When Mr. Mari and I talk about going out to eat, Mr. Mari will often name a restaurant but really, it's code for a specific dish. For example, he'll say, "Let's go to al di la" which I know means "I want really good [pasta with] ragù". In the case of Levain Bakery on the Upper West Side, "I want to go to Levain" universally means, "I want a ridiculously awesome cookie". Their cookies are about the size of a split softball; with the thinnest layer of crisp on the outside and hearty, chewy, richness on the inside. The dough to mix-in ratio is almost fifty-fifty; your front teeth will always hit something. I'm not usually a fan of nuts in baked goods, unless it's a nut-based item but the chocolate chip walnut cookies are really sensational. The walnuts add just the right amount of chew-resistance you need. In reverse, the lack of peanut bits in the chocolate peanut butter chip cookie is right on. The smoothness makes the brownie-like cookie taste like a baked Reese's peanut butter cup.
Mr. Mari asked what else they sell. I have no idea. All I know is when I stepped down into their shop last week, it was all I could do not to shove the three other customers out of the way to press my face against the glass case. I'm lucky I don't live anywhere near this place. I would be here wayyy too often.
Haven't been? Just say, "I want to go to Levain". Everyone will know what you mean.
(Clockwise from upper left: dark chocolate peanut butter chip, chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin)