First things first: leave that hippy aversion at home. While Trader Joe's carries more than its fair share of granola, nonfat yogurt and organic kiwis, it's also crazy cheap, exceptionally tasty, and more than equipped to handle your standard shopping needs. And who knows -- with a little breaking in, that healthy crap might grow on you too.
Located conveniently at the corner of Market and 22nd, the not-quite-super market boasts a welcoming interior, a knowledgeable and friendly (at times exceedingly so) staff, and for the rare Penn student who messes with such things, public transportation (the Green Line trolleys stop right at the corner). Additional perks include a food tasting station, a reasonably priced yet still pretty flower stand and aisles named after Philly's finest streets. All of that, however, is mere packaging for a food selection that is cheaper, healthier and flat-out tastier than the competition.
Despite relatively modest business practices, TJ's manages to keep prices down by producing many of the goods they carry, which span from staples to gourmet ghetto. A thorough bread selection runs the gamut from sourdough to Asiago-Peppercorn, with the wheat/white option still available for the unadventurous. The pasta section rocks bomb-ass sauces (no, really -- bomb-ass) in addition to cheap organic pasta, and the soup and beverage aisles more than hold their own.
Although the store carries ready-to-go sushi and sandwiches, it lacks a bona fide deli, and the meat selection reflects that. For lunch meat, you're better off at a handful of alternatives around University City. Don't sleep, however, on the chicken apple sausages. Like everything else in the store, they're cheap, and arguably the best thing ever. And while the fruit and vegetable aisle is surprisingly small, it carries most everything you'd want, thanks to the market's customer-friendly and feedback-oriented approach. Meanwhile, the cheese section is perfect for your next Carlo Rossi-inspired, Euro-trash house party.
And while most everything the market offers up is excellent, their frozen food aisle might be in a class of its own. Stocked and refined with much more than tater tots and chicken nuggets, it'll save you big time, especially when you're short on just that. If you're a typical college student who's useless at everything except drinking and reading, the Trader-Man's brand lemon chicken, crab cakes and quiches will both nourish you and boost your self-esteem. After all, frozen food means you're almost cooking.
In general, good food is better than bad food. And cheaper food is less expensive than expensive food. Healthy food makes you marginally more attractive to the opposite sex. So hey -- next time you realize you haven't touched anyone in months, you'll know where to go.
