# Pickled herring **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602 "2009-02-19T20:46:30Z")\ **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:** [February 19, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/1 "2009-02-19T20:46:30Z")
OK, my coworkers are just weird. I went down to Pike Place Market to grab a snack for lunch. Ended up with an oyster shooter (in a souvenir shot glass yet!), some of the Fish Market’s wonderful alder-smoked salmon, and… Half a pound of pickled herring. Now, I only got one oyster shooter; and that was mine. I’m saving the salmon for home. But I’m perfectly willing to share my herring. _Nobody wants any!_ More than that, they made faces and visibly shuddered. One of them thought the dill seeds were eyes. Well, that just means more for me. And we’re talking good stuff, too. Not out of a jar. So. If someone offered you some nice pickled herring, would you eat it? ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/2 "2009-02-19T21:08:52Z")
Yes, but I’m weird like that. Hell, I’ll eat it for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Surok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Surok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surok)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/3 "2009-02-19T21:09:47Z")
Like a shot. No question. To illustrate this, two examples below. Several years ago, when I had very, _very_ little spare cash, and a horribly exhausting work schedule, the big treat was going into the city once a week on my day off to visit a friend. We would get a loaf of bread and a jar of herring to share. Every week. Our big night out. Fast forward to better times. A colleague who worked in a different office brought a tray of the tenderest, tastiest herring I have ever had to our office party. A couple of weeks later, he asked me to translate a few things for him as a favour. And then said “Hey, I need to do something for you in return. What can I do?” My immediate answer? “Herring!” Two weeks later I get an email from him saying “Drop by my office.” So I did. And found herring, and lemon slices, and good bread and butter and vodka. I suggest you get rid of your current no-herring colleagues, and get a few more like the guy mentioned above. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/4 "2009-02-19T21:09:56Z")
More weirdness. A coworker asked me what I could use the heavy glass shot glass for. I told her I could put whisky in it. ‘It doesn’t bother you that there’s printing on it?’ Ar? 😕 I work with weirdos, I tells ya! ---
**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:** [February 19, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/5 "2009-02-19T21:12:37Z")
> [@Surok](#): > > I suggest you get rid of your current no-herring colleagues, and get a few more like the guy mentioned above. As it happens, I got rid of the herring. Right down my gullet! 😃 It’s a shame I didn’t have any nice brown bread to go with it. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/6 "2009-02-19T21:16:15Z")
I like it on homemade bread with onions. ---
**Author:** ![Surok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Surok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surok)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/7 "2009-02-19T21:18:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > As it happens, I got rid of the herring. Right down my gullet! 😃 Ah yes, but if you had the right colleagues, they would bring you herring! Spontaneously! (Speaking of which, I must start to educate my current office mates in the ways of herring righteousness…) ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/8 "2009-02-19T21:35:11Z")
On an everything bagel with chive cream cheese, onions, tomato, and cucumber. …and now I´m hungry! ---
**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:** [February 19, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/9 "2009-02-19T22:07:17Z")
Yes, but then again I’m half Norwegian (that doesn’t mean I also like lutefisk though) I prefer it on a Triscuit with a small slice of Swiss cheese. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/10 "2009-02-19T22:34:27Z")
I used to periodically pick up a jar of pickled herring in wine sauce (I tried the cream sauce once but didn’t like it); like **NDP** I would eat them on Triscuits (or Aldi’s version of them), with or without cheese. I don’t remember seeing herring in any of the stores around here, though. Does that make me hard of herring? ---
**Author:** ![vifslan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f4b2a3/32.png) [@vifslan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vifslan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/11 "2009-02-19T23:24:20Z")
I’d eat all of your herring in the wink of an eye if you allowed me, but then I’m Finnish and of the opinion that you can never have too much Omega 3 in your diet. … Apart, of course, if it was the kind of novelty flavor that pickling companies think it’s funny to spring on people in Midsummer season. Like the lime-flavored herring we tried a couple of years ago. Even “funny peculiar” doesn’t begin to cover it, “funny oh my god what is this?” is closer to the point. Tasted like the lime flavor came out of a bottle of lime-scented dish soap. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/12 "2009-02-19T23:27:56Z")
Love pickled herring- yum yum. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/13 "2009-02-20T00:23:43Z")
Now I have a Stan Boreson ear worm of (sung to the tune of _Catch a Falling Star_) Catch a pickled herring Put it in a barrel Watch the neighbors move away. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/14 "2009-02-20T01:25:15Z")
Mmmmmm! When come back, bring herring! Obviously your coworkers never ate street food in Amsterdam. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/15 "2009-02-20T03:13:12Z")
Well, they missed out. And I still have the salmon. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/16 "2009-02-20T03:28:00Z")
mmmmmm pickled herring mmmmmmm I used to sit with my dad at the kitchen table and eat pickled herring, saltine crackers, and drink beer. Good times… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/17 "2009-02-20T03:43:06Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Mmmmmm! When come back, bring herring! > > Obviously your coworkers never ate street food in Amsterdam. At the street stands that sell the herring, I always get an order of the mussels; paired with a cold Heineken, its a mighty tasty little afternoon snack… ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/18 "2009-02-20T04:45:31Z")
I love it! But, it’s pretty expensive in the grocery stores here. So, it’s a very rare treat. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/19 "2009-02-20T04:49:13Z")
It was $6.99/lb at the Market. That part of my lunch cost less than three bucks. (The oyster was four bucks, but I couldn’t resist and the glass is nice.) ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602/20 "2009-02-20T09:51:19Z")
Maatjes or Bismarck? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pickled-herring/486602.md?page=2)