Allison Hemler’s Profile

Recent Comments

From Serious Eats: New York

Apparently We Caused a Cookie Run...

I went back at 4:15 and they had three left. Seemed to be super freshly baked. They're probably gone again though.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

I am eating a Pret cookie right now and it is good but needs some more salt. I think the success of this cookie resides on the fact it is in a heated case (though that doesn't explain that it is still good when it cools down after being brought to the SE office). CURSES! What have they done to this cooooooooooookie to make it good. And this thing is 300 calories too. I wish they hadn't told me.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

I think someone sabotaged City Bakery! My world is crumbling. But I guess it's time for a new champion. Man. A new Pret just opened up next to one of my offices. Wish I hadn't read this.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Turkey Shopping in the Garden State

There used to be a Hinck's in Ocean Township (Monmouth County) where I grew up, we would get our Thanksgiving turkey from them every year. Now we've probably resorted to Wegmans (less than a quarter mile down the road).

See more comments by Allison Hemler »

Recent Posts

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 11/19 to 11/27

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Pairing Coffee With Food

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 11/12 to 11/20

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Laid-Back Coffee Cupping at Home

See more posts by Allison Hemler »

Recent Favorites

From Serious Eats

Snapshots From Italy: The Bounty of Calabria

From Serious Eats: New York

Beyond the Ice Cream: The Bent Spoon in Princeton, New Jersey

From A Hamburger Today

The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack

From Serious Eats: New York

The Brunch Dish: Biscuits with Strawberry Butter at Good Enough to Eat

See more favorites by Allison Hemler »

Recent Polls

Allison Hemler hasn't answered any polls yet.

Recent Quizzes

Allison Hemler hasn't taken any quizzes yet.

Recent Comments | Response to Comments

From Serious Eats: New York

Apparently We Caused a Cookie Run...

I went back at 4:15 and they had three left. Seemed to be super freshly baked. They're probably gone again though.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

I am eating a Pret cookie right now and it is good but needs some more salt. I think the success of this cookie resides on the fact it is in a heated case (though that doesn't explain that it is still good when it cools down after being brought to the SE office). CURSES! What have they done to this cooooooooooookie to make it good. And this thing is 300 calories too. I wish they hadn't told me.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

I think someone sabotaged City Bakery! My world is crumbling. But I guess it's time for a new champion. Man. A new Pret just opened up next to one of my offices. Wish I hadn't read this.

From Serious Eats: New York

New Jersey Dispatch: Turkey Shopping in the Garden State

There used to be a Hinck's in Ocean Township (Monmouth County) where I grew up, we would get our Thanksgiving turkey from them every year. Now we've probably resorted to Wegmans (less than a quarter mile down the road).

From Talk

Best Coffee in Manhattan

I have a roundup of the best coffee in Manhattan in the works. Be on the lookout in the next couple weeks.

By the way, am I the only one who doesn't think Abraco is god-like?

From Slice

Openings: Paulie Gee's, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Though I am sad you won't be in Jersey City, I will DEFINITELY be there opening night.

From Serious Eats: New York

Beyond the Ice Cream: The Bent Spoon in Princeton, New Jersey

YES! Clearly I favorite this forever and ever.

I used to ice those cupcakes with an offset spatula. Now they use a piping bag or something like that, makes me so sad. ;)

Favorite flavors: cardamom ginger, peanut butter streak, lavender mascarpone.

Ice cream sandwiches are such an indulgence. They have little croissant-wiches as well with a tiny scoop of ice cream. A nice little treat. If I worked in mornings I would surely make that my breakfast.

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist

@buddha ... My companion had her first ever Vietnamese experience that day. Clearly so glad I took her--and that we found this place, because everything was amazing. The spring rolls were so fresh, and the folks sitting at the table with us (2 people) had 4 orders worth! I've converted her. :) Next time, dessert.

@ravenouscouple .. I like how the filter almost acts like a cross between a pour over filter and a French press, with both the drip and the length of time it takes to drip from the filter... must be why the coffee is so potent!

From Serious Eats: New York

Serious Eats Finds New York's Best Cheesecake

I love how imperfect the Two Little Red Hens cheesecake looks...never eaten anything that looks like that in my life. and "the Goldilocks of cheesecake"... how could I not want a piece of that right now??

