One day in New York, mom and I walked around trying to find Jacques Torres' chocolate shop on Hudson Street, but we never did find it. We gave up, frustrated, and continued on with our day.
We found ourselves on the upper west side one morning, strolling the streets and exploring Central Park. Okayyy, maybe, just maybe, I wanted to check out Michael Psilakis' restaurant, Gus and Gabriel. We lurked around for a while to see a menu and scope out the place. I wasn't like, looking for him or anything.
Heh heh heh.
Then, we continued our way down Amsterdam Avenue, and guess what?! There was a Jacques Torres chocolate shop that I didn't know about! I took off, sprinting down the sidewalk, pushing people out of the way and leaving mom behind, and swung open the door.
I quickly spotted a stack of chocolate chip cookies and gazed lovingly at them for a few, quiet minutes. I've heard about these famous cookies. Have you? They're supposed to be really good chocolate chip cookies. Some people even say the best.
I bought a cookie ($2.50) and they pulled it off of a warmer and wrapped it up for me, which was nice because cookies are always best warm out of the oven. I dug into it and thoughtfully munched on it a while, while mom took a little nibble. Was it the best cookie I've ever had?
Well, it was a very, very good cookie. I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had, but that's only my opinion. I'm sure for many people this would be their ultimate chocolate chip cookie. They are completely baked through, and crispy, which is good for some, but I'm fond of a soft center in a chocolate chip cookie. They're buttery and have a slight chew to them. My favorite part was the chocolate used in them, of course. Duh. I mean, they're Jacques Torres cookies. The chocolate was sooo good and all melty and I adored it.
I kind of thought the cookies had too much sugar in them, and mom agreed. I wonder what other people that have tried them think...
I also took a look at some of Jacques' chocolates. I was tempted to buy some, but I had to restrain myself because they were too expensive. I think they were around two dollars a chocolate, and I don't know who Jacques thinks I am, but I can't afford his chocolate. I'm not made out of money, Jacques! I can't spin straw into gold.
I do admire you, Jacques - and thank you for giving me such a delicious cookie to try and a fun time in you shop. Maybe consider changing your name to Jack though, because Jacques has too many unnecessary letters in it and I have to keep checking myself to see if I spelled it right.
Jacques Torres Chocolate (Three locations)
285 Amsterdam between 73rd and 74th Streets in New York, NY
350 Hudson at King Street (1 block South of Houston), New York, NY
66 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY
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34 comments:
The cookie sounds like heaven. I like them a bit crispy so I think I would really like this one. $2.00per chocolate is a lot to me also. I think it's great that you and your mom had such a good time in NY!
In all honesty, your cookies look much more delicious than that one! Now the chocolate on the other hand...would get me in alot of trouble!
That's a lot of $2.00 in that picture!!!
This cookie looks pretty good! Isn't it great to finally get to try for yourself something you've heard all about and make up your own mind? And where better but in NYC :)
Oooohhh, so much chocolate goodness!! Sorry about the cookies though - I bet YOUR chocolate chip cookies would outdo them though! :)
i'm with you, i like the softer, gooey center :)
I've been to the Hudson St. place and didn't realize he had a place on the upper west side. I agree they're expensive. What I buy is a little bag of chocolate covered caramel made with pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries. It is not quite as expensive as buying just the chocolates, but it's sooo good.
I have to say the best chocolate chip cookie I ever made was one of your recipes. Jacques has nothing on you.
$2 per chocolate is a little outrageous. How much does that cost have to do with deliciousness and how much does it have to do with "I'm Jacques Torres and this is NYC"? At least you found the shop.
I agree with you about the cookie - very good, but not my favorite. My favorite chocolate chip cookie in NYC city would have to be from City Bakery. They have that soft in the middle thing going on that you mentioned you like - that's my preference too. Hope you got a chance to check them out. And their hot chocolate is amazing.
This would have been on my list of things to do as well Emily, that's for sure. I love the fact that they serve their cookies warm so that you get that just out of the oven chocolate gooey hit.
Wow, pricey chocolates!
The cookie certainly looks good, though I'm partial to a chewy-crispy combo, too.
that looks amazing!
Looks delish-maybe I need to find my way to the UWS xx
michael psilakis = yum. chocolate shop = yum. $2.50 cookie? that's pretty steep.
Haha good idea on the name. That's hilarious. So glad you found the shop. When we go to NY some prefer to shop the whole time or head to canal street blablabla, not us, we hang at chelsea market and go to fun restaurants etc that we have heard about. Glad to hear someone else looks for food too! haha
Thank you for your review with the beautiful pics. I liked the cookie too when I tried it but it was not my fav (fav is Bouchon...)
