"Thank U Berry Much"

There are times in a year that spark emotions. The joy of giving and getting at Christmas. The anticipation of the first day of school and seeing your friends after a long summer break. The first snow and the smell of spring in the air and the sound of the Salvation Army Bells. They all spark a feeling when you experience and think about them.

There is one more: Girl Scout cookie season. Thin Mints, Samoas, we all have our own favorites. I was never a Girl Scout but I sure am a big fan of the cookies! I love them on their own, smashed up in ice cream; just about anyway you can eat them. I’ll be honest come spring, I probably gain 5lbs of Girl Scout Cookie weight!

That’s why I was very excited to hear the Girl Scouts came out with a healthier type of cookie. I was even more overjoyed to hear that thanks to a dear friend, I would get a sneak preview. And so the waiting began. I was expecting a box in the mail over the winter. My mission: to taste and critique. So, one winter night the box of the new flavor “Thank U Berry Much” arrived in the mailbox (yes! an early season Girl Scout Cookie).

Thank U Berry Much: It includes cranberries and white fudge chips. Two ingredients I love. I give a thumbs up to the concept, but Thank U Berry Much seems more like a breakfast item rather than a sinful snack or after dinner treat. Thin Mints and Samoas, don’t worry your place at the top of my Girl Scout Cookie list is secure for another year!

I am a blogger selected by the Girl Scouts of Nassau County to review the newest Girl Scout Cookie®. I have not been compensated for my time commitment or my post about my experience. My opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

The search for the perfect cookie: Stop #2

“Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds (Herodotus).” From what I can find, that saying dates back to around 500 B.C., but it is more commonly known as the unofficial motto for the United States Postal Service. Today, it fits my mission perfectly.

While most people took a snow day and stayed wrapped up on their couches watching the snow through their windows on 2/26/2010, I bundled up to brave the Nor’easter. It was all in the name of finding the perfect cookie in New York City.

Normally I walk everywhere in NYC, but I made an exception and jumped on a bus … destination:

Location #2: Levain Bakery (167 West 74 Street)

Levain Bakery is my second stop on the search for the perfect cookie in the Big Apple. I’ve read rave reviews online and have heard nothing but praise from people who’ve actually tasted the cookies from this bakery.

Levain is on the City’s Upper West Side. Keep your eyes peeled because if you aren’t looking for it, you’d pass right by Levain Bakery. You have to walk down a few steps to make it into this tiny shop. Every step brings you closer and closer to the amazing smell of cookies, breads and those bakery smells that just make your mouth water. Despite my desire to eat everything in front of me (brioche, scones, rolls, fresh bread…) I had to stay focused. The mission I chose to accept: find the perfect cookie. I quickly ordered the one everyone told me was the BEST: The Chocolate Chip Walnut.

The Chocolate Chip Walnut looks tremendous. It has the homemade cookie shape, rough around the edges and nice and plump (it also weighs a lot for a cookie!). I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into this one. Levain’s cookie is perfectly crisp on the outside with a beautifully soft inside: so far so good. Unfortunately, I found the addition of the walnuts to be a mistake. This cookie has the potential to be AMAZING. Instead I’d say it is just good. I think the walnuts create confusion in the mouth because it changes what the anticipated texture should be. I think the nut also takes away from the delicious chocolate Levain uses. The dough is just delightful; it didn’t have that baking soda aftertaste. The weight also came into play, I couldn't finish this cookie at one sitting, it was so filling. The Chocolate Chip Walnut simply falls short. I’d love to try Levain’s Chocolate Chip cookie sans walnuts. Maybe one day they’ll try it.

I want to be clear I wouldn’t turn down another cookie from Levain Bakery; it’s just not the best, in my opinion. I will travel back. I wanted to taste the Cinnamon Buns made famous on The Oprah Winfrey Show; unfortunately Levain only makes them on the weekend.

After hiking through about a foot of snow and shelling out about $4 at Levain, I’d say the “Candy Jar Cookie” from Ruby et Violette remains #1 in my book.

Up next: Bouchon Bakery

The search for the perfect cookie: Stop #1

If you know me you are well aware of my food addiction: CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. I love them and tend to stop in bakeries wherever I am just to get one. Now that I am settled into my new home in NYC, I’ve started my hunt for the perfect cookie.

The adventure began online by searching for the best chocolate chip cookies in New York City. I found endless reviews of bakeries from the Bronx to Wall Street. I narrowed down my list by circling the locations that kept showing up. Last week, I began the taste testing!

To set the scene a little more, I expressed my love of cookies while at work. Lucky for me at least one coworker is just as addicted! So, on a quiet night in the newsroom we decided it was time for a field trip. I threw on my coat, picked up my purse and headed out for my seven block walk to:

Location #1: Ruby et Violette (457 West 50th Street)

Ruby et Violette is a small neighborhood bakery tucked away on a very residential street in Hell’s Kitchen. If you weren’t looking for it, you’d likely pass right by the cute little shop bursting with character. On this particular January night, three couples (on dates…or just out for a treat) sat at the little tables sipping hot chocolate and other liquid goodies while nibbling on cookies. The atmosphere was great, but what about the cookies! Ruby et Violette features at least a dozen different kinds of cookies (they even change some flavors based on the season). While I wanted to eat everything in the display case, I had to choose. Of course, I picked the Chocolate Chip cookie (interestingly named “Perfect”… I thought to myself … we’ll see about that!). My second cookie was dubbed the “Candy Jar.”

The cookies at Ruby et Violette are bit pricy coming in at about $2.50 (each). So, are they worth it?

First, the “Perfect Cookie.” This is your basic chocolate chip. It certainly looked perfect. The cookie was about the size of the bottom of a wine bottle and as thick as an Iphone. Now to the taste, perfect is a great way to describe the texture of this delicious treat. The “Perfect Cookie” has a crisp outside an amazingly soft inside. That is what a cookie should taste like! My only hesitation, it was very, very rich. I could live with fewer chocolate chunks, but that is just a minor complaint.

Now to the “Candy Jar Cookie.” All I have to say is, this is the best cookie I’ve ever had! The “Candy Jar” is about the same size as the chocolate chip but it is flatter. It literally melts in your mouth and sends your taste buds into a frenzy. One second I tasted a bit of snickers, then an oreo! The “Candy Jar Cookie” is a blend of Snickers, Oreo, Reeses Pieces, Toffee and Butterfingers (could you ask for anything more!)? This chocolate chip fan just found her new obsession! While you would think the “Candy Jar” would be just as rich as the “Perfect Cookie,” I found it wasn’t. The “Candy Jar” had the perfect combination of chocolate goodness and I could taste the cookie dough more than I could in the “Perfect Cookie.”

Ruby et Violette you have a new regular costumer!

Up next… Levain bakery.