Where are the best dill pickles in the Twin Cities?

[TDS1]

I am planning on trying to make my own pickles this summer - so I am in search of some great Kosher Dill pickles for inspiration. I like the Claussen Kosher Dill pickles - but I assume there are probably better tasting ones available. Does any one have any favorite deli pickles in the Twin Cities (preferably Minneapolis or western metro)

[ChancesR]

Used to be a Clausen's fan. Then I tried Boar's Head (Lunds/Byerly's) and haven't gone back.

[Latinpig]

Morts brought in some of the best half sours I have ever had. They came from out east somewhere. I have heard Morts has gone down hill but if they still have those pickles, they are the best in town.

[steve_in_stpaul]

If what I had at Mort's last time I was there (a month ago?) were half-sours, something has gone horribly wrong. I grew up eating half-sours and now make my own and Mort's cucumbers bore only the barest resemblance to half-sours. :-(

[Maggie19]

Costco - large 1 gallon jar (128oz) of whole Gedney dills - $5.00

[TDS1]

Is that the same as the "State Fair" Gedney dills?

[TDS1]

So, I picked up some Guss's kosher dill refridgerator pickles at the local walmart. They are NY deli pickles and seem to have pretty good review - so hopes were high. The cruchiness of the pickles was similar to Claussen. They tasted slightly less salty, but a review of the container shows that salt content is similar. Flavor wise, the complexity of the flavor taste seems better on the Claussen pickles.

Overall winner? Claussen wins this round.

[kevin47]

Which Walmart? We've been looking for Guss's pickles, which I like very much.

[shoo bee doo]

I really like the half-sours at Mort's deli. I usually buy a pound or two and get lots of juice to drink with it.

[TDS1]

Thanks for the great suggestions. I have been meaning to try McClure's pickles. They have them at France 44 - I definitely need to stop by. I am not sure I have tried a half sour pickle before, but it's going on the list.

Galewskj, where are you finding Nathen's pickles? Are they refridgerater pickles? That seems to be the big advantage of the Clausen - very crunchy!!

[chazmo]

McClure's. They have them at the St Paul cheese shop at Snelling and Grand. There is a location in MPLS also but I have never been to that one. Best pickles I have ever had.

[getgot211]

Surdyks has those too.

[KTFoley]

They change from year to year, but I have enjoyed the State Fair winners that Gedney's has produced. (Not sure of a better way to describe that setup: Gedney's works with the blue ribbon winners from the MN State Fair to produce pickles according to their winning recipe, and then distributes them to grocery stores. Jams, too.)

Although they do not publish the exact recipe, it helps to know that these commercially-produced pickles rely on ingredients that are available to home cooks.

[MplsM ary]

I agree. Gedney's for me, too. I also like their Jalapeno Babies. Man, that's weird to type...

Tangent - I also like Gedney Preserves State Fair Cherry . Too sweet probably, but perfect for PBJs.

[galewskj]

I have tried many pickles over the past couple years, and honestly I still prefer Clausen or Nathan's. I should have been keeping a list or something, but I haven't. Whenever I see a pickle I haven't tried, I've bought it. And Clausen is still at the top of the list. Bubbie's are downright disgusting.

<Bracing for the backlash on this opinionated subject>

[WildSwede]

Not from me - I completely agree regarding Bubbie's. I kept hearing great things about them and so when I saw them in the market, I got excited and purchased them. It was such a disappointment! They sat in my fridge for a year and then I just tossed them. Currently, I have Clausen's in my fridge and they satisfy me just fine.

[BigE]

Claussen's are easily my favorite too.

[princebaal]

in a jar at whole foods. the 360 brand.