Posts Tagged ‘tj’

Trader Joe’s – California Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Food Review

03/12/2016
trader joe, olive oil, california estate olive oil, extra virgin, review, price, calories

Trader Joe’s
California Estate
EVOO

trader joe, olive oil, california estate olive oil, extra virgin, review, price, calories

Trader Joe’s
California Estate
EVOO
back label

March 12, 2016

This is a good olive oil.  However the recently reviewed ALDI Carlini Extra Virgin Olive Oil is just as good or better for less money.

Trader Joe’s California Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil is not as buttery as either the Carlini Extra Virgin Olive Oil from ALDI or my favorite olive oil, Trader Joe’s Spanish Extra Virgin (also less pricey per ml). There’s not much of an olive taste to this oil as compared with the other two oils.  The color and viscosity are about the same as the TJ Spanish oil.

The thing that distinguishes this oil from the other two is some bitterness on the tongue after a few seconds.  Neither of the other two oils has that characteristic.

Price $5.99 (500 ml)    Calories 120 per Tbsp (15 ml)

Trader Joe’s – The White Ribbon – Shiraz – 2014 – Australia – Wine Review

02/18/2016
The White Ribbon, Shiraz, Hunter Valley, wine, Trader Joe's

The White Ribbon
Shiraz – 2014

Since following the The Wine Wankers, I’ve made an effort to pick up a bottle of Australian wine when stopping at the wine shelves.   The Wine Wankers would probably agree that along with boxed wine, Shiraz is considered the national wine of Australia.  In other parts of the world Shiraz is generally known as Syrah.

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Trader Joe’s – Vegetable Panang Curry – Food Review

02/18/2016
Panang Curry, Trader Joe's

Vegetable Panang Curry
Trader Joe’s

A gob of sticky rice,  a mess, a few green things and a tasty sauce describes this microwave boxed meal.  Trader Joe needs to go back to the drawing board on this one.

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Trader Joe’s – Fort Cellars Merlot – 2012 – Wine Review

02/11/2016
wine, trader joe's, merlot, 2012, fort cellars

Fort Cellars
Merlot 2012
Trader Joe’s

There’s a hint of vinegar on the cork and a medium-dark ruby color in the glass.  The aroma of a crude red wine fills the air in the glass.  Adding to the impression of a crude red wine is the dryish mouth feel of tannins, eventually leaving a semi-arid climate on the roof of the mouth.   A more than bearable taste follows that.  This is a classic table wine.  A wine that’s not “refined” but ready for a tussle with a hearty bowl of stew and a chunk of bread torn from a long loaf.  How would it stand up to a bowl of chili?  The thought had never crossed my mind until now.   Probably very well.

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Trader Joe’s – Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies – Food Review

02/11/2016
Dark Chocolate Chunk Almond Cookies Trader Joe's

Dark Chocolate Chunk
and Almond Cookies
Trader Joe’s

If you don’t like sweets, you may like these.  Or, if you want to curtail your intake of sweets for whatever reason, these may be a blessing.  That’s not to say these are so bad you wouldn’t eat them.  They’re actually good in their own way.

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Trader Joe’s Aloo Chaat – Kati Pouches – Food Review

01/26/2016
Aloo Chaat Trader Joe's

Aloo Chaat
Trader Joe’s

Think of these as hot, hot pockets – but with a twist.  The first hot meaning spicy.  The second hot meaning, well, hot – as in more than warm.

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Trader Joe’s Aged Sumatra Coffee 2015 – Food Review

12/16/2015
Aged Sumatra Coffee Trader Joe's

Aged Sumatra
Coffee
Trader Joe’s

This is the 2015 edition according to the label on the can.  The label speaks to the special aging process the coffee goes through.  The beans are aged for two years before roasted and sold.

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Jarlsberg Cheese – Food Review – Trader Joe’s

09/04/2015
Jarlsberg Cheese  Trader Joe's

Jarlsberg Cheese
Trader Joe’s

September 4, 2015

This is what we call in the US, Swiss cheese.  However, this time the cheese is made in Norway.  So don’t call it Swiss.  Call it Jarlsberg.

The cheese is; soft but firm, easy to cut, mild, and tastes like a mild Swiss cheese with sometimes just a very little hint of sweetness.  It cuts easily into chunks which are perfect for a cheese tray or noshing.  Trader Joe cuts and repackages this cheese from a wheel.  The new wrapping is just a bit loose, so don’t store it in your refrigerator too long or parts will dry out a bit.  It’s a good cheese and not horribly expensive at $7.49 per pound.

Price $7.49 per pound     Calories 100 per ounce (28 g)

Pontificis – 2013 – Wine Review – Trader Joe’s

09/04/2015
Pontificis GSM - 2013 Trader Joe's

Pontificis – 2013
Trader Joe’s

Today we have a French table wine that’s perfect for an everyday meal because it’s both good and inexpensive.

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Sauvignon de Seguin Bordeaux – 2014 – Trader Joe’s – Wine Review

06/16/2015
Sauvignon de Seguin - 2014 - AOC Bordeaux

Sauvignon de Seguin – 2014 – AOC Bordeaux

Today’s review is a white Bordeaux.

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