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I'm a restaurant owner who loves shopping at Trader Joe's. Here are 8 items I always keep at home. [Business Insider]

When you run a restaurant, your life revolves around food. I spend my days sourcing produce, tasting sauces, and obsessing over the perfect balance of flavor. You’d think that after 12 hours in a hot kitchen, I’d want nothing to do with groceries. But the truth is, I’m a Trader Joe’s loyalist. There’s something about those Hawaiian shirts and the hand-drawn signs that makes me feel like I’m cheating on my own supply chain.

I’ve learned that Trader Joe’s isn’t just for college students or busy parents. It’s a secret weapon for anyone who loves to cook—especially when you’re tired and just want something that tastes like you spent four hours on it. Here are eight items I always keep in my home pantry and fridge, straight from the aisles of TJ’s.

1. Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

This is the MVP of my spice rack. I use it on everything—eggs, avocado toast, roasted vegetables, even grilled chicken. It’s a blend of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, onion, and salt. In the restaurant, we make our own spice mixes, but at home? I’m not reinventing the wheel. A sprinkle of this turns a boring bowl of rice into something that tastes like a brunch special. I buy three jars at a time because I panic if I run out.

2. Frozen Organic Brown Rice

I know, I know—making rice from scratch is easy. But on a Tuesday night after a double shift, I don’t want to wait 20 minutes. Trader Joe’s frozen brown rice steams in the microwave in three minutes. It’s fluffy, not mushy, and it tastes like I actually rinsed and simmered it myself. I use it as a base for stir-fries, burrito bowls, or just with a fried egg and soy sauce. It’s my cheat code for a quick, satisfying meal.

3. Unexpected Cheddar

This cheese is a revelation. It’s a sharp cheddar that has a slight crumble—like a Parmesan-meets-cheddar hybrid. I serve it on a cheese board for guests, but honestly, I eat it straight from the wrapper while standing in my kitchen. It melts beautifully, so I also grate it over pasta or fold it into omelets. The name is accurate: you don’t expect a grocery store cheese to be this good. It’s my go-to for “I need something fancy but I’m too tired to go to a cheese shop.”

4. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

I’m not proud of this, but I keep a bag in my freezer at all times. After a long night of tasting sauces and checking ticket times, I crave something sweet but not cloying. These peanut butter cups are dangerously good—the dark chocolate is rich, and the peanut butter is salty and smooth. I’ll grab one (or three) when I’m decompressing. They’re also my secret weapon for dessert at home: I crush them over vanilla ice cream and call it a sundae. No one complains.

5. Soy Chorizo

This is the most underrated item in the store. I’m a meat eater, but this plant-based chorizo has a smoky, spicy flavor that’s perfect for tacos, breakfast scrambles, or even pasta sauce. It crumbles like the real thing and it’s ready in five minutes. I keep a couple packs in the fridge for nights when I want something hearty but don’t want to defrost meat. I’ve served it to friends who swore they were “not into fake meat,” and they asked for seconds.

6. Garlic Naan

Trader Joe’s naan is soft, pillowy, and loaded with garlic butter. I heat it in a dry skillet for a minute on each side, and it comes out crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I use it for everything—dipping in curry, making a quick pizza, or even as a side for soup. In the restaurant, we bake our own bread, but at home? This naan is as good as anything I could make from scratch. I always buy two packs because one disappears in a day.

7. Mandarin Orange Chicken

Yes, I’m a chef, and yes, I buy frozen orange chicken. This is the ultimate weeknight meal. The chicken is crispy—even from the oven—and the sauce is sweet, tangy, and sticky. I add a splash of soy sauce and some red pepper flakes to give it a kick. Serve it with the frozen brown rice, and you have a dinner that tastes like takeout but costs half the price. It’s my guilty pleasure, and I refuse to apologize for it.

8. Cinnamon Roll Blondies

These are in the bakery section, and they are a problem. They’re dense, buttery, and topped with a cream cheese glaze that’s not too sweet. I buy one box, and it lasts maybe two days in my house. I’ll warm a piece in the microwave for 10 seconds and eat it with a cup of coffee. It’s the kind of treat that feels homemade, but you didn’t have to preheat the oven or dirty a bowl. For a guy who spends his life in a kitchen, that’s pure luxury.

Running a restaurant has taught me that good food doesn’t have to be complicated. These Trader Joe’s staples save me time, money, and sanity. They’re not substitutes—they’re shortcuts to a better dinner. So next time you’re in the aisle, grab an extra jar of that seasoning. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later.

Ahmed Abed – News journalist

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