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Message |
    
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3716
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 9:17 am: |     |
What is good there. Is it cheap or expensive? |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 850
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 9:20 am: | |
Search the archives...this discussion has been had, I think. Or just drive to Florham Park or Westfield and give it a try! Reasonably priced interesting/gourmet food with some great bargains, in my opinion.
(most used items at our house are the mac & cheese mixes, flash frozen salmon filets, various crackers and cookies, certain sauces) |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1116
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 9:31 am: | |
They have a lot of good stuff. You're not likely to do your overall grocery shopping there, but I think it's a great once-a-month-or-more visit.
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jem
Citizen
Username: Jem
Post Number: 1342
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 9:37 am: | |
It's less expensive than Whole Foods, and they've got lots of good ready-made stuff. I like their frozen buffalo burgers much better than Whole Foods - and if you haven't tried buffalo burgers, you're in for a treat. Their flash-frozen shrimp and scallops are very reasonably priced.
And they've got so many great ready-made hors-d'oeuvres and desserts (frozen and not) that you just have to see it to believe it. Key lime pie is especially good. |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 403
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 9:49 am: | |
Low fat salad dressings, shampoo in the purple bottles, frozen seafood, red pepper and eggplant spread, chicken sausages, and of course three buck chuck (charles shaw wine) ... those are on our regular list of things to buy. Also check out the most recent Fearless Flyer (http://www.traderjoes.com/) for ideas on new things to check out.
BTW - there's a Trader Joes coming to Union Square in the fall. =-) |
Strings
Supporter
Username: Blue_eyes
Post Number: 554
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 9:54 am: | |
I'm a fan of Trader Joe's but only go because it's on an alternate route home from work for me. It's a cool store, good stuff, definitely cheaper (but also MUCH smaller) than whole foods, but it's too out of the way to go regularly. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1117
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 9:55 am: | |
Keep in mind the Floram Park Trader Joes (which I maintain is the closest one to Maplewood/South Orange, though I know that's a controversial opinion) doesn't sell alcohol.
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shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 2803
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:12 am: | |
We like their cereals (Joes Os and TJs sweetened shredded wheat), trail mix, breads, whole wheat &ww cinammon raisin english muffins, frozen veggies and fish, frozen tortellini (gorgonzola walnut, yum), cereal/granola bars, jams, mustards, canned spiced chick peas, olives, boxed soups (add my own veggies, rice or pasta) etc. It's lesser expensive than WF. I Love their tangerine salt or sugar scrub— under ten bucks and it smells delish. I also get wine and beer there, though mr. shh is on a 3 buck chuck strike. |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1961
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:34 am: | |
Full Monty: Florham Park sure feels a lot closer time-wise, especially if you have to navigate Route 22 traffic or take back roads to get to Westfield. Just shoot up South Orange Avenue and you get there. |
Stuart0628
Citizen
Username: Stuart0628
Post Number: 77
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:36 am: | |
Papaya--
TJ's in Union Square would be great if true...where are you getting your info?
The Trader Joe's web site (http://www.traderjoes.com/locations/index.asp) makes no mention of any stores "Coming Soon" in this area. |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 404
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 11:14 am: | |
No need to take 22 to the TJ's in Westfield. And back roads aren't very difficult to navigate. Take Springfield Ave past the 22 overpass, make a right onto East Broad St, and then a right onto Elm St. You're there. From where i live in Maplewood, Westfield and FP are about equidistant, but W wins for the wine and surrounding stores.
Here's the manhattan press release: http://www.rkf.com/press/2005/06/TraderJoes.asp
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AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 635
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 11:17 am: | |
Trader Joes is where they sell all the seconds of all the gourmet food. You know, if a high end food manufacturer was trying to earn more profit, it would sell it's lesser quality (seconds), or surplus food to a company like Trader Joes who would re-package it and use their Trader Joes label. It's not a place where A REAL millionaire would EVER be caught dead shopping in. I mean they pride themselves on selling Two Buck Chuck (which is just undrinkable wine if you ask me). I wouldn't reccomend Trader Joes to anyone who wants their community to think they have real money. It's a place for people who take <gasp!> LEFTOVERS home at the end of the meal. You know, middle (or low) class people who are pretending to be high class. It's a place for those Nouveau Wanna-be Rich. |
Mrs T
Citizen
Username: Netjack
Post Number: 190
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 11:27 am: | |
Hum... I just like their jellies and jams, and the chocolate mint cookies,..... And I took home the most delicious leftover stuffed peppers from the Parkwood the other day.
