Ben's of Scarsdale to Give Away Pickles on National Pickle Day

“Pickles are a timeless delicacy — essential to the genuine deli experience,” Ronnie Dragoon, founder and owner of Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers, said. “A good pickle complements a great sandwich; they work hand-in-hand to make a great-tasting dish.”

A pickle giveaway at Ben’s of Scarsdale is scheduled for National Pickle Day, Saturday, November 14, 2015. Anyone who stops by for dinner, takeout, or just to say hello is eligible for a free sour or half-sour pickle.

“Although the origins of National Pickle Day cannot be traced,” Dragoon said, “it was first celebrated in New York City in 2001. The name ’pickle’ comes from the Dutch word ‘pekel,’ meaning ’to brine,’ but the pickle itself can be traced back to 2030 B.C. At that time, cucumbers were preserved in vinegar before being exported from India to the Tigris Valley where they were then eaten.”

Dragoon pointed out that many historical figures were pickle eaters including Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte. “The Queen of the Nile,” he said, “subsisted on a full diet of pickles which she believed contributed to her good looks. Military leaders are known to have fed pickles to their troops believing it would provide them with added strength when going into battle.”

Pickles were first popularized in the United States by early Jewish immigrants who came to New York City from Eastern Europe. The city’s Jewish delis served pickles as palate cleansers to prep taste buds for savoring combinations of meat.

“The pickle’s acidity allows diners to recognize sharp differences in flavor appreciation and therefore more deeply appreciate of the taste of a deli sandwich,” Dragoon pointed out.

“Our pickles are graded to ensure that sizing is consistent,” he added. “The sour pickles are true sours which means they have been pickling and fermenting for many months, unlike quick-cure or pasteurized pickles which lack the true and authentic taste of pickles from the ‘Old Country.’”

For more information about National Pickle Day, Ben’s homemade pickles, or Ben’s Kosher Deli visit www.bensdeli.net.

Ben‘s dining room is open on Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant opens for takeout only every day at 9 a.m.

Ben’s of Scarsdale is at 718 Central Park Avenue in Scarsdale and has a parking lot, www.bensdeli.net, 914-468-2367. It is located across the street from the Greenburgh Fire Department station.