We all know the debate about pineapple on pizza but what about pickles?
June 8, 2023 9:26 AM Subscribe
According to the annual Slice of the Union report from independent pizzeria delivery app Slice, a new pizza topping is set to conquer pies in 2023: pickles. 🥒 This year's pizza trends: Fewer pineapples, more pickles. Why you should seriously consider making pickles your go-to pizza topping. Pizza Hut is launching a pickle pizza and I’m furious. How to make Ranch and Dill Pickle Pizza. Pickle pizza started as a novelty, but now it’s a big dill.
Yes, and I would also accept pickled jalapenos.
posted by box at 9:32 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by box at 9:32 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
I love pickle pizza, but then pizzas without red sauce are generally a lure for me.
posted by dlugoczaj at 9:33 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by dlugoczaj at 9:33 AM on June 8, 2023
I wonder why they're not more popular already. They clearly would work for pizza, at least in the somewhat more niche variants (not unlike anchovies) where folks want a strong salty/briny vibe.
posted by tclark at 9:33 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by tclark at 9:33 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Oooh, I get to practice my love language of sending someone something to recreationally absolutely haaaaate. *happy dance* (I love pickles and would give a slice a try.)
posted by EvaDestruction at 9:34 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by EvaDestruction at 9:34 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
You're all dead to me.
posted by 2N2222 at 9:35 AM on June 8, 2023 [22 favorites]
posted by 2N2222 at 9:35 AM on June 8, 2023 [22 favorites]
My kid went through a phase where every pizza was anchovies and pickles. I would just make it for her and not comment. I think she's mostly grown out of that phase.
I'm the guy in the relationship who gives my pickle to my wife, the pickle lover in the relationship. Y'all put whatever you want to put on your pizzas. It's fine.
posted by bondcliff at 9:39 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm the guy in the relationship who gives my pickle to my wife, the pickle lover in the relationship. Y'all put whatever you want to put on your pizzas. It's fine.
posted by bondcliff at 9:39 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Pineapples and pickles on pizza. More cronch, salty and sweet, spicy (if allergic to pineapples). Whats not to love
posted by Slackermagee at 9:40 AM on June 8, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Slackermagee at 9:40 AM on June 8, 2023 [5 favorites]
Hispanics have been putting ranch and mayo on pizza for a long time. It's funny it's now becoming trendy, with the ranch pizza and the 'big mac' pizza mentioned.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:43 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:43 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
To each their own. Who am I to complain when I eat peanut butter and mustard sammies?
But, when I eat pizza, I am a NYer and each a regular slice or three or pepperoni. I certainly do not take pizza recommendations from the WaPo.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:43 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
But, when I eat pizza, I am a NYer and each a regular slice or three or pepperoni. I certainly do not take pizza recommendations from the WaPo.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:43 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
Pineapple, yes. Pickles, I also love, but on pizza? What is wrong with you?
posted by May Kasahara at 9:45 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by May Kasahara at 9:45 AM on June 8, 2023
Pickled jalapenos are Good Actually but I would be reluctant to generalize.
That said, you can apparently pickle a pineapple so somebody on here who isn't me should do what's necessary and report back.
posted by mhoye at 9:45 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
That said, you can apparently pickle a pineapple so somebody on here who isn't me should do what's necessary and report back.
posted by mhoye at 9:45 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
I've never had pickles on pizza, but the concept makes sense to me.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 9:46 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 9:46 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I had a frozen "big mac" vegan pizza from Trader Joe's - it was the most junk-food vibe food I've eaten in years, and that is not because my daily diet is incredibly abstemious either. I support both the Trader Joe's product and pickles on pizza, although I would not want pickles on a red-sauce pizza personally.
posted by Frowner at 9:55 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by Frowner at 9:55 AM on June 8, 2023
A non red sauce pizza is not a pizza to me at all, but rather a flatbread. And that's fine.
posted by tiny frying pan at 9:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by tiny frying pan at 9:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
"Cheeseburger Pizzas" with hamburger, pickles, onions, and ketchup and mustard in lieu of tomato sauce have been a thing in certain parts of the Midwest since at least when I was a kid, probably longer.
posted by jferg at 9:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jferg at 9:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you don’t want me to eat your pizza, put on pineapples and/or barbecue sauce.
