A Jaunt through Joe’s with Crew Member Kathy

These are called the “Dog Days of Summer” but no self-respecting dog would trade an air-conditioned house for a hot-to-the-paw walk on a scorching sidewalk. Ouch and Bow-Wow.

Webster defines this as the period of stagnation/inactivity between early July/early September when hot sultry weather occurs in the northern hemisphere, a direct result of the earth’s tilt. It honors Sirius, the “dog star,” who rises and sets with the Summer sun.

From my perch in Las Vegas, where I’ve spent the Summer, I’m throwing a few bones on this dog days-theory.  We hit 100-degrees on June 14 and wll be holding firm and steady, probably, throughout September.  It’s hot. It’s depressing. It’s the pits. I’m Sir-i-us about that.  It doesn’t help, of course, to hear rumblings from the Rockies, where I was a volunteer Wilderness Ranger in Aspen for 14 years, that the weather has been glorious, the flowers vibrant, and the hiking superb.

In pursuit of my on-going challenge to turn lemons into lemonade, I went straight to the fruit source: a grocery store. Yesterday, my favorite market, Trader Joe’s, was hosting its weekly early A.M. store tour.  Readers, if you can’t get excited about food markets, you’ve never walked into “Trader Joe’s”.  it’s a culture, a tease and campy.  The “crew members”, who wear Hawaiian shirts, are managed by “Captains.” The food products, wines, flowers and speciality items?  Extraordinary, innovative and top-drawer.

To prove that point, there is a colorful giant chalkboard sign, made by one of the two artists-on-premises, which reads, “You don’t have to walk the plank to return a product.  If you tried it and don’t like it, bring it back.”

Chef Marcel at her Demo Station

Although most of its stores are located in Southern California, the company owns locations in 28 other states, Washington, D.C and soon, Kentucky.  There are four stores in Las Vegas. We campaigned mightily for our Henderson location and yesterday, unbeknownst to me, was the fourth anniversary of its opening. Party time All-Day.

Crew Member Kathy Savage, who has often helped me, was our affable tour leader.  There were six of us on board, all, apparently, TJ Groupies.  Here’s why.  Every store is unique from its layout to shelving to product line.  TJ advertises through infrequent radio ads (never heard one) and The Fearless Flyer, a madcap periodical published quarterly and brimming with mouth-watering information. Their prices are competitive, usually lower.  No coupons. No club cards. No products from China. No sales, No loss leaders. No. No. No.

Frozen Mandarin Orange Chicken – Triple Ginger Snap Cookies – Spicy Jalepeno Chicken Sausages – Tarte D’Alsace – Frozen Gyoza-Two-Buck Chuck (Wine) – Candy Cane JoeJoe’s – Fig, Mango, Honey Apple and Pumpkin Butters – Frozen Croissants (Chocolate, Mini and Multi-Grain) – 

For me, however, it’s all about the products. Each store carries a limited number of items. If you like choices, ten different labels of white flour or every brand of Ranch dressing, go elsewhere. Although they carry 6 mustard varieties (Kathy shakes her head about that.), usually your choice is “one”. They offer “one” can of corn.  It’s a top-seller. Ninety percent of the items carry the Trader Joe brand.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread – Sour Morello Cherries – Frozen Steel Cut Oatmeal – Spanakopita – Garlic Herb Pizza Dough – Chimichurri Rice – Phalaenopsis Orchids – Frozen Chicken Tikka Masala – Fire-Roasted Vegetables with Balsamic Butter – Lucques Olives – Fasolia Gigantes-

When a new item shows up (about 5, each month), something is pulled off the shelves. (My neighbor, Ray, is currently grumping about “no sauerkraut” at TJ’s. Who eats sauerkraut in 110-degree weather anyway?  Yuck!))  If you see Trader Joe’s on a label, then you know that the product contains NO artificial flavors, colors or preservatives; NO genetically modified ingredients; NO MSG; and NO added Trans Fats.

Sweet Potato Tortilla Chip Rounds – Better ‘N Peanut Butter -Vegetable Marsala Burgers – Organic Blue Agave Sweetner – Grapefruit Salt Scrub – Almond Butter with Flax – 21 Seasoning Salute -Uncured Turkey Bacon – Sugar, Chocolate & Coffee Bean Grinder – Confetti Rice with lemon grass, baby corn & ginger

Are you getting it?

The best value at Trader Joe’s, where you find the most bang for your buck, is with its employees, those “crew members” who work the aisles (Debbie, Ken the Professor, and Kathy ), create the culinary samples (Chef Marcel), replenish the flowers (Sharon) and bag my groceries (Aaron).  I’m partial to Aaron, who has a disposition to match where he works….he’s a very joyful guy.  But, the best part about Aaron?  His arms are all-tattoos.  I’m not sure he’s got skin. When I see Aaron, I think “pain”, those arms represents a whole lotta hurt.

My point being………Trader Joe’s is not an errand nor a chore, it’s a trip, a destination.  I never leave without a grin on my face, and, sometimes, just every so often, a sticker and a balloon.

• No Gluten

• Vegan

• Vegetarian

• Fat Free

• Quick Meal

• Kosher

• Sodium

  Trader Joe’s Labeling on Front of Product