Blazing Pickles

There aren't too many things that I can recall loving in both childhood and on into adulthood, but one thing come to mind. Pickles. I have loved them wholly and consistently my entire solid-food-eating life.

As a kid I used to sidle up to my Great Grandpa (that's right, GREAT Grandpa - I was a real youngin' at the time) and ask for the whole jar. Not just a few or a handful, but the whole dang jar. Now that's love!

For the record, my favorite brand of pickles has changed over the years. I used to love Vlasic dill slices back at Great Grandpa's house, then my favorites became Clausen's, and now that I've discovered McClure's pickles... Well, let me just say: McClure's you trump them all! This tiny, friend and family, Brooklyn based operation produces the finest, freshest pickle around.

I was first introduced to McClure's pickles by my brother at Wilfie & Nell in the West Village. I had grown up with a Mexican Mom who fostered a love of spicy foods in all of her children, so when I met my brother for a beer and some Shepherd's Pie he told me about these amazing spicy pickles that we had to order... Spicy pickles?! "Sounds spectacular", I said.

Out came a dish of sandwich friendly slices that had a look about them that reminded me of Great Grandpa's house and my Vlasic dill slices. I popped a slice in my mouth and POW! The spice hit me like a ton of bricks. It's the kind of spice that hurts, but it hurts so good! As a lover of red pepper flakes, tabasco sauce, franks red hot and sriracha sauce I'm going to declare these pickles not for the faint of heart or those of you with a sensitive-to-spice palate. One slice led to another, and before we knew it we had demolished the lot of them and ordered another.

I went home that night raving about them to my husband who also shares my affinity for pickles as well as all things spicy. I wasn't sure if they we're a Wilfie & Nell exclusive or if I would be able to run out and get a jar somewhere, because that's exactly what I wanted to do - Needed to do! He had to try them! I checked the online menu and saw that these pickles were dubbed 'McClure's Spicy Pickles'. Thanks to a quick Google search I found their distributors and the very next day I was off to get a few jars of my own - One for me, one for my husband and one for "later".

If I've peaked your picking loving interest the Williams Sonoma in Chelsea carries jars of McClure's (which are also made in non-spicy form for those of you who are not a fan of spice) and the Whole Foods on Houston in the Bowery carries them as well (click here to find a distributor nearest you). If you are a lover of pickles I say this earnestly, you MUST try McClure's - You will fall in love, for I have never come across a better pickle.

GGL - this one was for you!