Nobody here has had a cheeseburger pizza before? Ground beef, pickles, and onions. Add shredded lettuce after it comes out of the oven. Not my bag, but I’ll eat it.
Pickled jalapeños and/or pickled banana peppers are delicious on pretty much any pizza. Sauerkraut isn’t bad, either.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Nobody here has had a cheeseburger pizza before? Ground beef, pickles, and onions. Add shredded lettuce after it comes out of the oven. Not my bag, but I’ll eat it.
Pickled jalapeños and/or pickled banana peppers are delicious on pretty much any pizza. Sauerkraut isn’t bad, either.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I learned from an interview with one of the founders of California Pizza Kitchen he had discovered in experimenting early on that almost any combination that works as a salad will work as a pizza. This has expanded my horizons in terms of pizza topping combinations to try. He wasn't wrong.
posted by interogative mood at 9:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by interogative mood at 9:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
One of the Michigan regional chains has been doing a Cuban (pork, ham, pickles, barbecue sauce drizzle) for a while now, and I have to force myself not to get it every time we order from them. Thumbs up.
posted by Etrigan at 9:59 AM on June 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 9:59 AM on June 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
"Cheeseburger Pizzas" with hamburger, pickles, onions, and ketchup and mustard in lieu of tomato sauce have been a thing in certain parts of the Midwest since at least when I was a kid, probably longer.
Yep - I know a place in Michigan that does a Coney dog pizza with relish.
posted by LionIndex at 9:59 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yep - I know a place in Michigan that does a Coney dog pizza with relish.
posted by LionIndex at 9:59 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
The local neopolitan joint added a "seasonal" pickle pizza, same setup: ranch and pickles. What really got the taste right was the fresh dill on top. Really, that's what you want in this flavor combination and it works. Put all the dill on everything.
Which makes me think you all would really love an Alsatian flammkuchen, it's a thin crust coated with creme fraiche or quark and topped with ham and carmelized onions. If you're putting ranch dressing on a pizza you're pretty much there. Trader Joe's sells a version of this if you want to try it out.
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:05 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
Which makes me think you all would really love an Alsatian flammkuchen, it's a thin crust coated with creme fraiche or quark and topped with ham and carmelized onions. If you're putting ranch dressing on a pizza you're pretty much there. Trader Joe's sells a version of this if you want to try it out.
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:05 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
I love pickles, and have been known to put kimchi in grilled cheese sandwiches, but pickles and ranch? Too far, dude. Too far.
posted by praemunire at 10:07 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 10:07 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Capers on a pizza are fun. They're pickle adjacent!
posted by foxfirefey at 10:08 AM on June 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by foxfirefey at 10:08 AM on June 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
I've had plenty of good pizza with one or more kinds of pickled vegetable as one of the condiments (usually applied post-baking). These have all been pretty good. Not so sure about pickled cucumber for this, although if there's no red sauce I could see something like a pastrami, swiss and pickle combination working fairly well. I guess I'd question whether or not something that goes that far afield would still be a pizza, per se, and not just baked dough with pastrami, swiss and pickle on it.
posted by slkinsey at 10:09 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by slkinsey at 10:09 AM on June 8, 2023
Capers are flowers! Flowers on a pizza? That's insane.
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:09 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:09 AM on June 8, 2023
you can apparently pickle a pineapple so somebody on here who isn't me should do what's necessary and report back.
I had a pizza last month that was tomato, mozzarella, Parmesan, pickled pineapple, & post-oven speck. The pickled pineapple was a nice touch, it still got some of the roasting like good pineapple-on-pizza should, but it was also less watery than fresh pineapple so it didn't risk the downside of pineapple-on-pizza.
posted by CrystalDave at 10:10 AM on June 8, 2023
I had a pizza last month that was tomato, mozzarella, Parmesan, pickled pineapple, & post-oven speck. The pickled pineapple was a nice touch, it still got some of the roasting like good pineapple-on-pizza should, but it was also less watery than fresh pineapple so it didn't risk the downside of pineapple-on-pizza.
posted by CrystalDave at 10:10 AM on June 8, 2023
We used to have a slice shop down the street from me about 10 years back that sometimes had sliced dill "pickle pies", as shown in the linked article, and they were heavenly. It's a very similar flavor/crunch as sliced pepperoncinis, although I'll admit I've never tried pairing pickles with other toppings besides your standard red sauce/mozzarella so I have no idea what I'd put with it.
