Peanut Butter Lovers of LA; I seek your wisdom!

[crash31]

Hey guys, I just moved to Santa Monica all the way from the East Coast, been living here for almost a full month now and I have to say I am in love with all the good eats out here (which many were discovered thanks to the chow boards, thanks for that!). Well, I am a self proclaimed peanut butter addict and I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions for getting my peanut butter fix out here in LA; I want to hear your suggestions! From peanut butter pancakes to donuts to shakes to entrees....LET ME HAVE IT! So whats the best place to get my PB fix?! Thanks in advance!!

[french roast]

For an easy to get, wonderful peanut butter, I suggest the flax seed and Valencia peanuts butter made by Trader Joe's. Only 3 ingredients--peanuts, flax seeds, and salt. The flavor is amazing, and the flax seeds add a wonderful, delicate crunch and texture. Oh yeah, and some omega-3's, too. I'm encouraging everyone to try it, since it has no trans fats, AND I want to make sure TJ's keeps making it! I try so hard not to just eat it out of the jar with a spoon, but...I can't resist. It's too good.

[Rimetra]

Go to Astroburger (only the one on Larchmont and Melrose) and ask for a chocolate peanut butter shake. It is not on the menu but is absolutely amazing....beware addicting!

[katydid13]

Sorry to be so pedestrian, but I love Trader Joe's Unsalted Organic PB, creamy or crunchy.

[krick]

3 new PB rec's and one PB alternative rec:

Cake Monkey peanut butter cakewich (usually can be found at Intelligentsia on AK in Venice). Ask them when they were delivered before buying because the difference between a fresh one and one a few days old is night and day in terms of the moistness of the cake.

La Grande Orange PB&J bar

Rockenwagner Bakery PB&J cookie

Justin's Nut Butters Maple Almond Butter (Whole Foods). I know, it's not PB, but I recently discovered this stuff and went (must. . .resist. . .pun) crazy for it. I also tried all the other Justin's flavors including the various PB flavors and found them to be so-so. But the Maple Almond Butter - I haven't wanted to just sit there with a jar of something and a spoon like this since I first discovered Skippy as a kid.

[mollyomormon]

They're also selling Cake Monkey goods at the new Blue Bottle coffee counter at the corner of Westminster and AK.

I have to the try the La GRande Orange PB&J bar since i love the cookie so much. Also have to try to Maple Almond nut butter. Thanks for the tips!

[carter]

They are also selling cake monkey goods at the new Oaks Gourmet shop on Franklin and Bronson in Hollywood - not sure which items, but at least some of them -hmmm, may have to check it out.

[kiwi]

Double Rainbow ice cream based in San Francisco has a flavor called "It's a Goody." Not sure if they still serve it Humphrey Yogart in Sherman Oaks, so give them a call. If a trek over the hill is too far for you, maybe someone else knows of a non-Valley place that scoops it.

Per Double Rainbow's site: vanilla ice cream, chocolate chunks, peanut butter

humphreyyogart.com

[jackattack]

How long has Humphrey Yogart been scooping ice cream???

[kiwi]

i don't know. that's a good question. They've been in business since 1984 according the website. So I'd guess less than 25 years. ;}

[jackattack]

No, I meant that I didn't know that they scooped ICE CREAM, i thought it was just a frozen yogurt place.

[jackattack]

Award winning Peanut Butter n Fudge Gelato at Spitz in Eagle Rock, call ahead as they don't have many flavors rotating and they don't have this one every day.

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Spitz
2506 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

[truefoodie]

we found amazing gourmet pb at Artisan Cheese in Studio City - they even did a tasting for us -- everything from cookie dough to banana to curry...I personally am insane for the dark chocolate chunk

[JeetJet]

Go to the Monastery in Hollywood and get some hand dipped dark chocolate squares filled with real peanut butter. The nuns also make perfect peanut brittle. The reasons the peanut brittle is so good is they do not overdo the sugar content which allows the peanut flavor to be dominate, they use lots of fresh peanuts and the candy is thin. Finally, get some of that pumpkin bread. This is all really good stuff to take as a gift when visiting friends.

Monastery of The Angels (2 lb. Pumpkin Bread $8, 1 lb. Peanut Brittle $12 & Hand Dipped dark chocolates filled with real peanut butter)
1977 Carmen Ave (Exit 101 at Gower St., head up the hill crossing Franklyn and head toward the Hollywood Sign. You will see the old Spanish style church on the left)
Los Angeles, CA 90068-4098
[phone]
http://www.op-stjoseph.org/nuns/angels/

Another old Peanut post.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/74619

[jillso]

Vanilla Ice Cream with a peanut butter swirl and chocolate covered pretzel pieces, from Handel's Ice Cream in Upland. Worth the trip!
They call it "Spouse is a House", a take-off on the Ben and Jerry's "Chubby hubby" flavor (does B&J still make that one?)

