UNITED KINGDOM, Feb 16 — Peanut Butter; love it or hate it right? Well, I love it and I guess that about 50% of you will love it too. But do you love it as much to have it spread in your sandwich, schmeared on your bagel, swirled in your milkshake and dolloped on your ice cream? What about kissed with chocolate, drizzled with honey, stuffed with apples or dipped with celery? OK, maybe celery is pushing it a bit too far (it is the devil’s food after all!) but as for all the other sumptuous options; I adore every one!
Imagine my delight then when on a recent trip over the pond to New York I discovered a marvellous little establishment called ’The Peanut Butter & Co’ Sandwich Shop. There is something very smug about uncovering a place that you haven’t already read about in your guide book and when I stumbled upon this gem nestled in the leafy ’burbs of Greenwich Village I was thrilled.
P
eanut Butter; love it or hate it right? Well, I love it and I guess that about 50% of you will love it too. But do you love it as much to have it spread in your sandwich, schmeared on your bagel, swirled in your milkshake and dolloped on your ice cream? What about kissed with chocolate, drizzled with honey, stuffed with apples or dipped with celery? OK, maybe celery is pushing it a bit too far (it is the devil’s food after all!) but as for all the other sumptuous options; I adore every one!
Imagine my delight then when on a recent trip over the pond to New York I discovered a marvellous little establishment called ’The Peanut Butter & Co’ Sandwich Shop. There is something very smug about uncovering a place that you haven’t already read about in your guide book and when I stumbled upon this gem nestled in the leafy ’burbs of Greenwich Village I was thrilled.
The brightly coloured blue and white frontage of the shop invited me in and I was warmly welcomed by a wonderfully cheery guy in his brightly matched blue and white apron; ("Hey, what can I getchya"). Now, faced with the same question by The Captain* on a typical morning before work when my choices are generally ’white or brown’ and if I am really lucky ’crunchy or smooth’, this would ordinarily be an easy question. However, as you would expect
The Peanut Butter & Co Sandwich Shop has considerably more choices than that. On the menu are a plethora of sandwiches (obviously), bagels and toasts and a selection of deserts including brownies, cookies, pies, waffles and sundaes; all deliciously seductive. I politely let the sandwich guy know that I think I’ll need a little more time to make my choice and it is evident from his "no problem" smile and nod that he is used to the look of astonishment that articulates ’good lordy, I never knew you could put peanut butter withso many things!’, on all his new customers’ faces.
Now we all know that our good American friends are old hats at mixing PB with ’Jello’ but to us Brits that’s quite exotic enough. Now I am faced with the ’Classic’ sandwich options like ’The Elvis’ (A grilled peanut butter sandwich, stuffed with bananas and honey. Try it with bacon for that extra indulgence. Long live The King!’) and ’Fluffernutter’ (Remember this recipe? Peanut Butter on one side and gobs of Marshmallow Fluff spread on the other. It’s heaven’). But my eyes perusing further down the large menu board behind the sandwich guy reveal that there are ’Gourmet’ choices too!
’The Heat is On’ Sandwich (Spicy Peanut Butter and chilled grilled chicken, with a little bit of pineapple jam. Like a Thai Satay, only better). Sounds tasty, as does the ’White Chocolate Wonderful’ Sandwich (White chocolate peanut butter and orange marmalade with a crunchy layer of thinly sliced almonds. It’s like a peanutty creamsicle...ooh-la-la). I ask the sandwich guy what he would recommend and I don’t know whether to be offended when he says "well, you look like a cookie kinda gal" or not.....I know I’ve put on a few pounds but no need to be cheeky mister! I err on the fact that he isn’t cruisin’ for a bruisin’ but is just very perceptive to his customers’ needs because actually yes, I do love cookies!
Before I acknowledge my penchant for them by pretending to be a blue fluffy monster and growling ’coookieeee’ (I would find that funny but he on the other hand may just think I am odd) at him he begins to describe the ’Cookie Dough Surprise’ (Peanut Butter on one side and velvety vanilla cream cheese on the other, stuffed with chocolate chips. It really does taste like cookie dough!). He doesn’t need to repeat this mouth watering concoction to me twice as I order one of these to eat in immediately.
I take my seat in the small but perfectly lovely sandwich shop. I am lucky to get a one as there is only one table left and the place is packed out. It may be small but this adds to its charm, it has a very personal and friendly feel. There seems to be an eclectic mix of clientele who have chosen to peanut butter fest today. A family with a young girl happily enjoying her bowl of ice cream. From the look of it I deduce that it must be a ’Peanut Butter Bliss Sundae’. Dad seems to have a ’Peanut Butter Wafflewich’ and Mum just a peanut butter smoothie...perhaps she is on a diet! There is a couple of backpacking early twenty something’s from New Zealand (they have badges on their packs) and a handful of seemingly regular customers.
It is not long before my Cookie Dough Surprise arrives and it certainly does not disappoint; it looks amazing! I am somewhat surprised though by the 3 small carrots that are nestled on the plate and the small bag of potato ’chips’ that I am given to accompany my already calorie laden lunch. On reading the back of the bag of chips though my heart is turned completely to mush by the story behind the carrots which is so lovingly explained for the inquisitive. Reader, I will leave you to discover the tale for yourself as I don’t want to ruin that moment of charming discovery that I had on learning it.
My sandwich is absolutely delicious....creamy, chocolaty, peanut buttery loveliness that I suspect some of you will be sceptical of. But trust me, you gotta try it! If you can’t get to this wonderful little place in the heart of Greenwich Village try and make it at home, minus the carrots though. I would love to say that I resisted a desert but reasoning that I may not be visiting again for sometime I devoured a sumptuous delight. I would also love to say that I only had a smaller option but I would be lying! Instead I had a ’Death by Peanut Butter Sundae’ and finished the whole damn lot of ice cream, peanut butter, peanut butter chips, Reece’s Pieces, cream and hey, some peanut butter sauce just to top off the peanut butteryness! Devine.
Before I leave the shop I chat to the sandwich guy and discover that he is the founder and owner of this wonderful place. He is a joy to talk to and the cherry on the cake (or the peanut on the butter!) to visiting his joint. I felt welcomed and the food was fabulous here. I purchase a few jars of PB (’Dark Chocolate Dreams’ and ’Cinnamon Raison Swirl’....Yumsk!) before I walk out into the Greenwich air with a promise that I will definitely return on my next visit to the Big Apple. In fact, if The Captain and I are ever awaiting the patter of tiny feet I will be on the first plane over to order a ’Pregnant Lady’ (Peanut butter and pickles? You bet! A strange sounding but great combination. Better watch out though - this sandwich has been known to induce labour!)
Take a look at The Peanut Butter & Co Sandwich Shop for yourself at the following link:
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