You may know Bob McClure as "Jed" on The Burg, but off screen he's an integral part of the family biz: McClure's Pickles. They're serious about their spicy garlic dills, which are now available in their two hometowns: Brooklyn and Detroit. We asked Bob a few questions recently about pickle flavors, what drink goes best with a dill, and more.
How did you two get in to the pickle business?
Lots of bad temp jobs. I guess what i mean is that Joe and I have made pickles since we were like kids with our Grandpa and parents. It's a pretty old family recipe, and after working for a bunch of asswipes Joe and I were like, why don't we work for ourselves...thought for a split second, then said...hell yes, let's have a go. We still do a bunch of other things: Joe is finishing his PhD in Physiology in Detroit and I'm an actor and writer.
Aside from your own, who has the best pickles in the city?
There's lots...that's the great thing about pickles...you can find all kinds...some people like spice, others sweet, new, half-sour, fulls such as Guss' and Mr. Pickle, or the unique subtleties that you find in Wheelhouse and Rick's.
What "flavor" pickles do you make?
Our original recipe is the Spicy Garlic Dill and we have a Garlic Dill as well. I like how you put flavor in quotations..cuz a few weeks back in the NY Times Dining section there was an article about Kool-Aid-Flavored pickles...whaaaaa??!
Lemon pickles: yay or nay?
Hm..never tried. Lemon pickle, I think, is originally from India. Usually calls for adding cumin, peppers, sugar and other spices. I was actually gonna experiment with a raw-sugar dipped lemon or orange rind perhaps with some ginger..see how it goes.
What is the perfect complimentary beverage to go with a spicy garlic dill pickle?
The all too amazing Bushwick Country Club makes a spectacular array of drinks using our brine. They are at 618 Grand Street in Williamsburg.
Sort of unrelated: would you ever try a Sourtoe cocktail (alcohol + a real pickled toe)?
FUCK NO. well...maybe...it's not recommended that you ingest the toe, just that it touch the drinkers lips, so, my question would be..."whose toe is this?"
Where can the average New York pickle-lover find themselves a jar of McClure's?
Murray's Cheese, Bedford Cheese, Marlowe & Sons, The Brooklyn Kitchen, Bushwick Country Club, 11 Madison Park (Lamb Burgers with McClure's Pickle), and at Spuytyn Duyvil's new store in the Mini-mall on Bedford Ave.
Please share your strangest "only in New York" story.
Totally saw someone crash their motorcycle last weekend. Early morning right outside my window I hear a crash, run to look and dude was down on the ce-ment, shoes off, blood...kinda looked mangled, but still alive. It took like two seconds before a bunch of people were out there, slowing down traffic, tellin' the dude to remain still, calling 911, etc (the ambulance took longer). Guess it's not really strange, but amazing when people like...have that call to action thing, but as a collective...especially in a city that advocates being solo so much...it's reassuring, perhaps briefly, to know that there still is human compassion and community all over this place.
Which New Yorker do you most admire?
Curtis Sliwa duh. Naw, usually it's like some old lady or old dude getting off a bus or walking down the street just doing their thing, but they're like two-hundred and I'm like, Damn, i hope I'm even still moving at that age. Especially in NY, where people shove you...physically WILL SHOVE YOU, if you're too slow.
Under what circumstance have you thought about leaving New York?
Wow...tough...kinda...I never want to leave leave New York. But when I'm working four jobs just to make bank, yeah, I'd kinda like to leave New York. On paid-vacation of course.
Can you please recommend a good weekend hang-out that isn't unbearably mobbed?
Mars 2112 ....ok for serious..good & not unbearably mobbed...Williamsburg: Harefield Road...and Moto (for dinner & sounds); Manhattan: Kate's Joint (for veg. dinner) and for drinks: Jimmy's No. 43 (great beer and you can catch good comedy sometimes)
Do you have a favorite New York celebrity sighting or encounter?
I'm waiting for the day I get to bump into Paul Giamatti, Parkey Posey, Philip Seymour, Ms. Streep, Bryan O'Byrne and a truckload of other people and then go to dinner with them, chill for a bit..have people be like..."who's that asshole with his headshot and resume in his hand talking to Paul Giamatti?"
What's the best subway line?
L train. haha...right. Actually been riding the JMZ lately...nice. 'Bove ground. No mole people or NeckFace graffiti. Not that I mind Neckface. How do people tag their shit so deep in the tunnels? They must've done it like in the 1710's or something.
Favorite headlines: NY Post or Daily News?
POST.
Best cheap eat in the city.
East Village Thai is pretty great.
In Williamsburg for cheap eats I would have to say Falafel Chulo...you get off the subway and you're like um...Kellog's Diner or Chulo...gimme the Chulo please.
