Carpe Cookie

A grade-A cookie lover's account of the best – and sometimes worst – cookies around.

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Triple Chocolate at Grand Central Bakery

Posted by on Aug 16, 2010 in Chocolate | 4 comments

Grand Central Bakery
Portland* – various locations

$1.30

As I typed the words “Triple Chocolate” just now, I realized that I’m not really sure why it’s called “triple”.  Rich chocolate base: check. Nice semi-sweet chocolate chips: check.  But…what is this mystery third chocolate in the trifecta?  (Note to self: Next time you go to Grand Central, ask what that damn third chocolate is.  Shit, now I’m totally curious! Stay tuned for an update.)

Okay, so here is what’s interesting about the this one:  Every time I taste it, I am surprised all over again by how honestly delicious it is. That is to say, it does not have a whole lot of curb appeal; it appears somewhat dry and biscuit-y to the eye, and even though I’ve eaten probably twenty of them over the past, say,  5 years, it is as if I’ve developed some sort of chronic Triple Chocolate Cookie amnesia.

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Vegan Thumbprint at Whole Foods

Posted by on Jul 27, 2010 in Gluten Free and/or Flourless, Etc. | 5 comments

Whole Foods Market

Portland – various locations

$1.39

“Hey,  so what are your favorite cookies in Portland?”

This is something that I hear, arguably, probably a lot more often than most people do – for obvious reasons.

When I answer, I usually rattle off the last memorable one or two that I’ve eaten – whatever is in the front of my mind and lingering on my taste buds at that particular moment.  However, something I’ve been telling people for the past several months (even when they aren’t asking) is that Whole Foods is making some damn good cookies – better cookies than you find at most local bakeries, and (contrary to its “Whole Paycheck”/ high-priced reputation) more modestly priced, to boot.

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Almond Horn at Whole Foods

Posted by on Jul 20, 2010 in Gluten Free and/or Flourless, Etc., Almond | 12 comments

Whole Foods Market
Portland – various locations
$1.99

Is it a cookie? Or is it a confection?  It’s sitting behind the glass next to all the other cookies,  but I’d say this one sort of rides the fence being that a) it contains not a lick of flour (not that flour is a requirement for cookie classification) and b) enclosed within its thin, almond-encrusted sheath, is a dense, slightly sticky mass of sweet, sugary marzipan – behaving more like candy than cookie, imo.  Its ingredients are: sugar, almonds, almond paste, egg whites and salt.

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Oatmeal Currant at Market Gourmet

Posted by on Jul 19, 2010 in Oatmeal | 0 comments

Market Gourmet
Portland Farmers’ Market (PSU – Saturdays and Wednesdays)
$1.50

It’s an elusive cookie, to be sure.  That is to say, you can find it only at The Farmers’ Market at Portland State University –  on Saturdays and Wednesdays (and only during Farmers’ Market season, obviously).  So,  like many things that are truly worthwhile, you may need to stray a little bit out of your way in order to get this bad boy in your mouth. But… if you’re so inclined, do it.

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Oatmeal Raisin at New Seasons Market

Posted by on Jul 13, 2010 in Oatmeal | 0 comments

New Seasons Market
NE 33rd and Killingsworth – Portland
$1

A few months ago, the New Seasons Market near my house (Concordia branch) replaced their house-made oatmeal raisin cookie with one that, while baked on-site, is actually made with dough supplied by Grand Central Bakery.  I am not complaining; while I had no problem with the old version of the o.r.c., I have great affection for almost all things Grand Central.

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