The Perfect Cookie…Manhattan’s Levain Bakery
Posted in food tagged with Best bakeries, best cookies, Chocolate chip walnut cookie, Connie McDonald, Hampton Levain bakery, Levain bakery, Pam Weekes on September 30th, 2009 by Amanda Bourne
I recently wrote about pizza (here)…and while this short blurb isn’t about a savory slice, I did think of this food the other day.
What makes pizza unique in the food world is that even “bad” or bland pizza can still be tasty.
Cookies, on the other hand, are not all created equal, and even the slightest of imperfections (whether too mealy, too soggy or poorly prepared) can make this sweet unacceptable to this foodie.
So, when the sweet tooth tempts me, I seek out perfection, a truly sublime experience – which by all accounts is a difficult state to pin down in a world as diverse as cookies (sometimes thin, sometimes crisp, with nuts, or without, even the occasional taste of white chocolate).
In comes Levain Bakery, which is a small, unassuming neighborhood shop known for its baked goods and serves this rare breed of cookie perfection – the walnut chocolate chip cookie is the crown jewel.
The cookie at Levain is decedent by all measures – they appear more like a scone in size and shape, weighing in at ~6 ounces and contain significant chunks of chips. And while the appearance is intimidating, the ingredients are so perfect, the preparation so flawless and balanced, that you won’t think twice when you are devouring them.
Levain has been opened since 1995 and the history of the bakery is also part of the allure for me…the shop was opened by entrepreneurs Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes, who met at a swimming pool on the east side of Manhattan. The two, who share a passion for exercise and food, parlayed their baking skills into creating this fine shop.
They make everything fresh on premises, including rustic breads, brioche, and Bomboloncini, but it is the cookies tend to steal the show.
Owners Weekes and McDonald keep the recipe sealed under lock and key, so don’t try to replicate…just find a way to get to the West 74th Street shop to experience first hand (alternatively, you can order from their website, listed below).
As always, eat well and feel free to reach out.
For more information please visit http://www.levainbakery.com/. And for assistance on planning your next unique experience visit our website at www.premiumlg.com .
