Mrs Pickles, now rarely called Josie Robinson, is bottling up the kind of pickles, jams, and chutneys that taste like they came straight out of Nana’s kitchen. And that’s exactly the point.
“When I was pregnant with my third child, I wanted those flavours I grew up with – the ones my Nana made. I couldn’t find anything close, so I decided to make them myself,” Josie explains. Armed with recipes handed down from her Nana Violet and vegetables pulled from her spray-free garden, she got to work recreating the food she missed most.
At first, it was just for friends and family. “I’d give jars to friends, and one day someone said, ‘This is too good to give away for free.’ That was the lightbulb moment,” she laughs. That’s when Robbies was born.
These days, Josie’s pickles and preserves are loved for their honest, nostalgic flavours. Her pickled onions are especially famous. “We’ve had people say they taste just like their mum’s. Food has this incredible power to bring back memories and create new ones.
Everything about Robbies is rooted in family. Even the name is a nod to her husband’s grandfather, whose Royal Air Force call name was Robbie. “It felt like the perfect fit – strong and simple. Our name honours our grandparents and the traditions they passed down. It’s a way of keeping that connection alive.”
There’s no flash or fuss about what Josie makes, and that’s exactly how she likes it. Her jars are filled with flavours that bring people together. Josie sources as much local Southland produce as she can and keeps things as close to home as possible. But the jars are on tables across the country.
Head to www.robbies.nz to grab a jar for yourself. Or if you’re in Southland look for her relishes or black sauces on menus at The Fat Duck Restaurant in Te Anau, Gore Town & Country Club or Ethan’s Kitchen Dinners. Or pick up a jar of pickles in places like FlourBro, Roasted x Toasted or Wilson’s Vege Stall.
