When a guy named John was working the food corner at Traders by Easton, I was exposed to the best that Traders had to offer. But since then, John has moved up in the world and is managing their wines.

Trader Joe’s is not a restaurant, really, but a specialty food store with really great deals. They even carry organic soaps and creams, specialty vitamins, orchids, in addition to all kinds of chocolates and wine, tons of really great frozen fish, rack of lamb, pork loins/ribs, cheeses, and lots of other “almost” pre-prepared gourmet dinners that you can just throw in the oven, and voila, dinner is served. One of those things is the Southwestern marinated Salmon all ready to be pulled out and thrown into the oven. Another one is their Chicken Cordon Bleu. Both are excellent and low maintenance cooking. I also like their ‘organic junk food’ - try their banana chips; they almost remind me of the fried plantains I had in the Bahamas.

The shrimp tempura makes a great center for rolling your own sushi, the feta cheese/caramelized onion puff pastry, and mushroom turnovers make great party food, as do any inordinate number of frozen appetizers and pizzas.

It is a privilege to shop at a store like this, and actually a time saver. It’s charming and not overwhelming, and has a pretty good range of products. Everything is within reach. If you can’t find something, ask the staff, they are friendly and helpful. I mean, who wants to wander for hours in the ever expanding Krogers and Giant Eagles that are always changing where everything is placed? I simply don’t have time to run laps around those stores whose designers think nothing of pleasing their clients visually. (The old adage of men being stimulated visually offers at least one reason they hate shopping in grocery stores like this). Sure, they can keep their clients in the store longer, but that does not necessarily correlate with making more sales - it just creates cranky people which in turn creates an unpleasant environment. Blech.

For a busy career person, I certainly appreciate the beauty and effortlessness that Trader Joes brings to my culinary projects and household atmosphere. luv2dine