TODAY’S POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY FRIEND OF THE BLOG AND TRADER JOE’S FAN, RANDY ROVEGNO. HE IS AN AUTHORITY ON SNACKING SO HE WON’T STEER YOU WRONG IF A SATISFYING AND DELICIOUS SPREAD IS WHAT YOU CRAVE.
I am an olive guy. I love olives on pizza, in omelettes, and on sandwiches. So it is surprise that I love Trader Joe’s Olive Tapenade Spread. I dip my Trader Joe’s Ridge Cut Potato Chips during every game or movie I watch. It’s to the point where my wife knows that a few bags of chips and several jars of the olive spread must always be on hand. The tapenade features three types of olives as the primary ingredient and the Kalamata, black, and green Greek olives gives it a unique combination of flavor that leans slightly heavier on the Kalamatas. The olive oil has a strong presence as well and the combination of solid olive relish and chunks with the liquid forms a great partnership. There are several other spreads the retailer offers including the Green Olive Tapenade but I would rank this version at the top.
The chunky texture and chopped up olives gives it a solid texture versus the “creamier” artichoke or bacon cheddar dips that Trader Joe’s offers. (And for the record, I will say that all of those are delicious as well). The spread comes in approximately 7oz jars and you can spread on pitas, use alongside bread and/or oil bowls, or scoop directly from the jar.
The only drawback is ironically how good it tastes. I say that because a single serving size, according to the label, is one tablespoon and once you start enjoying the dip, you will exceed the portion within your first three bites. So at 40 calories per tablespoon, it’s not a low-cal treat. But if you have your feet up watching a game with chips and the Trader Joe’s Olive Tapenade Spread, that’s probably not your main concern anyway.
You had me at Sriracha. For the uninitiated, Sriracha is a delicious hot sauce that balances in the flavorful space between spicy and sweet. I usually use it to top fried rice or eggs. Trader Joe’s has gone ahead and applied it to lattice-cut, kettle-cooked potato chips and the result is excellent. Each bite bursts with salty, sweet, vinegar, and red chili pepper combination that is unique and hard to put down. Don’t be intimidated by the heat though. It’s just enough to heat your taste buds but can be easily extinguished with a sip of water.
Trader Joe's Pro 