Pumpkin Tortilla Chips

Nothing says Fall like pumpkins and I’m not sure if there’s an item that Trader Joe’s won’t flavor with pumpkin. A textbook example of this is TJ’s recent release of Pumpkin Tortilla Chips. These chips deliver exactly what they advertise and more. The list of ingredients (and there are not many ingredients) includes cinnamon and nutmeg. The flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg really shine through to provide a unique and delicious snack. These chips are a little on the thin, delicate end of chips so I recommend pairing them with TJ’s Salsa Autentica or a soft cream cheese dip.

Please comment with your favorite dip suggestion for these chips.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – Definitely worth a try. These chips are guaranteed to be a hit snack at parties this fall.

Golden Road Brewery’s Saison Pamplemousse

A beer that incorporates grapefruit? You had me at “beer.” This particular brew comes to us from Golden Road of Los Angeles. I’ve tried several Golden Road varieties over the years and this is by far my favorite yet. Saisons are not usually my preferred beer because the fruit flavor can be overwhelming to me. But I like to try new things and the combination of an ale with grapefruit (“pamplemousse” is French for grapefruit) was far too compelling to pass up. Golden Road nailed it with this effervescent and refreshing Saison Pamplemousse. It’s the perfect beer to relax with on a Sunday afternoon. The grapefruit flavor is slightly tart but not overpowering. My only regret was buying only a single can to try and not a full six-pack from TJ’s.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – Delicious and refreshing. If you enjoy saison or hefeweizen beers or even La Croixs, you’ll likely love this beer.

Ghost Pepper Potato Chips

Ghost Pepper?! Isn’t that one of the hottest peppers known to man? Yes, yes it is. I’ve actually experienced the raw heat of a ghost pepper before thanks to my brother-in-law who just happened to have some on hand at a family event last year. He dared me to try it. I did and after many tears and gulps of milk, I kept the pepper down. Naturally, I had to try these new Ghost Pepper Potato Chips to see if TJ’s was intentionally inflict pain on the taste-buds of its customers.

The first thing that I noticed on when looking at the list of ingredients was the inclusion of sugar. This hinted at the true nature of these chips. They’re actually not as hot as you might imagine. Sure, the heat will build slowly as you eat them but it’s never overwhelming. The chips have a slight sweetness, from the sugar and the potatoes themselves, to go with the heat. Combine the peppery heat, sweetness, and excellent crunch of the kettle cooked chips and you have a very unique potato chip that can stand on its own or pair well with a sour cream dip.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Hawaiian Shirts – I can’t say I’ve eaten anything like these chips anywhere else. Give it a try, if for no other reason than to brag to your friends that you’ve tried a ghost pepper.

Greens, Beans and Grains

In my never-ending search for a vegetarian lunch option that I can keep frozen at work for those days when I can’t make it to TJ’s for a fresh salad or sandwich, I came across their Greens, Beans and Grains frozen meal. It’s described on the packaging as “a savory entree of kale, garbanzos, peanuts and couscous.” Sounds good to me!

After nuking it in the microwave, I took my first bite and was pleasantly surprised. The flavors are balanced and there’s even a hint of spiciness. The peanuts are not overwhelming in flavor nor is it too salty. I also feel that the garbanzo beans add a slight crunch to compliment the softer textures of the meal. My only slight disappointment is the size of the meal. It’s pretty small but can be easily complimented with TJ’s Middle Eastern Flatbread or naan.

While it’s not my favorite frozen vegetable meal from TJ’s (check back for my upcoming review of the frozen Vegetable Biryani), I would recommend it as a good item to keep on hand in the freezer because it’s flavorful and filling.

3 out of 5 Hawaiian shirts