Is the other store bigger than Florham Park? |
Kevin LaPierre
Citizen
Username: Lapnlu
Post Number: 33
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 11:31 am: | |
My wife & I are huge fans of trader joes! They have excellent frozen food (full meals) and especially great frozen fish. Other staples that we live by are the chicken sausages, the chipotle pepper hummus, pita chips, balsamic blue cheese salad dressing, pb chocolate pretzels.. the list goes on and on. They also add new items all the time. Definitely cheaper than Whole Foods and way better than pathmark. You can't do all of your food shopping there, but you would be surprised how much you can do. We go to the Florham Park store, (it's close to my wife's office) but wish there was one closer. As for the wine, the two buck chuck is ok, nothing to write home about but a good wine to drink if you plan on drinking a lot..... |
Lisa Ebert
Citizen
Username: Boomie
Post Number: 54
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 1:10 pm: | |
We love the frozen pizzas, all kinds of funky ones there. Also love the Italian "Blood Orange Juice" which is 3.99 per bottle as opposed to 4.99 at Whole Foods. Nuts section is awesome. I get my whole wheat bread and crackers there as well. And the chunks of Girardelli chocolate! OH MY! |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 756
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 1:52 pm: | |
Coffee, Orchid Island Orange Juice (the same kind we get in Florida), biscotti, chocolate, sushi, avocados, bell peppers, cereals, crackers, bread, cheese, smoked salmon...I go to Florham Park. It's 8 miles, and takes about 20 minues to drive there. |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 548
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 2:30 pm: | |
Alley your sarcasm CRACKS me up sometimes!  |
Starletta8
Supporter
Username: Starletta8
Post Number: 67
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 2:35 pm: | |
I love certain items there, like their ready-to-boil ravioli (usually have lobster, snow crab, and a few others), their flatbread, and fruit leather.
I don't mind the "leftovers" label- heck, I'm as cheap as can be as a grad student.  |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3717
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 3:42 pm: | |
Thanks everyone I'm off to Florham Park in a few minutes. I want to check out the "hors d vours" type of stuff.
Alley -- I get it. That was a swipe at ME! Took a while for me to get it. I never claimed to be a millionaire, nor did I claim my parents are. My mom fed us on leftovers all the time (I was the dork who's mom fed a playdate leftover cold lamb sandwiches -- or something similarly embarassing) -- so I don't get your point. Her feeling that takin home food from restaurants is a gross habit -- don't get what that has to do with grocery shopping?? 
My son and I just came from the Liberty Science Center -- I made the poor kid go on public transportation to get there (I'm scared to drive on highways). It was fun, he's a cheap date (we got a NJ Transit discount) and it was an adventure taking the light rail. |
Arsenal
Citizen
Username: Arsenal
Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 4:07 pm: | |
Agree with papyagirl. No need for route 22. Take back roads and you will be there in 20 minutes or so, traffic depending.
Great store great prices. Sometimes wish they had fresh meat/fish so would not need another store. |
Animalcrackers
Citizen
Username: Animalcrackers
Post Number: 118
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 4:45 pm: | |
The Bay Blend coffee is the same as one of the Starbucks blends, and many other items are the "private label" versions of similar. (My brother is in the biz.) When an item looks familiar, it probably is the same as what you've bought at WF or Kings. If you hit Florham Park then shop the specials on fish/meat and produce at Kings, you're done in one parking lot and very, very happy! |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3718
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 5:48 pm: | |
Just went and bought chicken sausages which I usually buy for $2 more at WF. I bough guac, chips, salsa, trail mix, cheese, hummus, and some straberry jam -- all pretty reasonable. |
Camnol
Citizen
Username: Camnol
Post Number: 62
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 6:04 pm: | |
Parking at the Westfield store can be a real pain. Love the roasted corn and black bean salsa!
|
Popo
Citizen
Username: Popo
Post Number: 50
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 8:21 pm: | |
We love their whole wheat bread. We have an extra freezer, so we buy 10 loaves at a time! |
Scott
Citizen
Username: Selnychef
Post Number: 57
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 8:42 pm: | |
My wife loves that bread, the kids like the chocolate more. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 180
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 10:24 pm: | |
We love the chicken sausages and the butternut squash ravioli. They also have pretty good frozen tuna steaks and potstickers. I buy Stripey Jack cheese at Trader Joes for $5.99 per pound - at WF its $10.99. I did notice that the sausages are the same as at WF and cost about half. |
Arnomation
Citizen
Username: Arnomation
Post Number: 274
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 8:18 am: | |
I've been meaning to get to Trader Joe's for a while now. I just did a Mapquest on their locations and it seems that Westfield is much closer than Florham Park. It's only 8 miles from me and I live all the way up at Maplecrest Park while the Florham Park store is over 13 miles away.
