OT: Grillo's Pickles - ATT: COSTCO customers :OT

Eggin_in_PA

Did the same thing, squirted all over the counter lol.... Wife came over and just pulled the top right off...  Karns did have the Clausen Hot this time.. I feel the Grillo`s Hot has a better flavor profile with a slight amount of hotness.  Better texture as well.  Clausen Hot have more heat to them and it`s right there first bite.  Grillo`s is better suited eating by themselves.  

RRP

Hairless_Hand said:

Anyone figure out how to open their plastic containers (first opening) without spilling the brine all over the counter?

GREAT QUESTION!
First I used pointed nosed pliers and then a screwdriver then flat nosed pliers, resorted to a knife, then pliers again and broke a chunk off that #$%^&* lid so it doesn't seal now - just rests on the container! 

Hub

This thread made me drive to Publix.  I got the hot spears and regular chips.  Both are very good.  These pickles are in a different league - very fresh and very crunchy.  The brine is clear instead of that yellowish-green stuff you normally see.  I agree the hot spears are not near hot enough, but I can fix that by adding a few peppers to the jar.  The lid is definitely a problem.  I didn't have trouble getting it off, but definitely had trouble getting it back on.  Still, these are definitely my new pickles.  Thanks for the thread!

GrateEggspectations

RRP said:

I see they have to be kept refrigerated so I can't just go buy umpteen jars for the pantry...SO do you long time COSTCO customers know if Grillo's are an always stocked item, or was this a chance in a lifetime that I found them?

Important to remember that Costco’s whole business model is predicated on creating an impression of scarcity. They will carry items for weeks or months and then suspend it for a period without warning just to induce bouts of hoarding. The tactic works - when I find a product I can’t live without, I keep enough of it in my pantry to overcome these droughts. 

Just thought you should know the rules before you play the game. 🙂

Hub

GrateEggspectations said:

RRP said:

I see they have to be kept refrigerated so I can't just go buy umpteen jars for the pantry...SO do you long time COSTCO customers know if Grillo's are an always stocked item, or was this a chance in a lifetime that I found them?

Important to remember that Costco’s whole business model is predicated on creating an impression of scarcity. They will carry items for weeks or months and then suspend it for a period without warning just to induce bouts of hoarding. The tactic works - when I find a product I can’t live without, I keep enough of it in my pantry to overcome these droughts. 

Just thought you should know the rules before you play the game. 🙂

All very good points, but when you read Grillo's website, they tell you the key is freshness, and that their pickles should be consumed within two months of production. 

GrateEggspectations

Hub said:

GrateEggspectations said:

RRP said:

I see they have to be kept refrigerated so I can't just go buy umpteen jars for the pantry...SO do you long time COSTCO customers know if Grillo's are an always stocked item, or was this a chance in a lifetime that I found them?

Important to remember that Costco’s whole business model is predicated on creating an impression of scarcity. They will carry items for weeks or months and then suspend it for a period without warning just to induce bouts of hoarding. The tactic works - when I find a product I can’t live without, I keep enough of it in my pantry to overcome these droughts. 

Just thought you should know the rules before you play the game. 🙂

All very good points, but when you read Grillo's website, they tell you the key is freshness, and that their pickles should be consumed within two months of production. 

Was responding to OP’s question about availability, without regard to the distinct issue of freshness, which is a separate, but valid consideration. 

SonVolt

I found them at Publix over the weekend and thought I'd give them a try. They were certainly good pickles but I wouldn't say they're "better" than Claussen. They tastes like pickles you canned yourself and opened before they were fully ready, with that still-fresh cucumber taste.  I certainly enjoyed them, but IMO they lacked that deep umami savoriness of Claussen. 

KiterTodd

RRP said:

...On our last visit to COSTCO I happened to see a container of Grillo's Dill Pickle chips. They are made and distributed in/from Needham, MA and here we are in IL.

WE have FINALLY FOUND DILL CHIPS WE LOVE!!!

I see they have to be kept refrigerated so I can't just go buy umpteen jars for the pantry...SO do you long time COSTCO customers know if Grillo's are an always stocked item, or was this a chance in a lifetime that I found them?

I found them during the pandemic as well.  Our local chain "Giant" was out of the brand I normally by so I picked up some Grillos.  Now it's all I buy. Great crisp dill slice that goes on every sandwich.

They do seem more like the quick pickle method that people make at home in the fridge.  You can make them at home and eat them in a couple days vs. a longer canning process.  In any case, I like 'em!

Legume

Get these at Kroger and other branded Kroger stores. <$2, crisp and very spicy compared to so many that just say spicy.

Legume

Botch

I'm not 100% happy with my local pickles.  No Publix around here, but I did just learn that Kroger's here are the Smith's stores, so have a visit to make today.  

the_crease

I gotta say, I picked the dill chips up from my local Costco the other day.  

