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Ohhhhhhh My God. Have you heard of Zayda's Pickles? Probably not unless you live in Philadelphia like a lucky bastard. I had my first taste of Zayda's on that early morning bus ride I took with Jennifer from The Pickle Club to the Rosendale Pickle Festival back in November (I think it was 9:56 AM, Saturday, November 22nd, 2009).
She told me they were made in Philly by a guy who didn't advertise and had no website, he just made pickles and sold them to bars, delis and anybody who wanted them, mostly out of a rented Ryder truck. If you saw him in the pickle truck you could walk up and get your own. And oh yeah, he's also a comedian. I immediately started to picture my new life in Philly...
Zayda's Pickles are a regional specialty made by a regional orginal, Steve Slutsky, and I for one, hope it stays that way. A quick google search for Zayda's Pickles turned up a long article about the man behind these pickles and the toilet-seated tricycle he rides around town, but not much else. Steve Slutsky doesn't feel the need to expand his business or cast a wider net for customers...if you live in Philly, you can find his pickles, and if you don't, well, tough titty.
Enter Kevin Finklea.
Kevin is an artist based in Philadelphia and "lucky" for me, has a show up at the gallery where I work. When he came up to install his show he brought me a jar of Zayda's...and it just so happens to be my opinion that Kevin Finklea is the finest living artist we have in America...in the world if he brings me a jar of pickled cherry peppers when he comes to de-install.
Zayda's Pickles are really crispy and have a great full sour flavor and the spice goes all the way through the pickle and stays with you the entire time. You can smell the peppery spice as you bring it to your nose and it's surprising when it actually tastes as spicy as it brags to be. I usually don't go too crazy for Kosher style pickles, but I will buy as many jars of these pickles as I can from ANYONE in a toilet-seated tricycle. Hopefully it's Steve Slutsky, who's known to say "Eat the heat. Poop there it is".
Amen.
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3 comments:
I know these pickles well and 100% agree with these claims. I worked in a small deli outside Philly in the early 90's and these were the pickles we used. His kosher hot's were THE best!! If my memory serves me correctly, the recipes are his mom's so they are authentic. Also, If you like hot things, he makes a horseradish so hot, so potent, that I DEFY anyone to try and keep it in your mouth for 10 seconds.
I just came across your blog and had to comment on this (I'm from Philadelphia so these pickles are a constant in my fridge). Might want to check out this website - looks like the pickleman now delivers :) http://www.zaydasbrand.com/
I live in North Wildwood New jersy. It is the funniest thing to see the Pickle Man ride up on his toliet seat tricycle to our local Elks Lodge. It is always a big hit and when you buy any of his products he stores them inside the toliet.
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