I'd never heard the term "chilaquiles" before.
Apparently, it's a synonym for bad nachos.

Most Trader Joe's house-branded products are
pretty darn good. Their frozen panini is far
better than the competition (but for some reason
it has been disappearing from the stores around
here). This one is an exception. It's crap.

Basically, it's soggy corn chips covered with
a flavorless chicken-and-chili sauce. Not much
chicken. It's almost like they said the word
"chicken" over the sauce and considered the job
done. At $4.29, it's one of their more expensive
forzen entrees, and despite that it's a terrible
value. For less money, I could have bought a bag
of their excellent chicken-cilantro wonton.

When I see a new TJ's item, I have to buy it just
to test it out. They got me once on this item.
Hopefully, I can dissuade you from making the
same mistake. My loss can be your profit.

On May 26, 1:54*pm, Mark Thorson > wrote:
> I'd never heard the term "chilaquiles" before.
> Apparently, it's a synonym for bad nachos. [snip]

Funny. Chilaquiles came about as a way to use up stale corn
tortillas. Slice into strips, cover with a sauce, often finish with
egg(s) for breakfast.

> Basically, it's soggy corn chips covered with
> a flavorless chicken-and-chili sauce. *Not much
> chicken. *It's almost like they said the word
> "chicken" over the sauce and considered the job
> done.

That's not untypical for chilaquiles, they are seldom substantial in
their meat or chicken. It's the flavor of the sauce they're going
for.

> When I see a new TJ's item, I have to buy it just
> to test it out. *They got me once on this item.
> Hopefully, I can dissuade you from making the
> same mistake. *My loss can be your profit.

I seldom try new TJ prepared foods. As much as I like the store,
their taste buds and mine seldom agree in regards to their prepared
foods. They prefer almost anything -- usually herbs or lemon -- to
salt, and spicy things are seldom spicy enough. -aem

Mark Thorson said...

> I'd never heard the term "chilaquiles" before.
> Apparently, it's a synonym for bad nachos.
>
> Most Trader Joe's house-branded products are
> pretty darn good. Their frozen panini is far
> better than the competition (but for some reason
> it has been disappearing from the stores around
> here). This one is an exception. It's crap.
>
> Basically, it's soggy corn chips covered with
> a flavorless chicken-and-chili sauce. Not much
> chicken. It's almost like they said the word
> "chicken" over the sauce and considered the job
> done. At $4.29, it's one of their more expensive
> forzen entrees, and despite that it's a terrible
> value. For less money, I could have bought a bag
> of their excellent chicken-cilantro wonton.
>
> When I see a new TJ's item, I have to buy it just
> to test it out. They got me once on this item.
> Hopefully, I can dissuade you from making the
> same mistake. My loss can be your profit.


Mark,

Thanks for the FYI. You should in a taste test group!

I nose around sometimes but have settled into my routine favorites. Some have
come and gone faster than I'd hoped.

TJs used to mail me their "Fearless Flyer" but not in a year or so. No
matter, the on-line Acrobat version is "greener" and I don't need reading
glasses to read through their embarrassingly cheesy layout and design!

Best,

Andy

Mark Thorson wrote:
> I'd never heard the term "chilaquiles" before.
> Apparently, it's a synonym for bad nachos.
>
> Most Trader Joe's house-branded products are
> pretty darn good. Their frozen panini is far
> better than the competition (but for some reason
> it has been disappearing from the stores around
> here). This one is an exception. It's crap.
>
> Basically, it's soggy corn chips covered with
> a flavorless chicken-and-chili sauce. Not much
> chicken. It's almost like they said the word
> "chicken" over the sauce and considered the job
> done. At $4.29, it's one of their more expensive
> forzen entrees, and despite that it's a terrible
> value. For less money, I could have bought a bag
> of their excellent chicken-cilantro wonton.
>
> When I see a new TJ's item, I have to buy it just
> to test it out. They got me once on this item.
> Hopefully, I can dissuade you from making the
> same mistake. My loss can be your profit.
>

We do not have Trader Joe's here, so I have never tried their
chilaquiles. When I grew up, we cooked chilaquiles for breakfast as a
way to use leftover meat and vegetables. Fried corn tortillas were the
base and it was covered with any leftover meat, refried beans, chili,
cheese and it was topped with fried eggs. You add salsa and/or pico de
gallo at the table. This is not something I can imagine purchasing
frozen. I can understand your disappointment.


Becca

On Tue, 26 May 2009 13:54:41 -0700, Mark Thorson >
wrote:

>I'd never heard the term "chilaquiles" before.
>Apparently, it's a synonym for bad nachos.

You need to get out more...has nothing to do with nachos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilaquiles

We have them all the time for breakfast in PV, Mexico City & Ixtapa.

Mr. Bill wrote:

>> I'd never heard the term "chilaquiles" before.
>> Apparently, it's a synonym for bad nachos.
>
> You need to get out more...has nothing to do with nachos.

That's why they're not GOOD nachos! Just like a Grand Marnier soufflé is
really bad at being huevos rancheros.

Bob