From Serious Eats: New York

Ten Rainy Day Eats In New York

my own roasted sweet potatoes. with chile powder and a shit ton of other spices. SO GOOD.

I also cannot resist an extra hot cortado from Joe the Art of Coffee. Or a chocolate chip cookie from City Bakery dipped in their own hot chocolate.

From Serious Eats: New York

Joseph Leonard for Lunch: Next Stop, Yummyville?

Love those brownies. I had them during opening week. And they were warm and satiating. Along with a glass of milk. Mmmmm.

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Growing Up Jersey With Diner Coffee

@Derekh - how have I never been to Bonbonniere!?! wow.

My first experience with coffee was generally the same. Though I inched into the real stuff from International Selects. And Dunkaccinos at Dunkin Donuts. And the 7-11 "French Vanilla." Until one day, probably my first year in college, when all of a sudden, it just tasted right.

We loved Denny's in Jersey too. I was always a little afraid as to what was actually in the coffee though. But it never hurt to throw a little syrup in there from the pancakes..

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Growing Up Jersey With Diner Coffee

Side note, here are my favorite Jersey diners.. in case anyone wants to reminisce and get a little bit more Jersey with me.

Broadway Diner, Red Bank
Broadway Diner, Bayonne
Edison Diner
Crystal Diner, Lawrenceville
Mastoris Diner, Bordentown
Princess Maria Diner, Wall Township

I'm so glad to hear about all these diners in NYC that I had no idea about!

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Growing Up Jersey With Diner Coffee

@gargupie @rstank: I knew you Queens folk would chime in... I have spent only about two hours in Queens in my life, and half of that at LaGuardia Airport... so I'm glad now I have some reasons to go out there. Makes sense, since most of the diners we're talking about are Greek (or Turkish) owned. Thanks!

@alastor: I agree about usually ordering the same thing, but do you ever find it varies though, depending on the time of day? while I usually am a breakfast person and eat something like a broccoli and cheese omelette, if I'm there for a weekday lunch, I'll probably eat chicken souvlaki. which still pairs excellently with diner coffee, I might add.

From Serious Eats: New York

Dallas BBQ: Boldly Going Where No Other Food Writer Has Gone Before

I'm glad you said the fries are better than Shake Shack's way down at the bottom of your post. I would've stopped at that point. :)

From Serious Eats

Chicago's Fish Guy Now Also a Coffee Guy

I find that certification means absolutely nothing these days, given there are much more direct trade relationships going on, which I'd much rather support.. I like knowing there is clear, open communication between coffee farmers and buyers. And this sounds spectacular. No matter what part of the food industry this guy works in, he clearly has passion and wants to bring quality products to his customers! I love it.

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Reconsidering New York's Coffee Identity

Jasper,

I believe the cap was either 6 or 8 ounces. The cup does look pretty big, but I promise it was only and inch and a half high, if that.

As for the other two, these were the exact same things Erin and I thought. We noticed the texture was way off (the bubbles did make me cringe a bit), and when we spooned back the foam it was definitely a latte. Though, I think latte art is very possible in a cappuccino from milk that looks like a big pitcher of marshmallow fluff—and seen it poured beautifully. (White outs are more common, though, if you've got some über foamy milk.)

From Serious Eats: New York

The Krave, Korean BBQ Truck, Hits the Streets of Jersey City

FYI you really can make a trip to Jersey City to eat dinner. I dare you. Jersey City is as close to Manhattan as Brooklyn. This truck is exactly ONE stop on the PATH train from Manhattan. [I just didn't go tonight because I already had leftovers at home.]

From Serious Eats

Zooey Deschanel Guest Judges on 'Top Chef Masters' Tonight

Wow, a gluten-intolerant vegan... I hope she has a private chef AND a nutritionist. That sounds like torture.

From Slice

Jamba Juice's New California Flatbreads: We Ate Them So You Don't Have To

You should try putting it in the oven for longer to see if anything good happens to it at a high temperature. The flatbread part looks barely cooked. Though, if you do turn the oven up high enough it'll probably just turn to ash, which probably tastes just as good as its current form.

From Talk

Do Singles Bars Exist in NYC?

as a frequent attender of NYC cooking classes (hey--I do the listings here, right?) I can say it can be unbearably hard to meet an eligible bachelor at a class. in most I've been to, there are couples, other women (young and old), but doesn't seem to be the single man on his own. if you're looking for a food buddy, by all means there are plenty. and adorable older women who love to make conversation.

maybe you should try a class that might draw more men.... butchering, beer, knife skills, maybe? who knows. yes it's playing into gender roles but I'm convincing myself it's a good idea.

