Posts Tagged ‘tj’
01/25/2017
January 25, 2017
Aside from the most difficult screw cap I’ve ever encountered, this was a “sweet” wine. Well not sweet in the sweet taste sense, rather sweet as in very nice. The wine actually was slightly sweet to match the faint fruity apple flavor. The wine had a medium acidity as measured by my stomach and throat, but not enough to require medication. For me, this is one wine where a little bit of chill brings out the best qualities.
The wine comes from the Vouvray region of the Loire Valley in France. Although the bottle doesn’t specify the grape, that region is famous for the Chenin Blanc grape. That grape is likely the source of the juice that ultimately became this wine.
The wine generally gets above average reviews on the web, with some thinking it too sweet for their tastes. For me, a person who generally avoids white wines, I really liked this one. Price $7.99.
Tags:2015, chenin blanc, france, lacheteau, price, review, reviews, tj, tj's, trader joe's, vouvray, white wine, wine
Posted in Trader Joe's, Wine | 6 Comments »
01/14/2017
January 14, 2017
These are very elegant mild dark chocolate truffles with a delicate amaretto flavor. Many many small pieces of nuts and Amoretti cookies inside the truffles give these a surprising, unique and good mouthfeel and taste.
One downside is that the very small pieces tend to stick between teeth and even between tooth and gum. That may leave a desire to brush or floss soon after eating. A second downside is that these are a seasonal item. It may not be until next December when we see them again.
The packaging is as elegant as the chocolate. Each truffle is individually wrapped in a shiny paper with a twisty flourish above the truffle. If put out on a tray, the wrapping helps reduce any concerns about how many people picked up and then put down the truffle.
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Tags:amaretto, calories, candy, chocolate, confection, food, italy, nuts, price, review, tj, tj's, trader joe's, truffles
Posted in cooking and related items, food, Trader Joe's | Leave a Comment »
01/07/2017
January 7, 2016
Brandy, I knew her from the old neighborhood. That’s right Brandy Beans. She and Ben, her brother, lived with their parents in the apartment building down the street on the second floor. Right above them on the 3rd floor were the Shaws. You remember Charlie, now old Charles Shaw, don’t you?
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Tags:alcohol, brandy, calories, candy, confection, dark chocolate, food, price, review, tj, tj's, trader joe's
Posted in cooking and related items, food, Trader Joe's | 4 Comments »
12/31/2016
December 31, 2016
Lets just say, your local Italian restaurant would be quickly out of business if it served this dish. The concept sounded good, the ingredients were there, but the execution didn’t work out – just like some Sunday NFL games. The tortelloni came out unevenly cooked, ranging between tough to mushy. The cheese filling was just okay. Read that as not very flavorful. The tomatoes varied from okay to mushy. The red pesto including bits of red pepper, zucchini and whatnot was the best part. There was very little liquid to the sauce, if that’s what you’re expecting.
However, considering the price of $1.99, it’s competitive in quality with other frozen entrées in this range. If the pasta and tomatoes could be cooked more evenly, this would be a much better dish. Maybe all it needs is a quick stir in the middle of cooking?
Calories: 460, Serving: Size 1 container Price: $1.99
Tags:calories, food, frozen box lunches, price, review, reviews, ricotta spinach tortelloni, tj, tj's, trader joe's
Posted in food, Recipes, food, cooking and related items, Trader Joe's | 8 Comments »
12/24/2016
December 24, 2016
Gingerbread on first bite, but there’s much more here. Second bite, read the ingredient label. This is a mini fruit cake without the bad reputation. It’s like eating a puzzle as you try to match the flavors in your mouth with the ingredients. Third bite, this cookie has history. It was created by 13th century monks in its present form. Where would foodies be without monks? Think about it. But before the monks the history goes back to the Roman legions. Where would men in short skirts be without the Legions? Maybe, don’t think about it.
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Tags:calories, cookies, food, germany, gingerbread, lebkuchen, nuts, price, review, reviews, tj, tj's, trader joe's
Posted in Recipes, food, cooking and related items, Trader Joe's | Leave a Comment »
11/26/2016
November 26, 2016
I wonder if the jar was mislabeled? Except for on the label, what seems to be missing is the pineapple. There are plenty of references in the ingredients to pineapple. But if they’re in the jar, I missed them.
