Junk Food Nation, I live in DC.  The nation’s capital has a great foodie scene, but it is (as it is often depicted as) a city that is mostly lawyers, politicians, and lobbyists.  I mean, that’s what it is. Sure there’s exceptions, but the majority of people in DC are here for what DC has – government.

As a result, my food blogging is often met with confusion.  What do you do? “Oh, I write a blog…about junk food.” Some people just chuckle like it is silly. Which it is. And some people blow it off like it’s so easy. Which it isn’t, and I’ll punch you in the effing neck. But most of the time, the reaction I get is, “Huh.  Really? That’s what you do?”

Then I’ll tell them about my law job, and they’re like, “Oh, OK.” And they look relieved, like “Oh thank God you actually DO something.” And I take offense to that. I can’t help but feel if I lived in NYC or LA, me mentioning that I am a food blogger would not be met with derision but rather with curiosity.

Most of the time, the question I get when I tell people I’m a junk food blogger is “Oh…so…what’s your favorite junk food?” And that’s such an awkward question for me, because it’s really not that simple. I mean, its food, and there’s such a wide selection. If we are cognizant that there are many categories of food, even within junk food, why should I be expected to pick just one, without narrowing down the category?

It’d be like asking, “Oh, you’re a doctor? What’s the best medicine?” or “Oh, you’re a lawyer? What’s the best case?” or “Oh, you’re a sport fan? Who’s the best player?”

So do me a favor. If you actually want to know my, or anyone else’s opinion, narrow it down. I have a favorite ice cream. A favorite chip. A favorite candy. Lend a helping conversational hand so I’m not standing there giving some long winded explanation about the different categories of junk food which makes me look even crazier than I already am. Thanks.

Today’s junk food I spotted at Safeway: Jif’s To Go Chocolate Silk. It’s peanut butter and chocolate in a cup!

The Money Shot

I knew Jif had To Go peanut butter cups, perfect for picnics, school lunches, etc. But when I saw these Jif To Go Chocolate Silk cups, I was like, WHA WHA WHA WHAAAAA??? *Chocolate* peanut butter cups? You’re joking. They’ve been hiding this or something: it’s not on the product website.

Graham crackers? Brilliant

Jif To Go Chocolate Silk is NOT Nutella, as its not made with hazelnuts.  Instead, I’m imagining before I eat it that this tastes like spreadable Reese Peanut Butter cups.  And I’m giddy. Imagine this on a piece of toast???

Wait, PB and strawberries? No.

A search on Google revealed that this Jif To Go Chocolate Silk peanut butter must’ve been test back in the early 2000′s, because there’s many message boards talking about how “this stuff was great” and “when are they bringing it back?” Well here it is, chumps – in cup form!

That's some fatty fuel

Jif To Go Chocolate Silk, WOW. You are not a diet food.  250 calories for a cup the size of a small hockey puck? …welp, I guess its time to buy bigger pants.

Presents!

Jif To Go Chocolate Silk box comes with eight tubs, and is made by the Smucker Company, of jelly fame.

You know, if this Chocolate Silk did previously exist in the 2000s, and is only NOW making a comeback, someone has to be fired. WHO thought that America WASN’T ready for peanut butter and chocolate mixed together?? Seriously? “Too soon, Bob, too soon… let’s wait a decade and see if those people can handle it.”

Tub to go

So many mixed themes on this Jif To Go Chocolate Silk tub. Speedy letters for the TO GO! The traditional Jif logo, and then purple and brown for the sexy silky chocolate side of things. This looks like a junk food ransom note.

Brown butter

Jif To Go Chocolate Silk looks smooth and cocoa-ey. Let’s taste.

Silky indeed

First, the texture of this Jif To Go Chocolate Silk WAS silky – very smooth; there was no real tension when I dragged my finger across the surface.  Loaded with fats, this spread came off very easily and was soft to the touch.

The taste was even better. Again, this was not the Nutella taste my brain expected.  Initially, the taste was very chocolatey – loaded with cocoa flavor (not a milk chocolate per se, but not a deep cocoa as say a dark chocolate). Medium sweet. This then gave way to the saltier peanut butter taste I was familiar with.  In fact, the taste ended with the familiar salty dry drag on my tongue that I typically get when i eat peanut butter.

For those of you wondering, not like a Reeses candy spread either – the peanut butter here was a little saltier. Surprisingly, the flavor was not overpowering.  No, this was just a simple chocolatey peanut butter. Really tasty, and simple.

Good work, Smuckers.  Hopefully you’ve pleased many people who have been looking for this for ten years or so.

Comments? Hit me in the comments below or hit me on Twitter @junkfoodguy or on my Facebook Page.

Sincerely, Junk Food Guy