Biscuits for Cheese – Daelia’s Almond with Raisins

Daelia's Almond Raisin Biscuits for Cheese

The nice people at Daelia’s sent me a swag bag (it was really a box) of their Biscuits for Cheese. I jumped at the chance to try these because I am developing an understanding of the importance of food pairing. Finding a good marriage of a cheese, wine (or beer), crackers, biscuits, fruit or nuts can take cheese appreciation to the next level.

I have found that the best crackers for cheese are mild in flavour, low in salt and dare I say bland? They work mostly because they shadow a cheese, jelly or spread.

The Daelia’s Biscuits for Cheese are different. These biscuits are interesting and flavourful. They stand on their own. They don’t compete with the cheese, they compliment it. That is the idea with a pairing. The magic is in the combining and interaction of flavours to deliver the ultimate taste enjoyment. Daelia’s Biscuits for Cheese do just that.

The biscuits come in three types, each intended to be matched with different styles of cheese. Daelia’s Almond with Raisins is suggested to be paired with aged cheddars, goat cheeses and blue cheese. Daelia’s Hazelnut with Fig pairs well with blue cheese and sheep’s milk cheeses. Daelia’s Pumpkin Seed Rye pairs well with Brie, Camembert, Comte, Gruyere and washed rind cheeses like Oka. This review is specific to the Daelia’s Almonds with Raisins Biscuits for Cheese.

The biscuits are packed into a plastic tray to prevent breakage. There are 15 biscuits in the package.

Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese - Almond with Raisin

The biscuits are generously filled with raisins and large chunks of almond pieces. They look good.

Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese Almond with Raisin

I decided to pair the Almond with Raisins biscuits with Balderson 2 Year Aged Cheddar.

Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese Almond with Raisin Paired with Balderson 2 Year Cheddar

What does Daelia’s Almond and Raisin Biscuits for Cheese taste like? Before tasting them I thought these biscuits appeared similar to Melba Toast in thickness, texture and appearance. I guess I was expecting them to taste similar. Don’t judge a book by its cover. The Daelias biscuits are significantly more flavourful. The taste of almond, raisin and peppery spice go very well together. The blend works. The textures of the crunchy almonds with chewy raisins make for an interesting and pleasant mouthfeel. I ended up eating several of the biscuits alone and enjoyed them on their own accord. Next I tried the pairing … a piece of Balderson cheddar followed by a Daelia’s biscuit. The pairing was spot on. Then I put a piece of cheddar on the biscuit and ate it in a single bite. Again … good stuff.

The verdict: The Daelia’s Almond and Raisin Biscuit for Cheese paired wonderfully with the Balderson 2 Year Aged Cheddar. It was even better than I expected.

I am going to review the other two flavours of Daelia’s Biscuits separately so I can pair them with the recommended cheeses.

These biscuits are an easy way to step up a cheese board and enhance a cheese tasting experience.

Daelia’s Biscuits are available in Toronto at Pusateri’s, Nancy’s Cheese, Sheffler’s Delicatessan (St. Lawrence Market) and Summerhill Market. In Mississauga at Whole Foods (Square One). In Quebec at IGA. In Vancouver at Thrifty Foods and County Grocer.

Disclosure: These biscuits were provided to me by Daelia’s to try and review.

www.daeliasbiscuitsforcheese.com

Cheese and Carr’s Table Water Crackers

What cheese blog would be complete without a little attention to cheese’s best friend … the cracker? It is common to find bread or crackers to accompany the serving of cheese. If you are serving a soft cheese, then a cracker, or piece of bread, is almost a necessity to carry the cheese to your mouth.

Honestly, I think that fresh bread, such as a french baguette, is the ultimate cheese carrier with crackers being a close second. Some crackers are better to pair with cheese than others. If you have a mild cheese, you might try marrying it with an exciting cracker full of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion … you get the idea. But there is a tipping point when cheese looses the stage to such a cracker. At that point why not just spread butter?

A delicate cheese needs a delicate cracker. And that is why I suggest Carr’s Table Water Crackers. They have a nice consistency. They won’t break under the pressure of a knife unless the cheese is atypically stiff. They are a nice size, perfect for two or three bites, unless you have a big appetite, or a big mouth. They are a perfect cracker for brie.

A problem with some crackers is that they have surface salt. The Carr’s crackers do not. I find the baked in salt balance just about perfect. The Carr’s Table Water Crackers can also carry stronger cheeses competently. It is my cracker of choice for Cambozola and other blue cheeses. In fact, it is a great all around cracker for most cheeses.

A box contains about 35 crackers. Carr’s crackers are well distributed and should be widely available. Carr’s Table Water Crackers have my endorsement.

Disclosure: I don’t work for Carr’s or any affiliate. I have not been compensated in any way for this post. I just like ’em.