My apologies. MSG is indeed not listed on the ingredients. Koji and yeast extract are the likely bits making me taste that glutamate hit.
I was writing my post from the couch, after dinner, and didn’t want to dig through the kitchen trash to verify ingredients. That’s why I made sure to say I was guessing.
But then, this is a good opportunity remind everyone that we’re all just people on the other side of these posts, and we’ll all fuck up from time to time.
Sorry ‘bout that.
…and don’t realize it is naturally in many, many ingredients
Yay: Spicy Tempura Seaweed Snacks. The perfect amount of spice, great texture, and a small handful is enough to satiate as a snack.
Tried this last night, was a “meh” for me but DH liked it. He hasn’t has good karaage & I have, so there’s that… I will have to get him a good version so he will know what it should be!
Cautious Yea for a new Korean product, Jumeokbap — looks like japanese onigiri, but the seasoning is different (like it differs between sushi and kimbap).
It’s slightly sweeter than it needs to be, but flavorful.
Nay for the new popcorn flavor — Synergistic? It’s a bit too strong on both tartness and smoked paprika, but I’m guessing this is something that some people will love and others will hate.
YAY! for Beecher’s Flagship Cheese. No idea if it’s new or not but new for me and I just devoured an unseemly amount with crackers. Lovely flavor and I am a sucker for crumbly cheese.
I continue to love the Zhoug sauce and find endless uses for it.
I bought the dolmas in a can but have not yet tried.
I always have a can of dolmas here, good for when I want to eat NOW.
I drain them, put in glass container, squeeze fresh lemon juice, pour over good olive oil.
Good to know, thanks!
I love them, too. Some find them overly mushy, but I’ll take a soft, well-cooked dolma over one with crunchy rice any day.
Plus I don’t have to spend 3 hours making them myself. Those & the gigantes are a frequent addition to snacks/appetizers when we have a crowd over.
A recent yay & two somewhat distressing “meh’s”.
Yay-- TJ’s frozen meat lasagna. Did think the portion size was smaller then earlier buys.
Both the MEH’s are our two MUST BUY items-- TJ’s Medium Roast Coffee and TJ’s French Vanilla Ice Cream.
The coffee-- well I’ve commented before that FIRST IMPRESSIONS can make or break a product. My first cup over 10 years ago & it was an Epiphany! Just perfect! BUT over the years I’ve discovered that sometimes you get a DUD bag or a MEH one. Great = wonderful aroma when opening, MEH = minimal, DUD = None. 
This was MEH. We didn’t buy it every month but I’d guess 60+ bags over 10 years only 4 or 5 were “MEH” & 1 DUD.
The Ice Cream-- this was more distressing since it’s the first ever. Lacking its normal “bite” of vanilla. Not horrible at all but not the WOW, SO GOOD. It’s like a slightly paler version.
We’ve had their non-frozen lasagna, a turkey lasagna from Costco, and a vegetarian lasagna (TJs?) and have found the frozen TJs to be the best. Although. I do add a top layer of Mutti Marinara Sauce just for more flavor.
Since I’ve been wanting to try the new frozen Japanese Soufflé Cheesecake, yesterday morning I called and asked them to save me 2 packages (limit 2).
When I arrived I was going to try for a 3rd (for a friend) and they told me THAT’s THE END, DONE FOR THE SEASON!!! Is the season 3 weeks? I never even saw them displayed! I hear they’re great, haven’t tried yet.
Also bought Tart Cherry Fruit Spread. It’s just ok, not enough cherries.
Wow, I don’t remember ever seeing these and I’m in TJs by work almost every week. Talk about short lived. I only saw them for the first time Wednesday night and threw them into my basket. Haven’t had it yet though.
Nay for the new popcorn flavor — Synergistic? It’s a bit too strong on both tartness and smoked paprika, but I’m guessing this is something that some people will love and others will hate.
I wish I’d seen this before I bought a bag yesterday, they were below Nay for me, a solid Feh.
I followed the microwave directions and thought they were just ok, a little soggy, decided to crisp them up in a frying pan and it turned into something between kimbap and crispy sushi rice, served with a little low sodium soy (the kimbap is a little salty) and siracha sauce, really delicious!
thanks to the person who suggested this cooking method upthread!
made falafel sandwiches last night:
Yesterday I opened a package of defrosted Kimbap and the outer layer of rice seemed very dry. I tried a light water spray and quick microwave on one piece, but that didn’t seem to help, so I put the rest of the pieces in my steamer for just a minute. That solved the texture problem, although the pieces did want to fall apart when picked up.
You might prefer the organic handmade whole wheat TJ’s tortillas in this application. They’re really good.
not about a tj’s product, per se, but i recently tried their cranberry clementine sparking water for the first time — wan’t particularly impressed — so, a meh. but when i tried to returned them at my regular supermarket with other cans, the machine wouldn’t accept them. i don’t have a car (where i could just stick them until my next tj’s run( so i have to hang onto then and remember to bring them with me.
not a biggie, but kind of a pita.
I do them like pizza — on a nonstick pan, with with a bit of water sprinkled, then cover. Flip (gently) and repeat. Rehydrates the rice and crisps up the edges of the seaweed a bit in a nice way. They do fall apart a bit, but it’s fine.
Now the question is, it is worth all this remedial work. But for $4 and no equivalent option nearby (yet — there’s an hmart coming soon 2 blocks from my TJs), I’d say yes.
