Happy weekend before Thanksgiving, folks. It is a time many of us spend in grocery stores buying items for our Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions feast, but more on that momentarily. First, a quick look at the week in Pajiba.
In TV, we reviewed Apple TV’s frothy The Buccaneers, the premiere episode of The Curse, which wasn’t as uncomfortable as it thinks it is, and the new CBS procedural NCIS: Sydney (blergh). We also expressed our fondness for the second season of Welcome to Wrexham, got excited about A Murder at the End of the World on Hulu, looked in on season 45 of Survivor, and Alberto surfaced the Apple TV+ hidden gem, Drops of Gold and discussed the crap music on The Morning Show.
In celebrity, Bobby Berk left Queer Eye, and it’s messy. We got way more insight than we wanted to into the demise of Tori Spelling’s marriage (it involved a bedroom pig and a bathroom chicken), all of the Friends main cast fondly remembered Matthew Perry, Ally pled with the Internet to be cool about Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham, and Euphoria star Jacob Elordi said some obnoxious things.
In film, we covered Sydney Sweeney’s cringey performance in the trailer for Anyone But You, the Madam Web trailer, the best thing about the Madam Web trailer, and how the Madam Web trailer connects to the Spidey world. Before the release of Next Goal Wins, we looked at Taika Waititi’s slump. The Marvel’s end credits scenes promise good things for the MCU if only it will follow through. Also, if you’re looking for something to watch this weekend besides The Hunger Games prequel, Seth liked It’s a Wonderful Knife, and Jason loved Saltburn.
Finally, Brian wrote about the return of Andre 3000. It involves a flute.
With that out of the way, Lainey’s vacation trip this week inspired the weekend’s comment diversion: What’s your favorite Trader Joe’s product? If you don’t live near Trader Joe’s, I’m so sorry, unless you’re international, you probably have better stores anyway.
Our favorite TJs product is a common topic among us, and whenever we see something new and exciting, we’re quick to share our thoughts. That said, my favorite TJ’s items are not particularly exciting. I love their frozen Chicken Tikka Masala. My son loves it so much that he eats it for breakfast most days. I love it so much that I wrap it in TJ’s Habanero Lime tortillas and make it into a Chicken Tikka Masala burrito. I also really like the Bamba, especially the Hazelnut Bamba. Did you know that Bamba is the most popular snack food in Israel and that peanut allergies are practically unheard of because these peanut butter snacks are introduced so early? Facts!
So, what’s your favorite TJ’s snack food or other product?
Their chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels. I could eat a whole bag in one sitting.
My favorite thing to get at Trader's is probably the Vintage Ale. Released each year around this time, it is one of the best deals in beer. At ~$5 for a 750 ml of bottle conditioned ale, it's a bargain. Contract brewed by Unibroue, a Canadian brewery that specializes in Belgian style ales, they are bottled on lees, which means it contains yeast sediment. Like wine, they continue to age in the bottle. Don't let the fact that it is described as "spiced" dissuade you. Great to drink immediately but they get even better after a few years. I always buy extras and I currently have two bottles of 2019 left in my beer cellar (or as my wife calls it, the bottom of the linen closet). I will regularly give two bottles to friends, one for now and one to hold onto, and it's always nice when they let me know that they found the bottle that they'd stashed and forgotten about. I missed the 2021 release because it came out earlier than usual but I heard that this years should be in stores in early December. Anyone who likes beer should absolutely pick up a few and keep at least one of them for a year to compare to the new release.
As for the items available year round, their pre-cooked pork belly is really good and goes great in home-made ramen. And by home-made, I mean doctored bowls of the higher end instant ramen. I also love the "Everything But The Bagel" smoked salmon. It hits the spot on a piece of toast on a rushed morning before heading out the door.
I just discovered TJ's Amarena Cherries. They give Luxardo Maraschino Cherries a run for the money at a fraction of the price. When I was looking for them the other day, the woman who showed me where they are grabbed two of them for herself. These aren't the neon red ones you get in the supermarket and normally put in a Shirley Temple (though I plan to try it soon). Great in a cocktail, I am looking forward to using one or two of them along with some of the syrup to make a true Cherry Coke using a bottle of Mexican Coke that still is made with real cane sugar