The Bizarre New Sandwich Combo That People Are Obsessing Over

Sharing This Article

Instagram / Food Truck Guys

From coast to coast to continents across the globe, there’s one thing most people can agree on: sandwiches are a household staple. Whether you prefer extra meat or purely just veggies, there is a sandwich out there for everyone. But the recent trend in sandwich fashion has citizens questioning if it’s truly brilliant or simply disgusting…you decide for yourself.

PB&P

Introducing the peanut butter and pickle sandwich – aka the PB&P. For decades the sweet and salty treat has sneakily made its way into lunchboxes and afternoon snack plates, but where did it really all begin? Let’s take a look back.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215744021485939&set=bc.Abr1GfznEyjBuO6ksMP4Ld3L1BNjR82I-ts22aNmGYE1lf5FgN3kjJl-9afjud7neSAG-VeNbZWGuoIe7ldEuJmiERfBHk2mbgEgp8pxKF77rWCClmE-UIUqBTaV6BA8SZo2W7l32DQn31NGT5mFO6gJ-tyiLNlfUBqTT0mEjwTzew&type=1&opaqueCursor=Abrp0pu9r5ZnuHbIHtEqF5RAj5nyYMi5EdKW9JtWtlkGr6QN6eodgWq7VI9p1aRi2D8g8Kq0p36NTPBvhc9yZoDVCXfIskivtWvHfHPGieemERnUwZicLHCokDq7be-S5NuGRFKuZUD_tefMxvF5WJlMwb7FP07OKaq6mZWIBHy0TG0rPi-IUrbCtwCzNuT72shBEHlv7ruATbO_kPzBjrt7DZ1EhTK-7BeLJHpcl2Qmm1ZbJ_sUrB-EyJW7lpFysE-MLKgRR0WRTvnq2958v3-0CoCwZgDLNDLJM2rFQqdZl–lqStw1PqUe2uszfYeQDPl7PID3UtORAiNBYnBgYQSZqWBi0Eb9DlzUbPUGEs5sZGn7P50ErjPDe2FeBAUOaTB4IBzhoUecp7rdMQW19565DM83zFarwRNW3Qim093Kq1L40RkP_LhMX1kune7L5Au4VCFZsHmaFgL2mAGqgfpF5KxA4t1-JKtzrXUsNtfWuLeolQituxj2DWoG8IF5IonLer9hN1rkxgxhm8qrptTAkz5YdCl9yWZPrUkAW9hFNIkGZ0Sya1YH5rwRLPfQCy9GvZMMQRfMAw3o2ROX6D1jPhkuw4U3gy1ugyFHYkWN4JqjyoiM5X0OljVstBt_MA&theater

The phenomenon of the PB&P dates back to the Great Depression era when Americans were forced to press pennies (and pickles apparently). While the recipe rarely made headlines as the hot new sammy on the market, one man remembers the moment the PB&P unexpectedly changed his life and business forever.

Peanut Butter & Co.

Lee Zalben, the founder and president of Peanut Butter & Co., had been serving up delicious peanut butter sandwiches to hungry city goers since 1998. His little shop took residency in Greenwich Village in New York City – gaining a popular reputation for its tasty toasts.

https://www.facebook.com/signsofthetimesmagazine/photos/basw.AbpQPXRuAJN9MOp3boAIdESLV5z2ZUkLVoOP4gN_RQ2NQOaDYXYCqQwDth4AuSGPNWzkll2OKObDJ0Z2AUHEquX4nGuMqB2BiMz9OA6j-iXAP9vI6ThuJrSQSZJvVZwjaRwJp6iL6JHCizhIcKc2dseXhXPMpHtZ-evoO3ARU-v73TLrbfFqneX1kXakMOlKGx0.10153158727169105.10157109716091000.10156476894685574.2267929813444243.1824864104417485.10150592651509069.10152654974634647.126791877353931.621350264572149/10156476894685574/?type=1&opaqueCursor=Abo4SbCRqZKesYVQoG-d5mBVarpHB5G_mpM__X5hRykK-0dKa9GvPIx3f-fjlawYllcw7idZfLH4upIw2pt2AKZ5teohn5Bd_vyidhFzilDP8JCxSqHxhjTrG3-fR-hoX6MmgjBiusQjH-kdbEwnwx2CNcg1RmISnlCQLhWKGgFGYjXuwXoGiDxR8Ip-JfkkkpBY-3ZdmWbXIRIWk3gEP7_ldD50N1TZt1UiuNPsSIlwcKkUoPbj7COEEbLwvyz5-2DiRFfVUur5ojVChJv99upV_Gfz8I5r9-AjX8qUHUwinw6I4VsTGpaA8AWEjf4MAXF8MrhlxbC8bBHUxI09ATYeDiqkcXePhZ5OPU1ktPLDdfpDH6GJlP_jqOf8P-rCmUql0Ia8w5bPN0eRNBH-TleK53cXmMlEbQJhH-707DxJ1l9SGIlHa6m4qYOnDujne1YZmAG7LL_L4n-aC0aG38MzfOPNOOVECAM6bk7bEYfXmjOPjBbrHQdSDHVbVlXg_R3na6cFnAj9fNqzrzq5X2Xmh8GEy6Fk79UuFKumNqA8anfXYdsjVx4kybv5dwOhI03FaF4fs50yQL5oJgJbP_1KzKPqqZhKKuAmVoguRv6WqkZIQp4lTnErH0HgB6q_moSn1LKiKv2a3FK8BLparvD5jFDO0SYuThNP98S0fp1lxHpSHplJXgE9-XdrFqHbSDGP5SV5Czgw98cf-xuvDM5_&theater

