11 Comments

Your essay is a fun read. I can relate. We no longer can find Skippy Peanut butter here... but I still occasionally eat it, French style. Thanks for your story.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks for reading!

Expand full comment

In Florence, Italy we have a wonderful local jam company. They JUST did an ad for peanut butter and jelly. Unsweetened nut butters are popular now. But the real question is smooth or chunky? Next time I am downtown will look at what is available.

Expand full comment
author

I’m curious what you find. It’s funny how there are global fads now. It’s one big village.

Expand full comment

Just found an old foto of the peanut butter. Jiff, creamy and chunky.. from USA. 5,60 euro from 2019

Expand full comment
author

Love it! It’s like culinary archeology.

Expand full comment

I can relate to your experience hiking in Switzerland. I lived in Switzerland for four years (2005-2009). Zuerich for 6 months, and then the remaining 3 1/2 years in Basel. My family and I (husband, son and daughter) stayed at the Riffelalp Resort near Zermatt. We dressed for dinner and arrived promptly only to sit through the entire seating as the last family to be served. We were ceremoniously ignored due to their aversion to Americans.

Expand full comment
Sep 4Liked by Elizabeth

Dutch love peanut butter. It’s just below Gouda.

Expand full comment
author

I did not know that. Thanks for sharing.

Expand full comment

It’s possible that the origin of peanut butter’s place in the heart of Americans is the same as cookies : Dutch. Amercian cookies are better than the Dutch koekje.

Expand full comment
author
Sep 4·edited Sep 4Author

That’s entirely possible. Like our love of pretzels, beer, bagels and pizza—all of it sailed over from Europe.

Expand full comment