First, Charles Shaw, the $3 wine that my ex-grilf's mother
absolutely loves, so she gets a full case of it for xmas,
and it costs me less than $40. (Don't ask; it's complicated.)

Second, they sell these preseasoned frozen lamb rib-racks that
are beyond easy to cook and beyond delicious to eat.

I had one a year or so ago and loved it, but never
bothered to go back to TJ's to get one because I find
everything else there overpriced or mendaciously marketed
crap. (Honestly, "organic" is not a synonym for "good"
and usually means "substandard quality but you won't get
exposed to chemicals that 6 billion other people survive
for decades").

So I was there on my viniferous errand last week, and I saw
this rack o' lamb in the freezer bin, and it found its way
into my cart. (I do know how that works; neurons and myelin
and muscular contraction and all.)

I had it today. Even better than last time.

I grilled it. Maybe a little too much. I did it for the
recommended 7 minutes per side, and of course the heavy
crusting of herbs and spices on the outside burned up.
But when I scraped the black stuff off, I realized it
was only the coating, and the meat was glistening and
maillarded to perfection. And since the thing had lived
in that spice for a couple of months or so, it wouldn't
matter a bit if it wasn't there when I ate it. The time
was a tad long, I fear, because instead of medium-rare it
was closer to medium-well, but it was still super-moist,
almost fork tender, and tasted fantastic. Almost no gamy
overtones.

And, at $8.50/lb, these are now cheaper at retail than
strip steaks, which show up in the supermarkets for well
over $9 during the phony beef shortage.

I'll probably be into this again. Especially if I uncork
that extra bottle of Charles Shaw cab that I got to try
and find out it's great for a $3 wine and want a case for
my own damnable self.

--Blair
"I got the chard, too. Full report
to follow. Pardon the pun."

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 03:43:21 +0000, Blair P. Houghton wrote:

> And, at $8.50/lb, these are now cheaper at retail than
> strip steaks, which show up in the supermarkets for well
> over $9 during the phony beef shortage.
>

$8.50 a pound? Show off food, who'd you impress the checker making
a menial wage? Still tasted good after you burned it? Are we supposed to
be impressed? "Go to trader joes burn the food and it still tastes great!"

"TonyP" > wrote in message
news
> On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 03:43:21 +0000, Blair P. Houghton wrote:
>
> > And, at $8.50/lb, these are now cheaper at retail than
> > strip steaks, which show up in the supermarkets for well
> > over $9 during the phony beef shortage.
> >
>
> $8.50 a pound? Show off food, who'd you impress the checker making
> a menial wage? Still tasted good after you burned it? Are we supposed to
> be impressed? "Go to trader joes burn the food and it still tastes great!"

If all the TJ customers avoided buying higher priced items so as not to
offend the checkers, there would be a lot of ex-TJ checkers earning no
wages.

In Cal. Charles Shaw is $1.99/btl.

"Blair P. Houghton" wrote:
>
> First, Charles Shaw, the $3 wine that my ex-grilf's mother
> absolutely loves, so she gets a full case of it for xmas,
> and it costs me less than $40. (Don't ask; it's complicated.)
>
> Second, they sell these preseasoned frozen lamb rib-racks that
> are beyond easy to cook and beyond delicious to eat.
>
> I had one a year or so ago and loved it, but never
> bothered to go back to TJ's to get one because I find
> everything else there overpriced or mendaciously marketed
> crap. (Honestly, "organic" is not a synonym for "good"
> and usually means "substandard quality but you won't get
> exposed to chemicals that 6 billion other people survive
> for decades").
>
> So I was there on my viniferous errand last week, and I saw
> this rack o' lamb in the freezer bin, and it found its way
> into my cart. (I do know how that works; neurons and myelin
> and muscular contraction and all.)
>
> I had it today. Even better than last time.
>
> I grilled it. Maybe a little too much. I did it for the
> recommended 7 minutes per side, and of course the heavy
> crusting of herbs and spices on the outside burned up.
> But when I scraped the black stuff off, I realized it
> was only the coating, and the meat was glistening and
> maillarded to perfection. And since the thing had lived
> in that spice for a couple of months or so, it wouldn't
> matter a bit if it wasn't there when I ate it. The time
> was a tad long, I fear, because instead of medium-rare it
> was closer to medium-well, but it was still super-moist,
> almost fork tender, and tasted fantastic. Almost no gamy
> overtones.
>
> And, at $8.50/lb, these are now cheaper at retail than
> strip steaks, which show up in the supermarkets for well
> over $9 during the phony beef shortage.
>
> I'll probably be into this again. Especially if I uncork
> that extra bottle of Charles Shaw cab that I got to try
> and find out it's great for a $3 wine and want a case for
> my own damnable self.
>
> --Blair
> "I got the chard, too. Full report
> to follow. Pardon the pun."

