Artisans: Totally crackers

Parmesan and thyme crackers from Bridget's Biscuits. Photo / Natalie Slade

If it's possible for crackers to be physically addictive, Bridget's Biscuits are. She has, in fact, been forced to offer smaller bags as many of her regulars stopped buying because they found themselves eating the whole big bag in one sitting. While this did sound like a good story and marketing ploy on Bridget's part, the four empty bags in our rubbish bin are testament to the fact that she's not lying. Seriously addictive.

You could describe them as savoury crackers but that may imply that they should be eaten with toppings. We would say not.

These little numbers are full of big, bold flavour and require no adornment. They would be perfect as a component of a well-balanced antipasto or mezze-style platter. Bridget says she even likes them with a cup of tea in the afternoon.

There are four flavours: cheddar; parmesan and thyme; cumin and cheddar; and caraway and pepper. The names are a bit deceiving in that the cheddar is actually the strongest and the parmesan the mildest, contrary to what you may presume.

The cheddar has a good, sharp taste with cayenne pepper through it. It has a nice kick and is the liveliest of the lot. The cumin seeds are toasted which releases their full aroma and taste potential. Any fans of this spice will love the salty cheese/fragrant cumin combination. The caraway and pepper are fabulous if you're a fan of caraway seeds (but don't be put off if you're not, as it's not overpowering). The parmesan and thyme are the most mildly flavoured and apparently are very popular with children.

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Bridget Gough is a caterer by trade, so it's no surprise she's turned out a fantastic product like this.

The idea came from being served them by a friend of her mum's and then researching the recipe and tweaking and tweaking to make it just right.

She's a big believer in fresh home baking so she bakes every week and doesn't add any preservatives. She is convinced the X-factor is simply due to the fact that they are produced by hand.

Where to buy:

Buy Bridget's Biscuits directly from the lady herself at La Cigale markets in Parnell or online. She hand delivers in Auckland and couriers (with a lot of bubble wrap) out of town. From $3 for the small bag; large $5.60.