We love the excitement of spotting a brand-new products on Trader Joe’s shelves, or even getting a sneak peek of what to keep our eyes peeled for from our favorite TJ’s Instagram accounts (shout out @traderjoeslist!). But sometimes we can’t resist tuning into the Trader Joe’s podcast to get the inside scoop on upcoming products before they even hit shelves. The podcast, hosted by the store’s marketing vice presidents Tara Miller and Matt Sloan, frequently gives listeners a look (or listen) at what’s to come at TJ’s.
In the most recent episode, which was mainly dedicated to highlighting the winners of the 15th Annual Customer Choice Awards, Sloan and Miller also unveiled a few frozen foods that will be hitting stores soon. They were even joined by the chain’s category manager for frozen foods, Mary Ann Tuzon, to do a review of all of the goodies. These include delectable frozen pizzas and mouthwatering cheesecake bites; get the 411 below!
Spicy Meat Pizza
Trader Joe's is home to some of the tastiest frozen pizzas around, and it sounds like this Spicy Meat Pizza will be no different—especially if you're a lover of, well, spice and meat. In fact, Tuzon told listeners that the meat on this pizza comes from "actual Italian pizza suppliers." As she notes, "This is our first pizza that’s going to be topped with meat coming directly from Italy." Incredible! You should be able to spot this pizza on shelves any day now if you can't already get your hands on it.
Carbonara with Pancetta
Attention pasta lovers! Tuzon describes TJ's take on carbonara (creamy pasta made with egg yolks, pork, and Pecorino Romana cheese) as "indulgent," which is frankly exactly what we're looking for in a pasta dish. So sign us up! We can't wait to make this on busy weeknights.
Chile Rellenos
Here's another tasty dish imported from an international supplier for optimal authenticity and flavor. Sloan notes that these giant peppers (which he says are a "so, so tasty") are made in Mexico. "If you’ve ever attempted to make a chile relleno at home, it’s a lot of work. And so, this is so easy and so expertly made," he adds. "I’m so anxious and excited to hear how customers react to these." And we're so anxious and excited to try 'em!
Calamansi & Mango Sorbet
Okay, now time for dessert. Trader Joe's is pretty well-known for their to-die-for ice cream flavors, but let's shed some light on their sorbet, too. We probably all love mango. But if you were wondering what calamansi is, you're not alone. Luckily, Tuzon explained for listeners. "It’s this little tiny fruit. I guess you could call it a cross between a lime and a lemon," she said. Sounds delish! We definitely trust Tuzon when she describes this sorbet as "refreshing."
Chocolate Cheesecake Bites
Okay, okay, here's what we've all been waiting for: the truly decadent desserts we know and love from TJ's. Chocolate lovers should be really excited about these Chocolate Cheesecake Bites, which Tuzon assures us should hit shelves "just in time for Valentine’s Day to share with your loved one." (Or yourself, as Miller joked.) These come in packs of nine. Sloan tells us that "it’s like a rectangle of cheesecake that’s been cut into little bits—that’s so easy to serve and set out." YUM! We need some, like, ASAP.
