I fell in love with Levain when I lived in New York City. Not that it’s hard to do. And yes, I know it may be considered overhyped and super touristy, but the honest truth is that you can’t find a better cookie. (The only other cookie I get remotely this excited about is an original Swig sugar cookie.) I have such fond memories of making my way over to the 74th Street location to grab a fresh cookie. The stores all smell so delicious inside, the cookies so thick and gooey. I lived on the Upper East Side then, so it was a bit of a trek, but once I moved to Harlem, there was a location just down the street. I believe that location has closed since I moved away, but it was hard to think of any establishment I would have rather had such close proximity to.
It’s worth pointing out that my favorite cookie from Levain has always been the Oatmeal Raisin. I know what you’re thinking, and I know how unpopular this cookie is when compared to the others. I mean, raisins?? But it’s the doughiest, or at least it’s always seemed that way to me, and I just love that it’s not the typical cookie people think of when they think of famous bakeries. I remember very few instances of ever trying one of their chocolate chip varieties, being so devoted to oatmeal raisin. And having never been a fan of cookies with a chocolate base, I don’t think I ever tried the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip.
This is all to say that I was in New York for work recently, and aside from being as productive as I can with the work I’m there to do, my other objective is to get as many of my favorite NYC treats while in town, Levain being top of the list. I must of course mention that I have to do this more carefully (read: sparingly) than I used to, now being in, gulp, middle age. But it’s hard to explain how much I was looking forward to that Oatmeal Raisin. It’s also hard to explain how disappointed (read: devastated) I was when I got back to my hotel and finally opened the bag, only to find that they’d given me the wrong cookie. They gave me the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip. Such a let down! I mean, I’d come all the way from California!
Well, I’m here to tell you that the cookie was delicious. To the point that I went back for a second cookie later in my stay and specifically chose Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip again. Who even am I? I supposed it’s a lesson in trying new things, in not making assumptions, and in the total confidence you can have with any Levain cookie. I’ll be heading back to New York for another work trip before the fall is over, and you can bet I’ve got Levain on my list.