As you can probably guess I have had quite a few fried pickles and as much as I love pickles, I don't love friend pickles. I like them, but do not love them. Today, I found one I love! Smashburger has delicious fried pickles. As I have started writing this blog I have discovered what I like and what I don't like in a pickle. Well I am starting to understand what I like and what I don't like in a fried pickle too. At Smashburger the pickles were a good quality deli-type slice. The breading was crisp and it was not too greasy. I think the crisp breading really made a difference. Hooters also has fried pickles but every time I have eaten them they are swimming in grease and inevitably give me a stomach ache. The pickle was tangy and was not overpowered with the breaded taste. It was a great balance.
An added bonus is that they have a buttermilk ranch that is very good to dip the pickles. I enjoyed the fried pickles without the ranch, but thought the ranch was good enough to use for fries, burger, etc. So, if you have to have something to dip your pickles in, the ranch is definitely a plus!
According to wikipdeia the fried pickle was popularized by Burnell "Fatman" Austin at the Duchess Drive In. The Duchess Drive in was located in Arkansas in the town of Atkins. Atkins was home to the Atkins pickle plant and was said to be right across the street from the Duchess Drive In. Atkins was dubbed "Pickle City USA" and had a pickle fest each year. It seems very fitting this would be the home of the fried pickle. Sadly, the Pickle plant changed ownership many times and finally in 2002, Dean foods closed the plant. The building the Pickle Plant was in is now home to Dean's processed foods, that sells chicken. I can't find info on the Duchess Drive In, leading me to believe it has closed, but luckily the Picklefest seems to still be in exsitance. So, I might take a trip to Arkansas next spring!
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