"Kent H." > wrote in message
...
> In Cal. Charles Shaw is $1.99/btl.

In Ohio there is a minimum mark-up at each step in the distribution channel
for wine and spirits. By the time "two buck Chuck" reaches the check-out it
is about $4. Due to recent sales tax changes (precipitated by the State's
budget crisis), retailers are unable to give the traditional 10% case
discount, taking away any financial incentive to purchase an entire case.

Blair wrote:
> First, Charles Shaw, the $3 wine that my ex-grilf's mother
> absolutely loves, so she gets a full case of it for xmas,
> and it costs me less than $40.



Jeez, inflation has gotten REALLY bad. When I was in
San Diego in June I bought two cases @ $1.99/bottle
at the Carmel Mt. Ranch TJ's.

And if you can only find TWO things to like,
you're not looking hard enough.

gloria p

"Puester" > wrote in message
...
> Blair wrote:
> > First, Charles Shaw, the $3 wine that my ex-grilf's mother
> > absolutely loves, so she gets a full case of it for xmas,
> > and it costs me less than $40.
>
>
>
> Jeez, inflation has gotten REALLY bad. When I was in
> San Diego in June I bought two cases @ $1.99/bottle
> at the Carmel Mt. Ranch TJ's.
>
> And if you can only find TWO things to like,
> you're not looking hard enough.
>
> gloria p

According to the website it is $1.99 in some stores and higher in others to
cover shipping. There are no TJs in my area. I stopped at one in NJ for the
first time last week and Charles Shaw was $2.99/bottle.

I also picked up a couple of bottles of 100% cranberry juice (not the 50%
sugar cranberry cocktail stuff). I never saw it in any other store.

"Sam D." > wrote in message SNIP

> >
> > $8.50 a pound? Show off food, who'd you impress the checker making
> > a menial wage? Still tasted good after you burned it? Are we supposed to
> > be impressed? "Go to trader joes burn the food and it still tastes great!"
>
> If all the TJ customers avoided buying higher priced items so as not to
> offend the checkers, there would be a lot of ex-TJ checkers earning no
> wages.

Frankly, when I go grocery shopping, MY budget is what I think about,
not that of the checker. I buy what I want and need, and I've never
yet had a TJ's checker or for that matter, any OTHER grocery clerk,
scowl at me or look hurt regarding the contents of my shopping basket.
Not to sound hard hearted, but I go to a grocery store to buy
_groceries_, not to worry about the checker's feelings. Okay, they
work hard for the money, but I work hard for mine, too.

I go to TJ's for a lot of different things--I can buy a bag of Basmati
Rice for 2.00--considerably less than at the other grocery store I go
to. They also have better, cheaper packaged pasta, and I used TJ's
olive oil and balsamic vinegar in my cooking regularly. I like their
ready to eat salads, especially since I've been keeping away from fast
food restaurants like McDonalds and Jack in the Box etc etc. I'm also
a sucker for TJ's English Toffee, and some of the cookie varieties
they have on sale, although I try not to buy them too often. My cat
loves the white cheddar cheese popcorn--she'd climb me to get to it. I
can also get a six pack of San Pellegrino Aranciata (Italian Orange
soda) for $2.99, which is a very good price, as I've seen single
serving bottles of the stuff sell for more than a dollar each. Unlike
most American orange sodas, it's not too sweet.

Melissa

Three: best price for Just Cranberry and Just Cherry juice
Four: only place I can get Earth Balance shortening, much better in a
side by side I did with Crisco (for pie crusts).
Five: only place I've found with that non alcoholic beer no one can
guess is such....blanking on name.

Kent H. > wrote:
>In Cal. Charles Shaw is $1.99/btl.

It costs a buck
To put on a truck.

--Blair
"Nor are we lax
Collecting tax."

Puester > wrote:
>Blair wrote:
>> First, Charles Shaw, the $3 wine that my ex-grilf's mother
>> absolutely loves, so she gets a full case of it for xmas,
>> and it costs me less than $40.
>
>Jeez, inflation has gotten REALLY bad. When I was in
>San Diego in June I bought two cases @ $1.99/bottle
>at the Carmel Mt. Ranch TJ's.

