Returning to the New York City sentiment, I was in Manhattan in May 2018 for my company’s annual conference. While cabbing to my hotel (yes, I stay in hotels when on the company dime), a friend tagged me in some food magazine article on Facebook to alert me to a unique offering in NYC: pickle ice cream.
On a perfect Spring afternoon, I hiked up to the West Side to the Lucky Pickle Dumpling Company. A semi-open-air, seasonal Asian dumpling shop that is only open in the warmer months serves a delicious vase of frozen green delight.
Ever so efficiently, you order from an iPad and BAM, your order arrives in record speed. The ice cream is soft-serve consistency and probably three times the portion that I could ever really eat. (For the record, I polished this off.) A mysterious mix of sweet and salty, yet creamy, it was garnished with salty dehydrated pickle chips. In fact, they could’ve been salted bread & butter chips. Such a unique flavor, it was hard to discern!
The base tastes like a traditional sweet vanilla soft serve mixed with a traditional cooked pickle juice. I really don’t think it’s much more complicated than that.
Next door is the mothership: Jacob’s Pickles. “Beer. Biscuits. Pickles.” http://jacobs.picklehospitality.com/
Jacob’s claims to be a Southern-inspired restaurant, and since I’ve lived in the Deep South for 20 years, I think I can spot a valid menu from 20 paces. Jacob gets it.
Open year round, long lines to get in (remember how I detest lines?) I hovered over someone’s table, zooming in on their appetizers with my cell phone camera. After an awkward stare, I explained that I was admiring their pickle appetizer for my blog, but wasn’t sure if I’d have time to get a table. And whaddya know? They had an empty chair and invited me to join them to sample. New Yorkers are truly a friendly, awesome bunch.
A pickle flight of hot and spicy pickled cukes, carrots, green tomatoes, and green beans was offered to me.
The carrots were heavy on the cinnamon and cloves, while the cucumbers were crisp and spicy. Jacob’s web site describes each veggies pickling process and displays beautiful visuals. Visit http://jacobs.picklehospitality.com/pickles/
If you find yourself in the middle of Central Park, head west to Jacob’s and the Lucky Dumpling for unique Southern treats and the most refreshing dessert your friends will envy!
Pickle Picker 