International Pickle Day 2009!

Pickle Day 2009 is THIS SUNDAY from 11:00-4:30.

This glorious day will be like Pickle Freak's official "coming out party". Coming out of the closet? Well, I've never been closeted as a FREAK, more like as a "debutante". It's my official introduction to Pickle Society and I couldn't be more excited!

Pickle Freak will have a tent right in the middle of the action, along with the lovely Pickle Girl and Pickle Club TV. We'll all be there to share in the celebration of the pickle and all things pickled. If you've never had your picture taken with the festival's giant pickle, come on out and do so in our tent, we think the photos will be suitable for framing and would make a wonderful holiday card.



We've already created a group on flickr called "pickleday" and we hope everyone will upload their pictures from the festival this year. I've already gotten things started and have added a link to the group over there on the right hand side of the page!

OK-I hope to see you all there, Sunday, October 4th RAIN or SHINE!!!!
Oh...and if anyone has a pickle green ballgown, gloves and tiara I can borrow, find me!

Screaming Pickle Sauce-Hot Damn!

I want this.
I want this.
I want this.

One of my highly paid staff members in the research department found this today. It's from a restaurant in Savannah, GA called the Moon River Brewing Company. My schedule is too tight to fly down there right this minute so I'm going to have my assistant order some for me. The label says what should be my motto "Everything Tastes Better with a Pickle!" Amen.

Randy, are you seeing this?

I'm a Foodie...sort of

A few weekends ago Canning Across America kicked off their nationwide movement but I had to pack and move my Pickles Across Brooklyn that weekend so I celebrated vicariously through LB, the winner of my big fancy giveaway of a home canning kit.


LB made 8 jars of pickles that weekend totally unaware of the "canvolution" she was taking part in. She just wanted to make some pickles and so she did, damn good ones too (so I hear). Like LB, I too have just gone about doing what I love to do- typin' and eatin' pickles-totally unware that my pickle obsession was introducing me to something much bigger. While selfishly seeking out more pickles to consume I've found myself attending things like The UnFancy Food Show, taking classes, religiously reading Edible Brooklyn and yes, even quoting Michael Pollan...



No, the irony is not lost on me...I eat Slim Jims and Chef Boyardee and I would rather have Frito chili pie than sushi but here I am, a Pickle Freak amongst all the foodies and the welcome, so far, has been amazingly unselfish. I've learned that just by doing what I love, I can support independent businesses and local farmers, preserve a cucumber and a family recipe, meet my favorite pickle makers and even mingle with the foodie crowd. I'm really glad to be in your company but no, I'm still not ready to try that beet salad, but, um, thanks anyway!

Bon Apetit

Have I ever told you how much I love fried pickles? Oh.. I have?
Well, here I go again.



My longtime collegetown of Oxford, MS was just featured in the October issue of Bon Apetit and they featured my favorite place to eat there, Ajax Diner. I've already told you that Ajax Diner has the BEST FRIED PICKLES EVER but Bon Apetite didn't. They write about the fried pickle spears from Philips Grocery which are, I admit, really damn good but they are fried spears which are my second favorite way to eat them. My friend Randy at Ajax does them up right. Look at this picture and notice the thin, crispy edges on those babies...not only are they perfectly thin and crispy, the batter is perfectly seasoned and you get a WHOLE HEAPIN' BUNCH of them on your plate (when I finally stopped eating long enough to take these pictures I'd already eaten beyond the "Dr. recommended" amount).



It's been a good week for Ajax Diner, because not only did they get the mention in Bon Apetit but they also have a really big fan in Eli Manning who talked up the place in a recent article for www.nypost.com. In case Eli ever gets a hankerin' for Ajax's fried pickles, I recommend a little spot in Brooklyn that comes pretty close.



Sure, you can try the ones at Rodeo Bar in Manhattan and get a teeny portion or in Park Slope at Corner Burger you get a heap for cheap. Corner Burger occupies the spot that was once the Curry Shop that was connected to the Chip Shop...and Chip Shop is known for their claim that they will "Fry Anything"...well, they never fried pickles, and yes, I ASKED. The burgers here are really, really good too and a whole basket of fries costs you only $3.95!

Though the batter is a little too thick (just barely) and the pickles could use a little kick, the price is right, and the burgers are good. You're welcome Eli.

Katy's Choice

"And that is how, one fine day in June, I got out of the Church Avenue station of the BMT with my Marine Corps seabag and suitcase, took several intoxicating breaths of the pickle-fragrant air of Flatbush, and walked down blocks of gently greening sycamores to the rooming house of Mrs. Yetta Zimmerman."--William Styron, Sophie's Choice.

Did he say Pickle Fragrant?

As a young man, William Styron lived in Ditmas Park and it served as the setting in his novel, Sophie's Choice. As I read the book a few years ago, I fell in love with Styron's Brooklyn, and on occasion would wander its tree lined streets and marvel at the houses. The area reminded me of the South, no doubt, and quietly called out to me....

...and soooo as of this weekend Ditmas Park, your air just got a little more pickle fragrant! Me and my pickles moved in this past week and I look forward to getting to know you over a few Rheingold beers at the "Maple Leaf"...or a pint of pickled cherry peppers from The Pickle Guys!

Pickle Porn

"Some say" this Guss' Pickles ad is pickle porn but all I see is a nice young lady eating a pickle...ok...I've gotta go umm...eat a pickle...it's been awhile. Shut that door on your way out.