From Serious Eats

Barista in the Wild, Part 4: A Relationship With Espresso

I would never mock anyone in a barista position. In the end we're all working towards a common goal as long as we're taking quality seriously. It's just hard to imagine training that many employees on a manual machine and have the consistency that is craved in coffee shops. I respect Starbucks baristas with all of my coffee being and I don't think any less of them because I work on a La Marzocco and they don't. We just have different methods of training and different business models.

From Serious Eats

Barista in the Wild, Part 5: The Future of the Coffee Shop

I think the term "small batch" is pretty relative in this case, granted I'm not sure how small the "small batches" really are, but they are in limited qualities in contrast to the large amounts of the regular packaged coffees they sell.

Additionally—I suggested cuppings as a way for people in the coffee industry to take Starbucks a bit more seriously. so many of us disregard Starbucks as a viable coffee option, but the fact is, a lot of the process of selecting coffee for the stores is such an intense process made by some really knowledgeable people. I haven't seen any cuppings in the NYC area but I'd love to start seeing them around. NYC stores are usually so crowded it's hard for me to imagine how a cupping would actually work. I'm into the more proactive approach so I'd love to start seeing some of these popping up around the city to get more minds wrapped around how coffee cuppings are just like wine tastings.. and they can be just as popular if approached in an accessible way.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

Given that half the cookies in NYC seem to be baked below Union Sq, good luck!

I have no idea if it's the BEST, but you have to include Insomnia Cookies.
This bastion of cookies for the NYU crowd (and anyone else in a 3 mile radius), are delectable. And (I think) it's the only purveyor that does nothing BUT cookies. Whenever I brought them into work, it caused a scene like the bridal gown sale at Filene's.

From Serious Eats: New York

Apparently We Caused a Cookie Run...

Well I went to my local location here in the UK and big disappointment no cookie and according to their website the UK stores dont even sell a choc chip cookie!! Not Fair :(

From Serious Eats: New York

Apparently We Caused a Cookie Run...

It couldn't happen to a nicer chain--I loved Pret when I was living in the UK--it's the only chain I think of fondly!

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

Ditto on Jack's. My daughter used to work there and couldn't get the recipe. Top secret. But I'm sure they have lots of coffee. I think they might actually contain ground coffee beans. Sometimes they're too raw (because the staff bakes them in a toaster oven and lack consistent timing) but they're usually very good. Jacques Torres is still the winner.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

When you get to the downtown edition, the chocolate chip cookies from Jack's Stir Brew coffee are a must-try. I go to the location on Front Street by the Seaport. They are crisp on the edges, have a ton of chocolate, are slightly underbaked to ensure a gooey center, and have a deep, almost, caramel-like, burnt suger / brown butter bass note to them. I keep begging the staff to give me the recipe, but rumor has it that only Jack's aunt knows the recipe. She makes the batter, delivers it to the store, and the staff only bakes off the cookies to keep the recipe secret.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

City Bakery's cookies aren't for the serious cookie lover. They're mealy, the chocolate isn't good, they're burnt and thin, there's really just not much to like about them.

FYI, Pret at Maiden Lane sold out of cookies this afternoon.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

Yeah, you know lately i've been noticing the city bakery cookie going downhill. Along with other things..the food is getting old and tired. I hear this place has dodgy management..As far as i've been able to tell lately, the rumors are proving true..coming to the surface in the form of an overpriced, overhyped, pretentious product. :(

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

Mmmm... just had a Pret Cookie, lush chocolate and slightly soft dough. It is durned good. Just slightly sweet and a crisp "crust."

On to City Bakery!

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

wow, lotta CB haters. i'm still a fan, maybe your burnt is my crunchy.

petrossian has a good one too though, i have to agree with that.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

Not to be too harsh but I always thought City Bakery Chocolate Chip cookies tasted like stinky feet smell.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

@hightemp: Interesting. For the record, ours came from 37th and 7th.

That's part of the reason we wanted a two-round taste test. If a cookie isn't consistent, multiple tastings put them at a disadvantage. The best cookie is not only fantastic on first tasting, but fantastic on a return visit. We'll see how Pret fares in the finals!

