Who doesn’t love Trader Joe’s? The California based retailer is beloved by customers for its unique products, reasonable prices, and conscientious policies. This might ruffle some feathers, but it’s almost cult-like. I mean, who else is reading and contributing to articles like “15 Secrets About Trader Joe’s You Never Knew” and “40 Facts Only Trader Joe’s Superfans Will Know“?
But, I get it. When you can make a scrumptious meal in under 20 minutes for under $20, what’s not to love? Pick up the ingredients below for a quick and tasty grilled cheese that will hit the spot any night of the week. Admittedly, I included caramelized onion as an ingredient to classify this dish as a 20 minute meal, but truth be told, if you caramelize the onion in the same process, the total time will surpass 20 minutes. So, caramelize it a day or two before and we’re all good. This will only take 20 minutes 😉
What’s the history of Trader Joe’s?
The history of Trader Joe’s dates back to the year 1958 when it was founded by Joe Coulombe.
Joe Coulombe opened the first Trader Joe’s store in Pasadena, California. Initially, it was a small convenience store called “Pronto Market,” offering typical grocery items. However, Coulombe noticed that his store was struggling to compete with larger supermarkets. To differentiate his store, he decided to rebrand it as “Trader Joe’s” in 1967, inspired by the success of a popular tiki-themed restaurant chain called Trader Vic’s.
Trader Joe’s introduced a unique concept to the grocery industry. They focused on offering a smaller, curated selection of high-quality products at reasonable prices. The store emphasized exotic and imported items, catering to customers looking for specialty and gourmet foods. Trader Joe’s also emphasized customer service and employed knowledgeable and friendly staff to assist shoppers.
Over the years, Trader Joe’s gained a loyal following, with customers appreciating the store’s value, unique products, and fun shopping experience. The company expanded steadily, opening more stores across California and eventually expanding to other states throughout the United States.
In 1979, Joe Coulombe sold Trader Joe’s to a German billionaire family, the Albrechts, who also own the ALDI supermarket chain. Under new ownership, Trader Joe’s continued to grow and expand its presence nationwide. Today, Trader Joe’s operates hundreds of stores across the United States, offering a wide range of products, including organic and natural foods, international delicacies, and their own private-label products.
Trader Joe’s has become synonymous with its distinctive branding, including its Hawaiian-shirt-wearing employees, unique product labels, and store decor that evokes a sense of adventure and exploration. The company continues to be known for its commitment to providing customers with affordable, quality products, making it a beloved and popular grocery store chain in the United States.
Trader Joe’s French Onion Grilled Cheese & Creamy Tomato Soup
4
servings5
minutes10
minutes15
minutesPrepared Trader Joe’s ingredients – focaccia bread, cheese, onion, and tomato soup – ring up at under and cooks up in under 20 minutes
Ingredients
2 packages Trader Joe’s caramelized onion focaccia bread
1 box Trader Joe’s creamy tomato soup
1 package Trader Joe’s goat’s milk cheese
1 caramelized yellow onion
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
- Caramelize the onion ahead of time. Set aside. If you’re in a pinch, skip it.
- Preheat the oven to 450°.
- Assemble the sandwich. Layer the goat’s milk cheese and caramelized onions between the two layers of focaccia bread. Drizzle both the top and bottom of the focaccia bread with olive oil.
- Heat a large oven safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter once hot. As soon as the butter begins to melt, add the layered sandwich. Press down firmly with a spatula, moving the spatula around to even it out. Transfer to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes.
Notes
- I chose to use the stove top and oven to prevent the need to flip the sandwich. It’s rather large and bulky, so flipping it halfway through the cooking process isn’t easy.