What do you guys think of Trader Joe's? - Page 2

Hi..!!

Trader Joe's is very nice..

You know it was founded by Joe Coulombe and is currently owned by a family trust set up by the late German businessman Theo Albrecht, one of the two brothers behind the German supermarket chain Aldi.

Your details are correct, but like the others they were infiltrated.or at least their distribution place in Brooklyn was. As was Key food and American Kosher.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Buchanan 

Your details are correct, but like the others they were infiltrated.or at least their distribution place in Brooklyn was. As was Key food and American Kosher.

It may be that the distributor for the NY region was, as you charge, "infiltrated." In the Midwest virtually all kosher foods directed specifically to the kosher trade pass through the distributor, Twin City Poultry. You cannot purchase product directly from Empire. You must go through TC Poultry. To the best of my knowledge, TC Poultry has become the largest distributor of kosher product in the U.S. I doubt that the tentacles of TC Poultry reach as far as the East Coast to include NY.

added: http://tcpoultry.com/index.html
 

we're getting a TJ's here in omaha this fall, just a few blocks from our current whole foods. i've been to TJ's in california and always found them interesting if a little dingier than WF. still, the more specialty foods here, the better, as far as i'm concerned. plus, i hear they treat their employees really, really well, which is great. and for me, it'll add one more store to my usual WF/costco saturday run.

was in TJ today picking up kosher turkey breasts....and noticed "from kosher beef, ribeyes"  UMMMMM......ribeye is not a kosher part of a cow.  Not sure what's up with that, anyone know?

shroomgirl,

You asked,

If you're not "glatt kosher," you're good to go with the rib.  When my family kept kosher, we got wonderful rib steaks from a kosher butcher.  Trader Joe's is in the mainstream.  At least as I understand it, it's only ultra-orthodox Jews (and by and large only in North America) who exclude the rib from the forequarter as treif.  

Just speculating as to what is very "Inside Baseball" -- and let me say that I'm neither that deeply into it or knowledgeable about it -- but rib as treif may be more of an American Lubavitscher thing, than a worldwide, orthodox phenemenon.

Be interesting to hear what Ed has to say about it.  He's cranked out a lot of kosher meals. 

BDL

Best frozen mini croissants ever at TJ's.  They are made by Galaxy, the same company that makes them for Williams-Sonoma.  $3.99  for 8 vs.  $39.95 for 24.  As the article pointed out, many of their products are made by companies that put a TJ label on them and TJ's sells them for a fraction of the price.

Rib of beef is considered Kosher if it is Kashered by a Rabbi who in turn sends a letter to the distributor or customer  certifying that it is Kosher. when it was done and how many ribs, and the location. and how the cow was slaughtered You can cook it in a non kosher oven providing the oven has an inner steel box that the rib sits in not touching any part of inner oven shelf or parts.This is permissable. When removed from oven you can't put on a non kosher table unless the table is covered with clean white or brown paper.  The whole concept of kosher is based on basic health factors as well as religious beliefs.The word itself Kosher means Clean.

Beyond the 7th rib toward the hind quarter is Treif or not Kosher. It is my understanding and have being told by Rabbis that In Isreal  the deveining process of cattle  by skilled butchers is such that  some of cuts from hindquarter are permissable. I am only going by what they have told me, but then Rabbis are like lawyers if you ask 2 or 3 you will get different opinions.not saying any are wrong  or totaly right.

PS Since in the Jewish Faith many of the better steak cuts are not permitted ( From Hindquarters) The rib steak is the best one that is. There are others but kind of tough.

I noticed this thread has been going on for a bit but I just had to give my opinion.  I am from Michigan and never went to Trader Joes.  Didn't even know what it REALLY was except a grocery store. When I moved to Cali a coworker received a care package of Trader Joe items from a family member...that's when I learned of the unique items at Trader Joes.  I travel approximately 15 miles Sunday mornings.  I am there when they open.  The store is practically empty and everything is freshly stocked.  My personal favorites are:  Empire Kosher Organic Chicken (pricey but tastes like chicken should), the pork chops are pretty good but not necessarily exclusive to Trader Joes....their spinach pie is incredible......love the lactose free coffee creamer, cottage cheese, Yogurt Jalepeno Cheese, Veggie Chips, Olympiad Pizza's and their produce really is better than the local store...but being in CA I tend to purchase what I need from the local farmers market and what I haven't purchased I pick up at Trader Joes.  Overall, I love the experience of shopping at Trader Joes and I have no complaints of the quality of the items I have purchased.  Part of it for me is the experience...there is something unique about shopping there and the employees have always been exceptional and seem to thoroughly enjoy and appreciate their roles within the organization.  Bravo Zulu!