Canada's insider blog

When Chef Michael Smith shows up with a jar of something at your party, you damn well better taste it. For the Pickle Smack Down* party which closed off Toronto’s recent Ontario Culinary Summit, the celebrity chef showed up with pickled apples from Prince Edward Island. Eleven other competitors…all with less fame…also brought jars of pickled things. Some brought several jars.

The pickle, it seems, has come out of the food closet as the new darling of the foodie scene. And I’m not just talking cucumber pickles—although there were plenty of those at the Smack Down. Jars of pickled carrots, asparagus, cabbage (kimchee) and even whole pickled walnuts crowded the Drake Hotel bar. Everyone jostled for space and a taste.

You probably missed the summit, but no worries. Dine at some of Toronto’s hottest restaurants, and it’s clear the pickle is back. Pickled acorns showed up on my tongue at chef Scott Vivian’s hipster Beast restaurant (alongside meat…the other big trend). Pickled cauliflower and jalapeños made an appearance at celeb chef Lynn Crawford’s sublime comfort food resto Ruby Watchco (you’ve gotta try this place).

But back to the Pickle Smack Down Party: you’re wondering who won the popular pickle contest? It wasn’t the celeb…nope. Sour news for Smith as…

1. The Kaiser Sisters (Magdalena Kaiser-Smit from the Wine Council of Ontario) took home top prize for spicy cucumber dills.
2. Second prize went to Kim Gertler and Catherine Didulka for their 2010 Simcoe County Beet Pickles.
3. And Chef Smith managed a tie with Cindy Vanderstar (Norfolk County).

*What’s a “smack down?” It’s a party held roughly once a month at Toronto’s Drake Hotel, hosted by local scenester Ivy Knight. The party always features a food theme; folks are invited to bring their best on-theme item. Besides pickles, past Smack Downs have featured guacamole and even ceviche.