My co-worker Julie Lawrence and I took a trip up to check out the Trader Joe's at Bayshore Town Center after giving it a few days to let the crazy crowds die down. It worked, sorta. There was still a pretty big crowd there and the aisles aren't all that wide, so you had to be careful or get rammed by a rabid North Shore shopper in search of three-buck Two-Buck Chuck.

The first thing that strikes you upon entering is how small the place seems compared to the mega Pick 'n Saves and even the new Whole Foods on the East Side. But remember that the T.J.'s in Chicago aren't all that big, either. It's the business plan it and actually works well -- when it's not swamped -- to feel like a simpler, less overwhelming shopping experience. The sections are divided up not only by the major food groups, but also in some accordance to meal-planning, which is helpful for a quick stop in after work to get dinner supplies.

I was eager to get some Citterio prosciutto, but they were out, although there was some bresaola on the shelves. Perhaps air cured beef is less tempting to Brew City shoppers than salt cured pork. Or maybe it's all in the name recognition.

The frozen food aisles were especially crowded and while the wine area wasn't crowded there were a lot of empty spaces on the shelves suggesting that:

a) thirsty shoppers had swarmed through earlier

and

b) T.J.'s employees need to get busy restocking the shelves. (The manager checking us out even noted that although today was considered "slower" than the first few days of being open, his employees were still having a hard time keeping the shelves stocked.

I'm more than willing to try the budget priced Trader Joe's brands, even on the Italian foods, which I'm often picky about. My sole complaint is that while the latter products carry the "Made in Italy" marque, the producer or even location of production is often not included on the label. This is problematic. After all, if the pesto isn't made in Liguria, do we really want it?

I was willing to try the $13.99 Barolo that was produced in Castiglione Falletto, which is entirely in the Barolo zone and is labeled as being DOCG and the $6.99 Barbera d'Alba. If anyone cares, I'll report back after popping the corks. If anyone has already tried them, post a talkback and let me know how they are.

(Note: "Romancing the Vine" is a new memoir by American chef Alan Tardi, who landed in Castiglione Falletto sort of by happenstance and fell in love with a woman, with the landscape, with the language and with the culture of the vine.)

For me, Trader Joe's will likely be a place I visit to stock up on a few things I really want (like the bresaola, which is not otherwise easily obtained here and certainly not at the T.J.'s price point), but it's not likely to ever become my weekly grocery store.

Julie Lawrence contributed to this blog.

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Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by quijote on Nov. 16, 2006 at 7:44 p.m. (report)

Bresaola! I had given up on finding bresaola around here. The only other place I know of in SE Wisconsin that carries it is Tenuta's in Kenosha. Glad to hear that TJ's has it; too bad Glorioso's doesn't. Looks like I'll be having bresaola with shaved parm, arugula, and evoo pretty soon.... And please let us know about the Barolo and Barbera. I have one of the Barolos, but not sure how long to let it sit.

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