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:13 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:13 AM on June 8, 2023
I’m kind of skeptical of pickled cucumbers (and a hard no to ranch dressing, which is too ubiquitous already, but I love pickled peppers, especially jalapeños. I developed a taste for them in college circa 1984, when I would treat myself to a Conan’s savage with jalapeños and anchovies.
And capers are not just “pickle adjacent”, they are actual pickles. Might have to try them some time. Other pickled veggies that I like are olives (preferably kalamata) and artichoke hearts.
posted by TedW at 10:13 AM on June 8, 2023
And capers are not just “pickle adjacent”, they are actual pickles. Might have to try them some time. Other pickled veggies that I like are olives (preferably kalamata) and artichoke hearts.
posted by TedW at 10:13 AM on June 8, 2023
If you live in and around Chicago, a local chain Bob's Pizza has this as one of their specials. Add to that; they have a BOGO for pickup and dine-in during the week 4-5 PM M-Th.
I like it. It is basically an open faced sandwich: bread, cheese, pickles; and I LOVE pickles in sandwiches.
posted by indianbadger1 at 10:19 AM on June 8, 2023
I like it. It is basically an open faced sandwich: bread, cheese, pickles; and I LOVE pickles in sandwiches.
posted by indianbadger1 at 10:19 AM on June 8, 2023
but pickles and ranch?
Since there's Hanch, there can also be...Panch, right?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:23 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Since there's Hanch, there can also be...Panch, right?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:23 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I already love hot banana peppers on pizza, so, sure, why not. And another yes for capers, as well.
posted by indexy at 10:24 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by indexy at 10:24 AM on June 8, 2023
capers are not just “pickle adjacent”, they are actual pickles
The pickled ones are, yeah, but not the salt-preserved ones.
posted by slkinsey at 10:25 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
The pickled ones are, yeah, but not the salt-preserved ones.
posted by slkinsey at 10:25 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Where are we with hot honey on pizzas? because that's starting to be a thing around here, and I'm curious if it's just a 'Burgh thing or a bigger trend.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 10:26 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 10:26 AM on June 8, 2023
I had a sourdough crust dill pickles-and-mustard pizza not too long ago. We were ordering a bunch of pizzas with friends, so we all agreed to give it a go. For science.
We all liked it!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:27 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
We all liked it!
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 10:27 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
Eat more pizza, put whatever you want on it. Go ahead!
The pizza world is big enough for pickles if it's big enough for Tuna which is everywhere in Europe.
The pickles on pizza thing first popped up in the twin cities a few years back with QC Pizza in Mahtomedi. Kinda Big Dill.
posted by djseafood at 10:30 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
The pizza world is big enough for pickles if it's big enough for Tuna which is everywhere in Europe.
The pickles on pizza thing first popped up in the twin cities a few years back with QC Pizza in Mahtomedi. Kinda Big Dill.
posted by djseafood at 10:30 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
The real trick is spicy Chicago-style giardiniera.
posted by kickingtheground at 10:32 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by kickingtheground at 10:32 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
You know the Voight-Kampff test? It's the interview from Bladerunner where they try to trick an android into saying something no human would ever say.
You're in a desert, walking along the sand -
What desert?
Doesn't matter. You're walking through the desert when you look down and see a pizza with pickles on it...
posted by adept256 at 10:46 AM on June 8, 2023 [5 favorites]
You're in a desert, walking along the sand -
What desert?
Doesn't matter. You're walking through the desert when you look down and see a pizza with pickles on it...
posted by adept256 at 10:46 AM on June 8, 2023 [5 favorites]
Where are we with hot honey on pizzas? because that's starting to be a thing around here, and I'm curious if it's just a 'Burgh thing or a bigger trend.
Already a dead trend in NYC. But still a tasty one.
posted by praemunire at 10:47 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Already a dead trend in NYC. But still a tasty one.
posted by praemunire at 10:47 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
"PPPPza" plan:
Pineapple
Pickles
Peppers (red, spicy)
Peanut Sauce
pleasing or putrid? polarizing, probably.
posted by polyhedron at 10:51 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
Pineapple
Pickles
Peppers (red, spicy)
Peanut Sauce
pleasing or putrid? polarizing, probably.
posted by polyhedron at 10:51 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
A local bar back home had a rueben pizza with saurkraut and pickles on special every so often. Pickles are my favorite food group, but it was never on deck when I was in the mood for being experimental.
