It’s kind of a big dill: NZ eateries embrace International Pickle Day 

Kiwis can once again relish the delights of International Pickle Day as eateries right around the country prepare to roll out their best pickle-inspired creations.

While International Pickle Day may be officially recognised on November 14, New Zealand establishments have quite rightly dedicated an entire week to this auspicious occasion, with some very special menu items available to customers from November 13-19.

Making a cameo appearance in Auckland for one day only on Saturday, November 13 is the DOE Donuts Pickle Doughnut. Made with cream cheese, feta and dill filling, slices of pickles, and topped with a pickle juice dill glaze, Auckland-based pickle fans would be wise to get in early before they all sell out. 

Also participating in Auckland - Best Ugly Bagels, Bird on a Wire, Brother’s Beer, Dedwood Deli, Hero Sandwich House, JoBros, Lowbrow, Peach’s Hot Chicken, Whitestone Cheese Bar and Winner Winner. 

Although many of the participating eateries can be found around Auckland, pickle enthusiasts in Hamilton, Hastings, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Wellington, Picton, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown can get in on the action too, with menu items that vary from decadent cheese toasties and elaborate burgers to crispy fried pickle snacks and special cocktails.  A full list of participating eateries can be found below. 

Meanwhile, those in the South Island are in for a double treat, with two previous winners of the Great NZ Toastie Takeover serving up their popular pickle-inspired toasted sandwiches. Dunedin’s pickle connoisseurs can take another bite of the ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ from 2020 Toastie Takeover champs Hungry Hobos, while further north, the ‘Pete from Picton’ - a delicious salmon and pickle toastie – will be available from Toastie Picton, this year’s Toastie Takeover People’s Choice Winner.

And the pickle love isn’t restricted to food items – the drink experts at Black Pineapple Co. have also come up with four limited-edition boxes including a McClure’s Mary (Bloody Mary box), Pickleback Box (including branded shot glasses), McClure’s Mary & Pickleback bundle and a Weekend at Frankie’s.

While the legend of the pickleback origins vary, McClure’s Pickles maintains the pickleback originated in Brooklyn, USA in 2006 at the Bushwick Country Club where a bartender was eating McClure’s pickles when a customer came in. The two shot some whiskey, followed by McClure’s pickle brine.  And hence the pickleback was born. 

Nick Brown of Cook & Nelson, the New Zealand distributor of McClure’s Pickles, says that while it’s been a difficult year for many, they still wanted to celebrate Pickle Week, support their customers, and encourage the public to also continue to support hospitality, wherever they are in the country. 

“Whether you fancy trying one of these special pickle-inspired items or something else that’s caught your eye on our customers’ menus, we’re encouraging everyone to support our hospitality industry where they can,” he says. 

“Everyone needs our continued support and Pickle Week is a great opportunity to do exactly that.”

The International Pickle Day dishes will be available at participating eateries from November 13-19. 

The limited-edition Black Pineapple Co. Bloody Mary & Pickleback Boxes with McClure's Shot Glasses are available for purchase directly from Black Pineapple Co. here. 

For more information about the Pickle Day festivities and giveaways, go to www.pickleweek.co.nz or follow the Facebook or Instagram pages of McClure’s Pickles distributor, Cook & Nelson. See Pickle Precincts below. #pickledaynz

PICKLE PRECINCTS

NORTH SHORE

Bird on a Wire: (Bird Club Sandwich) Brioche Loaf, Cos, Pulled Chicken, Bacon, Cheese, Bird Special Sauce, McClure's Pickles & Red Onion

Winner Winner, Takapuna: Winner Winner cheeseburger with local Hereford beef, McClure's pickles, cheese, onion, mustard, mayo & ketchup

Jo Bros Food truck at Farro Fresh Constellation Drive: Wagyu Burger: NZ wagyu beef patty, NZ cheddar, tomato, iceberg, onion, Jo Bros original sauce, make sure you add the pickles! (13/14  November, 10am until sold out)

CBD

Best Ugly Bagels: Pickolas Cage Bagel: McClure’s Pickles, Zany Zeus Cream Cheese, Tasty Cheese, Fresh Chopped Dill & Onion Soup Mix 

Hero Sandwich House: Jalapeno fried chicken scone with McClure's Pickles

Whitestone Cheese Bar: - BBQ pulled pork, McClure’s pickles, sauerkraut, Totara tasty & Monte Cristo (sheep milk cheese) on sourdough + truffle roasted mushrooms, McClure's pickles, spinach, grilled brie on sourdough

Bird on a Wire: (Bird Club Sandwich) Brioche Loaf, Cos, Pulled Chicken, Bacon, Cheese, Bird Special Sauce, McClure's Pickles & Red Onion

