Trader Joe's, Making Life More Delicious: First in a Series
There are those who do not care for Trader Joe's for one crackpot reason or another. If you are one of them, stop reading right now. Mlle. de Joie, however, is unabashedly in love with TJ's and shops there at least once, if not three times, a week. She has been known to sing out loud with the oldies and dance in the frozen food section. It is just so much fun.
Last night M. de Joie was in TJ's to select a watermelon. After thumping this one and that one ineffectively, an employee asked if she would like him to pick out a melon for her. Oh yes indeed she would. The employee picked up one and then another and thumped them, explaining what he was listening for, and finally selected one for M. de Joie. When he gave her the watermelon, he then asked if she would like a cookie. What other store would that happen in - an employee does all the work for you, then offers you a treat? The Maple Leaf Cookies: good God, how delicious.
So: Mlle. de Joie will be writing from time to time about some of Trader Joe's products that she finds especially noteworthy. First up: gyoza.
Many years ago in Mlle. de Joie's frivolous youth, she lived and worked in Gotham City, which is another story for another place and time. Her workplace was conveniently located near Zabar's, which was almost enough to make up for the tetes de merde customers the employees had to deal with. But also nearby were a selection of Szechuan restaurants, and it became a multi-weekly ritual to order six or seven boxes of potstickers with hot oil and soy for our lunches.
.
.
It takes less than ten minutes to prepare a bagful of Trader Joe's gyoza, slide them into a deep bowl, and pour on the Chinese hot oil and soy sauce, occasionally adding Chinese black vinegar and Sriracha. Divine.
Trader Joe's Gyoza, chicken and vegetable or pork and vegetable, $2.99 for a frozen 16-ounce bag.
- Femme de Joie
Last night M. de Joie was in TJ's to select a watermelon. After thumping this one and that one ineffectively, an employee asked if she would like him to pick out a melon for her. Oh yes indeed she would. The employee picked up one and then another and thumped them, explaining what he was listening for, and finally selected one for M. de Joie. When he gave her the watermelon, he then asked if she would like a cookie. What other store would that happen in - an employee does all the work for you, then offers you a treat? The Maple Leaf Cookies: good God, how delicious.
So: Mlle. de Joie will be writing from time to time about some of Trader Joe's products that she finds especially noteworthy. First up: gyoza.
Many years ago in Mlle. de Joie's frivolous youth, she lived and worked in Gotham City, which is another story for another place and time. Her workplace was conveniently located near Zabar's, which was almost enough to make up for the tetes de merde customers the employees had to deal with. But also nearby were a selection of Szechuan restaurants, and it became a multi-weekly ritual to order six or seven boxes of potstickers with hot oil and soy for our lunches.
.
.
It takes less than ten minutes to prepare a bagful of Trader Joe's gyoza, slide them into a deep bowl, and pour on the Chinese hot oil and soy sauce, occasionally adding Chinese black vinegar and Sriracha. Divine.
Trader Joe's Gyoza, chicken and vegetable or pork and vegetable, $2.99 for a frozen 16-ounce bag.
- Femme de Joie