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Smackdown at Trader Joe's!

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to the Chicagoland area for my sweet cousin Allison's wedding (Hi, Ally!).  A wonderful time was had by all, and somewhere in the midst of all the nuptial events, I managed to squeeze in a trip to Trader Joe's, that popular paradise-themed specialty grocery that has yet to grace Dallas with its presence.  

In case you've been living on another foodie planet, Trader Joe's is known for its unique selection of international products, colorful island decor and last but not least, bargain-basement prices.  (You've heard of Two-Buck Chuck, right?  They invented it.)  Here's the blurb from the website:

"Just what is this thing we call Trader Joe’s? Well, we’re a grocery store, sure, but really so much more. Our shelves are stocked full of delicious foods and beverages from the basics like milk, bread and butter to more exotic fare like imported cheeses, organic produce and hand-tossed pizza from Italy. We taste every product before we decide to sell it, and we guarantee you’ll like it.  You might expect indulgences like these to come with unbecoming prices. But at Trader Joe’s, we’re as much about value as we are about great food...So you can afford to be adventurous without breaking the bank."

Contraband Photo 1

Thing is, though, Trader Joe's only has locations on the West Coast, East Coast and a few states in between - no Texas.  So when I noticed an outpost near our hotel in Northbrook, IL, I motored on over in the rented Subaru to take a look.  And that's where things got dicey...

Excited as all get-out, I speed-walked into the store with camera in hand, ready to document every inch of the place for DallasEats.  Snapping away, I'd only made it about three yards into the store before a hula-shirted fellow sporting a wide, toothy grin approached me and asked why I was taking pictures.  "I'm a blogger from Dallas," I replied (thinking the eager tourist routine was the best tack to take).  "We don't have Trader Joe's, and I'm so psyched to finally visit one!"

Contraband Photo 2

He took a deep breath (still smiling) and then informed me, "The thing is, we don't allow cameras."  I listened, wondering if this was the sort of rule that was strictly enforced, selectively enforced, or just stated out loud and then pretty much ignored.  At that point, however, I also noticed that he had positioned himself strategically between me and the rest of the store.  And he was a good six inches taller than me; no way I could take him.  He continued - kindly but firmly, "I'm going to have to ask you to put the camera away."  (Did I imagine the tiny beads of sweat forming at his hairline?  The quick clench of his jaw?)  Then, only after watching me secure the offending device in the side pocket of my handbag, did he allow me to proceed with my (now seriously impeded) fact-finding mission.  And I swear, I wasn't out of eyeshot of an employee for the rest of my visit.  Coincidence?  I think not.  

That being said, however, everyone was very nice and even under many watchful eyes, I was able to enjoy the experience.  Plus, how can you stay mad at a guy in a multi-colored floral print camp shirt?  Here are my top Trader Joe's observations:

1.  The place was overflowing with snacks, both traditional and unusual.  Wasabi Tempura Seaweed crisps and Lightly Salted Crunchy Green Beans were just a couple of the more adventurous offerings.  (Personally, I'm of the opinion that most snacks of this ilk are purchased for shock value - so people will ask "WHAT are you eating?" when they see you eating it.  You know, like Wasabi Peas ten years ago.)

2.  GREAT prices on meal/energy bars.  Luna bars and CLIF bars were both 99-cents a pop. Lara Bars were $1.29. Also, good prices on protein shakes and powders.

3.  The wine selection was as wide and low-priced as I'd heard it would be. I was especially impressed with the up-and-coming varieties:

Zarafa Pinotage from South Africa ($4.99)
Espiral Vinho Verde ($3.99)
Abrazo del Toro Cariñena from Spain ($5.99)

Also:

Layer Cake Shiraz (love this one!) for $14.99 – not bad.
Santa Rita Chardonnay for $6.49 – a stock up price!

...But great wine prices can also be found right here in the Metroplex at lots of different places (Albertson's is one of my fave bargain wine stops - always something great on sale!).

I'm totally going to show off my new Trader Joe's reusable shopping tote around town.  Like the foodie equivalent of a really sweet concert t-shirt.

4.  Overall impressions:  The store was small, with less wow-factor than I expected.  I can't say whether all Trader Joe's are as small as the one in Northbrook, though.  In selection and ambiance, it was sort of like the food and wine sections of World Market combined with Newflower Market.  I’d go if I lived near one, but I’m not quite as bummed about not having one in Dallas anymore.

Robin Recommends: The Ultimate Combination

When I was pregnant, I became pretty much obsessed with ice cream. I had to have it every night before bed, and I am pretty sure I have now tasted every kind of ice cream commercially available at Super Target, Whole Foods and Fiesta.

Because I have become such an expert, I feel very confident in what I am about to tell you. I have found the greatest ice cream experience possible. And it's not just one great flavor - it's a flavor combination so powerful that my husband and I have taken to referring to it simply as, The Ultimate Combination.

The first ingredient in The Ultimate Combination is the most crucial element - Ben & Jerry's Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream. A friend had told me about this flavor awhile back, and I had kind of blown her off at the time. Generally, if an ice cream flavor doesn't contain chocolate of some kind, I'm not interested. However, when I finally got around to trying it, it pretty much blew that theory out of the water.

For those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure of trying it, Cinnamon Bun is caramel ice cream swirled with cinnamon streusel and filled with chunks of cinnamon roll dough. One bite, and you'll be transported to the Cinnabon at the Food Court of your local mall. Only it's even better, because it's freakin' ice cream.

But it gets even awesome-er. Just as a cup of coffee is the perfect accompaniment to a cinnamon roll, if you add a scoop of Coffee Health Bar Crunch (or really any coffee-flavored ice cream), it ramps it up your bowl of ice-cream to heavenly heights. The flavors compliment each other perfectly, making it truly The Ultimate Combination.

I highly recommend that you try it the next time you're wandering the ice cream aisle. I know I won't be able to resist.

Pepper Watch '09

They're growing, they're growing!

Quite a change from last time, huh?

...and judging by Margie's tip about the whole humidity/capsaicin thing, 

they're gonna be really damn hot!

Froggies Uptown: Fun Foodie Finds!

Have you checked out the new West Village 

location of Froggies 5 & 10 yet?   

What fun!

Open since December, this Uptown outpost of everyone's favorite Dallas tchotchke shop is a little more sophisticated than its sibling up on Knox.  I stopped in yesterday, and was delighted to find a wide selection of jewelry, tote bags and gift items (no wind up chatter teeth or rubber chickens at this Froggies).  But what really got my pulse racing was the store's adorable displays of tableware, cocktail accoutrements and various other foodie finds!

pic 1:  I heart these colorful plates.  We all know a Hippie Chick, Little Princess or Happy Camper that would love these as a gift.  There were also matching cups.

pic 2:  Check out these shiny mini cocktail shakers.  They come in packs of four - perfect for parites, and cute enough to serve the drinks right in 'em!  The coasters, above, were also a find.  Love the faux cross-stitch set with messages like "Go *&%$ yourself."  

pic 3:  There was also a display of colorful cooking and cocktail books - great for hostess gifts.  And those packages up on the left are cheeky placemats.  Sweet.

Check out Froggies Uptown for yourself - these shots barely scratch the surface.  Happy Shopping!

Froggies Uptown
3699 McKinney Ave.
in the West Village
(214) 219-5867