Trader Joe’s Adventures

We have a habit of doing a weekly grocery shopping trip on Saturday mornings.  For years we have gone to McCaffrey’s here in Princeton, but lately we have alternated that with trips to Trader Joe’s.  McCaffrey’s is crowded and one has to purchase wine at the rear of the store and the other groceries at the front of the store.  There are rarely enough cashier-run checkout lates open so one has to use the self-checkout lanes where there are often challenges. I have been unhappy with produce a few times with strawberries that spoil quickly and green beans that don’t last the week.  

Trader Joe’s has our very favorite Sunday morning coffee cake and salmon at a price several dollars less than McCaffrey’s  and of course, an extensive display of wine at good prices, even if they are no longer “Two Buck Chuck.”  Coffee is reasonably priced and so are many other items.  Cage free eggs are no more than regular eggs.  And there is never a long wait for a cashier and the cashiers are, without exception, pleasant and helpful and act like they are happy to work at Trader Joe’s!

I look on shopping at TJ’s as an adventure in eating and try to buy at least one item that we have not purchased before.  A few weeks ago it was a delicious Leicester cheese that I remember buying in Scotland.  Today it was New England clam chowder that we heated up in the microwave for supper and it was very good and authentic tasting.  I couldn’t decide between the Chardonnay and the dry Riesling so I bought both.  Jim really likes their coffee ice cream and says it is richer than the store brand at McCaffrey’s.  All our bargains came to $149 but that did include wine, chicken, shrimp, and coffees.   While checking out, we had a conversation with the cashier about our favorite items and hers.  We leave the store happy and not feeling like anyone has taken advantage of us.  

It’s a little farther from home and sadly, down Route One but the traffic this noon was not bad at all.