I'm a chef and mom of 2 who loves Aldi. Here are 13 of my favorite things to buy there.

I am an extra mayo, please person, and upon discovering the Burman's brand during my pioneer voyage to Aldi seven years ago, I was forever changed.It is about half the price of Hellmann's and I think it tastes even better.Almost every evening while I'm preparing my mise en place, I pour a glass of wine and treat myself to this sweet-and-spicy delight.The trail mix is a palate-pleasing combination of textures and flavors and the perfect complement to any happy-hour imbibe. You will not believe the level of deliciousness that this yogurt achieves.Sadly, I wouldn't call it healthy per se, but at 7 grams of protein per 1/2 cup, I'm pretty practiced at pretending it's an excellent breakfast choice. It's too creamy and rich not to be. After years of saving, I splurged and bought my husband a super fancy grill and smoker for his 30th birthday. He uses it year-round, and we love to throw one of these rib eye on the fire for at-home date nights.I always search until I can find the thickest cut with the largest deckle (the glorious cap on one side of a rib eye). These never, ever disappoint. A side of salmon is a centerpiece showstopper for any special occasion. Working with an entire side of fish enables a low and slow approach, which I absolutely love doing with fatty varieties.This salmon always tastes fresh — never fishy, squishy, or slimy. And it's an absolute steal at $7.99 per pound. We've called several different states home, but my husband and I are both originally from outside Philadelphia. The city's cheesesteak hype is legit, friends.As seventh-year Virginians, we've worked relentlessly on an at-home version of our cherished cheesesteaks and have nailed it.As a chef, I'd love to take credit, but alas — it's Philly's own Amoroso's hearth-baked rolls that make my recipe a dead ringer. They also hold up to saucy meatball melts and can serve as the base for mini garlic-bread loaves. I'm not quite a wine connoisseur, but I have learned an immense amount over the past few years.This bubbly is good. It's not just the cheapest I've ever found and it's not just great in mimosas or Bellinis — it also stands on its own as an aperitif or to toast a happy occasion.At just $5 a bottle, a happy occasion for me is often disguised as an average Thursday night.I don't eat a lot of sweets. Generally speaking, I'd rather spend the calories on an extra slice of generously buttered bread than on dessert.But these peanut-butter cups are so delicious and decadent that I regret trying them because I cannot stop after eating just one. If you find them, either buy every bag in stock or RUN.Protein pancakes are a revelation. As a mom of two boys and one husband who all share a strong hangry gene, I know the importance of serving protein-filled breakfasts in the morning. This mix makes for a truly satisfying breakfast option that also involves syrup.Olives are upsettingly expensive at other grocery stores, but these high-quality Aldi options are almost half the price of name brands.They also come stuffed with garlic, jalapeno, or blue cheese. From string to Swiss and Gloucester to Gruyere, every cheese I've tried from Aldi is outstanding.I will only buy sliced American cheese from Aldi's Happy Farms brand. Me and to my grilled-cheese-loving crew think it's superior to other cheeses. Plus the prices are fantastic and often much lower than what I've seen in other grocery stores. Crab cakes are a family favorite, and I make a mean roasted red-pepper remoulade to accompany mine.Making crab cakes from scratch is also time-consuming, and, since I like the kind that are more crab than cake, DIYing them gets expensive. The Maryland-style frozen crab cakes from Aldi's Specially Selected brand are surprisingly tasty and truly affordable.Here's another better than the big name item for me from Aldi. Although my boys ditched diapers years ago, I always recommend Little Journey wipes to new parents.For me, these were the only super-soft baby wipe I found that doesn't easily tear or irritate sensitive baby buns.Click to keep reading Aldi diaries like this one.

I'm a chef and mom of 2 who loves Aldi. Here are 13 of my favorite things to buy there.

Burman's is the only mayonnaise I will ever buy.

Southern Grove's Cajun trail mix is my favorite snack.

Specially Selected's Indulgent Greek yogurt is delicious.

The Black Angus rib eye is top-notch.

I love saving on salmon at Aldi.

Amoroso rolls are the key to a perfect Philly cheesesteak dupe.

This Burlwood bubbly is always stashed in my fridge.

It's hard to eat just one of Choceur's peanut-butter cups.

I buy multiple boxes of Aunt Maple's protein-infused mix on each Aldi run.

I adore olives, whether they are on a charcuterie board or in a martini.

The Happy Farms cheese section is next level.

Ready-made crab cakes? Yes, please!

Once I tried the Little Journey baby wipes, I never looked back.