Entertainment
My 10 Favorite Things From Trader Joe’s Right Now
Last year, I shared my 10 favorite things from Trader Joe’s. I’m still a devoted fan of many of those items — beans in tomato sauce remains a weekly dinner staple in my apartment — but I do have a handful of new (or new-to-me) faves that I wanted to share. So, here are 10 things I’m loving these days at Trader Joe’s…
Frozen Sliced Shiitake Mushrooms. I never leave TJ’s without at least two bags. I love shiitake mushrooms, but it’s weirdly hard to find them on their own (not as part of a mix or a pre-made stir-fry, for example). The TJ’s ones are always earthy and buttery, and the texture holds up perfectly after defrosting. My go-to way of using them is in this vegetarian shepherd’s pie recipe, which I’ve made no fewer than seven times in the past three months — and these mushrooms really take it over the top.
PB&J Oat Bites. Bite-sized though they may be, these things are dense, chewy, and decidedly not muffins. They’re all oat and no flour (they’re actually gluten-free) and surprisingly filling. I keep one in my backpack for mornings when I’m too rushed to eat breakfast before leaving. My only wish is that the mysterious powers who make product decisions at TJ’s would consider a nut-free version, so I could stick them in my daughter’s school backpack, too!
Freeze-Dried Fruit. The stock changes a lot with this item, so you never know what kind of freeze-dried fruit they’ll have on the shelves — strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and mangoes are common options (last week I also saw apricots!) — but whatever they have, I buy. They’re delicious on their own, but I also use the strawberries to make this strawberry milk, and the blueberries are great for adding color and flavor to yogurt or overnight oats.
Lemongrass Coconut Body Oil. I bought this last summer, in a fit of rage and desperation, after a particularly bad mosquito attack at the playground (they went right for my ankles, y’all). It felt and smelled so damn good. The oil is rich, so a little goes a long way. I now keep it in the shower and put it on just before stepping out. If you enjoy a bright, verdant fragrance that doesn’t smell perfume-y, this one’s for you.
Quinoa & Black Bean Infused Tortilla Chips. These chips don’t get enough praise among the Trader Joe’s fandom, and though I don’t want them to become too popular and sell out, I think it’s time they got a proper shout-out. In my opinion, these are the platonic ideal of a dipping chip. They’re sturdy and thick and will hold up against any guac or chunky salsa you’ve got. But personally, I prefer them on their own. They’re super flavorful, but unlike other flavored tortilla chips, they’re not so covered in citrus salt that they leave your mouth sore (I love you, Hint of Lime chips, but we both know that’s not a “hint” of anything).
Chicken Gyoza Potstickers + Soyaki + Thai Style Red Curry Sauce. Another recipe I’ve made a surprising number of times lately? The viral Trader Joe’s dumpling bake. I don’t know who first decided to throw these three TJ’s products together and bake them on a bed of spinach, but I’d like to shake their hand. It’s one of those magic meals that everyone in the family loves, but what makes it even better is the clean-up is even easier than the prep. You mix all the sauces right in the casserole dish, so there are zero extra bowls or surfaces to clean. It’s the little things!
Fried Rice. My husband often pops into TJ’s on his way home just to see what’s new in the frozen fried-rice section, and we’ve yet to find a variety we don’t like. Our usual method is to stir-fry it with whatever vegetables or proteins we have in the fridge — or just throw an egg on top. Boom! Dinner.
Norwegian Crispbread. Man, do I love these seedy, sturdy things — truly the unsung hero of the pantry aisle. As simple as a cracker, yet so much more. They hold up under heavy stuff, like tuna salad or a thick smear of nut butter, and they don’t crumble with moisture either, so bring on the dips. Flavor-wise, they’re so mellow that they’ll pair with pretty much anything, but they bring so much texture that they’re not at all boring. I love them with TJ’s garlic spread, but my favorite way to use them is to make a simple, open-face PB&J for an afternoon snack.
Now it’s your turn! What’s on your must-try list?
P.S. Three Trader Joe’s meal hacks, and 10 TJ’s products that’ll shake up breakfast.
Entertainment
Bose introduces the Lifestyle Collection with a new speaker, soundbar, and subwoofer
Table of Contents
On May 5, Bose announced its new Lifestyle Collection, which consists of the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ($299), the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar ($1,099), and the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer ($899). The line is designed to work together or separately to deliver exceptional sound throughout the home. All three products are packed with proprietary Bose technology to deliver high-quality sound across different environments. They’re available to preorder now, with a May 15 release date.
I was invited to experience the Lifestyle Collection ahead of its release, and I was thoroughly impressed by what I heard and saw. Music on the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker sounded booming and full without muddying vocals, and a clip from Dune literally shook the floors with audio playing from the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar. The soundbar, speaker, and subwoofer, when paired, created room-filling sound sure to wow anyone who takes their Letterboxd account very seriously. And on top of that, the Lifestyle Collection looks sleek and doesn’t scream “tech product.”