Now that we routinely get giardiniera on our tavern style pizza I'd probably be much more likely to jump on it.
posted by ghost phoneme at 10:52 AM on June 8, 2023
Now that we routinely get giardiniera on our tavern style pizza I'd probably be much more likely to jump on it.
posted by ghost phoneme at 10:52 AM on June 8, 2023
If pineapples work on pizza, I'm somehow not surprised to hear that pickles do. I'd probably try it, because I went to a Sue Grafton book signing and they had peanut butter and bread and butter pickle sandwiches there and that turned out to be surprisingly good.
What I never got was anchovies. I don't know why that was A Thing in the 80's. I never tried it, but the one time I saw those little dead fish on a pizza on a cruise ship, I was all NUH-UH. I can't eat fishy things if they are there looking like dead fishy things.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:55 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
What I never got was anchovies. I don't know why that was A Thing in the 80's. I never tried it, but the one time I saw those little dead fish on a pizza on a cruise ship, I was all NUH-UH. I can't eat fishy things if they are there looking like dead fishy things.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:55 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I don't know why that was A Thing in the 80's.
Anchovies are a delightful component in any sort of savory Italian dish featuring a tomato sauce, so they should work for a pizza. However, they don't usually just sort of slap a bunch of 'em whole down on a food surface, as is the American way with an anchovy pizza.
When people react negatively to the idea of pickled vegetables on pizza generally, I think it's because they're thinking of pizza as fundamentally a fairly sweet dish, and sweet + pickled is still a controversial combo in the U.S. Sometimes rightfully so.
posted by praemunire at 11:00 AM on June 8, 2023
Anchovies are a delightful component in any sort of savory Italian dish featuring a tomato sauce, so they should work for a pizza. However, they don't usually just sort of slap a bunch of 'em whole down on a food surface, as is the American way with an anchovy pizza.
When people react negatively to the idea of pickled vegetables on pizza generally, I think it's because they're thinking of pizza as fundamentally a fairly sweet dish, and sweet + pickled is still a controversial combo in the U.S. Sometimes rightfully so.
posted by praemunire at 11:00 AM on June 8, 2023
Hispanics have been putting ranch and mayo on pizza for a long time.
Bodybuilders too. There's an old meme about someone asking a big name bodybuilder what their diet should look like. The reply was something like, "Go home every night and order a large pizza with everything on it. Pour a bunch of ranch, mayo, two cans of tuna, [and a couple of other ridiculous things I can't remember off-hand] and don't stop eating until you eat the whole thing. Then, tomorrow, do it all over again.
At some point long ago, someone took a bunch of shit from their community about their weird new invention of a flat, round, bread covered in red sauce and topped with cheese.
People who think they have any kind of authority that lets them have an opinion on what food I enjoy and how I enjoy it are assholes.
Calzones, however, are useless. I'm with Lesly Knope on that one. j/k
posted by VTX at 11:16 AM on June 8, 2023
Bodybuilders too. There's an old meme about someone asking a big name bodybuilder what their diet should look like. The reply was something like, "Go home every night and order a large pizza with everything on it. Pour a bunch of ranch, mayo, two cans of tuna, [and a couple of other ridiculous things I can't remember off-hand] and don't stop eating until you eat the whole thing. Then, tomorrow, do it all over again.
At some point long ago, someone took a bunch of shit from their community about their weird new invention of a flat, round, bread covered in red sauce and topped with cheese.
People who think they have any kind of authority that lets them have an opinion on what food I enjoy and how I enjoy it are assholes.
Calzones, however, are useless. I'm with Lesly Knope on that one. j/k
posted by VTX at 11:16 AM on June 8, 2023
When people react negatively to the idea of pickled vegetables on pizza generally, I think it's because they're thinking of pizza as fundamentally a fairly sweet dish, and sweet + pickled is still a controversial combo in the U.S. Sometimes rightfully so.
it doesn't interest me because like peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, it already has too much salt, so adding more salty flavors just doesn't appeal. To this end, sweet pickles might be alright, but dills? No thanks. Olives are ok because the surface area is pretty small, and even canned black olives don't taste like salt..
