What: Hey PB&J
Where: Check them out at Civic Center Eats on Tuesday the 6th
Recommendation: The Blueberry Pie
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches have always been a lunch box staple. They are loved by kids and moms the world over because the classic combo is easy to make and tastes delicious. Part of the reason they taste so good is the pairing of sweet jelly and salty peanuts. It’s the ultimate sweet and savory meal. Hey PB&J takes the idea of sweet and salty to a whole new level with their take on this lunch box favorite.
For those of us no longer dining in a cafeteria the idea of eating PB&J might seem a little strange but Hey PB&J is 100% gourmet. You won’t find some store bought grape jelly and peanut butter at this truck. Here is how the menu works: there is a sweet section and a savory/spicy section and you can’t go wrong with either one. For people who think a savory/spicy PB&J is a little daunting let me ease you into the gourmet by starting off with my sweet recommendation.
The Blueberry Pie is the PB&J I wish my mom would have packed for lunch when I was a kid. They start with killer bread that is almost like a french toast. It is dense and delicious. The peanut butter portion of this PB&J comes from Hey PB&J’s homemade almond butter. This almond butter is the bees knees (pun intend), they make it crunchy style so you get awesome texture. The almond butter also packs the sandwich with your protein fix and saltiness to play against the sweet flavors to come. The sweet aspect comes from two things, homemade blueberry jam and clover honey. That’s right I said HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY JAM! If you haven’t had homemade blueberry jam before, it’s amazing. You actually get whole blueberries and the syrup that they produce is sweet and adds brightness to the sandwich. The clover honey is another great addition to this PB&J because it brings a little more sweetness but with natural sugar so it doesn’t take over your palate. The kicker to the Blueberry Pie is pie crust chunks, it’s so genius. It’s an ingredient that once again adds texture so your taste buds are never bored and it really does make it taste like an actual pie, flaky crusts and all. The finishing touch on this PB&J masterpiece is that it takes a quick spin on the griddle so it get warm and melty inside and has a golden crust on the outside. It’s a gourmet dessert for lunch.
For the more culinary adventurous take a trip to the savory/spicy menu. Al l the items on this menu will also contain some type of nut butter and some sweet element so prepare your mouth for an explosion of flavor. For those of you who are looking for a little spice action the Thai has your name all over it. It’s made with spicy peanut butter, orange marmalade, coconut, fresh basil, and crushed peanuts. The spice gives the sandwich heats up your tongue while the coconut and basil give great flavor. It’s PB&J with a little Asian flair. For the Elvis lover in all of us you can pay tribute with the King PB&J which contains peanut butter, Apple-wood smoked bacon, clover honey, and sliced bananas. For me, peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwiches have always been one of my favorites. By adding the bacon it takes it up a notch and gives a little smokiness that goes great with the peanut butter. The Apple-wood smoked bacon is also thick cut and high quality so you can really taste it. Elvis was doing something right when he thought of this amazing combination.
These savory/spicy PB&J’s might be a little out of your comfort zone but they are worth the risk. Take the plunge and try something new. If you just can’t wrap you head around the bold flavors, or you just can’t quit the sweet stuff you must check out the sweet menu at Hey PB&J. The Blueberry Pie is just the tip of the iceberg. Hey PB&J is also constantly adding to their menu so you can always be tasting the lasting and greatest PB&J’s. Stop by Hey PB&J and see what they will be cooking up next.