[Burger Boy]

B&J still make it but are about to rename it Hubby Hubby. Really!

[kainzero]

I picked up some Fugetsu-do Peanut Butter Mochi and that stuff is AWESOME.

I got it at Marukai, but you can also order online or pick it up at the store in Little Tokyo.
Marukai also sold another store's PB Mochi but it wasn't as good as Fugetsu-do's.

[LisaRiggens]

I second the Peanut Butter Mochi at Fugetsu-do on 1st in Little Tokyo. They also sell it at that outdoor mall with the blue roofs and the multi-story indoor mall in Little Tokyo.

Also try the peanut butter sandwich cookies at the Downbeat cafe on Alvarado near Sunset. Call ahead, they run out.

[crash31]

You guys are officially ALL my new best friends! I am going to have to set one cheat day a week to indulge in all of these delicious sounding tips! Will report back with my yay or nays as soon as I try EACH AND EVERY ONE of your suggestions (keep em coming if you have them...DONT HOLD BACK!)

[js76wisco]

This isn't really a LA only peanut butter goodie but I recently started getting vanilla shakes with peanut butter at Coldsonte Creamery. It's delightful because it's not just pure peanut butter, offset a little bit by the vanilla bean and cuts the richness. Great stuff.

[wutzizname]

I had a life changing peanut butter date shake at the Shake Shack in Crystal Cove/Newport Beach.

I believe they opened another one recently up on the Malibu Pier. I know the new Beachcomber Malibu has taken a lot of slugs, but not sure if the new Shake Shack there is suffering from the same problem or not? Still, if they're turning out PBD shakes even half as good as the Crystal Cove original...go now, thank me later.

Otherwise, you may have to make a trip south to Newport. Unless the quality has dropped in the last two years, it'd be worth it.

[krick]

I crave that shake. No idea if they have it at the Malibu location, but even if they did, it wouldn't be the same. There's something about that little hovel on the side of PCH with no parking and unbeatable views that's just perfect with the PB shake.

[budsoftaste]

Amen.

[JBC]

Westwood Village ~ For $1.50 you can get a peanut butter ice cream sandwich (2 peanut butter cookies with a decent sized scoop of peanut butter cup ice cream in the middle):

http://www.diddyriese.com/menu.php

[crash31]

My friend took me there my first week here and it was amazing! felt like a little kid again...

[wutzizname]

Anyone tried the Peanut Butter and Jelly on Brioche at Huckleberry? I gotta imagine that's not just any peanut butter or just any jelly? And I know it ain't just any brioche.

Regardless, if you're new to Santa Monica, you should get to know Huckleberry.

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Huckleberry Cafe
1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[budsoftaste]

I've seen something similar at LA Mill in Silverlake, but instead of jelly it's peanut butter, banana and chocolate...on grilled brioche. and they serve it with a glass of milk.

sort of reminiscent of the old Doughboy's one though that came with some kind of berry dipping sauce. R.I.P.

[Burger Boy]

26 Beach Restaurant has a peanut putter and jelly burger and a french toast with peanut butter and reeses peanut butter cups. www.26beach.com

[budsoftaste]

Griddle Cafe has a peanut butter crunch french toast.

But I'm sorry, did you say burger? As in beef burger? Does anyone actually enjoy that, beyond the novelty?

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Griddle Cafe
7916 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

[Burger Boy]

I have not had it but the server said they sell them a lot, kind of like a peanut sauce on beef sticks, but just peanut butter.

[cookie monster]

A friend of mine ordered it a couple months ago. I had a bite and it was actually pretty good - the sweet/salty/savory combination works. but I don't know that I'd want to eat a whole one.

[Jwsel]

That now-defunct Hamptons in Hollywood and its pseudo-successor, Mo's, in Burbank have the Foggy Bottom Burger which is topped with peanut butter and sour plum jam. It has always been very popular.

[jay 1]

The twopeanut butters mentioned are my favorites....Santa Cruz Dark and Cream Nut. Whole Foods 365 brand almond butter is my other favorite. While it might seem mundane, Baskin & Robbin's Peanutbutter & Chocolate ice cream is still one of my favorite pbutter experiences. A couple of my friends make outrageous peautbutter and chocolate bars, but I can't think of bakery that does this. Clementine might have them occassionally, and they usually have great pbutter cookies..

[a213b]

The Chocolate and Peanut Butter Truffle Cake with Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Roasted Peanut Toffee at Hatfields.

Oh. My. God.

