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.
