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Trader Joe’s and Outback Steakhouse find themselves in an unexpected rivalry.
Although these businesses cater to different segments of the food industry, they are now competing over a beloved culinary creation.
Outback Steakhouse is renowned for its Bloomin’ Onion, a starter where a large onion is expertly sliced to resemble a flower, coated in a spiced flour mix, deep-fried to perfection, and paired with a zesty dipping sauce.
Trader Joe’s has seized upon the dish’s immense popularity by introducing its own version to customers.
Dubbed ‘Onion Flowers’, this grocery store delight can be prepared at home to restaurant-quality standards in under 15 minutes using an air fryer.
‘We recommend serving them as hearty hors d’oeuvres at a game day get-together, cocktail party, or board game night.’
Trader Joe’s wins when it comes to price, charging just $5.49 compared to Outback’s $11.99. The grocer’s version is healthier too, with 700 calories per serving. Meanwhile, the Aussie steakhouse’s dish has a whopping 1900 calories.
Customers have clocked the difference in nutrition, too.
There’s competition blooming between Outback Steakhouse and Trader Joe’s
The Bloomin’ Onion is a signature appetizer served by Outback Steakhouse, featuring a large onion hand-carved to bloom open
Trader Joe’s has now stocked shelves with a copycat version, called Onion Flowers
‘They are also way better for you than the Outback one (still not great for you but better),’ a user wrote on a Reddit post discussing the new product.
There are already many fans of the Trader Joe’s alternative voicing their approval online.
‘Air frying those Onion Flowers is a game changer, they come out so crispy and delicious that you’ll forget they’re technically a side dish,’ one taster said.
Others were excited to try the appetizer for themselves.
‘I didn’t even know these existed at TJs….. I’m heading there this weekend! Thank you!!!’
However, some said the dish was a disappointment.
‘The middle of mine was soooo soggy, I had to throw it out. I cooked it longer than recommended too and it was still unpalatable once I got to the center,’ one said.
‘These did not cook evenly and the crispy batter just pulled right off while the onion stayed in tact [sic]. Wanted to love it but everybody was disappointed,’ another wrote.
Trader Joe’s wins when it comes to price, charging just $5.49 compared to Outback’s $11.99
The Aussie steakhouse’s version dish has a whopping 1,900 calories
Meanwhile the Trader Joe’s offering has 700 calories per serving
The cult-favorite grocer is known for its quirky hits — from Everything But the Bagel seasoning to its viral tote bags that once resold online for thousands of dollars despite costing just $2.99.
Recently, Trader Joe’s put its own spin on the better-for-you soda craze.
A shopper in Massachusetts spotted bright pink and red cans of the pop stocked on shelves at their local stores earlier this week and spread the word online.
So far, the $1.99 beverage is offered in a Strawberry Vanilla or Cherry Cola flavor.
With just four grams of sugar and 30 calories per can, the Strawberry Vanilla flavor is made with strawberry purée, cane sugar, apple cider vinegar, and stevia. The Cherry Cola version has five grams of sugar and 40 calories, and has almost the same recipe, but with cherry juice instead of the purée.
In November, Trader Joe’s re-released one of its fan-favorite items: Chocolate mascarpone. The limited-time addition was back just in time for holiday hosting.