WF does too, but they tend to be way more expensive. The only thing I have found at WF that is cheaper there an anywhere else is DiCecco pasta- in the blue box. It's only $1.99 there. And to me, there really is a taste difference.

Also, if you like wine TJS has a good selection of inexpensive wines that are really good.

[childslibrarian]

4. Try anything Mexican

Their enchiladas are great, as are their frozen veg tortillas.
Try the frozen lasgna, eggplant parm, etc.
Really all their stuff is great, and good prices compared to
health food stores.

[Ellen Forradalom]

7. I second the sauces-and-dips recommendation

I love the TJs. I'm a bit cool on Whole Foods because of the prices.

TJ recommendations:

Check out the sauces. Keep several jars handy for quick meals with tofu, vegetables, beans, rice or pasta.

Their California-style complete protein bread is a favorite of mine.

They sell their own brand of soy coffee creamer.

Polenta in a tube is nice to have handy.

The herbs and spices are cheap! Pick up some TJ's 21 Seasoning Salute. Surprisingly versatile stuff.

[livetohike]

5. For your next trip there...

Trader Joes's Chickenless Nuggets are really good. I also like:

*TJs packaged guacamole

*Stuffed grape leaves

*Soy butter

*Their cracker selection

I live 100 miles away from the nearest TJ now....but I did live in CA for years, so I used to shop there once a week. I can't even find many products that I use regularly in the stores around here. My TJ shopping list includes: (besides those already mentioned)

*slivered almonds

*soba noodles

*udon noodles

*kalamata olives

*canned artichokes

*smoked gouda

*frozen edamame

*raisin medley

*brie

Hope you came home with lots of good things :-).

[Lorien]

6. Check out this site:

http://www.traderjoesfan.com/Trader_Joes/Products/

I find their reviews to be fairly reliable. :-)