Ahh...the ever-elusive, perfect chocolate chip cookie. We're met this rare species before...when conditions are right, in fact, we've been able to create them ourselves with a Toll House cookie recipe. But the perfect specimen--soft in the middle, crispier as you move towards the outside, with a perfect chip-to-dough ratio, depends on the quality and age of your ingredients, even the level of humidity in the air. So when we have the craving, we hit up one of these places for a fantastic example. New Year’s resolutions be damned.
Seven Stars, Providence and East Providence
Generally speaking, we haven't had much at this popular bakery/coffee cafe that we don't like. From the croissants to the ginger scones to the breads, of course, this top-notch artisan bakery does everything darn-near perfectly. Here is the artisan chocolate chip cookie for the serious cookie connoisseur whose sweet tooth doesn't dominate his choices. Big, heavy, and baked until dark brown in color, this cookie is crispy at the edges, moist in the middle, and packed with semisweet chocolate chunks. The dough isn't overly sweet and the predominate flavor is the chocolate. These cookies have something of a cult following among foodies and chefs around town, who appreciate the quality ingredients and expert, consistent preparation that results in one darn good cookie time after time.