About

About Me: Steve Snyder’s Trader Joe’s Review Blog

Welcome to my Trader Joe’s Review blog! I’m Steve Snyder, a passionate food enthusiast who’s been shopping at Trader Joe’s for over 25 years.

What You’ll Find Here

I review nearly everything Trader Joe’s offers—from food and beverages to household items. This blog began in 2009 when my children were infants, initially as a way to track what products I enjoyed feeding them. Years later, my enthusiasm for Trader Joe’s and cooking remains stronger than ever.

Important disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Trader Joe’s beyond being a satisfied customer.

My Culinary Background

Food is central to my life. My wife and I are dedicated food enthusiasts who enjoy both cooking at home and dining out. I collect cookbooks and recipes, and love exploring new culinary experiences through travel.

My expertise extends to wine as well—I worked in the wine industry for over 15 years and hold winemaking and viticulture certificates from UC Davis and Washington State University. I previously taught winemaking at South Seattle Community College’s wine academy as an associate professor, participated in their culinary program, and have served as a cooking competition judge.

My Approach to Reviews

I shop at Trader Joe’s almost daily (a necessity when feeding teenage boys!). This frequent shopping allows me to stay current with new product offerings and provide regular reviews.

My reviews are completely independent and honest—I’ll share both positive and negative experiences. While I appreciate Trader Joe’s concept, I won’t hesitate to critique disappointing products.

My primary location is the Totem Lake store in Kirkland, WA, though I occasionally visit their Redmond and Bellevue locations. I’ve also shopped at Trader Joe’s across multiple states including Oregon, California, Arizona, Virginia, Florida, and Maryland.

My Culinary Journey

My passion for cooking began early—my mother was a Julia Child enthusiast, and I grew up watching her shows. Both my parents are accomplished home cooks, and I fully embraced cooking when I got my first apartment in college. Today, I handle most of the cooking for our family, and raising two food-loving boys inspired me to create this blog to document our Trader Joe’s discoveries.

What to Expect

I post reviews almost daily, focusing primarily on food and wine. While I occasionally cover other departments, I rarely review supplements or delve deeply into the variable fresh produce and meat selections. You’ll also find occasional recipes and food/wine pairing suggestions that showcase how Trader Joe’s products can inspire culinary creativity.

Join the Club Trader Joe’s Community!

Have you tried a product I’ve reviewed? Discovered something amazing that should be on my radar? I want to hear from you! Comment on my reviews, share your own experiences, join our email list, or suggest products for me to try next. Subscribe to receive notifications when new reviews are posted, and follow me on Instagram (@clubtraderjoes) for behind-the-scenes looks at my latest discoveries. Together, we can navigate the ever-changing aisles of Trader Joe’s and uncover hidden gems!

• Bluesky
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Reddit

Advertising

I am open to advertising opportunities. Please email me if you would like to place an ad on this blog.

(I am in no way affiliated with Trader Joe’s in any way other than I am generally a satisfied customer)

If you would like to contact me, send an email to clubtraderjoes (at) gmail dot com

Copyright Statement

© Steve Snyder and Club Trader Joe’s, 2011-2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Steve Snyder and Club Trader Joe’s with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. All imagery of logos and products remains the property of Trader Joe’s.