Just another random sandwich
About a month ago, CNN/Money came out with this great article that took a look at Trader Joe's. One of the best part of the article for me was reading about how some manufacturers make generic TJ products and make name-brand products too. So basically this means you're getting the same product at different prices. Nothing sings louder to my Chinky ears than to hear that I could get something at TJ for a dollar less than WholePaycheck if the food is the same. Or when you tell me that, "Trader Joe's pita chips? Made by Stacy's." Hurray! That led me to think about how sometimes you just never know who owns what. McDonald's used to own Chipotle. Starbucks actually owns Seattle's Best. Zach was the one who told me about this and I was shocked because while I was eating the tasteless sandwich from SB, I had no idea.
So here's the thing about sandwiches from Seattle's Best. I ordered one with some 'turkey' in there, but it didn't taste much like turkey. I love me some fast food like the Buck Double, but I feel like price and nostalgia plays into why I love fast food so much. With the random sandwiches from Seattle's Best/Starbucks? I'm not feeling it.
The mind is a powerful thing, and that's why we all love what our mother/grandmother made for us when we were little. And maybe your moms wasn't into cooking or whatever, but other childhood treats are often better in memory than they are now. When I was a kid, lunchables was the shit. I never bought it because it was expensive but other kids had 'em. And I loved getting a bite of what other kids had. Lunchables was magical. The fake cheese, the mystery meat, the random crackers... and that yellow box. Who could not recognize the yellow box? Mental power is strong when it comes to what we find to be palatable. Since these sandwiches from Seattle's Best don't live in my past, they don't have a place in my future unless they get drastically better or cheaper. What do you like eating from your childhood that no one else you know now seem to like?
(I invite you to follow me on Twitter so you can get more of my non-sense in another medium.)
Trader Joes and Aldi ( a super cheap food chain) are also "sister/brother" companies so you can get even cheaper TJs food at Aldi at times. example Trader Joes Masala simmer sauce is availble at aldi as simply Masala Simmer sauce for like 50cents less.
MaltyDog
September 28, 2010 10:33 am
@JJR,
Isn't it funny now that we look back on it, and it's like all these random these are the 'rare treats'? I'm with you, those juice boxes.. haha.
@MaltyDog,
Ah, see that's a good tip. The only catch is that we don't have Aldi's here in NYC. I'm not sure they're in any of the five boroughs...
Danny
September 28, 2010 10:46 am
Beanie weenies: you should try them. We used a kind of canned beans called "maple sugar beans". Just cook the sliced hot-dogs in the beans--no other ingredients required, though I guess a little chopped onion would be nice on it.
I am digging on James' plastic juice bottles. Those things were like 0% juice. Basically an otter pop in a bottle. We never had them at home--they were a rare treat.
JJR
September 27, 2010 3:19 pm
@Nicholas,
Dunkaroos! Those things cross cultural boundaries. In Asian supermarkets we have those things that come in a cone too, you know what I'm talking about. It's like cookie sticks and fake chocolate frosting. Man, that's good too.
@James,
There isn't too much muffin in your sugar. I think. But yes, juice boxes ftw. Juicy juice is one of them. haha. Just the name cracks me up.
@JRR,
Wow, I didn't even know about beanie weenies. I wonder if that's going to be enjoyable to me now... hmm..
@Shine,
Ohhh yea, fruit rolllups. I know what that's all about. That was my favorite thing to eat at my friends house. They were awesome because they had shapes that you can pull out... oh, the best!
@Rack of Lam,
For realz. That thing was not cheap and not filling enough. But yea, how can you meat crackers with Capri Sun? That's full of win for sure.
@Seven,
Yes yes, it's always all love. Pizza rolls are interesting too. The thing is they're small and you can eat a lot of them. I liked the little bagel pizzas that were frozen. Those things are like cheetos for me.
Danny
September 27, 2010 11:59 am
OMG lunchables was my thing too! It's so weird how we're willing to pay 4 bucks for some tiny ass crackers, cold cuts, cheese, a Capri-sun and a small bag of chocolate ... a meal we can put together ourselves for under a dollar! Nonetheless, it was still yummy ... just not filling.
Rack of Lam
September 26, 2010 12:59 am
Most of my childhood favourites are now unpalatable from 2 out of four years spent eating them constantly when they're on sale like the broke college kid that I am. Farewell, Chef Boyardee and pizza for 1. Pizza rolls, you're all I have left...
I see you've used the C word once more since your Fay Da red bean ice post. I'm dating an ABC now and call him a chink regularly for the irony cos he acts more "American" than I do, and he and every one of my asian friends calls me the same cos I act more "Chinese" than him even though I'm black. /shrug. It's all in love and he and I are both fans of yours.
Ironically I only mention this because today I stopped at the Fay Da near Austin st on my way to deliver some mooncakes to see if it's really as bad as you said it is. It still sucks.
Seven
September 26, 2010 10:01 pm
Two words: beanie weenies.
I wonder if this item will be on this list for some people in the future: http://www.junkfoodblog.com/2006/07/jimmy-dean-chocolate-chip-pancakes.html
JJR
September 24, 2010 9:39 pm
Danny,
I was killing myself laughing reading this as you tucked into my childhood memories perfectly. My parents made me lunches of soy chicken with rice and home-made pizza and I was so embarassed. I would have done ANYTHING for a fruit roll up, those sheets of plastic fruit leather all the other kids were eating. Or a wagon wheel. The chocolate cookies with the marshmallow and wafer inside. It makes me laugh, but that is peer pressure for ya.
I didn't know that those corporations owned the other companies....interesting. I always like to know things like that even to see how the companies "compete" against each other.
Shine
September 25, 2010 11:39 am
Dunkaroos... I don't know why. That little depression of frosting with sprinkles just did it for me. I can eat a can of frosting now, sure... but it's just not the same.
Nicholas
September 23, 2010 3:06 pm
Steak-Umms, kid!
FN
September 23, 2010 5:06 pm
The C Word!
The C Word!
Fred
September 23, 2010 5:23 pm
Dude, those fucking juice bottles. The 8 oz. ones that have a square shape with all corners rounded. None of them contain actual juice; they're all artificially flavored and colored orange/red/purple drink... but they were absolutely the BEST when I was a kid. Do you remember? I wonder if they would taste any good to me know that I'm a boring, "there's too much sugar in this muffin" adult.
The shitty thing about the mental variable of, well, any consumer product is how it undercuts the actual decision of what to consume. This is why I hate when people talk about how individuals always make the best choice for themselves, and those who make poor choices (on diet, especially) dig their own graves. Yeah, we should be free to eat whatever crap we want, but if what we "want" is simply the product of millions of dollars of manipulative advertising and peer pressure, then fuck it all. That's not a choice, it's a result... some would say a symptom.
Anyway, my favorite "secret discount" at TJ's is the beer. Their beers are sourced to existing micro-breweries and priced hella cheap! And Charles Shaw's "2 Buck Chuck" has now become "Trader Joe's $3 wine."
James
September 24, 2010 5:10 pm
Sucg foods are really helpful for children to grow quickly.
Upper eyelid surgery
July 4, 2011 5:23 am