Moon Brine pickle dude is moving to Oregon

[djd]

Heard from a store that stocks his pickles. AAUGH! I have Real Pickles right now from Red Fire CSA, and while that company's sauerkraut was great (and I used to go contra dancing with the founders years ago) the pickles are limp and soggy. My friend likes Grillo's... hope I agree with her.

[digga]

Bummer...I just extolled Moon Brine's virtues via Washington Square Tavern's fried pickles on a different thread.

[kuklist]

All of you need to order from the Pickle Guys in NY...

http://www.pickleguys.com/

Best full sours and still on the Lower East Side. I grew up on New York full-sours and these are up there with the all-time best.

You're welcome in advance.

[quirkydeb]

Full-sours are VERY different from Moon Brine dills. I have a feeling that folks who love Moon Brine's aren't going to like full-sours. I love full-sours, but tried Moon Brines because of these postings. I'll stick with the P.O.E. full-sours from Russo's. Have you tried them, kuklist?

Of course, now I have a quart container of Moon Brine dills that I feel badly throwing away... Anyone in Brookline want them?

[TheScribe]

Oh, darn! I love Moon Brine. I get them at City Feed in JP. They are the best pickles outside of NYC that I've ever had.

[bear]

The half-sour pickles that Russo's carries from POE are usually pretty crispy and tasty. POE's Giardiniera is really good, too...salty, spicy and crisp. I think they have the edge over Grillo's, but haven't done a side-by-side tasting.

I've never had Moon Brine so I can't compare.

[macadamianut]

The POE ones you speak of are very crunchy but they just taste like salted cucumbers. They are very plain tasting half sours. I still buy them and enjoy them but the Grillios have more flavor. Moonbrine were the best that I had locally.

[bear]

I'll have to do a side-by-side next time I have a pickle craving.

[katzzz]

We are on the same wavelength, Macadamianut. Yep, the POE (btw, stands for the Pickles, Olives, Etc., which is based in Manhattan) are better than most -- and Russo's has their full sour pickles, too -- but Grillo's are tastier. And Moonbrine is/were the best!

[bear]

Just got back from Russo's with some POE half-sours and kosher dill chips. I must say that the $2.50ish/qt. price tag is a little more enticing than the $7ish/qt. at Dave's Fresh for the Grillo's.

If I get a chance, I'll get some Grillo's and compare.

[muscles_marinara]

Grillo's pickles are definitely a bit flashier that P.O.E.'s new pickles (which do border on unfermented) but they're too vinegary for my taste. I *usually* prefer my pickles to be entirely fermented rather than spiked with vinegar at the end, unless they're pickled onions or something. P.O.E. has some other flavors that are tasty too... haven't tried the horseradish ones yet. Their Giardiniera is absolutely outstanding.

[almansa]

I just finished a tub of Grillo's, and I'm happy to report I loved them. He adds vinegar, though, but you can't really taste it, and the pickles are super crispy.

[katzzz]

I tried Grillo's last week for the first time. The guy who makes them was on hand at the Fresh Pond Whole Foods and he said he's following his grandfather's recipe, and making them in Newmarket Square. I'm not a dill pickle lover, but I thought they were the best dills I've ever tasted. I still like full sours better. I LOVE Moonbrine pickles, but haven't seen them around for a long time -- which makes the news that the Moonbrine guy is moving a lot easier to take. The question is, where can I find full sours as good?

[macadamianut]

Katzzz your right on. I agree with everything you said. Full Sours... Order online from any great place in NYC.

[9lives]

The Grillo's guy has a cart set up by the Park St T Station; if that's convenient for you...sells singles and quarts.

[galleygirl]

He's selling them at all the Whole Foods now, too...

[galleygirl]

Forgot to mention; I talked to the Grillo guy, and they're going to be sold at Fenway Park this year!

-----
Fenway Park
82 Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA 02215

[quirkydeb]

I love the P.O.E. full sour pickles I get at Russo's. It's so hard to find a true full sour. The ones I got at Whole Foods were crap. Well, maybe not crap, but not full sour. Never had a Moon Brine.

[jjbourgeois]

That's sad news. I've been a fan of Moon Brine for a couple of years. Grillo is okay, different from the Moon Brine. Flavor isn't as big. Other brand I like is McClure's (I think it's McClures, I could be having a senior moment). Garlic are really good and the hot sneaks up on you.