To be fair, wash away the red stuff and there really are pieces of pineapple in the salsa. Take a spoonful of the salsa by itself and there’s an interesting complex blend of flavors. On a chip, the complexities are muted.
I was expecting a sweet-hot salsa experience. What seems to be in the jar is a very mild tomato based salsa.
Aside from expectations, this is a nice tasting mild salsa. If that’s what you’re looking for give this a try. But if you’re expecting a pineapple experience, move on.
Calories 15 per 2 tablespoons (30g) Price $1.99 -12 ounce jar (340g)
Tags:calories, food, nutrition, pineapple salsa, price, review, tj, tj's, trader joe's
Posted in food, Recipes, food, cooking and related items, Trader Joe's | 7 Comments »
11/26/2016
November 26, 2016
It’s Swiss, but it’s French. Hmm? Well it’s a Swiss-style cheese made in France. But saying that would probably get me thrown out of the country. Both countries!
Let’s just say that if the word Madrigal was misread as Magical, that would be a good description of this cheese. At $5.99 a pound this is a very good semi-hard cheese that actually tastes like a Swiss-style cheese, albeit a milder Swiss cheese. The only thing to be careful about is the thin wax covering that sort of blends in with the cheese and tends to stick between the teeth if measures aren’t taken to avoid it. Don’t ask me how I know.
Calories 100 per ounce (28g)
Price $5.99 -per pound
Tags:calories, cheese, food, france, madrigal cheese, nutrition, Président, price, review, swiss-style, tj, tj's, trader joe's
Posted in food, Recipes, food, cooking and related items, Trader Joe's | 2 Comments »
11/19/2016
November 18, 2016
The medium-dark brown fairly oily beans produce a nice aroma on opening the can. Once brewed, the coffee produces a strong taste which is mildly bitter on the tongue. As it cools, the coffee transitions to an earthy taste and the bitterness declines. The bitterness is a good bitterness, like a good beer has some bitterness to it. However as with many things, bitterness is an acquired taste. If you’re adverse to bitter tastes, this may not be a coffee for you. There’s some sense of acidity on the roof of the mouth and in the stomach.
This is a good coffee for people looking for a stronger tasting coffee without going over the edge. The coffee is labeled as both organic and fair trade. Price $7.99 (14 oz can)
Tags:bolivia, bolivian blend, coffee, fair trade, food, organic, price, review, tj, tj's, trader joe's, whole bean
Posted in coffee, Recipes, food, cooking and related items, Trader Joe's | Leave a Comment »
11/19/2016
November 18, 2016
Dark chocolate covered liquid center cherries are my favorite treat. Come gift-giving holidays, the family gets off cheaply as this is my usual present. But no complaints. Will the addition of alcohol to the mix make these even better?
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Tags:calories, candy, confection, dark chocolate, food, hungary, liqueur cherries, price, review, tj, tj's, trader joe's
Posted in cooking and related items, food, Trader Joe's | 3 Comments »
11/19/2016
November 18, 2016
This one is different. Read on.
There’s very little aroma when first uncorked. On first pour, the wine is ruby-red and much lighter than a typical red wine. The first sip reveals a mild semi-sweet fruity wine as the bottle claims. There’s nothing intricate in the taste and at the same time nothing bad in the taste.
This wine is all about your expectations. If you’re looking for something to savor and spend the night discussing the intricacies of Merlots and where this stands in that continuum, this wine is not for you. If you’re looking for something to have at home with dinner, or just want something to sip, relax with, and not have to in any way think about what’s in the glass, this will serve that purpose. With some mild red-sauced pasta, the wine worked well.
The key difference here, if you haven’t picked up on it, is the word semi-sweet. This is a style of wine not usually found on the shelves outside of Hungary where this wine is made. The sweetness of the wine is noticeable but not sickeningly sweet like some really horrible wines. This is a nice good quality wine with a different flavor profile. Price $5.99
Tags:2015, Balatonboglari, garamvari, hungary, merlot, price, review, reviews, St. Donatus, tj, tj's, trader joe's, wine
Posted in Trader Joe's, Wine | 17 Comments »
January 25, 2017
Ain't Found A Good Title Blog 