In A Pickle on Ocracoke
The Pickled Pirate, tucked away on the porch of the coffee shop, specializes in everything hot, spicy, and pickled.
The little shop is stocked with dill-licious private label hot sauces, condiments, salsas and dips, fruit preserves, vinegars, and olive oils. If you can't wait to get your goodies home, buy some tortilla chips for on-site snacking on the newly-remodeled and expanded porch.
Mostly, the Pickled Pirate has pickles. Pickles in huge jars on the counter that you get out with tongs. Dill pickles in take-home jars. Pickles in pouches. Pickled eggs. Pickled quail eggs. Pecks of pickled peppers. Pickled flavored potato chips. Pickled flavored lip balm!?! (Justin says it's really popular. Pucker up!)
That's not all. The Pickled Pirate will also carry a selection of hot sauces with goofy names, along with BBQ sauce (Bacon-Bourbon is an intriguing flavor), Bloody Mary mixes (in your choice of Medium, Hot, or Wow), and habanero ketchup.
"Obviously, I like hot stuff," Justin said. Off-island travels inspired the Pickled Pirate. "I've seen hot sauce stores in other tourist locations," he said. Why not on Ocracoke?
Not hungry? Pick up some pickle and chili pepper novelty gifts – hats, sunglasses, inflatables, and the ever-popular chili pepper string lights. And don't forget your tee-shirt with the shop logo!
"We had a hard time with the graphic design for the pin-up girl," Justin said. "After a global internet search, I found a guy in Durham, Joel Herrera, who created her. I'd like to give him a shout out." Justin is clearly pleased with his saucy wench.
The Pickled Pirate will be open every day, 10am–6pm. The adjacent Ocracoke Coffee Company, which is also owned by Justin and his wife, Joelle, is open every day, 7am–5pm.
