Mr. PB&J Sells Gourmet Sandwiches, Honors Justise Winslow

One summer morning in 2012, Paul Fernandez was lying in bed craving a PB&J sandwich. I really want it, but I don’t feel like making it myself, Fernandez thought. That’s when the idea for Mr. PB&J was born. This Miami food truck prides itself on selling gourmet PB&J sandwiches packed with everything from chicken and bacon to honey and Frosted Flakes.

"After I thought about it for a bit, I realized there’s always a demand but definitely a lack of supply here in Miami,” Fernandez says. "There’s no set place someone can just grab a PB&J on the go, so I decided to create one.”

A stockbroker by trade, Fernandez teamed up with longtime friend Alex Valle, who has more than a decade of experience in the restaurant industry, to get the truck on the road.

The truck debuted in late November 2012 and offers more than 5,000 customizable sandwich combinations, with nine on a set menu. There are six breads (white, wheat, multigrain, cinnamon, challah, and Cuban); 15 spreads, including chunky peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, Nutella, and a variety of traditional jellies; and 12 toppings and sauces, from banana and strawberry to white-chocolate sauce and sriracha. There’s also an option to add meat toppings like bacon and chicken, or you can make it a double-decker. The best part: All of the sandwiches range from only $3 to $10. 

The Mr.PB&J team grills all of its sandwiches and toasts the bread on both sides to heat up the peanut butter and "bring out all of its nuttiness," Fernandez explains. He believes it enhances the flavor and makes all the ingredients creamier and tastier.

The top sellers are "The King," packed with peanut butter, grape jelly, honey, bananas, and bacon on challah bread, and “Miami Spice,” featuring peanut butter, apricot jelly, sriracha sauce, basil, chicken, and curry on challah. 

The duo recently debuted a new sandwich, "Miami Justise," in honor of the Miami Heat's first-round pick, Justise Winslow. The sandwich combines peanut butter, chicken, peppers, onions, jalapeños, and Tabasco sauce on challah bread.

If you’re wary about how a sandwich might taste with ingredients like peanut butter, basil, chicken, and jalapeños, Fernandez says just give it a try. "Really, just try it, and if you don’t like it, we’ll make you something else,” he laughs. "That’s how confident we are.”

For those allergic to peanut butter or not really into PB&J, the food truck also offers burgers, corn dogs, chicken fingers, and fries. But if you find yourself craving a mix between a PB&J and a burger, try the "Mr. PB&J" speciality burger, with peanut butter, bacon, Brie, and "hot & sweet" jelly. 

Fernandez and Valle hope to take their concept to a small, hole-in-the-wall storefront in Wynwood in the next year or two. Until then, find Mr. PB&J around Miami by checking Instagram or Twitter.

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