Trader Joe's #1s

 

I saw an article about Trader Joe's supermarket (which we don't have where I am- OOOPS, I guess we do have one in town after all!) and their 15th annual customer's choice survey winners, and I thought it might be fun to look at them.

Their first overall most favorite item: Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips.  That would get a big "ICKK" from me, but whatever.  Tucked in between two flavors of dumplings in the runner up list was something called Kimbap, which apparently is Kim (seaweed you roll up) and Bap (rice you roll up in it).  I'm guessing the Asian community is well served here at TJs.

Beverages were topped by something I actually like- Spiced Apple cider.  I don't know as the rest of the list is a big favorite, and #5- Non-Dairy Brown Sugar Flavored Oat Creamer- I'm not sure even qualifies as a beverage...  Their top cheese is goat cheese, which ain't too bad. Wine-soaked Toscano is second, followed by Burrata (think creamy mozzarella).  Burrata gets a spellcheck squiggle- it thinks I mean 'bureaucrat'.  Uh, no.

Top produce?  

Of course!  Followed by "Teeny-tiny avocados", and Honeycrisp apples.   The top appetizer is creamy spinach/artichoke dip (which I will bequeath to Popeye).  Now I like #4 (Greek Spanakopita), but I had to wonder about #s 3 (Parmesan Pups) and 5 (veggie bird's nests). Puppies and bird's nests not on my menu...

At last some normalcy at breakfast with -believe it or not- hash browns.  However, we know which way the crowd leans when we see #2 (Chocolate croissants) and #4 (Double-chocolate croissants)...Lunch, however is back to Asian with a parade led by butter chicken with basmati rice.

After a quick tour of the body and bath aisle (Brazil body butter), we go to snacks where we know that lime- and- chili concoction waits at the top.  All but one of the remaining entries (Patio potato chips at 5) are corn based.  My sweet treat shock was to see Kringle on the list.  This pastry we got a taste for whenever guests from the Wisconsin plant would stop by, as they are immensely popular up there.  Alas, they CLOSED our Wisconsin plant (which WAS corporate headquarters) a couple months back, so we look to be kringle-less in the future.  The top was Sublime brand ice-cream samwiches.

They also have a hall of fame for items that got picked so many times they just coronated them so someone else could have a turn.  These include the store brand Mandarin orange chicken, store brand dark chocolate peanut butter cups, store brand peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets, store brand "unexpected cheddar" (creamy with a hint of Parmesan), and (vegan) soy chorizo....

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Now if I were voting for what I'D have best in our local Kroger, it would look like this: Beverage: if we forget for a moment my type 2 and subsequent sugar no-no- it would be a toss between Fairlife Chocolate milk and Naked Juices Blue Machine (which is sugar free but $9 for a sizable bottle).  As it is, Pepsi zero.  My top cheese would be a Murray's Raclette or triple-creme brie.  Produce would be banana; appetizer? Well, I eat it for a meal, but technically I could go with Authentic Asia shrimp wonton Dim Sum tray.  Bed and bath, whatever.  Just hand me the Suave shampoo and conditioner.  Snacks (as in salty) I like Lays white cheddar Poppables; sweet treat, well I have found a plethora of sugar-free chocolates, headlined by Atkins Crunchilicious bars (an every week purchase- think Nestle's Crunch bars without the sugar).

Well, hope this was entertaining; on the bright side, now I can case the Murray's stand for bureaucra- I mean, Burrata.