Picklefest at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener has been running for four years and shows no signs of stopping. People come from wide and far to attend and after going, we can see why people return year after year.
Dave Moore and Erin Ackersviller, from Kitchener, attend PickleFest every year. It’s important that I note that both were dressed in pickle-themed attire. Dave says the best part of PickleFest is “trying new, weird, interesting food. Because it does get very, very creative.”
I can attest to the fact that the food was all delicious, and definitely worth the price. For $35 a ticket, you get over 10 samples of food and beer each from different local restaurants and breweries, as well as a beer tasting glass that you can go home and drink picklebacks from (Editor’s Note: Don’t do this, picklebacks are gross). As one of the attendees we interviewed confirmed, you most likely won’t need to pay for more beer. However, I would probably advise eating something beforehand.
Matt Culp, from Arthur, drove 45 minutes to attend the event and seemed to be enjoying himself. He thought that, for $35, you can get pretty good drinks and also great food, though his favourite pickled snack, pickled carrots, was nowhere to be found. According to him, they’re “the greatest thing that could ever exist.”
The winner of the Favourite Pickle Dish award went to Never Enough Thyme for their dill cheese dip and bread, and I can attest that it was damn delicious and totally deserved the prize. Nevertheless, my favourite was the dish from The Crumby Cookie Dough Co. It turns out pickle cookie dough is it — like, it’s top tier. I liked that they had a second option with pickled cherries, because the world of pickles is far bigger than just cucumbers (just ask Matt). The pickled beans, prosciutto, and seasoned bocconcini from The Bruce Craft House was also good and high up there on my rankings of the night’s food.
My least favourite item of the night was from Four All Ice Cream. I will preface this by saying they’d run out of their main item, a pickle ice cream sandwich, by the time I got to their stand, so I was given the vegan option, a sorbet sandwich. The sorbet was quite good, and it’d be perfect on a hot day, but it just didn’t work in sandwich form. I’ve since checked their Instagram and have decided I need to try more of their products.
I’m not a huge beer fan — sorry — but I do love a good cider. The winner of the favourite beer award was KW Craft Cider, and it was truly well deserved. I’ve actually tried KW Craft Cider before, and I’m a big fan. You should go to the Brass Taps to get some when you have a chance. They had their Pumpkin Spice and Canadian Shield Berries flavours at PickleFest, and both are delightful. I also finally properly tried a Caesar, and yes, they’re not the worst. I still don’t really get it, though. I am so sorry.
Overall, PickleFest at THEMUSEUM was an incredibly fun night and definitely an event I would recommend attending. It’s a great way to support local businesses, consume some culture, and have a good time all in one. Someone, please, get Matt some pickled carrots next year though.