Comments on: Crown Pilot Crackers Gone Again

By: heaben

heaben — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:30:58 +0000

Still trying to find a copycat recipe for crown pilot, but to no avail. Where are you Todd Wilbur when we need you?
I’m from Boothbay Harbor, Me., but in the fall, our local grocery store always ordered extra Crown Pilot, so that our summer residents could take them home and enjoy them until they returned in the spring.
When young, we had a big sunday dinner and on sunday night we would have a “mug up” as dad would say. It usually consisted of crumbled up crown pilot in milk. Dad would have salt cod with his.
Another family favorite which until the recent demise, I would have often for supper was, crown pilot soaked in hot coffee and then drained off, followed by a poached egg, topped with a little butter salt and pepper. a wonderfully unique flavor, one I miss greatly.
Why is Kraft being so secretive with their recipe? I think they’re going to sell it for a fortune after everyone has gone through a major withdrawal.

By: ChristineQ

ChristineQ — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:05:48 +0000

I just called Nabisco and lodged my complaint. I suggested that they give the recipe to some small bakery that doesn’t have to meet Big Company sales quotas. The rep I spoke to was very nice but she didn’t think they’d want to do that. On the other hand, I would expect a professional baker to be able to duplicate the recipe without much trouble. Heck, I might even try to do it myself and I’m just a dabbler.

By: Leslie Ostergard

Leslie Ostergard — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:51:00 +0000

I can not believe that Pilot Crackers are no longer available. My whole life I have had them to put in chowder, and now they’re gone. Shame on Nabisco!

By: William Hubert

William Hubert — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:23:10 +0000

Pilot Crackers were always a staple on Grandfathers’ sailboat on the Great South Bay. Sailing from Squasax Landing to the Old Inlet Beach with more than a dozen hungry souls aboard, a box of Pilot Crackers, always referred to as “hard tack” and a few cans of Manhattan chowder (this is eastern Long Island) heated on a gimbled pot stove fed them all. Those experiences over a half a century ago spred the desire for Pilot Crackers around the country and the globe. Boxes of crackers were sent to those who were starved because of the lack of availability.
Then the aftermath of the great disruption lo and behold, we could buy Pilot Crackers at our local stores in Upstate New York! Right in the Adirondacks. Life could not be better those glory days of the early part of this century. But no matter how many we purchased, despite long talks with the route drivers that supplied the stores, the day came when the great retreat started again. Difficult, but not impossible, because the network of moving boxes of crackers was reinstituted.
But now we are lost! All sense of reason is overturned by a “bean counters” in the mega corporate world. Why can’t this be resolved? There is no other product which is a substitute and nothing else is remotely similar. If Kraft has no desire to make the product, wouldn’t they at least like to make “free” money by selling off the rights and equipment? Perhaps they would like an ongoing royalty (as if they deserve it)by simply licensing another company to make and market them.
There must be a way to end this lunacy as the quality of life of many thousands of people is being sadly diminished.
PS Anybody got any boxes of Pilot Crackers to sell ???

By: David Greene

David Greene — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:07:12 +0000

It is so sad that Nabisco apparently can show no respect for a great product with so may decades of proud history and loyal consumers. Doubtless, their only interest lies in the production and sale of those items that are easily mass-marketed.
I am a lifelong fan of Crown Pilot Crackers living way out in Western Pennsylvania. Clearly their appeal is not limited solely to New Englanders. They used to be widely sold out here and, without question, in countless other regions as well.

By: Cynthia Fisher

Cynthia Fisher — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:06:53 +0000

Does anyone have just one box from the Crown Pilot Crackers?
I just need the box for a nostalgic photo shoot.
I’d gladly return it in pristine condition if it holds fond memories!
Thanks,
Cynthia Fisher

By: Bogframe

Bogframe — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:22:42 +0000

I’ve been eating Crown Pilots since I’ve had teeth, and they are the ONLY cracker that goes as well with chowder as it does with peanut butter. Shame on Nabisco/Kraft for putting profit against love! I’m never buying another Nabisco product again until they see the error of their ways.

By: Mirna

Mirna — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:08:15 +0000

Us youngings in NYC are also big time fans of crown pilots! I am so disappointed with Nabisco, when I sent them an email to express my anger they sent me a generic email stating how when an unpopular product doesn’t sell, etc etc. I urge people to write to them or call them. There’s nothing else out there that’s the same!

By: Memere

Memere — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:20:22 +0000

Add the eastern end of Long Island, NY (not the big city folk but the old timers) to those who miss the pilot crackers. Unfortunately in the “fabulous Hamptons”, they have replaced them with high-tone, fancy crackers.