I've gone ahead and said it, Pickles Rule. As far as my immature follow up comment, in 4 decades I have only met one olive that I have said "mmm, wow" over. Don't get me wrong, I highly respect Olive Lovers, anyone who can eat them in bulk gets a high rating in my book. But the title comment still stands.
I consider myself an amateur connoisseur of pickles... being raised in Central New Jersey, the land of bountiful diners and Eastern European immigrants, pickles are as common an accompaniment as a napkin or fork to a well balanced lunch. As a kid, I used to love getting a pickle out of the barrel at the Square Deli. Deli pickles are supreme - they have that amazing combination of girth and crunch.
I found this list of pickles from Wikipedia most fascinating... Types of Pickles: Gherkin, Kosher dill, Polish, Lime, Bread and Butter, and Swedish. I'm sure that everyone has their favorite "flavor" of pickle. Under the right circumstances, I won't turn down a gherkin or snub a bread and butter pickle. I think all pickles are created equal, although I'm more partial to the savory garlic variety. I MUST have relish on my hot dog (blog entry on hot dogs to come some time soon), but what really moves the brine-o-meter for me is the consistency of the pickle.
The crunchy refrigerated pickle is the bomb - everything from the snap of the bite to the full texture it has when you chew it. I have a fondness for 'fresh' pickles, ones that are just past being a cucumber with a strong hint of pickle - like a cute little baby, it's innocent and new. Nothing is worse than a bendy pickle, or one of those communal food service pickles - it's sacriledge to have taken the life of a cucumber for such a horrible end.
Share your favorite type of pickle here!
4 comments:
Great post, Dawn. Personally, I'm a big fan of the large sour pickles from the barrel in the old school deli/sandwich shop.
Keep in mind, there's lots of other stuff (besides cucumbers) that make great pickles like: tomatoes, jalapeños and even pigs feet!
I love pickles too!! I hear you on the cucumber type of pickles. They are so refreshing and snappy, and though I can't say that they are my most favorite type of pickle, they are the type of pickle I usually crave, when i am craving a pickle at all.
I am one of those bulk-olive people!! My husband, like you, respects the olive, but he loathes them (wants to like them, wishes he liked them, but can't stand them) :)
Kathy
Ahhh yes! The wonderful amazing accompaniment to most any meal. The pickle.
I myself am also a pickle enthusiast, have tried most every kind (what is a swedish pickle?!). I do agree that deli pickle are the best. I'm not quite sure what it is about New Jersey. Both of my parents hailed from there and I think they're what lured me into the fascination of the large pickle that you get and eat while ordering your meat and cookies at the same counter. It must've been all those diners.
I recently found a 'pickle-in-a-bag' at the grocery store. My curiousity got the best of me and I had to get one. I can't say it wasn't limp or wasn't a bit too sour. It was both- but i was still impressed I was able to bring a giant pickle on my picnic without dribbling juice all over my cheez-its.
Love- the dill baby pickles
Don't love- low sodium pickles. Taking the salt away? a crime.
Pickles are the greatest treat ever. If someone wrote a book about them I would so buy it. I love pickles. Everyone at my school knows its my favorite treat, so they never ask me what I want they just give it to me.
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