UPTOWN

Brother's Beer:  McClure’s Pickles on sandwiches and throughout menu

Lowbrow St Kevin’s Arcade:  Hot Chicken Sando - Lowbrow hot spice fried chicken thigh, American cheese, McClure's Pickles or try the O.G Chicken Sando or Bronco Burger

NEWMARKET

Bird on a Wire: (Bird Club Sandwich) Brioche Loaf, Cos, Pulled Chicken, Bacon, Cheese, Bird Special Sauce, McClure's Pickles & Red Onion

PONSONBY / GREY LYNN

Doe Donuts: Doughnut : Cream cheese, feta, & dill filling, with slices of pickles, topped with a pickle juice dill glaze and a hunky piece of pickle on top. Only available Saturday 13 November until sold out

Bird on a Wire: (Bird Club Sandwich) Brioche Loaf, Cos, Pulled Chicken, Bacon, Cheese, Bird Special Sauce, McClure's Pickles & Red Onion

Dedwood Deli: New York Reuben - slow cooked silverside, Swiss cheese, McClure’s pickles, sauerkraut, Dedwood sauce

TITIRANGI

Jo Bros: Deep fried McClure’s Pickles available 13/14 November at Street Feast

REST OF AUCKLAND

Brother's Beer, Onehunga & Orakei: McClure’s pickles on sandwiches and throughout menu

Peach’s Hot Chicken, Panmure: Crispy fried McClure's Pickles with ranch dressing; plus McClure’s pickles throughout menu

Winner Winner, Pukekohe: Winner Winner cheeseburger with local Hereford beef, McClure's pickles, cheese, onion, mustard, mayo & ketchup

Bird on a Wire, Ormiston: (Bird Club Sandwich) Brioche Loaf, Cos, Pulled Chicken, Bacon, Cheese, Bird Special Sauce, McClure's Pickles & Red Onion

HAMILTON

Bird on a Wire, Hamilton East: (Bird Club Sandwich) Brioche Loaf, Cos, Pulled Chicken, Bacon, Cheese, Bird Special Sauce, McClure's Pickles & Red Onion

Cream: Cream Eatery Cheeseburger with McClure’s pickles 

Winner Winner, Hamilton East: Winner Winner cheeseburger with local Hereford beef, McClure's pickles, cheese, onion, mustard, mayo & ketchup

HASTINGS

Black Betty BBQ: Double Smash Cheeseburger with McClure’s Pickles 

ROTORUA

Okere Falls: Reuben Sandwich featuring McClure’s Pickles 

PALMERSTON NORTH

Crafted & Co (Food Trucks): Meat, Cheese, Pickle with Double Wagyu Pattie, Double Bacon, Double Cheese, Double Pickles and Mac Daddy Pickle Sauce on a toasted Brioche Bun

WELLINGTON

Eva Beaver: Pickle inspired menu for the week featuring Deep Fried Pickles, Pickle Mac & Cheese and more! 

Dirty Burger: McClure’s pickles available throughout the menu & add extra pickles for free to any burger when you order via the app or online at dirtyburger.nz

Winner Winner: Winner Winner cheeseburger with local Hereford beef, McClure's pickles, cheese, onion, mustard, mayo & ketchup

Best Ugly: Pickolas Cage Bagel: McClure’s Pickles, Zany Zeus Cream Cheese, Tasty Cheese, Fresh Chopped Dill & Onion Soup Mix 

PICTON

Toastie Picton: Pete from Picton - Marlborough salmon, cream cheese with lemon, dill and capers, McClure’s pickles and Parmesan garnish. People’s Choice Winner, Great NZ Toastie Takeover 2021

BLENHEIM

Mollie’s Eatery: Deep fried  McClure's Crinkle Cut  Pickles served with apple chilli gel

CHRISTCHURCH

Bacon Bros: All of their beef burgers including Andy the Electrician, Shane the Legend, Mark the Snowboarder and The Man Mountain, as well as Picklebacks at the bar

Civil & Naval: Fried Chicken or Cauliflower with Big Mac Sauce and McClure’s Garlic & Dill Pickles     

DUNEDIN

Hungry Hobos: “Bat out of Hell” toasted sandwich featuring homemade meatloaf (made to Grandma's recipe), creamy mashed potato, gravy, aged cheddar and McClure's Sweet & Spicy pickles slathered between herb-buttered ciabatta. Winner, Great NZ Toastie Takeover 2020

QUEENSTOWN

Love Chicken: Love Chicken’s Southern Mac and Cheese Toastie. Southern-fried Bostock's organic chicken, sandwiched between two slices of white bread, topped with a three cheese mac & cheese, grilled onions, smoky mayonnaise and finished off with a dozen McClure’s pickles.