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:17 AM on June 8, 2023
it doesn't interest me because like peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, it already has too much salt, so adding more salty flavors just doesn't appeal. To this end, sweet pickles might be alright, but dills? No thanks. Olives are ok because the surface area is pretty small, and even canned black olives don't taste like salt..
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:17 AM on June 8, 2023
I had a dill pickle pizza on a whim last summer and I have not stopped thinking about it since. Yum.
My go-to chain pizza place in Metro Vancouver - Panago(-polis, as the Real Ones know it) - has long had a jalapeno ranch pizza dip that I absolutely love.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:18 AM on June 8, 2023
My go-to chain pizza place in Metro Vancouver - Panago(-polis, as the Real Ones know it) - has long had a jalapeno ranch pizza dip that I absolutely love.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:18 AM on June 8, 2023
I mean, whatever you want on a pizza is perfectly fine. I just can't abide by pizza purists.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:24 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by Thorzdad at 11:24 AM on June 8, 2023
One of the Michigan regional chains
I know a place in Michigan
Why are my fellow Michiganders so coy? Name names!
posted by axiom at 11:28 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I know a place in Michigan
Why are my fellow Michiganders so coy? Name names!
posted by axiom at 11:28 AM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
it doesn't interest me because like peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, it already has too much salt, so adding more salty flavors just doesn't appeal.
Fair.
posted by praemunire at 11:31 AM on June 8, 2023
Fair.
posted by praemunire at 11:31 AM on June 8, 2023
Why are my fellow Michiganders so coy? Name names!
Mitten Brewing Co., Leonard St., west of the Grand River, Grand Rapids. Feeling squeamish about whether you can handle an entire Coney dog pizza? That's OK! They have a "pizza flight" option where you can get a pizza made up of a few slices of different toppings, and a lot of their standard offerings (i.e. not "build your own") are fairly outre, so you can feel safe experiementing.
posted by LionIndex at 11:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
Mitten Brewing Co., Leonard St., west of the Grand River, Grand Rapids. Feeling squeamish about whether you can handle an entire Coney dog pizza? That's OK! They have a "pizza flight" option where you can get a pizza made up of a few slices of different toppings, and a lot of their standard offerings (i.e. not "build your own") are fairly outre, so you can feel safe experiementing.
posted by LionIndex at 11:58 AM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
People who think they have any kind of authority that lets them have an opinion on what food I enjoy and how I enjoy it are assholes.
Preach it.
posted by aramaic at 11:59 AM on June 8, 2023
Preach it.
posted by aramaic at 11:59 AM on June 8, 2023
What I never got was anchovies. I don't know why that was A Thing in the 80's. I never tried it, but the one time I saw those little dead fish on a pizza on a cruise ship, I was all NUH-UH. I can't eat fishy things if they are there looking like dead fishy things.
Get them on the side and dice them, then sprinkle all over. Now, they are no longer looking like fishy things AND you have a better chance of getting just the right amount with every bite. If done right, you get just enough of an umami boost to really elevate the pizza.
(Disclosure: I have been known to eat anchovies straight from the tin, so YMMV.)
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 12:38 PM on June 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
Get them on the side and dice them, then sprinkle all over. Now, they are no longer looking like fishy things AND you have a better chance of getting just the right amount with every bite. If done right, you get just enough of an umami boost to really elevate the pizza.
(Disclosure: I have been known to eat anchovies straight from the tin, so YMMV.)
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 12:38 PM on June 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
NO
posted by supermedusa at 2:14 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by supermedusa at 2:14 PM on June 8, 2023
Doesn't matter. You're walking through the desert when you look down and see a pizza with pickles on it...
I irrigate and grow alfalfa for export.
posted by srboisvert at 2:20 PM on June 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
I irrigate and grow alfalfa for export.
posted by srboisvert at 2:20 PM on June 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
I never understand when people love X and love Y but X+Y is unacceptable.
If you like pizza and you like pickles, then at least try it.
However, I don’t like pickles.
posted by MtDewd at 2:34 PM on June 8, 2023
If you like pizza and you like pickles, then at least try it.
However, I don’t like pickles.
posted by MtDewd at 2:34 PM on June 8, 2023
Who am I to complain when I eat peanut butter and mustard sammies.
