E. Dwass

Trader Joe's is known for traveling the globe to find a wide and ever-changing variety of foods. They recently went next door to bring back Organic Stone-Ground Mexican-Style Dark Chocolate, which has the shape, taste and paper packaging of traditional south-of-the-border chocolates.

There are two varieties, extra dark and salt and pepper, both with an intense, barely sweet flavor. Like other Mexican chocolates, the texture is grittier than American or European choices. The extra dark version has 70% cocoa solids, while the spicy has 54% cocoa solids. Each package contains two 1.3 ounce discs, scored into 8 pie-slice-shaped wedges, priced at $1.49.

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E. Dwass

More wine, more cheese and more shelves to move stuff around -- the new addition to the Woodland Hills Trader Joe's is shopping cart-ready, although still not completely finished. The long-awaited wine-and-cheese-and-snacks room finally got the necessary city permits, giving customers a chance to roam the spacious aisles.

The popular location, which opened in 2008, has added 4,310 square feet, bringing the total size to 13,900 square feet, according to a company spokesperson.

Someone on the design team must be a fan of House Hunters, because the store now has that much-desired "open concept." Shelves in the old part of the store are being lowered, with the goal of giving shoppers a panoramic view from chips all the way to produce. (This is a sharp contrast to older Trader Joe's stores, characterized by their cramped aisles and challenging traffic patterns -- both in the stores and in the parking lots.)

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Sam Kane

Chef T.J. Tramonto teaching a class

Looking to improve your cooking technique, or maybe just to have a fun night out while fine-tuning your eating skills? Then grab your toque and set your GPS for Thousand Oaks, where 20 cooking classes are being offered by the Community Enrichment Department, part of the Conejo Valley Adult School.

"We're offering more cooking classes now than we used to," says Christina Alwood, coordinator of the enrichment program. "They are becoming more popular all the time. Our instructors are so outstanding and they get a reputation. They gain a following."

Taught by area food experts, including chefs, caterers and cookbook authors, the classes cover a wide range of topics, from seasonal cooking and baking, to learning how to preserve and can foods. Alwood says among student favorites are three classes that focus on using Trader Joe's products to create new dishes.

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Rachael Narins

Speculoos Chocolate Bar

If you recall, a few months ago we waxed rhapsodic about Trader Joe's Speculoos, a product that is, essentially, smooshed cookies in a jar. Imagine asking a 5-year-old, "What's your dream sandwich spread?" and lo, it came true. Now, TJ's has taken that sugar rush to an even further extreme, introducing speculoos-filled dark chocolate bars.

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