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

SO... against my better judgement...but following your lead.... I went over to Pret today. There must me some location specific magic happening because the cookie I got tasted no better than the toll house cookie rolls you buy at Gristedes and cook at home....right down to the slightly artificial preservative taste.

I'm still waiting for Jacques Torres to show up (Outer Borough I guess) and Le Pain Quotidien.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

Stone, this tasting is Midtown down to 14th street, I expect a Downtown installment soon!

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

whoa this is a total scandal. i will have to try this pret cookie because i really can't believe that it would be particularly great.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

City Bakery will always own a piece of my heart. But they suffer from major inconsistency.

But Petrossian, there's a whopper that never disappoints.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

Thanks for trying Times Square Hot Bagels. Totally unfortunate that they were stale. I admit, they tend to be that way when you get them at the store (which is how most people would think to get them). When they're catered, they're moist and chewy.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

the first time i got a city bakery chocolate chip cookie, it was so badly burnt i wasn't able to bite into it. when i told them it was inedible, they gave me another (only slightly less burnt) one. maybe it was a really off-day, but i haven't wanted to subject my teeth to that again.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

The Roasting plant!!! HELLO!!!!!! Greenwich st at west 10th right next to bone lIck park BBQ.....BEST choc chip inthe city....buttery, slightly chewy and tender...mmmmmm

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

I totally agree about the City Bakery cookies. The only one I tried had a horribly rancid taste, & I couldn't finish it. If only they'd bring back their delicious apple miso dessert ...

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

I threw away the last cookies I bought at City. They were burned on the edges and completely raw in the center, but the worst part was that they had an "off"taste, as if they'd been baked in an oven along with savory items.
I can't wait to try Pret. I know Claudia Fleming was a consultant there for awhile after Gramercy. Maybe they used her recipe.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

this is... I can't... city bakery... best cookies... I need a minute. no one can accuse you guys of playing favorites, that is for sure!

I have to ask: which Pret did you guys go to? Do you think the quality could vary from Pret to Pret? That could be an issue, since there are approximately 2,000 within walking distance of my office.

From Serious Eats: New York

Chocolate Chip Cookie Championship: The Midtown(ish) Edition

what an upset! i would love to see pret's choc chip cookie sales for today compared to the daily average. how many SE: NY readers returned from lunch today wiping chocolatey crumbs off of their face?

Recent Posts

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 11/19 to 11/27

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Pairing Coffee With Food

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 11/12 to 11/20

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Laid-Back Coffee Cupping at Home

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 11/5 to 11/13

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Coffee Cupping for the Lonely at Cafe Grumpy

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 10/29 to 11/6

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Introducing Ecco Caffe at Joe

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 10/22 to 10/30

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Vietnamese Coffee Converts The Purist

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 10/15 to 10/23

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Growing Up Jersey With Diner Coffee

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 10/8 to 10/16

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 10/1 to 10/9

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Losing My Single-Origin Espresso Virginity

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 9/24 to 10/2

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Intelligentsia Coffee Meets Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 9/17 to 9/25

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Stumptown Opens at the Ace Hotel

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 9/10 to 9/18

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: One Sunday Morning, Two Cafe Pedlars

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 9/3 to 9/11

From Serious Eats: New York

Coffee Chronicles: Behind the Scenes at Counter Culture

From Serious Eats

A 24-Hour Excursion to the First Annual Vermont Cheesemaker's Festival in Burlington

From Serious Eats: New York

Learn It, Don't Burn It: NYC Food Classes, 8/27 to 9/4

Polls

Allison Hemler hasn't answered any polls yet.

Quizzes

Allison Hemler hasn't taken any quizzes yet.

About Allison Hemler

Website: http://www.notenoughspoons.com

Location: Jersey City, NJ

About: Born and raised in Jersey. Barista, cookbook & recipe cataloguer, food blogger, and aspiring librarian.

Favorite foods: Goat cheese, Greek yogurt, dried cranberries, roasted tomatoes. Pesto gnocchi from Tanti Baci. Macaroni and cheese from Marco & Pepe (downtown Jersey City, NJ). Vegan tiramisu from now-defunct organic vegan restaurant Down to Earth (Red Bank, NJ).

Last bite on earth: A nibble off of buttery corn, preferably covered in all kinds of goodness (like one can find at La Esquina).