Shop the Bose Lifestyle Collection
So, let’s dive into each of these new Bose audio devices.
Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker
The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is available in white smoke, driftwood sand, and black.
Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is decently compact while still packing huge sound. It features three drivers — two front-facing and one up-firing — that allow the audio to truly fill a space, so you get powerful, clear sound no matter where you are in the room. It also features CleanBass technology, supported by a proprietary QuietPort acoustic opening, that delivers bass that doesn’t sound echoey or blown-out.
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Two Lifestyle Ultra speakers can be paired for a surround-sound stereo setup. And you can play music to as many Lifestyle speakers as you have directly from your preferred music app — no need to connect via Bluetooth. The Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is compatible with Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect, and can be grouped with other compatible smart speakers on your network. Additionally, it features a 3.5mm aux port, which is awesome for connecting a turntable. It’s also the first to market speaker outside of Amazon’s own devices to offer full Alexa+ capabilities.
Price and specs
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Price: $299 or $349 for driftwood sand color
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Available speaker configurations: 1.0, 2.0, 7.0.4, 7.1.4
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Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 5.3, AUX 3.5mm
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Dimensions: 4.8 inches W x 7.3 inches H x 6.6 inches D
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Colors: Black, white smoke, driftwood sand (limited edition)
Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar
The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar comes in white smoke or black and has a sleek, low profile.
Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable
This marks the first major soundbar redesign from Bose in over a decade. The Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar features a new acoustic architecture with six full-range drivers (four front-facing and two up-firing), a center tweeter, and two Bose proprietary PhaseGuide drivers. It can play Dolby Atmos content and has SpeechClarity technology that ensures dialogue stands out at any volume, with three adjustable dialogue levels. CustomTune uses your phone’s microphone to analyze the acoustics of your room to optimize audio output performance. Like the speaker, the soundbar features CleanBass technology.
While showing off the Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, a Bose rep toggled on and off the SpeechClarity setting, and I was instantly sold. I sometimes struggle to hear dialogue, but I hate using subtitles, and this technology feels like it was made for me specifically. It pushed the dialogue of a noisy scene without distorting any of the background sound.
The Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar also looks incredibly sleek and sports a tactile dial that allows users to control volume levels without picking up their TV remote or phone.
Price and specs
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Price: $1,099
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Available speaker configurations: 5.0.2, 5.1.2, 7.0.4, 7.1.4
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Connectivity: HDMI Arc and eARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3
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Dimensions: 43.54 inches W x 2.64 inches H x 4.96 inches D
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Weight: 14.8 pounds
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Colors: Black, white smoke
Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer
When paired with the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker and Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar, the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer pushes the collection into full home theater mode by producing deep, controlled bass and reproducing the lowest frequencies for clearer overall audio. It also features the proprietary CleanBass technology, so you’ll get cinematic bass without distortion.
Price and specs
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Price: $899
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Available speaker configurations: 5.1.2, 7.1.4
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Connectivity: WiFi, 3.5mm wired connection
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Dimensions: 11.63 inches W × 12.88 inches H × 11.63 inches D
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Weight: 33.7 pounds
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Colors: Black, white smoke
Entertainment
Are you ready for an Anthony Bourdain biopic? See the trailer now.
A24 is bringing Anthony Bourdain back to theaters with the coming-of-age drama, Tony.
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly eight years since the death of Anthony Bourdain. The outspoken American chef made a massive imprint on the world, not only through his love of food but also his work as an author and documentarian. He shared cuisine, curiosity, and culture from all over the world through his rich and riveting docu-series like No Reservations and Parts Unknown.
Beyond that, his life and writing inspired the 2006 TV series Kitchen Confidential, starring Bradley Cooper; the 2015 drama Bone in the Throat; and the 2021 biographical documentary Roadrunner, which sparked controversy for its use of AI. Now, Tony will explore the early days of Bourdain’s career, featuring The Holdovers‘ Dominic Sessa playing the man himself.
Directed by Matt Johnson (Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie), Tony begins with a 19-year-old Bourdain, spinning out after his ambition to become a writer hits a speed bump. But a job in a kitchen — working under a beguiling Antonio Banderas — will change everything.
Emilia Jones, Dagmara Dominczyk, Rich Sommers, Stavros Halkias, and Leo Woodall co-star in Tony, which will open in theaters this August. But are audiences ready to see someone else play Bourdain this soon after his death?
We’ll see.
Entertainment
Lisa Kudrow shares very blunt take on Ross and Rachels relationship in Friends
The “We were on a break!” argument between Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) has to be one of the most famous moments in Friends — but, now, over two decades on, Lisa Kudrow sees it in a different light.
“He was a bad boyfriend,” she tells Jimmy Fallon in the Tonight Show clip above. “She shouldn’t have gotten back with him because he was horrible. To me it’s like, I don’t care if he slept with three other women or no other women. You had a crisis at work so you weren’t available for a few nights and he flipped out, and you’re like, ‘Wow’.”
Take that, Ross.
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