# How do you eat pickled herring? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981 "2015-06-19T23:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/1 "2015-06-19T23:00:01Z")
We never have the right kind of bread. Slices of boiled potato are too much trouble. So I eat pickled herring by putting some on a small plate, with some of the pickled onions of course, and just eating them with a fork. How do _you_ eat pickled herring? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/2 "2015-06-19T23:20:50Z")
I get them in rollmop form, so generally they just get eaten straight off the skewer. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/3 "2015-06-19T23:22:13Z")
With a fork. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/4 "2015-06-20T03:22:48Z")
On a Triscuit with Swiss cheese or on sourdough bread with Swiss cheese. Unfortunately, I haven’t done this in a while because pickled herring triggers my acid reflux. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/5 "2015-06-20T04:14:44Z")
Only time I’ve ever had it was at a street stand in Utrecht, so if I’m remembering right, I just ate it with a little bit of chopped onion and pickles. [Pretty much just like Rick does here…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt050JawRI8) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/6 "2015-06-20T04:48:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > …So I eat pickled herring by putting some on a small plate, with some of the pickled onions of course, and just eating them with a fork. Exactly how I love it. Of course straight out of the jar works too. And now I have a craving… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/7 "2015-06-20T05:26:59Z")
With vodka, of course. And a piece of rye bread, or just naked. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/8 "2015-06-20T05:41:28Z")
> **[Russian Herring Salad Covered in Beets (Fur Coat)](https://www.thespruceeats.com/russian-herring-under-fur-coat-salad-recipe-1137331)** > > This traditional recipe for Russian herring under fur coat, known as shuba or seledka pod shuboi, is a salad of beets, potatoes, carrots, and eggs. mmmmmmm ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/9 "2015-06-20T06:04:52Z")
Straight out of the jar, and maybe washed down with aquavit! Skoal! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/10 "2015-06-20T06:19:50Z")
I prefer the variety that’s in a jar with wine and onions, and eat it straight out of the jar. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/11 "2015-06-20T11:38:20Z")
On a cracker. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/12 "2015-06-20T12:07:00Z")
Either straight out of the jar, or chopped up in scrambled eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/13 "2015-06-20T12:16:26Z")
With my fingers, straight from the jar, while drunk, naked, and watching the home shopping channel. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/14 "2015-06-20T14:34:24Z")
Is it that much different to anchovies? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/15 "2015-06-20T14:56:48Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Is it that much different to anchovies? Much larger piece of fish and a very different flavour. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/16 "2015-06-20T15:41:51Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Is it that much different to anchovies? > [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Much larger piece of fish and a very different flavour. They’re sort of the opposite of anchovies. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/17 "2015-06-20T16:54:41Z")
On a cracker piled high with onions and with a shot of ice-cold vodka. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/18 "2015-06-20T17:24:00Z")
Crackers. Usually the extra large Ritz-like ones. Sometimes with sour cream. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/19 "2015-06-20T17:42:05Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Is it that much different to anchovies? The only similarity is that they’re both fish. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981/20 "2015-06-20T17:49:44Z")
I carefully arrange the pickled herring in a ring on a large circular platter, set a pile of boiled hot fingerling potatoes within the ring, tip some coarse salt onto them, garnish the potatoes with thin slices of dense German pumpernickel and sliced raw onions with a dash of vinegar and a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley. I pour out a glass of fine Russian vodka from the bottle I keep in the freezer. Then I swallow the vodka in one quick gulp and tip the platter into the garbage can. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-eat-pickled-herring/722981.md?page=2)