Box of Chips with wasabi mayo and peanut cucumber dips (Photo by RUDY LIWANAG)

Who can resist the smooth velvety texture, the creaminess, and the nuttiness of peanut butter?

Everyone just loves peanut butter. Just imagine slathering a generous dollop of peanut butter, mixed with sweet gooey jelly, on two slices of loaf bread for a hearty breakfast. Or spreading peanut butter liberally on a banana to transform it into a tempting dessert no one can resist.

While most people usually associate peanut butter as mere spread and dessert (because of its sweetness), peanut butter has been used in some main entrées. Think about the mouth-watering kare-kare.

Although not every food combination sounds too appetizing, peanut butter on various fares certainly has its own appeal. A couple of bites at Peanut Butter Company (PBCo.) restaurant in SM North Edsa could change your mind.

As the first peanut butter concept restaurant in the Philippines, PBCo. elevates the food paste into a gourmet offering as it inventively puts the classic goodness of peanut butter in its menu. Twelve different flavors – creamy, crunchy, curry, dark chocolate, green tea, chili, cinnamon, white chocolate, sun-dried tomato, butter, cardamom, and sesame – are infused in various dishes and sandwiches to give diners a unique gastronomic experience.

Take for instance the classic spaghetti. Its sun-dried tomato peanut butter meat sauce gives a velvety texture and a trace of sweetness to the timeless pasta dish, enough reasons to indulge in it.

Or perhaps, the Fish Diablo Pasta, al dente pasta noodles coated with rich spicy tomato sauce which is concocted using chili butter sauce. Its spiciness gives that unique kick on the palate, and leaves something to be desired.

The Cold Asian Noodles, special noodles tossed with an Asian dressing, mixed with sesame peanut butter sauce, definitely spells gourmet. The sesame seeds in the peanut butter give a crunch to every bite.

Also, there’s the all-time favorite sandwich selection which include the classic PBJ (peanut butter-jelly sandwich) with a choice of strawberry, grape, or orange jam, the PBCo. Peanut Butter Sandwich which offers diners the chance to try all the 12 peanut butter flavors, and the BLT Sandwich which is your typical bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich with a twist.

Of course, who can forget the favorite snack of the King of Rock ‘n Roll? Named after Elvis Presley who made this concoction famous, The Elvis is the ultimate peanut butter sandwich. Just imagine crispy bacon strips, paired with pulpy banana slices sandwiched between two soft bread slices slathered with crunchy peanut butter. You’re sure to be rocking and rolling in no time!

Don’t forget the gourmet sandwiches such as the Roast Beef Sandwich with cardamom peanut butter, the Curry Chicken Sandwich with curry peanut butter, the Butter Fish Steak Sandwich with butter peanut butter and wasabi mayo, Chili Fried Chicken Sandwich which is tender chicken fillet topped with creamed corn and chili peanut butter, the Sesame Fish Fry Sandwich, and the Crunchy Sardine Jelly Sandwich.

Dessert could never be better than having the Sweet Sandwiches. The gooey goodness of melted marshmallow in Marshmallow PB Sandwich, the pure tartness of orange in White Chocolate Orange Sandwich, the juiciness of green apple slices in Cinnamon Apple Sandwich, and the sweet indulgence of Black Forest in Black Forest Sandwich. Need we say more?

There are also dishes which have little or no peanut butter on them. Try the BBQ Wings, chicken wings marinated and fried in a spicy sauce and drizzled with chili peanut butter glaze or the Fish n’ Chips, deep fried fish fillet served with peanut cucumber dip. And there’s the Creamed Corn, buttered corn kernels in cream sauce, and the Box of Chips, fried seasoned potato slices.

Surely, after a couple of bites, you’ll know why you’re going nuts over peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Company is located at SM North Edsa Main Mall, with a branch at SM Clark. For inquiries, email peanutbuttercompany@yahoo.com or call 364-6507.