Keith and Pam Pollack

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Celebrating their 10^th anniversary, Z Crackers co-owners Keith and Pam Pollack bring decades of experience to their cracker business. Keith, previously a recording engineer, and Pam, a graphic designer, opened a pizzeria more than 30 years ago. They moved on quickly, but took the basics of the company and began selling savory pies wholesale to New York City’s Dean and Deluca in 1982. As more specialty food stores opened in Manhattan, the Pollacks expanded to more outlets, moved their business and home to Ditmas Park, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y., and adopted two baby girls from Korea.

Wanting to move into shelf-stable products, the entrepreneurial couple took what they knew worked best—their recipe for pizza dough—and morphed it into crackers. “We named them Z Crackers—short for Z best!” explains Pam. The product quickly earned the title of sofi Silver Finalist, and it wasn’t long before they turned their focus exclusively on the crackers. Z Crackers, which recently debuted a new dynamic—and recyclable—packaging designed by Pam, are available nationwide in flavors like Sea Salt & Olive Oil, Red Onion & Rosemary, Garlic & Basil, Cayenne & Cumin, Kalamata Olive and Salt & Pepper. —Denise Shoukas

Keith and Pam shared more of their story with us:

Do you have a favorite flavor in your line? How do you like to serve it?

Keith: Our favorite flavor is Red Onion & Rosemary. That's the one we won the award for. It still tastes best to us. Pam likes to eat it with hummus or Affinois cheese.

Who is your culinary idol and why?

Keith: Jacques Pepin. He's into wonderful cooking without pretense or competition.

Pam: And he’s very cute!

What’s your guilty food pleasure?

Pam: Keith loves Pop Tarts! I love Nutter Butters.

Best meal ever?

Keith: Santa Maria Restaurant, St. Augustine, Florida, 1962. Fried Chicken, Hushpuppies and Pecan Pie.

Pam: Tivoli, Italy, 1981. Chicken Cacciatore with fresh rosemary.

If you weren’t making crackers, what would you be doing instead?

Keith: Earning a living [laughs].

Pam: I’d continue to work as a graphic designer.

Keith: I [would go back to working] as a recording engineer.

Aside from your products, what three items can you always find in your kitchen?

Pam: Molasses, lots of fresh seasonal fruit and good cheese.

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