[scanterbury]

We are new here. Just curious...where is "Restaurant Row", and which restaurants are there?

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

How long ago did they call wine 2 buck chuck? Sine we have been going there cheapest wine is 3 bucks and no our favorite wine costs a bit more than 2x that.

California was 2 buck Chuck. Once it left the state it became 3 buck Chuck.

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by scanterbury

We are new here. Just curious...where is "Restaurant Row", and which restaurants are there?

Restaurant Row is in Orlando & Dr Phillips is about 2 miles of just about every kind of restaurant you can think of from McD's to Ruth Cris Steakhouse and everything in between. Big brands, little private places and more. It's rthe Sand Lake Road exit off of I4 right near Universal Studios. Trader Joes and Whole Foods, Publix and all the rest along the road as well as dozens of eateries.

Here you go. a bit outdated but still info: List of Restaurants at Restaurant Row Sandlake Road Orlando

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by asianthree

California was 2 buck Chuck. Once it left the state it became 3 buck Chuck.

Today it's 4 bucks Two Buck Chuck.

[RUCdaze]

I go up to the Gainesville store for my coffee and cereal, but never walk out without getting much more. Quality is terrific, in general, the prices are good while still being somewhat upscale, what we used to call a yuppie shop.

[Barbgf]

I love Trader Joes

[AZ SLIM]

Many years ago when they came out with their $2 wine I found that sometimes it was very nice and sometimes not so much. I would buy a bottle, take it to my car and try a sample. If it was good I would go back and stock up with a few bottles. Most of the time it was not so good. If it was real good I might even buy a case of it.
Cheers

[Bryson]

Originally Posted by turneronce

Been to a Trader Joe's only a couple of times so don’t know what’s so special about them. We are planning to go to the one in Gainesville and would like to hear from TJ lovers what we should look for. PLEASE, we don’t need to hear from those who don’t know TJ and are happy shopping at Sam's or Costco. Thank you.

I loved Trader Joe's in Sarasota and would go there as often as possible ... #1, the flowers are gorgeous and are cheap ...#2 their wine assortment is terrific #3 they have unusual items that you can't find other places #4 their whole store is geared towards - quick meal for 1 or 2 ... #5 they get in specialty items at holidays ... my favorite was Kringles - if you don't know what Kringles are ... #6 Fruit Cake from Collins Bakery ... google Kringle or Fruit cake if you don't know ...

[PattiQ]

coming home.... you for this....

[Petersweeney]

Originally Posted by turneronce

Been to a Trader Joe's only a couple of times so don’t know what’s so special about them. We are planning to go to the one in Gainesville and would like to hear from TJ lovers what we should look for. PLEASE, we don’t need to hear from those who don’t know TJ and are happy shopping at Sam's or Costco. Thank you.

I like Costco chickens for 5 dollars -Sams club chickens are pretty good too - how are the chickens atTJs ?

[Carlsondm]

Our Trader Joe’s favs are some of the wines…great mulled too, filet mignon, ginger cookies, frozen food and veggie blends. Frozen food is in reasonable sized bags, not army sized like Costco. More of the food may be processed and not organic though. We like the seasonal items, teas too. I found out about the filet mig while shopping at Costco in Sarasota. Another shopper hinted to go down the road to Trader Joe’s for 30 to 50 % less. Smaller packages of 2 also.

[clouwho]

I miss being near a TJ, but don’t feel like it is worth a two hour round trip drive and .55 per mile wear and tear on car to get groceries. If we are passing thru a TJ town I WILL brian my cooler and load up.
And if they have spatchcock chicken it is the first thing inside.
They are delicious!
“Trader Joe's Spatchcock Chicken comes in a lemon rosemary brine that is super delicious. Spatchcocked basically just means the back bone of the chicken was cut so that it can lay flat when cooking. This allows for more of a crisp on the skin with more surface area and less steam.”

[clouwho]

Tried and true:
Organic Triple Ginger Instant Oatmeal. This is a seasonal item I have to stock up on to last me a while.

Gigante Beans in Tomato Sauce (hard to find gigante beans outside of expensive gourmet or ethnic food shops. I buy these by dozens. They are a favorite grab a hot meal before activity food for me.)

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix. Delicious whether you care about gluten or not. I had these for breakfast today with blueberries. I buy enough to last me a year as these are seasonal

Baked Lemon Ricotta Cheese. If they have it, get it! Wonderful unique treat

Gingerbread Crisps. Delicious and perfect crisp texture.

Dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Yes and yes and please have a glass of ice cold whole milk ready when you give them to me.

And flowers and fresh bakery goods…always come home with both.

There is more but these are a good start!

earth fare that just opened up here has surprisingly good organic, pasture fed, and humane foods if that is a priority. I shop the sales and best priced options. And their grocery manager has been quite agreeable to trying to bring in specific products you are looking for. Tell him you are trying to save yourself a trip to TJ or Whole Foods. He will work it!

As to Aldis, I just don’t get it. I try. I truly do, three or four times a year. I don’t like the experience. Has a second world vibe to it but with first world pricing. As to pricing, there are SOME good and tasty items at good prices there. But I have found a lot of their generic items to be marginal and even inedible (house brand english muffins I am talking to you). With out of control grocery price increases and worsening empty shelves, I am now spreading my shopping across multiple stores like fresh market and earth fare combined with Publix, Walmart, sams ( will add BJ to mix to give them a fair shake) and Winn Dixie (each has sales and savings worth making a trip for once every other week or so to stretch budget while still eating quality food). Aldis never offers me a trip that I feel justifies the lost hour of my life.

Grocery shopping for quality and health on a budget may be an olympic event by year end and I am in training! Game on.

[ithos]

Originally Posted by clouwho

Tried and true:

As to Aldis, I just don’t get it. I try. I truly do, three or four times a year. I don’t like the experience. Has a second world vibe to it but with first world pricing. As to pricing, there are SOME good and tasty items at good prices there. But I have found a lot of their generic items to be marginal and even inedible (house brand english muffins I am talking to you). With out of control grocery price increases and worsening empty shelves, I am now spreading my shopping across multiple stores like fresh market and earth fare combined with Publix, Walmart, sams ( will add BJ to mix to give them a fair shake) and Winn Dixie (each has sales and savings worth making a trip for once every other week or so to stretch budget while still eating quality food). Aldis never offers me a trip that I feel justifies the lost hour of my life.

Grocery shopping for quality and health on a budget may be an olympic event by year end and I am in training! Game on.

How do you spend an hour in Aldi?

You are correct that many of their brands are substandard but not all. They have products that I have trouble finding elsewhere in the same price range.

The baked potato chips(2gm fat), unsweetened organic apple sauce(4 0z), homestyle guac, organic almond milk, German made sauerkrat, organic apples, and few other items. Never spend more than 10 minutes.

[Tracinixt]

They have an amazing wine and cheese selection at very reasonable prices. Their name brand products are super good. Their spices, meats, oils, vinegars, I love their coconut milk and cream in the can and their black beans. Their produce is good and reasonably priced as well. I wish there was one closer.