About five years ago Jules Debord’s mother brought her a batch of homemade pickles. Having spent much of her career in the food industry, Debord said almost immediately her “anything you can do I can do better” attitude kicked in.
 
She began experimenting with pickling vegetables, giving samples to friends and family. She said it took her almost two years of working on her pickled okra to finally get it right. Now, having launched Lunchbox Pickles, she said she sells almost twice as much pickled okra as any other product.
 
Debord produces seven items under her Lunchbox Pickles brand. In addition to the okra, some of her most popular items are the Chimichurri pickles, the Mulligatawny pickles and Maple Bacon Mustard.
 
Cucumbers are great carriers for flavor, according to Debord. She spends a great deal of time manipulating ingredients from some of her favorite recipes to create new flavor profiles for her pickles. The Thai Basil pickles are based upon the flavors found in green curry. The Mulligatawny pickles are based upon Mulligatawny soup, an English soup with Indian flavors. Debord modified the recipe 13 times before she was satisfied with it.
 
Debord makes her pickles in small batches, using a variety of vinegars and peppers. Though each batch varies somewhat due to the strength of the peppers, every one is designed to be packed with flavor.
 
Lunchbox Pickles, Debord said, are not meant to be served as condiments or to be paired with other foods.
 
“They are meant to stand alone because they’re so full of flavor,” she said. “We need to give the pickle the credit it deserves.”
 
That being said, she does agree that the pickled okra is a great accompaniment to a Bloody Mary, and Louie’s Hot Dogs recently created the Lunch Box Dog featuring pickled okra, relish made with Lunchbox’s jalapeño dill pickles and maple bacon mustard; a great combination according to Debord who prefers hers atop a veggie dog.
 
Lunchbox Pickles are available at area farmers markets including the Riverfront and Ogden Park markets. Country Fresh Produce, where Debord gets most of her produce for pickling also carries her products, and a website that will allow for online ordering will be up and running soon. In the meantime check them out on Facebook here.
 
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