You kids have no idea how easy you got it: when I was a kid -- sun, rain, sleet or snow -- I had to walk a whole block and a half to grade school!
As a result, I never had to endure smelling boiled-to-death brussel sprouts, spinach or souerkraut at hot lunch -- menu items I guarantee you that not one kid ever ate. What were they thinking back then? Oh, I forgot: it was the 50s. Everyone boiled vegetables to death.
But me, I went home for lunch.
Self made peanut butter & honey and sliced gherkin pickle sandwiches were a lunchtime favorite as were peanut butter and thin sliced bermuda onion, peanut butter and bacon and various combinations of all of the preceding.
Or if we ate hot, it was Nalley's chile or Campbell's chicken noodle soup. I would have been a totally bullied green monkey as a kid save that an invitation to come to my house for lunch was a highly sought after privilege that brought me more than one ally.
posted by y2karl at 2:40 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
You kids have no idea how easy you got it: when I was a kid -- sun, rain, sleet or snow -- I had to walk a whole block and a half to grade school!
As a result, I never had to endure smelling boiled-to-death brussel sprouts, spinach or souerkraut at hot lunch -- menu items I guarantee you that not one kid ever ate. What were they thinking back then? Oh, I forgot: it was the 50s. Everyone boiled vegetables to death.
But me, I went home for lunch.
Self made peanut butter & honey and sliced gherkin pickle sandwiches were a lunchtime favorite as were peanut butter and thin sliced bermuda onion, peanut butter and bacon and various combinations of all of the preceding.
Or if we ate hot, it was Nalley's chile or Campbell's chicken noodle soup. I would have been a totally bullied green monkey as a kid save that an invitation to come to my house for lunch was a highly sought after privilege that brought me more than one ally.
posted by y2karl at 2:40 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
People who think they have any kind of authority that lets them have an opinion on what food I enjoy and how I enjoy it are assholes.
I mean, you can have an opinion on food while fully recognizing that you have no authority to impose it on anyone and that there are social contexts in which it would be inappropriate to express it, you know? I would never try to get in your way as you guzzle pickle-chunk-studded ranch by the gallon, but that doesn't mean I don't have thoughts.
posted by praemunire at 2:53 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I mean, you can have an opinion on food while fully recognizing that you have no authority to impose it on anyone and that there are social contexts in which it would be inappropriate to express it, you know? I would never try to get in your way as you guzzle pickle-chunk-studded ranch by the gallon, but that doesn't mean I don't have thoughts.
posted by praemunire at 2:53 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
diced pickles, ground beef, tomatoes, mushrooms...noooooo
posted by clavdivs at 3:21 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by clavdivs at 3:21 PM on June 8, 2023
But me, I went home for lunch.
Same here, I never saw a lunch room in grade school. something about a dime being taped on the inside of my Batman lunch box was really depressing.
posted by clavdivs at 3:25 PM on June 8, 2023
Same here, I never saw a lunch room in grade school. something about a dime being taped on the inside of my Batman lunch box was really depressing.
posted by clavdivs at 3:25 PM on June 8, 2023
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posted by Space Kitty at 3:38 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by Space Kitty at 3:38 PM on June 8, 2023
Papa John's did a cheeseburger pizza I think last year? It was WEIRD. And I found out I hate my pickles hot. But gimme the pineapple with ham and some BBQ sauce instead of pizza sauce.
posted by tlwright at 4:51 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by tlwright at 4:51 PM on June 8, 2023
One of the Michigan regional chains has been doing a Cuban (pork, ham, pickles, barbecue sauce drizzle) for a while now, and I have to force myself not to get it every time we order from them. Thumbs up.
I can actually grok the idea of Cuban sandwich fixings on a pizza.
But barbecue sauce? That is in no way, shape, or form a constituent of a Cuban sandwich.*
*I admit I'm a Cuban sandwich snob, having grown up in Miami.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:49 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I can actually grok the idea of Cuban sandwich fixings on a pizza.
But barbecue sauce? That is in no way, shape, or form a constituent of a Cuban sandwich.*
*I admit I'm a Cuban sandwich snob, having grown up in Miami.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:49 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
What I never got was anchovies. I don't know why that was A Thing in the 80's.
In the '80s? It's never stopped being a thing, and I'm pretty sure it predated the '80s.
