I’m not a huge food snob.

Okay, that’s a lie, I am. However, there are two main food groups (at least, I consider them food groups) where I refuse to settle for anything less than perfection. Those food groups would be:

A. Coffee (stay tuned for a coffee post) and

B. Peanut Butter

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When it comes to that glorious American invention that tastes so good with sliced banana, I tend to gravitate towards Trader Joe’s brand (damnit, Middletown, why are you TJ-less?), preferably salted and extra crunchy. No sugar added is a plus too. Basically, I want it to taste like peanuts (I won’t lie though; there’s been many occasion where I’ve made trans fat-laden, air-whipped PB and banana sandwiches on the panini press in Usdan).

So when a peanut butter isn’t crunchy, it has to be really good in order for me to buy it again. After years of following food blogs, I’ve gained some awareness of regional peanut butter brands. For instance, I always spy Teddie Peanut Butter on Carrots ‘n Cake, a Massachusetts-based blog, and what can I say? The logo’s cute– I wanted to try it.

I feel the need to shout it to the world, if you don’t know already: Neon Deli stocks Teddie PB (alongside Skippy, of course). On the way back from a run, I stopped in, only to discover that they were OUT. The super-friendly chap (for some reason he strikes me as a “chap,” not a “dude”) who owns the store (with the glasses… you all know who I’m talking about) launched into a monologue about how they did have it, but he didn’t like the color… he threw it out, then contacted his supplier, and a new shipment should be coming in within the next week.

So for that next week I experienced serious PB withdrawal. Yes, there was some single-serving hydrogenated Smuckers from Pi Cafe involved. I became known as that girl who stops in on occasion just to ask if “the Teddie peanut butter has arrived yet.”

Luckily, friendly chap seemed to be a fellow nut butter addict and understood exactly where I was coming from. Today, finally, finally, it arrived… and it was smooth. After bringing this up, he declared, “Sweetie, we must be the only two people on campus who prefer crunchy. I’ll make sure to order some for you next time.”

He recommended smooth for one thing: an Elvis sandwich (that’s bacon, PB and banana, grilled… duh).

So I just opened the jar. I tasted. I swooned. Thanks to Teddie, this morning has gone ever so smoothly.