Posted by on Jul 15, 2011 in Oatmeal, Whole grain | 2 comments

Wanda’s Café & Bakery
Nehalem, OR*
$1.50

Something told me that the very minute I declared that I’ve never experienced a good bakery in any beach town that I would experience a good bakery in a beach town. Which is, in fact, what happened. Like, the very next day after I wrote it.

It was as if I were daring a good cookie to come my way.  And check it out…it did!  People, this is a good cookie. I would go a few miles out of my way (on foot, even) for this cookie. If you find yourself driving on US 101 anywhere near Manzanita and Nehalem, Oregon (and you fancy a hearty morsel of chewy oats), you should, too.

I will tell you why:

• It is chewy, verging on sticky (but not in a bad way), achieving  a candy-like texture.

• The dominant flavor is maple as opposed to brown sugar.  Not that I don’t love brown sugar (I fucking LOVE brown sugar), but the maple is a nice twist and I’m guessing is what makes it so moist.

• If you’re a member of the raisin-hating army, you will be pleased to know that you will not find a single trace of the dried grape here. For the record, I am not a raisin-hater, but again, a variation on the norm keeps Cookie Time fresh and new. So I can absolutely support a raisin-free oatmeal cookie now and again.

• Pecans (the superior cookie nut, IMO –  tied with almonds).  They are toasted and full-flavored.

• Like I said, it is super oaty.  The photos say it all.

BTW: Nehalem is about 2 blocks long, so you can’t miss Wanda’s even if you try.  Just look for the sign in that photo above.

*Can also be found, along with several other varieties** of Wanda’s cookies, at Manzanita News and Espresso.

** ginger molasses (also amazing.  What?  You think I was going to taste only ONE cookie during my five day stay in this town?), snickerdoodle (didn’t taste. S-doodles =  yawn), oatmeal chocolate chip (fine,  not remarkable), chocolate chip (didn’t taste), peanut butter (I think.  Not sure…pb cookies are like wallpaper to me), and a variety of  bar cookies (lemon bars, brownies, fruit crumble bars, etc.).