I live in a world where garage sales are now called “vintage markets” and the peanut butter and jam sandwich has gone gourmet.
When I was a kid, PB & J was something you got packed in your lunch when the refrigerator was nearly bare, and grocery day was nigh. There were no cold cuts left, the single-serving snack packs were exhausted, so mom packed peanut butter and jam — it was the default for “there’s nothing else to eat.” It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exactly exciting. Coming from a Hungarian family, there was a good chance I wasn’t getting strawberry or raspberry jam, either — think rosehips or some sort of currant combination. Ah, the crosses we’ve all had to bear.
But, now, you see peanut butter and jam on burgers. A special kind of nostalgia has been wrapped around this flavour combination. And, at the new Boxcar Coffee Shop, it’s one of the signature sandwiches on offer. And, with me being on a soft-food diet, why not try it?
This brand-new coffee spot is already a Calder hub. I arrived there on a Monday afternoon, just after 1 p.m., and I got the last indoor table. It’s a cozy spot, with a patio that’s shielded from the street — and the Americano was on point. But, when I asked about the lunch offerings, I was intrigued by Boxcar’s take on the PB & J. It’s got the jam, the crunchy peanut butter “fluff” and strawberries. It’s grilled, and then covered in powdered sugar. Was that also a hint of cinnamon I sensed? Damn straight!
(For the record, mom never made my box-lunch PB & J with strawberries or icing sugar.)
Now, this was a lot. I don’t know if grilling the sandwich draws even more peanut flavour out of the peanut butter, or maybe I just wasn’t ready for this. We have a nut allergy in our family, so my chances to eat nuts or peanut butter are rare. I had almost forgotten how good peanuts can taste. It wasn’t like how I remember Kraft peanut butter, but more like a buttery version of a can of Planter’s. It’s decadent, it’s dessert between two slices of bread, and it’s fun. Maybe I can get behind this PB & J thing, after all.
Boxcar Coffee Shop
Calder | 11926 129 Ave NW, Edmonton | boxcar-coffee-shop.square.site