Anchovies are one of my fave pizza toppings. Their saltiness is comparable to that of pickles, actually, which is why I suspect I'd be up for pickles on pizza (as long as the texture isn't off-putting in some way).
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:55 PM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
In the '80s? It's never stopped being a thing, and I'm pretty sure it predated the '80s.
Anchovies are one of my fave pizza toppings. Their saltiness is comparable to that of pickles, actually, which is why I suspect I'd be up for pickles on pizza (as long as the texture isn't off-putting in some way).
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:55 PM on June 8, 2023 [2 favorites]
When people react negatively to the idea of pickled vegetables on pizza generally, I think it's because they're thinking of pizza as fundamentally a fairly sweet dish,
I don't get this at all, but I guess some people do think of it that way.
A couple years ago, in one of our grocery deliveries, we were somehow given a couple of frozen Totino's "pizzas" by mistake. Those godawful things were so disgustingly sugared up, from the sauce to the cheese to the dough.
A proper pizza might have a hint of sweetness in the sauce, mostly from the natural sugar in the tomatoes. But overall it really should be strongly salty and umami.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:59 PM on June 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
I don't get this at all, but I guess some people do think of it that way.
A couple years ago, in one of our grocery deliveries, we were somehow given a couple of frozen Totino's "pizzas" by mistake. Those godawful things were so disgustingly sugared up, from the sauce to the cheese to the dough.
A proper pizza might have a hint of sweetness in the sauce, mostly from the natural sugar in the tomatoes. But overall it really should be strongly salty and umami.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 6:59 PM on June 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
But overall it really should be strongly salty and umami.
I agree, but cheap pizza is usually on the sweeter side.
posted by praemunire at 7:56 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I agree, but cheap pizza is usually on the sweeter side.
posted by praemunire at 7:56 PM on June 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Hispanics have been putting ranch and mayo on pizza for a long time. It's funny it's now becoming trendy, with the ranch pizza and the 'big mac' pizza mentioned.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:43 AM on June 8 [1 favorite +] [!]
(Scots-Irish here) -Ever since I was old enough to order on my own in 1997 (and I grew up rural and the best we got for pizza shop in the 80s was Pizza Hut in the town 20 mins away) - when I got to Madison and saw what an actual opportunity was given. Chicken? Bacon? Ranch? Jalapenos? OMG PLEASE!
Anyways. that's been my jam for ages. I've also wanted CBR ice-cream. I think it might exist now. Or at least bacon does.
Regardless it depends on the type of pickle. I don't like "butter pickles" but picture circled slices. I like Dill pickles but now that I think about it...
Garlic Butter Pickles? That might work. Otherwise like above, I'll let my roomie have the pickles. and pineapple on pizza is an abomination before my god.
posted by symbioid at 7:57 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:43 AM on June 8 [1 favorite +] [!]
(Scots-Irish here) -Ever since I was old enough to order on my own in 1997 (and I grew up rural and the best we got for pizza shop in the 80s was Pizza Hut in the town 20 mins away) - when I got to Madison and saw what an actual opportunity was given. Chicken? Bacon? Ranch? Jalapenos? OMG PLEASE!
Anyways. that's been my jam for ages. I've also wanted CBR ice-cream. I think it might exist now. Or at least bacon does.
Regardless it depends on the type of pickle. I don't like "butter pickles" but picture circled slices. I like Dill pickles but now that I think about it...
Garlic Butter Pickles? That might work. Otherwise like above, I'll let my roomie have the pickles. and pineapple on pizza is an abomination before my god.
posted by symbioid at 7:57 PM on June 8, 2023
Partner and I have a favorite pie that we get at new places (if it’s a place that does choose your own from the long list of toppings): pineapple, pickled jalapeño slices and feta (with the usual tomato base and mozz). Anchovies also work for the feta.
