Pickle Lover

 I have recently interviewed Alan Kaufman, the owner of the world-famous pickle company Pickle Guys.  Pickle Guys was a company that started from some eastern European pickle recipes in 1910. The Pickle Guys have grown in size and flavors ever since. They currently have a  rainbow array of flavors.

When making new flavors of pickles, it takes anywhere from two weeks to an entire year to perfect any one recipe.   Their recipes use all-natural ingredients and a secret blend of spices. Their most popular flavors are full and half sours, and Alan says that the best flavors depend on the meal.  

We purchased the sour pickles and the hot sour pickles.  I personally prefer the spicy pickles, as I find it to be the perfect balance of spice, though the sour pickles were very good, and I would definitely recommend them.

The Pickle Guys are the last original pickle shop on the lower east side. Some nearby places include the Tenement Museum and the International Center of Photography Museum. You can also buy pickles on their website https://www.pickleguys.com/.

Earlier this year, I attempted to follow my great grandmother’s pickle recipe. I had  disappointing results despite the fact that we have had better ones made by her. The recipe called for thin cucumbers, one teaspoon of coarse kosher salt, one clove of fresh garlic, a long stem of dill, and pickling spices.  We added the pickles into a wide mouth pickling jar, then we added the salt, garlic, dill, and a teaspoon of pickling spices. We stored them for two or three weeks in the fridge.  

They ended up with a surprising, and quite unfortunate, lack of flavor.  They were, however, quite salty, especially when compared to the more common vinegar flavors in sour pickles.  Any advice to improve these pickles would be incredibly helpful to improve this recipe. 

Earlier this year, I attempted to follow my great grandmother’s pickle recipe. I had  disappointing results despite the fact that we have had better ones made by her. The recipe called for thin cucumbers, one teaspoon of coarse kosher salt, one clove of fresh garlic, a long stem of dill, and pickling spices.  We added the pickles into a wide mouth pickling jar, then we added the salt, garlic, dill, and a teaspoon of pickling spices. We stored them for two or three weeks in the fridge.  

They ended up with a surprising, and quite unfortunate, lack of flavor.  They were, however, quite salty, especially when compared to the more common vinegar flavors in sour pickles.  Any advice to improve these pickles would be incredibly helpful to improve this recipe. 

I purchased the hot & spicy full sour pickles and the regular full sour pickles from Pickle Licious’s stall at the Morningside Heights farmers market.  I personally enjoyed the level of spice; it is just enough to give it a kick, but not too overwhelming. Despite this I found the first taste of both pickles quite underwhelming and lacking flavor.  The full sours were just average, though they were quite salty compared to the typical vinegar taste in most full sours. Personally, I wouldn’t get them again.

Pickle Licious was started by Robyn Samra in the year 1993, and Pickle Licious has been making its New York-style Pickles since.  You can find their website at https://picklelicious.com/store/. 

Robert Schaefer’s brilliant pickling business started in Long Island, as a simple family garden.  One year there was an influx of Kirby cucumbers, the kind used for pickling, and Robert decided to craft his delicious pickles.  They were given out as gifts to friends, but friends would keep asking for more pickles. Eventually, it became a business as so many people wanted these pickles. Robert was a chef for forty years before starting this business, so he brings that art to his new vocation.

These pickles are unique for many reasons.  They work with farmers within a two hundred mile radius of the city to support local agriculture.  They also use no preservatives, chemicals, artificial flavors, or artificial colors, so the pickles’ great taste is all-natural. 

Some of their most popular flavors include the New Pickles, which are less sour than typical pickles,  The Horseradish Dills, which are quite spicy, and the Kosher Dills, which are your classic dill pickles. My personal favorite are the Holy Hecks.  The Holy Hecks are pickles made with jalapenos, which gives them a nice kick.

They sell their pickles in many locations.  I go to the 79th Greenmarket on Columbus. It has a wide variety of stalls, such as seafood, produce, baked goods, flowers, and wine.  In addition to the kind stall staff, there are many opportunities to sample the delicious variety of foods. For other locations, you can visit their website at http://www.divinebrinefoods.com.

If you are making the trip, nearby attractions include the Natural History Museum and the New-York Historical Society.

Robert Schaefer’s brilliant pickling business started in Long Island, as a simple family garden.  One year there was an influx of Kirby cucumbers, the kind used for pickling, and Robert decided to craft his delicious pickles.  They were given out as gifts to friends, but friends would keep asking for more pickles. Eventually, it became a business as so many people wanted these pickles. Robert was a chef for forty years before starting this business, so he brings that art to his new vocation.

These pickles are unique for many reasons.  They work with farmers within a two hundred mile radius of the city to support local agriculture.  They also use no preservatives, chemicals, artificial flavors, or artificial colors, so the pickles’ great taste is all-natural. 

Some of their most popular flavors include the New Pickles, which are less sour than typical pickles,  The Horseradish Dills, which are quite spicy, and the Kosher Dills, which are your classic dill pickles. My personal favorite are the Holy Hecks.  The Holy Hecks are pickles made with jalapenos, which gives them a nice kick.

They sell their pickles in many locations.  I go to the 79th Greenmarket on Columbus. It has a wide variety of stalls, such as seafood, produce, baked goods, flowers, and wine.  In addition to the kind stall staff, there are many opportunities to sample the delicious variety of foods. For other locations, you can visit their website at http://www.divinebrinefoods.com.

If you are making the trip, nearby attractions include the Natural History Museum and the New-York Historical Society.