You know what the real ****er is?

She lives in California. She's here for a few months
on a job, but after xmas she'll probably go home.

I'd bet two bucks that she buys hers at that exact TJ's
you do, too...

>And if you can only find TWO things to like,
>you're not looking hard enough.

Trust me. I comb that place like the mouse in my kitchen
combs my pantry floor looking for things I might want
to try. I always end up with a couple of new things,
and only ever end up with the 1 thing I still like, plus
this other thing someone else likes.

I got a Stilton. Below average. Not enough vein (and I
don't like a lot), and not quite buttery enough. But it
was edible, and not too expensive.

And some "chocolate liquer cherries" with about 4% alcohol
in the liquid centers. Nothing special. Europeans
gimmick candy, putting booze in them. I've tried a few
new brands this year, and can say with authority that the
best are still the Cella's with clear liquid centers and
dark chocolate shell. (I have a buddy who stocks up and
buys like 60 boxes at the Costco every xmas, because that's
the only time the dark chocolate ones are available; I tell
him to call Cella's and set up a wholesale account, but
he's neurotic, so go figure.)

--Blair
"I don't go to Costco any more, either.
Not even for their meat, which is no
better than the supermarket's, and
enough cheaper to justify the inhumanity
of being in Costco."

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 10:43:26 GMT, "Kent H." >
arranged random neurons, so they looked like this:

>In Cal. Charles Shaw is $1.99/btl.
>
I don't know about the reds, but the Two Buck Chuck chardonnay is
absolute swill. I tried it for a lark - figured it'd be awful. It was.
Not much of an investment to satisfy my curiosity.

Cannot beat Beringer's 2001 Founder's Estate chard when it's on sale
at $6.99, IMHO. (Beverages and More at Fashion Island in Newport
Beach CA.)

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd
AAC(F)BV66.0748.CA

"If the soup had been as hot as the claret, if the claret
had been as old as the bird, and if the bird's breasts had
been as full as the waitress', it would have been a very
good dinner." Anonymous.

To reply, remove "gotcha"

Blair P. Houghton > wrote in message >.. .
> Puester > wrote:
> >Blair wrote:
> >> First, Charles Shaw, the $3 wine that my ex-grilf's mother
> >> absolutely loves, so she gets a full case of it for xmas,
> >> and it costs me less than $40.
> >
> >Jeez, inflation has gotten REALLY bad. When I was in
> >San Diego in June I bought two cases @ $1.99/bottle
> >at the Carmel Mt. Ranch TJ's.
>
> You know what the real ****er is?
>
> She lives in California. She's here for a few months
> on a job, but after xmas she'll probably go home.
>
> I'd bet two bucks that she buys hers at that exact TJ's
> you do, too...
>
> >And if you can only find TWO things to like,
> >you're not looking hard enough.
>
> Trust me. I comb that place like the mouse in my kitchen
> combs my pantry floor looking for things I might want
> to try

Glitterati and Wizard Hat cookies. Plus, they have good prices on
organic milk products.

-L.

"George" > wrote in message et>...
> According to the website it is $1.99 in some stores and higher in others to
> cover shipping. There are no TJs in my area. I stopped at one in NJ for the
> first time last week and Charles Shaw was $2.99/bottle.
>
> I also picked up a couple of bottles of 100% cranberry juice (not the 50%
> sugar cranberry cocktail stuff). I never saw it in any other store.

I gotta add a little sugar to their Cranberry juice, though. Just a
little... and it's perfect.

Boursin cheese is half the price at TJs than it is at Safeway. I will
not buy it anywhere else than TJs.

Karen

Melissa Houle > wrote:

> Frankly, when I go grocery shopping, MY budget is what I think about,
> not that of the checker. I buy what I want and need, and I've never
> yet had a TJ's checker or for that matter, any OTHER grocery clerk,
> scowl at me or look hurt regarding the contents of my shopping basket.
> Not to sound hard hearted, but I go to a grocery store to buy
> _groceries_, not to worry about the checker's feelings. Okay, they
> work hard for the money, but I work hard for mine, too.

I agree. Than again, I have never had anyone at Trader Joe's scoff at
my purchases. The staff there are always kind and helpful. One of my
favorite items from TJ's is their frozen meatballs. For $2.99 you get
a package of 12 decent size meatballs. When I am in a rush to make dinner,
I pop four of those meatballs in a pan and slowly simmer them in a can
of diced tomatoes with their juice. Combine with a little pasta and I have
a delicious meal and inexpensive meal.