Trader Joe's Cheese

Scott_Butler · September 13, 2011, 3:28pm

Picked up some cheese over the weekend because of the ridiculous prices. This block of cheddar is very Vermont Cheddar in style, and was only $3. Fantastic flavor. We also got a 3 pack of goat cheeses for $3, and a big block of Monterey Jack for $3. Quite the deals.

Dick_Krueger · September 13, 2011, 4:07pm

TJ’s is the only place in town where I can get St. André and Double Cream Brie cheeses.

Scott_Butler · September 13, 2011, 4:57pm

Nice to know, I will look for those at my local store.

Cris_Whetstone · September 13, 2011, 5:03pm

Thanks for the tip, Scott. I will give it a try. I often buy the Parrano and the Amsterdam aged gouda as well as the Manchego and Iberico they offer.

Dick_Krueger · September 13, 2011, 5:46pm

We also get aged Manchego, Iberico, and aged Gouda there sometimes.

Kenny_H · September 13, 2011, 6:27pm

Their Chimay and even the Chimay knock off are great too. When you can get the petit basque, go all in.

G_Greenbaum · September 13, 2011, 9:00pm

Sadly the Tomme de Savoie is no longer available.

Bob_Wood · September 14, 2011, 12:38am

Trader Joe’s is the ONLY place to buy cheese that you can buy elsewhere. Costco might be a little less on things like St. Andre and Reggiano, but at TJ’s you don’t have to buy enough to feed the 81st Airborne. I love that they have the 3-year Reggiano in small chunks.

G_Bienstock · September 14, 2011, 1:18am

My low lactose favorite is the aged goat Gouda.

Berry_Crawford · September 14, 2011, 3:23am

I agree its a great cheese source. Thanks for the tip on the cheddar.

Larry_P · September 14, 2011, 5:14am

These ^^^ are probably my 2 favorite cheeses right now, and worth mentioning TJ’s price is something like 1/3 that of Safeway. I make a special trip to TJ’s if cheese is on my shopping list.

Michael_Sopher · September 19, 2011, 4:22pm

Funny, but I’ve tried a few of their cheeses after they opened in my area and was underwhelmed. I found basics like the cheddar, gouda and fontina to be less good and somehow less frash than what I get at my local Fairway and no advantage on price either. In fact, TJ’s has no cost advantage on a lot of things like meat and dairy. I was sort of surprised after they opened, I had expected something more.

jordan_whitehead · September 19, 2011, 5:26pm

Fairway is head and shoulders above TJ’s in almost everything. However, most of us don’t have a Fairway

Bob_Wood · September 19, 2011, 5:30pm

Exactly. Having access to a Fairway is an ability unique to New Yorkers. I was blown away when I was in the one on Lawn Guyland.

jordan_whitehead · September 19, 2011, 5:46pm

that’s my home town. Probably the only thing I still like about it

Stuart_BeauneHead_Niemtzow · September 19, 2011, 7:02pm

back to the Saul Steinberg’s cartoon “New Yorkers view of the World”…

I live 90 miles away from Fairway…TJ’s is closer, though they don’t compare, as pointed out…no Zabar’s closer, either…

Michael_Sopher · September 19, 2011, 8:54pm

OK, so it’s not just me…

I do buy dry pasta there (the TJ’s Organic spaghetti is a winner at $1.29), breakfast cereal, some nuts (sunflower seeds, peanuts and walnuts but not almonds) and frozen organic spinach but that is about it

Barry_L_i_p_t_o_n · September 19, 2011, 9:00pm

Fairway is the bomb!

But on a few things, TJ has really good stuff.

Roquefort is actually cheaper than Costco - and all roquefort is great.
They have some Cabot aged cheddar that is excellent.
Their Irish reduced fat cheddar is quite good.
Their creamy goat cheese (in the cylindrical blue container) is excellent.

Linda_Baehr · September 19, 2011, 9:05pm

I bought the cheddar Scott posted about in the OP- it is very good, and unexpected!

For the nut buyers out there, try their skin-on marcona almonds. They are very addictive.

Z_Scheiner · September 20, 2011, 12:20am

omgthesearesogood