by: Queena Kwok
Strapping young lads in lumberjack outfits were the last thing we expected to find in the middle of Manhattan, but we found a troop of them in a campy little grocery store called Trader Joe’s. Not only were the men ruggedly handsome, but the staff were also speedy, friendly and knowledgeable.
This place is a foodie’s heaven, where eating healthy and being socially responsible doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet. Trader Joe’s is an economical alternative to Whole Foods, and still offers a wide variety of high quality gourmet and organic options to choose from for everything from beer, wine, cereal and canned goods, to fresh produce, seafood/meat/poultry, and snacks such as nuts, chips, and cookies.
We made our getaway without doing too much damage to our wallets: dried peaches; roasted cashews ($3.99 USD); almonds; Parmesan, Garlic & Herb Pita Chips ($1.99 USD); and, my new addiction, Trader Joe’s Vegetable Root Chips ($2.49 USD). Made up of taro, parsnip, sweet potato, and casava pieces, it’s lightly salted and a great grown-up alternative to the regular crisp. I’ve found that I love snacking on them while enjoying a nice glass of Prosecco.
Sadly, at this time, the grocery chain is only available on the States’ side of the border, and until my next trip to the US, all I’ve got are my dreams, where I get to imagine crossing the border with a suitcase full of chips.
Visit their campy little website for more info on locations and news!