My love of food television has been well documented here. Not many people talk about the amazing food in the Detroit area and I’m not a traveler so when I can I love to mail order food to try. It’s been awhile since I’ve done so and I have totally been missing it. The last time was Momofuku Milk Bar. Oh, how I love Milk Bar. Okay, I’m gonna have to do some more ordering from there soon, but I’m getting off track. This post is not about Momofuku, even if a part of me believes every post should be. It’s about Levain Bakery.
I’ve seen their fabulous looking cookies numerous places and even have a copycat recipe bookmarked, waiting to be made. The show that has always stuck in my mind is The Best Thing I Ever Ate when Rocco DiSpirito talked about the double chocolate Levain cookies and I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Still can’t. The thing is, I am allergic to chocolate, so I can’t eat them. But if there was ever a food I thought about risking the allergy for, these are it, but that thought only lasted a moment . . . or maybe two, but that’s it. I swear.
Even if all their cookies are not as fabulous as those double chocolate ones, I figure they all have to be pretty awesome, right? So I ordered the only cookies they make that I can eat: Oatmeal Raisin.
They come in a pretty box with directions on how to freeze and warm them. Inside, they are in cellophane bags with a ribbon closure. These are massive, seriously massive cookies. Always a good thing in my book, being the girl that assumes she’ll only get half the cookies a recipe calls for. Go big cookie or go with cake, I always say. They smell rich and buttery, the outside golden brown, the inside still the color of cookie dough and soft and tender.
I thought they tasted kind of like a shortbread cookie. A really big, soft shortbread cookie, but one nonetheless. The raisins are a wonderful complement to the cookie, sweet and plump. I didn’t really notice the oats much. Definitely not a traditional oatmeal cookie in this sense. The moist inside was by far my favorite part, as the buttery and sugary goodness melted in my mouth. But, I have to be honest with you, I wanted to like these better than I did. Don’t get me wrong, the rest are in my freezer, tempting me to pop one in the oven for another taste of goodness. I’m also hopeful some time in the freezer followed by the oven will result in an even better cookie. But these were not the best thing or cookie I’ve ever eaten. I don’t know quite why. I think they might need a little spice, or texture, or to be underbaked a little more.
All of that said, if I ever overcome my chocolate allergy, which I’m told can be done, the first, literally first, thing I do will be to order those double chocolate cookies. Until then, I am looking forward to my next mail order adventure.
Girl. The chocolate chip walnut. THAT IS WHERE IT’S AT–if you ever overcome your chocolate allergy that is. Mmmm I love Levain!!
I have a copycat recipe for the chocolate chip walnut that I am going to make with white baking chips. It won’t be quite the same, but I think it might be darn close and a little sweeter for my giant sweet tooth.
They look delicious!!
They were delicious, Debbie, just not quite as good as I thought.
I love shortbread cookies, so I think I would absolutely love these!
I bet you would love these, Kristi! They are like two cookies in one.
even though I am not allergic to chocolate, oatmeal raisin would be my first choice to bake as well!! 🙂
There is something so comforting about oatmeal raisin cookies. They always make me feel better when I’m having an off day.
I really need to make a trip out to Momofuku Milk Bar stat! Oh and these cookies – amazing! I could sure use a couple of these for breakfast tomorrow!
Chung-Ah, you absolutely have to go to Momofuku. Their cookies and Crack Pie are the best desserts I’ve ever had. You would love them! There’s nothing wrong with a cookie for breakfast. Plus it has oatmeal in it, so that makes it a breakfast food, right 😉
I love Levain! Their cookies are enormous and oh so delicious. These look exactly like the ones at the bakery – well done!
I’m glad they look just like the ones from the bakery and didn’t suffer during shipping. I love huge cookies like these. Small cookies just don’t taste as good.
Definitely not a traditional oatmeal cookie is right – I feel bad that you probably paid really good $$ for those babies, plus shipping, and to not love-love-love them is not a good feeling. I have that happen to me all the time with mail order things, not food, but in general, I can relate!
That’s the risk with ordering products, especially food, in the mail. I have to say the things that are out of this world amazing far outweigh the things that aren’t my favorite. Since I don’t travel, it’s one of my favorite things to do and I don’t mind splurging a little.
These look incredible! I’ll definitely have to hunt down a copycat recipe. I’ve never had Levain, but I’ve heard nothing but good things.
These cookies are really good, but not as good as everyone else says. If you really want a cookie treat, check out Momofuku. I have made the Confetti Cookies and the Candy Corn Cornflake Cookies on the blog. . Every time I try something from Momofuku I am just so impressed. Thanks for visiting 🙂
Hey, I’ve never heard of anyone else being allergic to chocolate! I am, though maybe “allergy” is not the right word. I get super ill the day after eating chocolate. Flu-like. It sucks, especially when your friend brings over chocolate peanut butter Levain cookies! 🙂
Yeah, it is a bummer, but I have found there are more than enough desserts out there to satisfy my sweet tooth 🙂