The pickle has had a great run as the focus of campy food fads over the past year or so. And it continues to inspire new edible oddities. Most of these are just nutty. But the latest pickle creation may have real merit, and some staying power on bar menus…
It started with Pickle Pogos and progressed to Pickle Dogs. After which came an explosion of ‘Pickle Everything’: Pickle Juice Soda, Pickle Freeze Pops, Pickle Gummies, Pickle Cotton Candy and even Chocolate Covered Pickles…
What floats your boat…
You’ve heard the old saying, “Everything old is new again.” And maybe it’s the marriage of the old and the new that gives me such positive vibes above the menu item we’re discussing today.
The new creation is called the Loaded Pickle Boat. And it’s claimed to have gone viral online hours after it’s launch. It’s the latest brainchild of Kaylin + Kaylin Pickles, an all-pickle ‘tasting bar’ at The Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles.
Infinite possibilities
I immediately realized the concept has almost infinite possibilities. You could stuff a hollowed-out half pickle with almost anything. And serve it cold or hot. Or even grilled.
Some of the variations already tried at K+K include: Cream Cheese+Lox+Everything Bagel Seasoning; Nutella + Peanut Butter + Pretzel; and a slate of Cheetos, Doritos and Fritos versions with Nacho Cheese Sauce.
Only onsite
You can only get K+K’s Loaded Pickle Boats onsite, in LA. But you can order their more-conventional jarred pickles online. K+K also wants you to know (by headlining it!) that their pickles are certified vegan.
I guess you could make your own authentic K+K Loaded Pickle Boats by ordering their pickles an copying their filling combos. But if you’re planning to sell them, don’t try to use the name ‘pickle boat’. It’s already been trademarked.
Of course, you could call yours ‘Pickle Rafts’, ‘Pickle Barges’, ‘Pickle Tugs’, ‘Pickle Yachts’, or ‘Pickle Cruisers’. In the UK, I’ll bet they’ll call then ‘Pickle Punts’, after the classic English rowboat. Italian restaurants may even call them ‘Pickle Gondolas’…
My take
The Pickle Boat concept is actually one of a very few truly new and creative developments to appear on the food scene in a long time. I really do think the Pickle Boat has staying power as an appetizer and Bar Food / Finger Food favourite. Every resto that wants to serve it can offer it’s own signature version(s). And the Pickle Boat holds the rare distinction of spanning the flavour spectrum from sour to sweet, while accommodating toppings from any point in between.
Erin and I have long kept a jar of Dill pickles in our ‘office’ fridge for snacking. I’m looking forward to launching a new fleet of Pickle snacks based on K+K’s boats…
~ Maggie J.