We gladly splurge on good cheese (Stichelton is our new favorite). But, when we treat ourselves to a cheese that's nearly $40 a pound, we don't want to spend too much for the crackers.
Are we the only ones who forget to buy crackers until we're standing at a fancy cheese counter? We're wondering how you handle the cracker conundrum.
Do you just surrender, like we did last week, and pay silly Dean & Deluca $5.25 for a 4.25 oz box of Carr's crackers? Or do you have a more fiscally responsible solution?
We've taken to buying baguettes and thinly slicing them to serve our cheese. On Sunday, we ate the last of our Stichelton on pear slices.
We're still looking to stock up on a less expensive cracker or find a store with Carr's on sale. Who has some secret sources to share?
While we're discussing the minutiae of plan crackers, we though we'd pass along this surprisingly interesting entry on the history of the water biscuit. These pricey British crackers are descendants of the hardtack crackers troops ate during the Civil War.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Why not make your own? Ina Garten has an easy, yummy recipe (which I'm sure you can find out that other website)...
view BetsyGinDC's profile
For nice cheese, I've gotten hooked on some very expensive crackers. My favorite is La Panzanella Black pepper croccantini They are a shocking $7 or 8 dollars per package at the Whole Foods in New Orleans. At first I balked at spending the money, especially with my budget being rather tight, but they are so very good that I find myself doing it anyway.
view RedShoes's profile
I live on the East Coast and actually use the Christmas Tree Shop or Big Lots to get crackers. They usually have very high quality crackers at very cheap prices. I get Carr Water Crackers for a dollar and it is always interesting to try one of the bajillion different kinds of fancy crackers they have that week. Downside is that if I find something I like, it won't be there the next time.
view ehme's profile
When I'm having a nice party, I will go buy the big box of assorted crackers from Costco. They have multi-grain, sesame and my fave buttery ones all in one big box (and it's always there) for a respectable price. Honestly, I'll only go to Costco if I'm having a party, and it is my main cracker source.
view Anne (in Reno)'s profile
Ugh, that's my whole issue with Dean & Deluca.
If you were at the Soho one, there is a Met on Mulberry Street that sells the same crackers for about $2 less a box.
view skittlbrau's profile
I love the Costco assorted crackers! My mom always gets them when she entertains and they are delicious.
view heather lauren's profile
I've found Carr's crackers for $1 a box at The Grocery Outlet and Big Lots on many occasions. Safeway regularly has them for $2.50 a box (and I live in an area where food is pricer then other areas), I believe you got robbed.
view charise's profile
The Trader Joe's knockoffs of Carr's are great, and cost something like $2.29 a box.
view prolix's profile
Store brand water crackers taste the same at a fraction of the price. I have seen them at many local supermarket chains next to the Carr's.
view Andy M.'s profile
back home, Carr's are available at a regular grocery store (the larger Loblaws), and I think they usually run around $3 or so a box...
view mschatelaine's profile
no generic crackers at my brooklyn met, but carr's are around $2.99. $2.99 feels like a lot to me -- you got robbed! sometimes i have made a couple baguettes out of bittman's "how to cook everything" instead. they're pretty easy and good, but you have to have a few hours.
view SweetTea's profile
Ditto on the Christmas Tree shop - 1.99 or even 1.00 for Carr's crackers.
view lizb's profile
That is a lot of money for Carr's Water Biscuits. (Have they changed the name for the US?) What do they charge for Bath Olivers... ;-)
view Lesley - London's profile
DARE variety packs of 5 for ~$6 at Costco.
They're fantastic: taste & price.
view callbob's profile
Last time I had a party I was blown away by the cost of crackers. Cheapskate that I am, I made my own using a Mark Bitten recipe. Prep time (I'm not exaggerating) was 5 minutes. Of all the food I had prepared for the party, the crackers impressed people the most. I highly recommend trying this!
view J-fer Rose's profile
My TJ's in SF has Carr's for like 1.19. Or maybe they're the knockoffs and I never noticed. They're fab.
view Shannon in SF's profile