The authentic American Pickle Relish in the Benelux

The taste of real American burgers. Or those authentic Gourmet hot dogs that you eat in New York. It's so popular nowadays that we've made it work. We had to bring that taste to the Netherlands. Because you don't just buy that taste. You make it just like in the original NYC deli's. With quality ingredients and its unique recipe. Like our Smoky Mountains Sweet Pickle Relish for the hospitality industry. Made in the Netherlands, from an American recipe.

Nowhere are the differences between America and Europe as great as in a pickle. Of course, they eat their fries with ketchup, while we eat them with mayonnaise. They're in their cars as much as we're on our bikes, and they work with miles not kilometres. But all that is dwarfed when you taste the American pickle – or better yet: American sweet pickle relish. Without exaggerating, it's something completely different to the well-known Amsterdam pickles.

American burgers and Gourmet hot dogs with real pickle relish

No wonder those American hamburgers are so tasty. The first thought that comes up again and again is: how do we make all American Hamburgers and authentic gourmet hot dogs in our Dutch restaurants?

And the answer we're looking for is in the American Sweet Pickle Relish for the hospitality trade from Smoky Mountains. The only Dutch sweet pickle relish for the hospitality industry that is made according to the New York Deli method. And that's important. Because when we talk about Streetfood, we can't do a half job. You don't top your gourmet American hot dog with an Amsterdam pickle. Just don't, it's not right.

Or your hamburger, you have the bun, the burger, the real hamburger cheese, a super delicious sauce and then you put a slice of Dutch pickle on it? That's just not possible. Dutch pickle is great for many dishes, but not for a classic American hamburger. We Dutch people prepare pickles completely differently than in America. But before we tell you about pickles, fermentation and real tasty sweet pickle relish, we want to take you to an American Deli. The birthplace of NYC Streetfood.

Original American Deli-style street food

The name Deli comes from Delicatessen restaurant. The origin of these was in Europe. In Germany to be precise. It was simply a business with foreign food. The first German Deli sold mangos, bananas and plums. Food that was special in our part of the world. When many Europeans left for America around 1880, they took these deli's with them. The first sold German food to German immigrants. But that has changed.

The American deli as we know it today emerged as the Jewish community in New York City grew. With the first kosher Deli that opening its doors in New York in 1889, the city gained a food culture of its own. What started with one Jewish Deli grew into 1500 Jewish Deli's in New York in 1930. Including real deli food.

View our American sauces here

What is American Pickle?

Today, there are only about 15 of these deli's left in New York. But eating manner? With flavours like those of the American pickle relish? People now want to taste these around the world.

The typical character of this Deli food lies in the way it's made. Because the Jews eat kosher, they make a lot of their own. Only then will you know for sure what you are eating and whether that food is kosher. So too in the Deli's. Everything, but really everything, was home-made. Each deli had its own recipe and dishes and flavours from Jewish cuisine. One of the well-known products from these Deli's is the American pickle.

To understand the flavour of the American pickle, it's first important to know exactly what a pickle is. Because did you know that while a pickle and a cucumber are related, a pickle is really not a cucumber? A pickle is a fruit of the plant Cucumis Sativus. This plant belongs to the same family as the cucumber plant. There are also a few differences between cucumbers and gherkins. Gherkins are smaller and have a thinner skin.

The cucumber has a softer taste than the gherkin and the texture is also different. Juicier and more moist. This ensures that a cucumber is tasty to eat raw and that a gherkin can be preserved properly. They're not very tasty raw. And this pickling was done slightly differently in the deli's.

Why is it that American pickles taste different?

Because gherkins are difficult to preserve, they have been pickled for centuries. In acid. This used to be the method of preserving food coming off the land for the winter. From 1900, this was widely done in Weck factories. But pickles are something that were prevalent in different cultures well before that time.

Pickled gherkins come in three varieties: the sour French gherkin, the sweet and sour Dutch variant and finally the fermented one. The latter is the pickle that they eat in America. Dutch and French gherkin are immediately placed in the acidic mixture of water and vinegar. The Dutch one also has some sugar in it. This provides the sweet and sour flavour. The American pickle is pickled differently. With salt and lactic acid. This causes the pickle to ferment and give it a different flavour. Something more complete it seems. Because it consists of more than sweet and sour. 

Everything for Gourmet hot dogs for the catering industry

Genuine Sweet Pickle Relish

Who did it first, we don't know. But somewhere in a kitchen in America, a relish was made from pickles. At first glance, a relish is nothing special. There are more types of relish. But in America, this sweet chunky pickle sauce is made with American pickled gherkins. And this is where the flavour gets really interesting. Because what you get when you incorporate these pickles into a relish is sweet and sour, but better. You can taste the fermented American pickle through the sweet flavour of the relish. And that's truly irresistible.

The flavour has more layers and is instantly recognisable to anyone who has been to America. Turn that around, and you know that anyone who has been to America will also taste it immediately if the pickle relish is not according to an American recipe. That's why it's so important to use real American pickle relish on an American hamburger or Deli's Style Gourmet Hot Dog. And no European stuff.

Pickle Relish from Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountains' pickle relish is made in the Netherlands, but with an American recipe. From pickle to relish - all the way authentically American. Have you ever tasted this sweet and sour green Relish? On your hamburger or your hot dog, for example, you'll be addicted forever. The fresh pieces of finely chopped Pickled cucumber, with a little dill and other spices, fit seamlessly into American street food.To get you started, two tips for using pickle relish in your catering kitchen.

View our Smoky Mountains range for your kitchen

Spectacularly delicious burger with pickle relish

Want to serve a truly great burger? Then every element has to be on point. You start with a quality meat burger, choose a great bun to build it with, and finish it with the right toppings. Nothing is more American than a classic hamburger - complete with sesame seeds and tall enough to make your creation stand proud on the plate. And of course you use real cheddar cheese for burgers. But then comes the most important thing: the sauces. And there we have a blissful combination for you. Because do you combine the tomato relish from Ballymaloe with the Sweet Pickle Relish from Smoky Mountains? Then you really get an irresistibly delicious flavour.

Chicago Style Hot Dog with Pickle Relish and Ballymaloe

Despite York being the birthplace of delicious pickle flavour, we have to go to Chicago for the ultimate American hot dog. The Chicago Style Hot Dog is more than just a hot dog. It's called a sensation of the perfect dog with an ultimate blend of sauce and toppings.

You start with your hot dog Roll and the 90 grams, 100% beef, 22 cm long, lightly seasoned Hot Dog sausage, the Beefdog.

It is important for the bun that it is not a standard bun. A hot dog belongs on a hot dog bun that's long enough. But what is also strong enough to carry the hot dog, its toppings and sauces. So is your dog in the bun? Then follow these steps:

1. American mustard
2. American pickle relish
3. Three freshly chopped onions
4. Pepper relish from Ballymaloe
5. A slice of pickle
6. Jalapeños

Spicy hot dog with pickle relish

Do you want a hot dog with a bite on your menu? Then the Chicago Chili Dog is very tasty. This hot dog is inspired by Mexican cuisine, made with the beef dog. As toppings use:

1. Frijoles
2. Carne asada
3. Spicy salsa
4. Mexican cheese mix
5. Crispy onions