Trader Joe’s Pesto Tortellini Bowl

September 13, 2006 | Reviewer: Amy

None of the information in the review has been confirmed. So, we may just be adding to the Trader Joe’s rumor mill. That or they really do sell other brands with replacement packaging.

Trader Joe's Pesto Tortellini Bowl

Price: $2.79
Serving: 1 package, 9.5 oz.
Calories: 470
Fat: 35%, 23g
Sodium: 26%, 630mg
Protein: 18g
Fiber: 12%, 3g

Trader Joe says: Made with organic pasta, extra virgin olive oil and basil.

Amy says: Sound the alarm folks! I am hittin’ you with (what i consider to be) some super duper news. Are you ready? Brace yourself foo! OK, well, once upon a time in San Diego (why the locale matters I know not) I was chatting with my cousin about the merits of Amy’s Kitchen and Trader Joe’s. I love these companies passionately for all of the goodness they have dropped into my life. My cousin worked for a food broker that dealt with Amy’s and she informed me that sometimes Trader Joe’s would get Amy’s products and put their own packaging on them. If you haven’t figured out what I am insinuating here then well, I suppose I will have to spell it out for you. This tortellini bowl is essentially Amy’s, though I checked it out and the nutrition varies a touch, but the taste, hot diggity!!!

I never got to review Amy’s tortellini bowl. I was daunted by Abi’s tremendous review, but it seems that fate works in mysterious and wonderful ways so here we go!

Trader Joe’s tortellini bowl is what every frozen meal should strive to be in terms of yumminess. The sauce is basil-ly delcious and the tortellini, although not al dente, were cooked evenly and had delightful cheesy center. Also, Abi noted that Amy’s tortellini got a little tough in the microwave. I paid extra attention to this while inhaling my meal and I only found one that was slightly chewy. It seems that Trader Joe’s was able to fix the problem which Amy’s presented, or maybe my microwave is better than the one at work. The best part of this discovery was, well, I guess that it existed at all, but also, the price. Even with the raincheck from Giant the Amy’s tortellini bowl is often more expensive.

The drawbacks here are that I don’t think every Trader Joe’s carries this product as I only found it upon my return to California and unfortunately, good products do not make for funny reviews. I am sure that Abi will make every attempt to track one or eight of these bad boys down at every Trader Joe’s in the DC metropolitan area. I wish you luck on this mission.

[I’ve made an attempt to track down this bowl at multiple Trader Joe’s in the DC area. I’m sorry dear readers, but I haven’t found them at the Fairfax, Alexandria, DC (woo!), or Silver Spring Trader Joe’s. I’m a little bummed about this and beginning to think that maybe this product is only available on the West Coast. –Abi Jones, Ed.]

[These are definitely available at the Foggy Bottom Trader Joe’s in DC, and the Menlo Park and Mountain View locations in CA. - Ed.]

comments

8 Responses to “Trader Joe’s Pesto Tortellini Bowl”

wende in san francisco on September 13th, 2006

Aha! We had these last week, and I was wondering if they were the same as Amy’s (which I’ve never had), as they were very nice.
coquettecutie on September 13th, 2006

I will have to give this a go next time I’m at TJs. Hey, can you guys include in your reviews if the entrees can be heated in the oven? I know, I know, I’m a luddite for not having a microwave.
Colleen on September 14th, 2006

Whats odd is that amy’s bowl appears to have more pesto (judging only by the pictures) yet claims less calories and fat. Interesting.
Abi Jones on September 14th, 2006

Well, there’s always accounting for the cheese filling in the tortellini. Or maybe Trader Joe’s found a supplier that could mimick the product we all know and love so much. I’ll have to check out a Trader Joe’s in Oregon next time I go home, approximately 11 months from now.
cas on September 14th, 2006

This product is at the trader joe’s in Phoenix, Arizona.

It’s on the west coast, but it further proves your westcoast-only-has-trader-joes-tortellini-bowl theory,
TJ's Crew Member on September 25th, 2006

Trader Joe’s does repackage other brands, but they aren’t always the exact same products. TJ’s finds a product it likes and contacts the company asking them to make it to the TJ’s standards, which are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, no GMO ingredients either. The company tweaks it’s products, slaps a TJ’s label on it, and away it goes to the Trader Joe’s shelves. All TJ’s products are made by other companies, but not all are just repackages, some are specially made just for TJ’s. So some you will find elsewhere in it’s original form (like this Amy’s product) and others are unique to Trader Joe’s.
D'Marie on April 27th, 2007

I know this is really late, but after trying both, I am a fan of the Amy’s pesto tortellini than TJ’s. It has more flavor and more pesto sauce, plus it doesn’t turn out as watery.
Jeff on July 19th, 2007

TJ’s tortellini is BETTER than Amy’s.