It also appears that Westfield is extrememly simple to get to. As was mentioned earlier you just take Springfield Ave all the way down over Rt 22 and you're practically there.
I can't wait to check it out :-) |
Stuart0628
Citizen
Username: Stuart0628
Post Number: 85
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 9:24 am: | |
From the corner of Wyoming and South Orange to the corner of Columbia Turnpike and James Street is 7.2 miles. |
Amie Brockway-Metcalf
Citizen
Username: Amie
Post Number: 323
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 12:40 pm: | |
We go to the Westfield store every other week. I do 95% of my grocery shopping at TJs and Costco. We love the:
frozen fish
frozen lamb chops
frozen fahitas
frozen veggies, esp the organic spinich
vitamins
jasmine, basami, and wild rice
frozen dumplings
pasta (the best I've used, and 69¢ a bag)
My 2 year old would be dead of malnutrition of it wasn't for their cereal bars, fruit leather (29¢ instead of 49¢ at WF or Kings) and applesauce. Their milk is hormone/antibiotic free (not organic) and as cheap as regular milk.
My husband loves their beer, esp Frugal Joes and Bohieman Lager. I love their knock off cheese sticks. And when I'm pregnant I live off their bag of mixed chard--sauté with oil and garlic and wilt with a little stock and I'm in folic acid heaven. |
Compmama
Citizen
Username: Compmama
Post Number: 47
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 2:31 pm: | |
Arsenal, they do have fresh chicken (whole and in pieces)--both organic free range and what they call "natural" which is cheaper. You can also find cuts of beef and turkey. The cold cuts (especially ham) is almost half the price of Whole Foods.
I also love their yogurt, chips, and the new "blondie" with raspberries, macadamia nuts and white chocolate...outstanding! |
Compmama
Citizen
Username: Compmama
Post Number: 48
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 2:35 pm: | |
Arsenal, they do have fresh chicken (whole and in pieces)--both organic free range and what they call "natural" which is cheaper. You can also find cuts of beef and turkey. The cold cuts (especially ham) is almost half the price of Whole Foods.
I also love their yogurt, chips, and the new "blondie" with raspberries, macadamia nuts and white chocolate...outstanding! |
Starletta8
Supporter
Username: Starletta8
Post Number: 71
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 5:23 pm: | |
I made the trek down to Westfield today for the first time. Thanks for the local directions!
There's not even a comparison between the FP and Westfield locations! If at all possible, bring a cooler for perishables, and enjoy the much-bigger store. |
Ink
Citizen
Username: Pageturner
Post Number: 7
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 7:31 pm: | |
Just to add more suggestions:
frozen meatballs and turkey meatballs are a quick way to 'spaghetti and meatballs' for hungry kids. Just throw the meatballs in sauce and heat while the pasta is boiling.
potstickers - especially the shrimp - boil in water mixed with a packet of their miso soup mix - a meal.
greek yogurt
jars of red pepper spread: use on fish, on crackers, as a sandwich spread.
oh yes, and the wonderful dijon mayonaisse |
Arnomation
Citizen
Username: Arnomation
Post Number: 282
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 25, 2005 - 9:36 pm: | |
There's not even a comparison between the FP and Westfield locations!
You didn't say which one you prefer. I was at the Westfield store today as well for the first time at ANY Trader Joe's. I really liked it. I'll definitely be going back! |
Starletta8
Supporter
Username: Starletta8
Post Number: 73
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - 1:02 am: | |
Arnomation, my appologies.
Westfield is far superior. Granted, they have more space, but the store is more conducive to shopping. While I find a few items at FP, I filled a cart today (and not just with Two Buck Chuck). |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 1976
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - 8:08 am: | |
I went to Florham Park once and wasn't impressed as I was expecting something more like a less expensive Whole Foods. Back then I actually cooked real food. Now with 2 kids who want dinner the second we get home I think I need to make a trip to Westfield and stock up on some frozen food! |
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