Back in 2021, a now closed dumpling spot did the unthinkable and made pickle ice cream. Of course, I had to try it (especially since it checks two boxes for me: pickles and ice cream).
I never thought I would encounter it again, but while walking through the new Moynihan Hall at Penn Station, I happened upon a location of Jacob’s Pickles (the owners of the aforementioned Lucky Dumpling) and saw a soft serve dispenser. It couldn’t be.
Not only does this one location of the southern comfort favorite serve pickle ice cream again, but they have taken it to another level by adding the option of swirling it with popcorn ice cream!!
Peanuts and popcorn, sure, but pickles and popcorn? In ice cream form?
I surprised myself at how excited I was to taste this again. My initial complaint was that the ice cream didn’t taste enough like pickles. Well, I think they have tweaked the recipe because there is no mistaking it with this pale green refreshing soft serve.
It’s quite tart, not so different from a fully cultured yogurt, but there was more of a vinegar bite that is tamed with subtle sweetness. You also see they don’t back away from it here because they serve it with actual pickle slices rather than the previous candied pickle chip garnish.
The popcorn ice cream was a bit more tame with only hints of salty butteriness. They add a sweetened salt as a garnish.
I see how these polar opposites sort of play nicely together in a swirl, but with the full-flavored pickle ice cream, the popcorn ice cream doesn’t really stand a chance. You want to taste each one separately if you ask me. And based on the improvement from my previous review, perhaps they do really want to ask me.
| JACOB’S PICKLES |
| 383 West 31st Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenue), Inside Moynihan Hall, Midtown West (646) 766-0326 |
| jacobspickles.com |
