I can hear the cries from all over the South Puget Sound area.  Yes folks, today is the 24th day of my unprofessionally diagnosed cookie OCD.  Come hither, and I'll share with you my magic Kleenex.  Dry your tears my friend, and let me comfort you in my bosom.  (In my sentimentality I become quite profound, don't cha  think?)

On this 24th day I would like to point out the most memorable cookies we've covered:

Third place for taste, and second place for customer service goes to Asado. The taste of their dessert cookie is undeniably unique and delicious at the same time.  Plus the nice manager personally gave me my cookies for free.  Yay free stuff.

Second place for taste, and first place for customer service goes to Friday's Gourmet Cookies. You have GOT to try her line of cookies sold at Metropolitan Market.  You can also look for them soon at Starbucks.  The blueberry white chocolate sends me into foodgasm.  Her customer service was amazing.  She does not sell retail (only wholesale), but all I had to make was a phone call and she put aside a box of samples for me to pick up.  For free.  Again, yay free stuff.

First place for taste and third place for customer service goes to Rosewood Cafe.  Right about now I am so damn sick of cookies.  But I swear, if I were handed a Rosewood Cowboy cookie right now I wouldn't think twice about scarfing that damn thing down. Customer service is always awesome there. They got third in customer service because I see them all the time and I think they are just used to my presence. 

Just so you guys donÃ't feel cheated out of a cookie review- Pappi Swarner's head doesn't start spinning ala Linda Blair Exorcist-style- I will throw one more in. 

OK, so don't hate me.  I love my local Tacoma coffee joints, I really, really do.  I praise One Heart, Satellite, Blackwater, etc, etc, etc.  When I'm in Tacoma, I stop in those places for my Americano before anywhere else, I promise.

But I live outside of the Tacoma city limits.  Due to the Weekly Volcano Freelance Writer's Non-Stalkerazzi Protection Act (WVFWNSPA) that I signed upon employment, I am not permitted to tell you exactly where.  Let's just say the most convenient and most delicious and best customer service I have is a Starbucks drive through. I've never met an Americano and cute male barista I didn't like there.

So here's to the Peanut Butter cookie from my local Starbucks.  The most consistently perfect peanut butter cookie, time after time.  The flavorful taste, cooked-to-doneness texture, and adequate size compliment my Americano like no other.  And the mini-me likes it also.  That right there is priceless.

Thanks for listening to my superficial cookie ramblings, and for dealing with my very unimportant and selfish quest to find the perfect cookie.  Thanks to all of you who just shut your mouths instead of telling me to shut the F up, and thanks in advance to Jenny Craig.  I'll see YOU in January.

Happy Holidays!- Steph DeRosa

MORE COOKIES: See what's already in our cookie jar.

Asado

All hail Asado!  Praise the cookie gods (or cows or pigs or whatever) for dropping down some blessings onto this place. 

They weren't even open when I barged in.  The hostess immediately got the manager when I asked her if they served cookies.  I know, I know, such an invaluable question deserves nothing but the manager's attention.

He said yes, he had one, and immediately began to rattle off the ingredients, describing how it's made, all while using wonderful hand gestures that made me go into a daze.  I picked my tongue up off the floor when he finished and demanded a cookie to go.

They're the existential cookie that I've raved about all month: crispy on the outside, chewy but DONE on the inside.  Flavored with molasses, spices, and an indescribably unique taste; you'll be wondering how it is you've lived this long without tasting something so great.

They take this cookie, spread it with Nutella, and slap it onto another cookie just the same.  It's quite Oreo-esque, but definitely made with more love.

He walked out of the kitchen, handed me a box of cookies, and said, "Merry Christmas, it's on me." I had not mentioned I was from the Volcano, and I did not mention that I was here to tear apart his cookie.  He did this out of simple kindness.

I love this man, Asado, and their cookies.  The fact that they have kick ass food and a rockin' happy hour doesn't hurt either. My love knows no boundaries.- Steph DeRosa

MORE COOKIES: See what's already in our cookie jar.