Migraine Cure: Zayda's Pickled Banana Peppers

Kevin Finklea came back.

And yes, he is the finest living artist in America (Ok, him and THIS GUY).

Earlier Kevin had already brought me more products from Zayda's Pickles, this time Pickled Banana Pepper Rings but because I work so hard, I'd totally forgotten they were stashed in the fridge and then I got a migraine and forgot who Kevin Finklea even was, until he walked in the gallery one more time. This time he brought me 2 slices of pizza because I was floating on air from all the Excedrine Migraine pills I'd eaten over the past 2 days, and without a doubt saved my life that day.

Despite the high level of non-functioning I experienced that day, I obviously still had some wits about me because I had this idea:





I felt much, much better after eating it. Thanks Kevin Finklea!!*

*Kevin's show ends April 17th at Margaret Thatcher Projects.
** The pizza and pickled peppers didn't actually "cure" my migraine but I'm still so high on Excedrine does it matter?

Video: Preserving Haiti

Nobody works harder than Jennifer from The Pickle Club, I mean, the woman is a FORCE. Check out all her hard work for the Preserving Haiti Benefit that was still a ton of fun despite being held on the night of the worst winter storm of the year. Oh, and watch me loose yet another pickle eating contest.


For me the night was all about coming out to HELP no matter the weather, and I'd like to give a BIG thanks all who did brave the storm, especially my guys from the Pickle Party and a handful of my peeps all of which are named Michael*.

Our small devoted crowd managed to raise some money for our chosen organization Forgotten Children of Haiti which was represented that night by the daughter of the founders of the charity. I was really touched by the story of their mission that night and was excited to bid on a few things in the silent auction...specifically THIS:



Yes sir, I WON IT and while I won't tell you what year I was born, I can tell you that I was indeed born in the Year of the Pickle!
You can find your own sign in the Jewish Zodiac at www.jewzo.com but if you're not a pickle I feel sorry for you...

*(well almost, a few were named, Todd, Becca and Breuk)

Grillo's In New York!

**These retail for $6.99 and are in Whole Foods in NY MA
CT RI & NH and also online



Remember Grillo's Pickles and how jealous you were that they were just sold in Boston? Well, now you can get them in New York at Whole Foods! I got an email from Travis Grillo with the exciting news and hopped on the bus and went down to

the Union Square Whole Foods to see for myself.

I had to fight my way through a throng of shoppers and carts to get to them, but by god, I made it, and yep, sure enough, there they were in the cold case. And not just Grillo's Italian Dills but HOT Grillo's Italian Dills!!!

How have I not had these? Travis-you got some 'splainin' to do.

I didn't grab these hot ones like I wanted too because the place was a freakin' circus, I've already been run over by a woman and child in a grocery store in Fairway, so I'll come back on a Monday, during the early part of the day, when I'll have a clearer shot at my prey. Grillo's Italian Dills are also available online, so if you don't like Boston, New York, Whole Foods or crazed people ramming into you with hot soup and kale, then you're in LUCK!

Look at all that garlic...damn, I've gotta go back in there and get some.

Polish Goldmine

I cannot resist a grocery store. I will wander the aisles of any grocery store anywhere and the further away it is from being a Wal-Mart or C-Town, the better, but still, I can kill some time in a Wal-Mart (hell, it's practically a family tradition). It's rare that I'm actually looking for something specific, it's more that I'm excited that I will possibly find something weird that I can take home and display on a shelf or EAT and it will cost me no more than $4.99. That is strong bait for a Southerner...

So check out the Polish Pickle Gold Mine I wandered upon in Williamsburg at Topps Grocery store on North 6th street, just off of Bedford. 2 whole shelves full of not just "exotic" products, but PICKLES and oh yes, all for under 5 bucks!

First there was the sign:

I love that they have the Claussen Pickles hidden away in a dusty corner somewhere...


And then there was a huge basket filled with these:

Who doesn't need a bag o' pickles? I need a belt that I could use to strap these around my waist like a fanny pack.

There were several varieties by the Lowell Brand: pickles with hot peppers, with sweet peppers or just "cucumbers in brine". I struggled with a decision for at least 10 minutes, but I ended up taking home a jar of the ones with hot peppers (of course). I'll save the bag o' cucumbers in brine for a gift if I'm ever invited to anything, ever again. There were also a few other varieties, like the simple Krakus Brand "Polish Dill Pickles" and some labeled "Pickled Dill Gherkins".



I opened my jar as soon as I got "home" (I was house-sitting in Bushwick) and I wasn't thrilled with the results... a little soft and barely spicy. Still, better than most common grocery store items and very similar to the German Gundelsheim pickles I use as my "everyday pickles" but I'm not done with my Polish exploration though, oh no. I think I'll go back to basics and try the simplest ones and then work my way through the spices. Because it's only a matter of time before I'm back in there wandering the aisles anyway.

Zayda's Pickles

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.

Dill Fresca at Dumont

On the menu at Dumont in Williamsburg is the Dill Fresca:

Gin, St. Germain, fresh cucumber, fresh dill, lime and soda.



Refreshing, refined, sweet, crisp and as pretty as it is delicious...and the drink's not half bad either!

Thank you, I'll be here all week, try the steak.