To start interesting conversations, I used to ask people about their zodiac signs. Maybe they’re an analytical Virgo, a take-charge Aries, or a perfectly balanced Libra. But after the most recent episode of Late Night with Stephen Colbert, I’m going to start asking people what their favorite sandwich is.
I bet you’re thinking about your own go-to sandwich right now. It’s a piece of our identity, a decision that we arrive at because something—or someone—made an impact on us. My mom made excellent tuna salad sandwiches for us growing up, so I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for that comfort food.
Meanwhile, when Stephen Colbert asked Julia Roberts about her favorite sandwich last night, no one could’ve predicted the answer.
What Is Julia Roberts’ Favorite Sandwich?
“The best sandwich of my youth, everyone’s going to hate—but then I grew up,” she starts to explain. Immediately, I was intrigued. Before my mom ever converted us to tuna salad, my brother and I used to request just mayonnaise (“nay nays”) on a hot dog bun. Could Julia have been in weird mayo sandwich land with us?
But there is no mayo on her childhood fave: “Peanut butter and jelly with sour cream and onion potato chips smashed in it,” she tells Colbert. And importantly, this was on wheat bread. She said that white bread would get stuck on the roof of her mouth. Obviously, I had to try her twist on PB&J.
How Does Julia Roberts’ Sandwich Taste?
I actually can’t remember the last time I had a PB&J sandwich. I did have all the ingredients on hand, though, so I grabbed a bag of Lay’s Sour Cream & Onion chips at the store to finish my experiment. I only had apricot jelly, though I do wish that I could have tried this with a classic strawberry or grape version. In the spirit of keeping things kid-friendly, I didn’t toast my bread.
I am a huge fan of potato chips on a sandwich, and I think that everyone should embrace that lifestyle. But I was very skeptical of the sweet fruit jelly combining with the savory chips. Onion has a strong flavor, after all.
But guess what? This weird sandwich tastes great. The chips provide a great texture, the onion paired surprisingly well with the sweet apricot jelly, and the saltiness of the peanut butter and chips created a perfect symphony. I don’t believe that Julia Roberts ever gave up eating this sandwich—I know that I am going to make it again, and it’s not even a childhood memory of mine.