If you have ever come into the St. Paul Cheese Shop, you know it is a small space jam packed with goodies that you might not know anything about. From all the cheese and charcuterie board essentials to sandwiches, oils, vinegars, even chocolate delights, the space might become quickly overwhelming. We, as a staff at St. Paul Cheese, love each product that we carry, and this series is dedicated to just that—sharing our passion about our products with you! Each week I will highlight one, or maybe a few (who knows!), products that we are loving right now. My hope is that you will love these picks as much as we do! With that said, let’s get right into it, starting with one of my all-time favorite treats, Cudié Catánies.
For over 50 years and 3 generations, Spanish chocolate maker Bombons Cudié has been handmaking these delicious treats in Vilafranca del Penedés, about 45 km from Barcelona. It is a secret family recipe, passed down from generation to generation, that combines the queen of almonds, the Mediterranean Marcona, an amazingly rich white praline paste, and a final covering of decadent cocoa powder. They even come in different flavors, including Coffee and Crème Brûlée which we have carried in the past at St. Paul Cheese, and are equally as delicious. As the holiday season draws near, be on the lookout for fun and exciting new flavors!
The creaminess of the praline paste combined with the crunch of the Marcona is a texture combination unmatched by any sweet I have eaten in recent memory. The cocoa powder dusting is smooth, and certainly does not overpower the rest of the treat, making for a bite that will leave you coming back for more. They perfectly satisfy the cravings of those of us who have a sweet tooth but are also perfect for people who might not love sweets as much, but still enjoy a treat every once in a while. I keep them stocked in my pantry year-round, and personally, I believe that these treats are one of the most decadent treats that we have in our shop. In fact, myself and fellow cheesemongers Sean and Donovan have all bought full kilogram bags of them! I love including them in my homemade trail mix, or just simply having them as a midday snack. When crushed, they can be used as garnish for other sweet treats, such as ice cream sundaes and cake toppers. With some combination of my sweet tooth and just how delicious these are, most of the time I cannot put them down once I start eating them. Stop into St. Paul Cheese today and pick some up for yourself!