Take Your Sweet Tooth to the Seventies at Cookie Bar
By John DiGilio in Food on Nov 18, 2010 7:20PM
What is not to love about cookies? Crumbly, chewy, sweet, and salty, there seems to be a cookie for every taste and every occasion. The hallmark of a great cookie for many a connoisseur is an authentic, home-made taste. Lincoln Park's Cookie Bar packs just that into each of its hand-crafted treats. Served up in a fun and funky seventies atmosphere, the cookies here will make you want to bust out your best disco moves.
Open for just a few months, Cookie Bar is carving a unique niche for itself. These are not your average cookies. They are made without trans-fats and high fructose corn syrup. They even have less sugar than the norm. What the folks at Cookie Bar cut in things that are bad for you, they more than make up for with adventurous flavors and great presentation. They even cater to vegans and allergy sufferers with a special selection of treats that are dairy or gluten free, so that everyone can indulge. The baking schedule changes daily and customers can even plan ahead using their online cookie calendar.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Cookie Bar experience is its funky vibe. Seventies music sets the groove. The walls are adorned with pictures of television, movie, and music stars from the days of disco. Some of the cookies are even cleverly named for these personalities. The Lisa Marie Presley, for example, is a decadent combination of peanut butter cups, chocolate chunks, and banana chips baked into a peanut butter cookie dough. Of course, there are the basics like chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, and oatmeal raisin cookies. But don't overlook the more eclectic offerings! The milk chocolate chip and ginger cookies add a spicy twist to an old favorite. The carmelized crunchy banana wraps a layer of crispy cookie around a soft center of banana pieces and carmelized sugar. For a real departure, try the vegan cardamom crunch and savor its hints of cardamom, orange flower, and fennel seed. There are enough varieties here to keep the adventurous palate exploring for weeks.
Though Cookie Bar's treats are available individually, they are cheaper by the dozen. Catering for special events is also available. If cookies are your bag, then you need to take home a bag of these. Should you feel inclined, go ahead and do the hustle while you wait for them to ring up your purchase.
Cookie Bar is located at 2475 North Lincoln Avenue.