First impression, hard to figure out how to open the damn container and SALTY.  But, the more I ate them they really grew on me.  Fast forward two days and they are almost gone! Every time I open the fridge they call my name.  

Final impression - these are damn good pickle chips.  Light, fresh, crispy, nice dill flavor, and will buy then until Costco discontinues the product.  Solid BUY rating!  

Ps: thanks Ron! 

Eggin_in_PA

Target got them too

Hub

I finished off my first package of the Grillo pickles today.  They are outstanding.  I've visited their website and enjoyed reading their story.  As much as I respect them, they need to work on their packaging.  There is absolutely no excuse in the multiple comments about people struggling to get the lid off, get it back on, huge mess every time they open it, etc. 

RRP

Just to prove I'm still an open minded egger then until the replies to this thread I had never even heard of Claussen pickles! That is the truth in spite of living in IL for 54 years! I plan to buy some soon when I can find them!

StillH2OEgger

RRP said:

Just to prove I'm still an open minded egger then until the replies to this thread I had never even heard of Claussen pickles! That is the truth in spite of living in IL for 54 years! I plan to buy some soon when I can find them!

They're good, plus they come in a hard to spill jar (-:

I recommend the halves over the spears.

HeavyG

Hub said:

I finished off my first package of the Grillo pickles today.  They are outstanding.  I've visited their website and enjoyed reading their story.  As much as I respect them, they need to work on their packaging.  There is absolutely no excuse in the multiple comments about people struggling to get the lid off, get it back on, huge mess every time they open it, etc. 

I didn't make a mess opening it. I did make a mess closing it the first time as I only ate a couple pickles, which didn't lower the liquid level much, and because of my long time habit of "burping" plastic lidded containers when I close them.

HeavyG

RRP said:

Just to prove I'm still an open minded egger then until the replies to this thread I had never even heard of Claussen pickles! That is the truth in spite of living in IL for 54 years! I plan to buy some soon when I can find them!

Claussen's have been my favorite grocery store pickle (particularly their dill sandwich slices) for many decades and are widely available in my area (eastern VA). I'm kinda surprised you've never heard of them since their corporate HQ is in Chicago (they are part of the Kraft/Heinz family).

RRP

HeavyG said:

RRP said:

Just to prove I'm still an open minded egger then until the replies to this thread I had never even heard of Claussen pickles! That is the truth in spite of living in IL for 54 years! I plan to buy some soon when I can find them!

Claussen's have been my favorite grocery store pickle (particularly their dill sandwich slices) for many decades and are widely available in my area (eastern VA). I'm kinda surprised you've never heard of them since their corporate HQ is in Chicago (they are part of the Kraft/Heinz family).

I agree - I think the reason is the fact they are in the refrigerated area and when we would look for pickles it would be in the shelf area. 

Windy City is just 170 miles from us, but other than some merchants and fast food franchises the only other things are the crime element on the lam from the law! 

Canugghead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynWnHorbGbI 

Lots of interesting coments, lol

HeavyG

Canugghead said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynWnHorbGbI 

Lots of interesting coments, lol

Too funny.

StillH2OEgger

Canugghead said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynWnHorbGbI 

Lots of interesting coments, lol

Yes, quite a Karen Convention.

nolaegghead

Look for NY half sour pickles in the kosher refrigerated section of your supermarket.   Thank me later.

nolaegghead

fishlessman

RRP said:

Just to prove I'm still an open minded egger then until the replies to this thread I had never even heard of Claussen pickles! That is the truth in spite of living in IL for 54 years! I plan to buy some soon when I can find them!

grillos made about 45 minutes from the house and ive never heard about them or seen them, clausens the number 1 pickle here. going to have to try a different market to try them.

fishlessman

whole foods had them and they are a great pickle.  no problems opening it either

KiterTodd

Once I figured out how to open the container (pull lid from gap) and close it (press down around edges of lid, not in center) I have to say, I like the container.  It's a pretty solid plastic structure.  But yeah, that first time was messy... 

Now I want a Grillo pickle...

Canugghead

KiterTodd said:

Once I figured out how to open the container (pull lid from gap) and close it (press down around edges of lid, not in center) I have to say, I like the container.  It's a pretty solid plastic structure.  But yeah, that first time was messy... 

Now I want a Grillo pickle...

Never tried Grillo but have dealt with this type of container before.

NDG

Grillos are good - I just made CUBANS to feed 10+ neighbors and used the grillos sandwhich makers - perfect pickle for the job.  I have been buying them at Whole Foods for past year or so.    

RRP

Not knocking anyone's opinion - but today I finally found and bought some Claussen sandwich slicers. Then my wife helped give me a blind taste test - and I got 6 out of 6 tests correct! Claussen's were good, but IMO Grillo's are better! Now, as long as I can keep buying Grillo's I will!