trader joe's wine shop

I'm saying this while shielding my face with slight embarrassment: yesterday was my first Trader Joe's Wine Shop experience. Look, Union Square is just never en route to anywhere I'm ever going so it just hadn't happened yet. And the one time I ventured out to do it, the lines out the door were much too daunting to even attempt. But with no agenda whatsoever, we took the walk up and over to the area to check this off my To Do List.

You guys? This place is amazing. And I know, I know, I know most of you are rolling your eyes with an, "Uh, yeah, we know," look smeared across your face but uh, yeah, I didn't know.
Phenomenal selection, phenomenal prices, I was kicking myself for not having my camera with me. Especially because a cool 15 minutes later, we had a fabulous Chris Noth sighting on University Place. And let must just say. He looks like a dream.


Anyways, I left with a Chilean Merlot-Malbec blend which we enjoyed with dinner last night which will for sure become my new house red. At $4.99 a bottle, this stuff had pretty unbelievable flavor without an overbearing or cloying fake sweetness. I also picked up a bottle of California Viognier, $5.99, which will be tested later in the week. This place (along with Trader Joe's in general) is well worth going out of the way for. The quality, prices, and selection fit anyone's budget and it's just a downright fun experience. Preferably with a Chris Noth run-in.

on hand: frozen dumplings

My beautiful and always funny foodie Aunt Kari has deemed these Trader Joe's Thai Shrimp Gyoza dumplings as pretty divine. Sadly, Trader Joe's never seems to be do-able for me during the week but it looks as if I'm going to have to make an exception. Because you know. Kari says, we do. Got it? Good.

I make it a point to always (or as often as I possibly can) have frozen dumplings on hand. They're a fantastic go to when you're staring into your refrigerator, eyes glossed over from the boredom of its contents, and you're glancing towards the take out menus only to remember, aha! I have frozen dumplings! I don't have to have a boring dinner! I can steam up some dumplings and make a quick little salad and I will be happy! Hooray!

If you don't share that same euphoric reaction, you're the weird one. Not me. I swear.

All jokes aside (because this has been a hilarious post, I know), check out your grocery's selection of frozen dumplings or swing by Trader Joe's. If not for Kari and my sake, for the sake of some Two Buck Chucks.