We Tried Trader Joe’s New Jambalaya

Can we talk about Trader Joe's new Jambalaya in the frozen section ($5.49 for a 16 oz. bag)? I made it for a quick lunch today, just tossed one serving in the microwave after I quickly sauteed some kale with garlic and cajun seasoning. And you know what? I really liked it! Now, this…

ByMichelleMarch 3, 20260Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s New Spicy Alfredo Fusilloni

When I first saw Trader Joe's Spicy Alfredo Fusilloni, I thought it might similar to Eric Kim's gochujang buttered noodles in the NYT. But the truth is although this pasta gets its kick from a gochujang sauce, Trader Joe's named this one right. It truly is an alfredo sauced pasta, so it's more like mac…

ByMichelleJanuary 22, 20260Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Mini Chicken Tacos, New for 2025

A few years back, Trader Joe's came out with mini chicken and mini beef tacos that replaced a long time fan favorite. The supplier had to have changed, because they were a disaster of epic proportions. (Ok, that may be a little over the top...but they weren't good. At all.) Now, TJ's is back with…

ByMichelleSeptember 17, 20250Comments

Product Review

Trader Joe’s New Strawberry Cloud Cake – Is it a Dream Cake or a Cream Cake?

Trader Joe's new Strawberries & Cream Cloud Cake has no right to be as good as it is. It's two layers of white cake with custard sandwiched between them, frosted with whipped cream. And finally topped with strawberries. Housed in a plastic dome, the box advises letting it thaw for 24 hours before consuming. But…

ByMichelleJune 23, 20250Comments

Product Review

Trader Joe’s Updates its Frozen Margherita Pizza

So you'll notice a couple things about Trader Joe's updated Margherita Pizza in the freezer section. First is that they've ditched the "Trader Giotto's" branding and inverted the name. The old version was Pizza Margherita, the new one is Margherita Pizza. But in addition to a packaging update, the pizza bones from this…

ByMichelleJune 11, 20250Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Mini Taiyaki

These days, you usually see taiyaki used as a soft serve cone with a swirl of matcha coming out of the fish's mouth. But the classic filling is red bean paste (anko). You might also see chocolate or custard like these Trader Joe's Mini Taiyaki. They come 8 to a bag and you just pop…

ByMichelleApril 22, 20250Comments

Product Review

Trader Joe’s New Must Have Easter Dessert

Ohhh, if you're a passion fruit lover, you better run to Trader Joe's now. LIKE NOW. Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Meringue Tartelettes ($4.99 for a pkg of 2) landed in the freezer section this week. And they are goooooooood. Think of it as a fancier lilikoi chiffon pie. Usually passion fruit desserts…

ByMichelleApril 1, 20250Comments

Product Review

Trader Joe’s Latest Dim Sum Offering: Shrimp Noodle Rolls

After years of the same gyoza, char siu bao, and soup dumplings, Trader Joe's is going hard building out it's dim sum dumpling offerings. Over the last several months, they've rolled out Vegan Soup Dumplings, Teriyaki Mushroom Bao Buns and (Vegan) Vegetable Dumplings. Now, they've added Trader Joe's Shrimp Noodle Rolls. Shaped like a flat…

ByMichelleMarch 6, 20250Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns

I was skeptical when I saw that Trader Joe's newest dumpling was teriyaki-flavored. Teriyaki in a bao? I imagined a gloopy super sweet soy-based sauce overwhelming the veg filling. But now that I've tried Trader Joe's Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns? I think it's meant to be more of a shorthand toward a sweet,…

ByMichelleFebruary 18, 20250Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Crispy Potato and Poblano Tacos

For awhile now, Costco has periodically stocked a flat Jack-in-the-Box-style crispy taco from Don Lee Farms. They came in chicken and pork. And now Trader Joe's is bringing us a vegetarian/vegan version with its Crispy Potato and Poblano Pepper Tacos. The filling is mashed potato and roasted poblano chile. So don't go in…

ByMichelleDecember 17, 20241Comment

We Tried Trader Joe’s New Jambalaya

We Tried Trader Joe’s New Spicy Alfredo Fusilloni

We Tried Trader Joe’s Mini Chicken Tacos, New for 2025

Trader Joe’s New Strawberry Cloud Cake – Is it a Dream Cake or a Cream Cake?

Trader Joe’s Updates its Frozen Margherita Pizza

We Tried Trader Joe’s Mini Taiyaki

Trader Joe’s New Must Have Easter Dessert

Trader Joe’s Latest Dim Sum Offering: Shrimp Noodle Rolls

We Tried Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns

We Tried Trader Joe’s Crispy Potato and Poblano Tacos

Book Review: A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

The Fourth Princess by Janie Chang

26 New Asian and Pacific Islander Books for your 2026 TBR