It was a chilly 36 degrees, and rain continued to fall at a steady pace. On evenings like this, I’d typically look forward to a cooking session paired with Netflix inside my cozy New York apartment. But regardless of the inclement weather, I had somewhere to be. And not just anywhere. I was invited to a preview of the Thanksgiving Day menu along with seasonal fare at Maison Pickle on the Upper West Side, and there was nothing that would stop me from tasting what I knew would be a delicious display of traditional holiday dishes accompanied by a few Jacob Hadjigeorgis twists. Luckily for me, Maison Pickle is only five blocks from my apartment, so I braved the weather. After feasting for three hours, I’m so happy I did.
Dinner started with my enemy: BREAD. And how delicious it was! I couldn’t resist having a few bites. The homemade buttermilk and pumpkin biscuits with maple butter were irresistible and worth the carb and fat. I felt a bit better after the next course of pickled veggies, a good amount of crunch paired with herb aioli, and a cilantro garnish. These packed the right amount of heat too.
A hot cup of sweet potato soup with marshmallow foam was the prelude to the main courses: pork chop, sweet potato puree, white bean cassoulet (yum!) with herb butter; and roasted turkey breast (tastiest ever to touch my palate, seriously) with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, biscuit stuffing, red wine turkey gravy, and mixed greens. Oh, and let’s not forget the family side: classique mac and cheese. Thanksgiving dinner wouldn’t be complete without a decadent dessert (or two): pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream and Oreo pumpkin cheesecake. Does this make you hungry right now?
And I get to eat it all again because I brought the leftovers home. 🙂
What about the pickles?
Owner and restaurateur Jacob Hadjigeorgis grew up in Queens and has loved food since he was a child working in his dad’s restaurant in Astoria. After a brief stint in Boston, the Big Apple beckoned and he returned to his hometown only to open his first restaurant on the Upper West Side – Jacob’s Pickles. His love for the neighborhood and passion for good food is palpable at the original location on Amsterdam Avenue and his latest project, Maison Pickle, which took over the old Ouest space at 84th and Broadway.
Maison Pickle focuses on cocktails and French dips (with pickles) and Jacob’s Pickles highlights southern comfort food (with pickles) paired with craft beer and cocktails. Do you see a theme here? Pickles and alcoholic concoctions are a considerable part of the culture at both establishments. Jacob believes that pickles are up there with comforting eats like melt-in-your-mouth biscuits and drippy beef sandwiches. Before I had a bite of anything edible, a pumpkin vodka cocktail appeared in front of me. Biscuits and pickles soon followed.
Maison Pickle on the Upper West Side will offer two Thanksgiving seatings: 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Email [email protected] to reserve. Cost is $75 per person. (Drinks, tax, and gratuity are additional.)
Maison Pickle
2315 Broadway
New York, NYÂ 10024
(212) 496-9100
Also,  Beer. Biscuits. Pickles.
And places I like to hang out on the Upper West Side. Plus we do have some cool cocktail bars in the neighborhood, and macarons too.
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