Grillo's Pickles rivals?

[mvi]

I like Grillo's Pickles and have supported their efforts but have now been to their Inman Square location twice only to find it locked up and dark, even when their advertised hours indicate they should be open. Kind of a bum steer.

I know that Grillo's can be found at Whole Foods and other places, but I like to buy from the source whenever I can. But I have had it with this location. Too hit or miss for me.

Since Grillo's seems to keep standing me up, I am now looking for other pickle purveyors who stick to their advertised hours. Any other good local pickles out there at the farmers markets or other spots? Or should I try making my own?

[trufflehound]

http://www.regalpickle.com/

[BobB]

For excellent freshly made half-sours, check out the local Russian markets like Bazaar and Berezka.

[mwk]

I also love Grillo's. I've found another local company of comparable quality and taste, Ruuska Pickles in Plymouth, MA. I "discovered" them on a recent trip to the Fruit Center Market in Milton, which carries them. I am not sure where else they are sold, but here is the web site for them:

http://www.ruuskapickles.com/

[phatchris]

+1 to Maitland Mountain, spicy herby awesomeness.

[stiv99]

Pemberton's market in Cambridge has half-sour pickles from Guss' pickles out of NYC. My wife really likes them (I prefer sour pickles myself.....)

[drewinmrblhd]

Really good local pickles can be found from Maitland Mountain Farm out of Salem, MA. Usually available at local famers markets and at Milk and Hoeny Green Grocer in Salem, MA.

http://www.maitlandmountainfarm.com/

http://www.milkandhoneysalem.com/prod...

[CookieLee]

Can someone tell me, which Grillo pickles do they serve at Roast Beast? Are they the spicy ones? I only had them once, and they were great!

[kimfair1]

Those are not Grillo's but rather Wickles Pickles. They can be found in supermarkets, I've bought them at Stop and Shop in Allston. They are a sweet and hot pickle.

[CookieLee]

ah, tyvm, kimfair1!

[VintageMolly]

Russo's carries a line of pickles called "P.O.E of New York." Not local, obviously, but very delicious.

[GretchenS]

Second this, I love the P.O.E. stuff. In refrigerator over near the pasta at Russo's. Mmmm, need to get to Russo's soon, it has been too long, thanks for the reminder, VintageMolly.

[bear]

Delicious and much less expensive than Grillo's. The P.O.E. giardiniera is very good, too, and about $2/qt.

[Gordough]

Is it spicy giardiniera?

[okra]

P. O. E. is Pickles, Olives Etc, from the Upper East side. Look here:

http://www.picklesandolives.com/pickl...

[GretchenS]

moderately spicy and truly delicious

[mvi]

Oh, those sound good....I'm going on a Pickle Prowl soon. More suggestions welcome.

Interesting to read that I am not the only one to find Grillo's closed when they advertise being open. When you make a specific trip to stock up on assorted picked goodness, it is a disappointment, for sure.

Keep any pickle news coming. I'm going to keep a close eye on the farmers markets, too. And bonus points for good pickled beets.

[GretchenS]

mvi, if you find good ones at a farmers market anywhere, please report back. Many of us still lament the loss of Moonbrine Pickles, finest pickle (to my taste) I have ever eaten... Oh, hey, after I typed that I Googled them and they have reappeared in Portland, OR, where I will be flying into Labor Day weekend to head out to the Coast. MUST GO!!!

[GretchenS]

... and on further examination, he sells locally: http://moonbrine.com/ To me, these are WAY better than Grillo's.

[mvi]

Thanks for this tip, GretchenS, I am going to get some of those Moonbrines and keep on the prowl for other pickles. Will keep all pickle people informed if I find anything out there and hope you will do the same.

[katzzz]

I miss Moonbrine, the best new breed artisan pickles I've tasted. According to website, they will reappear in late July in east coast locations, including scattered outlets around Boston. For sour pickle goodness, they got Grillo's beat, though I do like Grillo's a lot more than P.O.E. sour pickles, which to my palate just don't have enough zing.

[deglazer]

Moonbrine was/is the best! They were/are one of very few making lacto-fermented dills, not the vinegar-y type. Vinegar pickles (like Grillo's) can obviously be delicious too, but for me there's nothing like the fermented style (though I think Moonbrine actually includes a small amount of vinegar)

[katzzz]

I eat my words re: POE full sour pickles. Just ate one and it's much much better than I remembered. The sourness is there. I like 'em as much as Grillo's dill pickles, maybe more.

[jjbourgeois]

Seriously miss MoonBrine. Grillo's good, MoonBrine better.

[nsenada]

Those are good - I had deep fried ones at the Porter Cafe in West Roxbury.

[nsenada]

Those half sours are really good (and Grillo's are stored right next to them).

[Gabatta]

The only time I tired to go to Grillo's it was closed as well (afternoon on a weekday).

[drb]

Most of the Russian markets have good pickles, half-sour and otherwise.

[katzzz]

I like Grillo's pickles a lot and I'm excited that they're doing half-sours. I wish they did full sours, which are my favorite by far. I saw Whole Foods sour pickles the other day and was tempted, but I didn't trust the color: they were brightish green, not the sea green color I associate with a great sour pickle. Anyone tried the Whole Foods sours?

[Trumpetguy]

Without tasting the WF pickles, you already know they're probably not bad, but far from great...

[quirkydeb]

Russo's has full sours (my favorites too) from NY (from P.O.E.).

Whoops! Should have read further down.

[jforman]

You didn't state what times you tried to go. You might try tweeting them with a question, @grillospickles.

I know I've been to their Inman Square location during after-work hours during the week, and in the middle of the day on a Saturday, and been able to satisfy my pickled-food needs.

BTW, they now do half sour pickles! By far my favorite kind.

[mvi]

While I do not use Twitter, I did communicate with Grillo's the second time it happened, which was over a weekend. The first time was on a weekday just after work. I know I can buy them at many other retail outlets. Just wondering if there are any other good locally made pickles that people can recommend.