[ipsedixit]

Peanut Butter Pie at Pie 'N Burger

www.pienburger.com

[missyp]

For some weird, old-school natural PB, try the Cream-Nut Peanut Butter they have at the Silver Lake cheese store (and probably a few other places as well). It's the most peanutty PB I've ever had, addictively good. It's a little bit grainy, which I like. $5 or $6 per jar and well worth it.

http://www.creamnut.com/

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Cheese Store of Silver Lake
3926 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

[attran99]

Golden Spoon frozen yogurt has a PB yogurt that amazingly tastes like PB.
The Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City sells an upscale brand of PB that is mixed with assorted flavors. I can't remember the brand of PB, but the flavors include white chocolate PB, dark chocolate PB, cinnamon raisin PB, etc. Very interesting and very good!

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Artisan Cheese Gallery
12023 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA

[sel]

While waiting around for their Duck Confit Sandwich I looked at their jars of those nut butters and remember that they were by far the most expensive ever - anywhere!

[ov1]

Are you thinking of Peanut Butter & Company? Blue lid?
http://www.ilovepeanutbutter.com/
They sell @ Ralphs (maybe not all Ralphs) - about $6 or so for a jar - the dark chocolate is pretty amazing.

[DrBruin]

They also sell PB & Co.'s flavors at Sprouts (the dark chocolate, the honey'ed, the smooth, and the crunchy, I believe).

[alliebear]

I really like the peanut butter and banana shake at Swingers.

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Swingers
802 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401

[carter]

The organic peanut butter at TJs is pretty good. Some WFMarkets have machines where you can grind you own on the spot, as well as almond butter, btw.

[mollyomormon]

The valencia peanut butter with golden flaxseeds from TJ's is the best PB i've ever had. And the PB&J cookie from La Grande Orange in SaMo is amazing.

[pointone]

Fellow peanut butter lover here. I enjoyed the peanut butter terrine at Bottega Louie.

[jillso]

Call Glacier Ice Cream in Manhattan Beach to see if they have any of their peanut butter flavors available....they rotate flavors daily....sometimes they'll even have hard-frozen pints to take home, just bring some ice and you'll make it back to Santa Monica without any problem.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

Magee's House of Nuts in the 3rd And Fairfax Farmer's Market. It is So Good my wife gave me a pint of Peanut butter and a loaf of Potato flour bread for our dating anniversary one year and I didn't complain.

Magee’s House of Nuts
At the World Famous Los Angeles Farmer’s Market
6333 West Third Street, #624
Los Angeles, CA 90036

[TomSwift]

Ditto this. You can watch the grinding and mixing of the PB and almost always can get a jar of it still warm. Good Mac nut butter too.

[sel]

I've been trying to add this place for a few minutes. Link to a place won't work but anyway this is my favorite for both sentimental AND taste reasons.Mom bought it when I was a little kid, no Skippy in our house, and sometimes she would get me their Fruit & Nut Peanut Butter - I still love the stuff!

[westsidegal]

for when you're buying the stuff in the jars,

my favorite is:
Santa Cruz organic DARK ROASTED peanut butter.
it comes in both creamy and crunchy styles.
available many places
i buy mine at gelson's

[crash31]

wow....just wow...I want to thank you for suggesting this as I have now found my favorite natural creamy peanut butter. Truly amazing flavor.

[westsidegal]

my pleasure.
i'm glad you agree with me about this stuff.
truly far superior to any other jarred stuff i've tried and also superior to most of the other 'ground-to-order" stuff i've tried.

[JudiAU]

This is my favorite as well. Very, very tasty peanut butter and again, better than much of the ground to order stuff.

Also, the chocolate peanut butter cupcake at Joan's is tasty.

[westsidegal]

if you have a craving for chocolate and pb some time when joan's is closed, may i suggest slathering some of the santa cruz pb on toast and then sprinkling it with trader joes semi-sweet chocolate chips. put the whole thing in the toaster oven for a minute and the chocolate will get soft.
this is the best midnight pb/choolate fix i've found.
during the day, though, a trip to joan's is warranted. . .

[Mattapoisett in LA]

We tried the Santa Cruz Dark Roasted Creamy PB today and It has a Interesting Dark Roasted Flavor but the Texture was incredibly Grainy, the oil didn't integrate very well even after keeping it upside down over a day to help the process. The PB was really sticky so that it would linger in my throat ten minutes later and I felt Like the Dog i the Got Milk Commercial who is trying to lick the PB out of his mouth.

[wutzizname]

Stan's Donuts in Westwood.

http://www.stansdoughnuts.com

Chocolate Peanut Butter
Peanut Butter and Banana with Chocolate Chips
Peanut Butter and Jelly

[crash31]

OMG Peanut Butter and Banana?!?! Thats my favorite combo right there! Will definitely have to check those out! THANKS and keep them coming!