One afternoon, about 13 years ago, a pregnant woman walked into Zalben’s shop with a rather unique craving. The woman explained that she was two weeks past her due date and was in the mood for a peanut butter and pickle sandwich. Zalben admitted to The Seattle Times,

“I’d never heard of it. But we like to think we can take care of anyone’s peanut butter craving.” Lee continued, “So I ran to the corner store and bought a jar of pickles. I made two sandwiches, one for her and one for me.”

It wasn’t long before Zalben found himself eating a PB&P sandwich every day!

“The first time I tried one, I had this incredible sense of tasting something really new for the first time. I couldn’t get it out of my head.”

And he’s never looked back since.

https://www.facebook.com/peanutbutterandpicklesandwichbybrucelarkin/photos/bc.AboCU-Bu8_QyGlZQQ8AZmTTZM-l1-FDm_RKcc-zYFeQAX1Ff6z_C5zYtN2VmaUGPlFlsmayQ1C8Lw1EO_HQ8aqY8YnC7XOiDfU6fD3F9vL6IjZl5mLYyxhR2c2tnAFgFBoJr4hzGwL7ksMemnqthw3diAXZ8WUN98BTHcWSp6m-ptg/635358646656699/?type=1&opaqueCursor=Abov9d21mVn5auMELg2rE8A4g49enAaaLha1meHuHxrbmxTpO3ucwR7f9iJBCSfXjFhBQ5Ve5hWOEWXI-KS-uRj7CSr_oH1Jzabkmxnpt7dhPR7vrFxClfuoRyYYHvrFKRjwMyJxQTwadLsO2fN2sjOCvZCX4uKAdvo475fxELO2uZDC4Utafy5PRP71ZkEnSs62Y7lWL-bUA71wD5m8FxagXEoMUzHlUSUIKwTs3PFMRZladfIlpdzfD8EtxmL7gryXLJ-fvAxRxVhlXLOzOvp_8CL5NmU93efQTJFOaCDI3_yz5aCk_-Hhvy3kuCHgWBL2GLsO6aUg5-EvT11_-DKh-M6Q2aXEE2aRm4DZPjYEDhi4VXJjgczS7B6Y9mqHd2L0uNslB7baNjj-I3sQJ1s9-VJFcVhMevhgaHANN-ELKGcyxprYulHaMYB_ltXAEdHunJAEBWVh0CbWJUGNYDkDZsZLzp-l0KV7zK2dul9-whitfqHmyWxmzlCqh-O2vjzD3nlG4j7R1Qe0c2dynZPXVMUwrdDq4eba6qr3oovLe77NCf3wV7Qz33oVhKqZRadcHH0eX06AGVftF7jT7qPn&theater

So grab your favorite jar of PB and smack on some pickles for this finger-lickin’ snack!

Do you have any unique ingredients you like add to your favorite sandwiches? Share with us in the comments!

Sharing This Article

Save this article!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new articles & videos from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

About the Author

Jennifer Pernicano

Hey there! My name is Jen, and I grew up in Los Angeles. I moved further down the coast to San Diego in 2011 and have been here ever since! I first moved to San Diego County to attend Cal State San Marcos, where I was recruited to play soccer. During my Senior Year, we…

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.