Kiwis can once again relish the delights of International Pickle Day as eateries right around the country prepare to roll out their best pickle-inspired creations.
While International Pickle Day may be officially recognised on November 14, New Zealand establishments have quite rightly dedicated an entire week to this auspicious occasion, with some very special menu items available to customers.
Making a cameo appearance in Auckland for one day only on Saturday, November 13 is the DOE Donuts Pickle Doughnut. Made with cream cheese, feta and dill filling, slices of pickles, and topped with a pickle juice dill glaze, Auckland-based pickle fans would be wise to get in early before they all sell out.
Also participating in Auckland – Best Ugly Bagels, Bird on a Wire, Brother’s Beer, Dedwood Deli, Hero Sandwich House, JoBros, Lowbrow, Peach’s Hot Chicken, Whitestone Cheese Bar and Winner Winner.
Although many of the participating eateries can be found around Auckland, pickle enthusiasts in Hamilton, Hastings, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Wellington, Picton, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown can get in on the action too, with menu items that vary from decadent cheese toasties and elaborate burgers to crispy fried pickle snacks and special cocktails.
Meanwhile, those in the South Island are in for a double treat, with two previous winners of the Great NZ Toastie Takeover serving up their popular pickle-inspired toasted sandwiches.
Dunedin’s pickle connoisseurs can take another bite of the ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ from 2020 Toastie Takeover champs Hungry Hobos, while further north, the ‘Pete from Picton’ – a delicious salmon and pickle toastie – will be available from Toastie Picton, this year’s Toastie Takeover People’s Choice Winner.
And the pickle love isn’t restricted to food items – the drink experts at Black Pineapple Co. have also come up with four limited-edition boxes including a McClure’s Mary (Bloody Mary box), Pickleback Box (including branded shot glasses), McClure’s Mary & Pickleback bundle and a Weekend at Frankie’s.
While the legend of the pickleback origins vary, McClure’s Pickles maintains the pickleback originated in Brooklyn, USA in 2006 at the Bushwick Country Club where a bartender was eating McClure’s pickles when a customer came in.
The two shot some whiskey, followed by McClure’s pickle brine. And hence the pickleback was born.
Nick Brown of Cook & Nelson, the New Zealand distributor of McClure’s Pickles, says that while it’s been a difficult year for many, they still wanted to celebrate Pickle Week, support their customers, and encourage the public to also continue to support hospitality, wherever they are in the country.
“Whether you fancy trying one of these special pickle-inspired items or something else that’s caught your eye on our customers’ menus, we’re encouraging everyone to support our hospitality industry where they can,” he says.
“Everyone needs our continued support and Pickle Week is a great opportunity to do exactly that.”
The International Pickle Day dishes will be available at participating eateries from November 13-19.
For more information about the Pickle Day festivities and giveaways, go to Pickleweek or follow the Facebook or Instagram pages of McClure’s Pickles distributor, Cook & Nelson.
