Perhaps it’s the weather, but I’ve been having a mean craving for chocolate chip cookies these days. So a few weeks ago when I saw Jacques Torres Chocolate en route to Levain Bakery for a chocolate chip cookie, naturally I popped in and got another cookie. So with two different chocolate chip cookies in tow, another Bite vs. Bite was inevitable.
This was a close one to judge. Seriously, it was like Awesome vs. Awesome. Levain’s Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies ($4; pictured above), made with semi-sweet chocolate chips and walnuts, are legendary for their sheer girth and semi-raw core. (Oh god yes, semi-raw cookie dough!) The cookies are crunchy on the outside and soft and dense on the inside. But most notably, Levain’s cookies are huge. One is enough to share between two people. Be greedy and you’ll feel like death, sweet sweet death, but death nevertheless.
Jacques Torres’ Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie ($2.50) in comparison seem undeniably small and flat. However, these flat disks are packed with flavor, in particular, that of dark chocolate and lots and lots of butter. My boyfriend started calling these the “fried ones” because the edges were so buttery and crisp. The rest of the cookie was nice and chewy. So as you can guess, in this Bite vs. Bite, chocolate chip cookie, the winner is Jacques Torres. Levain brought size and raw cookie dough in the match, but Jacques Torres brought dark chocolate and butter. Never underestimate the power of butter.
Levain Bakery
167 W 74th Street (b/n Amsterdam & Columbus Ave; map)
New York, NY 10023
212-874-6080
Jacques Torres Chocolate
285 Amsterdam Avenue (b/n 73rd and 74th St; map)
New York, NY 10023
212-414-2462
Tags: American, dessert, Jacques Torres, Levain