Anyway just came here to praise a family favorite and hopefuly spread the good news to others.
posted by R343L at 8:01 PM on June 8, 2023
Anyway just came here to praise a family favorite and hopefuly spread the good news to others.
posted by R343L at 8:01 PM on June 8, 2023
Pizza in Korea has been served with pickles on the side for decades. I've heard of people who won't eat pizza unless there are pickles with it, because the pickles help cut the richness of the cheese.
posted by mosessis at 8:06 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by mosessis at 8:06 PM on June 8, 2023
If you like pickles on pizza, I hope you like pickles on your children’s graves because you’re weak, your bloodline is weak, and you will not survive the winter.
posted by NemesisVex at 10:02 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by NemesisVex at 10:02 PM on June 8, 2023
Pineapple, pepperoni and pickled jalapeños is a blessing from Lord Pizza itself. I'm curious about replacing the jalapeños with pickles.
posted by nestor_makhno at 11:03 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by nestor_makhno at 11:03 PM on June 8, 2023
but not the salt-preserved ones.
well technically those are lactic-acid ferment pickles performed by an ensemble of bacteria who also sour the true and proper sauerkraut among other fermented pickle glory
(Sandor Katz's books cover this and I treasure the homophobe who once Amazon-reviewed one like 'why such a Big Gay Pickle Book' because I'm preserving that phrase. By bacteria.)
posted by away for regrooving at 12:41 AM on June 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
well technically those are lactic-acid ferment pickles performed by an ensemble of bacteria who also sour the true and proper sauerkraut among other fermented pickle glory
(Sandor Katz's books cover this and I treasure the homophobe who once Amazon-reviewed one like 'why such a Big Gay Pickle Book' because I'm preserving that phrase. By bacteria.)
posted by away for regrooving at 12:41 AM on June 9, 2023 [3 favorites]
The other thing about pickles on pizza is that toppings are like $1.25 each now, and I know how much an entire jar of pickles costs. The top better be green for that price!
posted by The_Vegetables at 7:49 AM on June 9, 2023
posted by The_Vegetables at 7:49 AM on June 9, 2023
In the '80s? It's never stopped being a thing, and I'm pretty sure it predated the '80s.
I constantly, constantly, constantly saw references to anchovies in fiction all the time when I was a kid. I haven't seen any in decades.
Like I said, I literally only saw anchovies in person once ever in 2010 on a cruise ship, but maybe anchovies were an East Coast thing. They certainly aren't on this coast.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:21 AM on June 9, 2023
I constantly, constantly, constantly saw references to anchovies in fiction all the time when I was a kid. I haven't seen any in decades.
Like I said, I literally only saw anchovies in person once ever in 2010 on a cruise ship, but maybe anchovies were an East Coast thing. They certainly aren't on this coast.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:21 AM on June 9, 2023
Huh. They are most definitely still a thing in most places in the Northeast where I've had pizza over the last quarter century. Not as common a topping as, say, pepperoni, sausage, or onions, but still widely available.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:45 PM on June 9, 2023
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 12:45 PM on June 9, 2023
Inspired by this post, I just had a Mc Pizza (hamburger, onions, pickles, special sauce) from Bro’s Dough in Hartford (previously) and it was delicious.
posted by gauche at 5:25 PM on June 9, 2023
posted by gauche at 5:25 PM on June 9, 2023
I've never been in the presence of anchovies on pizza, but it's definitely an option at a number of places here in the Midwest. Not every place has it as an option, but it's more common than artichokes, for example.
posted by ghost phoneme at 8:02 AM on June 10, 2023
posted by ghost phoneme at 8:02 AM on June 10, 2023
It's funny you use that specific example because one of my saddest recent pizza experiences was ordering a pizza with artichokes, black olives and mushrooms, eagerly retrieving it, and then opening it to find that "artichokes" had been misread as "anchovies." I usually hate wasting food, particularly with meat/fish in it, so I considered trying to just suck it up but in this instance, alas, I could not.
posted by eponym at 1:51 PM on June 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by eponym at 1:51 PM on June 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
To swing slightly closer to on topic, I was slightly startled by the idea of pickles on pizza, I think more because of texture than anything else (how many pizza toppings are crunchy?) but I could totally go for it.
posted by eponym at 2:50 PM on June 10, 2023
posted by eponym at 2:50 PM on June 10, 2023
Kazoopy's in Kalamazoo, MI has a Cheeseburger Deluxe pizza with pickles. It is outrageously good.
Having pickles as the main topping is not something I can get behind, but as a complimentary ingredient, it can be fantastic.
posted by toddforbid at 6:47 PM on June 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Having pickles as the main topping is not something I can get behind, but as a complimentary ingredient, it can be fantastic.
posted by toddforbid at 6:47 PM on June 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
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