-Courtesy of Peter Breslow Consulting & Public Relations
photo by Mike Prince
Back in mid-December when the Omicron variant forced business closings throughout the country, Fishtown Pickle Project husband-and-wife owners Mike Sicinski and Niki Toscani were getting ready to host their first ever Feast of the Seven Pickles holiday event, a spin on the age-old holiday tradition, Feast of the Seven Fishes. With four seatings sold out, and a waitlist five times larger than the number of attendees, the small-batch pickle producers were devastated to cancel the event out of caution, disappointing many who had purchased tickets or hoped to snag a walk-in opportunity.
But when life hands you pickles…you make more pickles.
With the event on hold, Sicinski and Toscani took the concept — a plate of seven pickle-centric dishes — and turned it into something to enjoy at home in the meantime. Sicinski and Toscani popped seven different types of pickles in a jar, calling it The Feast of the Seven Pickles Presents: Party Mix. It’s like a typical party snack mix, but with pickles.
“There was so much excitement around the event, so we were definitely bummed to postpone it,” said Toscani. “But with everything going on, there was no way we could pack a small bar for the entire night putting everyone at risk. We asked ourselves, how could we do something for our guests now, and we came up with a Pickle Party Mix. The variety makes this a perfect and fun snacking experience. It’s great for solo noshing or to share at small gatherings, and we’re just really glad to bring some joy to our pickle people after the initial disappointment.”
The seven “pickles” included in the jar include cucumbers, mangoes, papaya, Chef Eli Kulp’s homegrown habanada & aji dulce peppers, blueberries, and jicama, pickled with kaffir lime leaves, rice wine vinegar, and apple cider vinegar.
The sold-out Feast of the Seven Pickles is rescheduled for Tuesday, April 19th at Fishtown Social, located at 1525 Frankford Avenue. The plan as of now is to have four 90-minute timed reservation slots from 5 to 11 p.m., with walk-ins welcome. Updates will be posted on social media in the coming weeks. Entry to the event includes seven pickle-centric dishes and a complimentary flight of wine from Mural City Cellars. A portion of sales from both the event and the Party Mix jars will benefit Magee Rehabilitation.
Fishtown Pickle Project was created by Chef Mike Sicinski and dietitian Niki Toscani in 2018 after gifting handcrafted pickles to their wedding guests. Their small-batch fare is purposefully crafted using all-natural ingredients and bold flavors, sourcing cucumbers and other produce from Muzzarelli Farms in Vineland, New Jersey. Learn more by visiting http://fishtownpickles.com.
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