Have you seen the article on Serious Eats about Jacques Torres?
http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/10/jacque-torres-chocolate-pastry-tools-baking.html#continued
how fantastic is it that they warm it up for you!!! awesome!
You crack me up, Emily! I am a huge fan of Jack also. ;o)
A bit jealous of your NYC trip though.... <3
It looks like a dangerous place!
i heart the new banner! did you just do it or have i just not noticed it? this place looks tasty! i hope your travels bring you to dc sometime soon!
Cute post. I would take your cookies any day.
LL
Looks like a good cookie to me, but I prefer soft cookies. The chocolate sounds amazing though.
I'm so glad you ran into JT! I'm already looking forward to your post on Levain, because I'm dying to know what you thought!
you know my mom and I were talking about how hard it is to find a truly delicious chocolate chip cookie in a bakery (even super fancy, expensive ones)- there is just something about homemade choc chip cookies that doesn't seem to translate when the cookies are made in a bakery. Those chocolates look damn fine though!
I love your photos. The chocolate looks delicious!
I was in that same shop the last time I was in NY, but you know what? They didn't warm the cookie for me:(! I commented it with Katrina and she told me they do that when people buy the cookies. They just didn't do it for ME! Arghhhhhhh! Anyway I ate my cookie cold and was a bit disapointed with it after all the NYTimes buzz and all... Anyway, I'll have to come back then... And you're right about the chocolate, it's really good chocolate!
ahh i didn't get a chance to stop by jacques torres on my nyc dessert tour, but i have always wanted to try those chocolate cookies! but i prefer soft center cookies, like you, so its ok that i never made it there
just read all your NY entries! Love all the pictures of the market- the colors of the veggies and fruit make me wish I was there!! As for the chocolate chip cookies- I use that recipe but mine come out much fluffier than they looked in your pictures . . . I have to say I love them but I wouldn't if they weren't as fluffy as they are.
Glad to hear you had such a good time and I can't wait to hear the real reason why you were there!!
My heart belongs to Levain! Those cookies are amaze! I'm a cakey/slightly raw/humungous cookie lover though too. The hot chocolate was intense and delicious at Jacques Torres though... I'm going to the Chelsea Market tomorrow and I am going straight for that cashew caramel bar!!
That looks like a lovely shop!!
Thanks for introducing him & this nice shop to us!!
I just caught up on your NYC posts. As I worked my way down the last few posts, especially this one about JT's CCC, I kept weeping and wailing, "Please tell me you went to Levai!" Then I was screaming it when you found the JT on Amsterdam as it is SO close to Levain. Whew, do you know how relived I was when I read your first post and SAW the pictures of the cookies and I know that first one is a Levain. Don't leave me in suspense. What did you think. You like soft/gooey better than crisp, I got that. I think the JT ccc is good in its own right--yep, the chocolate is the star for that one.
The Levain ccw, THAT's my kind of cookie--well, except for the price, but how often do I go to NYC? Anyway, I'll shut up now and just sit here waiting, waiting for you to finish posting about NYC and tell us what you thought of THE cookie. ;)
Don't worry, I won't like you any less if you didn't love it. I don't care. That saves more of their cookies for me. OK, kidding!
OMG you didn't get a chocolate?? That takes some kind of self control!!
Soooo, are you going to spill any time soon WHY you went to New York again? Hmmm? Any news?
The cookies looked pretty good, but I would have gone for a piece of chocolate to savor :)
Thanks everyone!
Debbie, I think you would.
IAWT, awww thank you!
Ted, yes sir.
Linda, that sounds amazing!
Rachel, thank you. I'm working on a better one. This will be the ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Christine, I'm so disappointed we didn't make it to City Bakery. How can I live with myself?!
Grace, agreed!
Carrian, I think we need to get a food bloggers' trip together and tour the city!
Dolce, no I have not. I'll check it out. I'm disappointed that we didn't make it to Bouchon. We were so close, too!
Heather, yes, I changed it last week. I'll probably work on it again once I have time.
Kerstin, I really liked Levain. Goooood cookies.
Emily, I know exactly what you mean. My friend Sue brought up the same points.
CC, that is so disappointing. Go back!
Jenn, thanks for the nice comment. :)
Annie, agreed! I loved Levain.
Katrina, you are too funny. I hope we get to meet someday. I'm going to post about Levain later this week I think.
Tamilyn, you'll just have to wait and see!
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