I love cookies. Growing up my mom baked, a ton. Cookies were an easy go to in our baking household, and I realized my sweet tooth really enjoyed chocolate and cookies, preferably combined. There’s something about a warm, fresh from the oven cookie. The smell, the texture, the look. It makes sense why Realtors are told to have chocolate chip cookies out at showings. It’s nostalgic and scrumptious!
My brother has been in New York City for almost a decade and as a private chef, he’s got a discerning palette. But we were both raised in the same midwest household, and our love for cookies is shared. During one particular visit, he told me I needed to try the best cookie he’s ever had in his life. Coming off the heels of a previous trip trip which included a disappointing cronut, I was skeptical.
We were in Harlem picking up my other brother at his Air Bnb, which happened to be around the corner from Levain bakery. Pre-COVID, the small storefont was, now uncomfortably, packed! I chose a double chocolate and my go-to, chocolate chip. We were headed to the subway when I casually took my first bite. WOAH! This cookie was, AMAZING. I’ve eaten many dozens of cookies in my life, thousands probably. Homemade, store-bought, this was nothing like anything I’d ever had before. It was HUGE. not in circumference but in height. The recipe calls for plopping down a huge dome shaped scoop of dough and baking. Somehow it wasn’t completely raw in the middle either. I love cookie dough as much as the next person, but I am really here for the finished product. The taste was unique, yet familiar. I was in heaven.
I was halfway through my first cookie and I was stuffed! These things are massive. But, the taste was just too good! I finished that cookie before the train came. And before we got to our stop, I was starting the next one. Needless to say we went back before leaving town to get a couple for the journey home. Thus began my love of Levain.
I am not the only person who feels this way, Levain ships cookies and now packages them for purchase at Whole Foods. I currently have a box in my freezer when the craving hits. They are great, but nothing like the freshly prepared batches. I am always longing for the real deal. So, I’m willing to go to great lengths to get my hands on these delicious morsels. Coming from someone who, in college, would drive downtown to the DoubleTree, pay metered parking, and go in acting like a hotel guest to scoop up a few fresh baked cookies before heading to campus it’s not out of the question to figure out how to get my hands on a good fresh baked cookie. Luckily, having a brother around the corner from the bakery comes in handy.
On one particular instance, we were all meeting in Atlanta for a family trip and I asked he pick some up the night before his flight to bring with him. I was 7 months pregnant, so the delivery couldn’t have come at a better time. Coming from someone who, in college, would drive downtown to the DoubleTree, pay metered parking, and go in acting like a hotel guest to scoop up a few fresh baked cookies before heading to campus.
I am now in luck again! With everyone vaccinated, my parents visited my brother in NY, who they hadn’t seen since in over a year! I was glad for all parties involved, but also wanted to make it clear, I would love them to return with some Levain cookies – preferably one’s baked that day! Suffice to say, my loving family obliged this weary COVID-era mama!
Humans go to great lengths for lots of things, love, success, money. But isn’t the support of a loving family (and a delectable dessert) worth much more than those?
