Why, God, must I never ever say no to a cookie (or six)? Even during the holidays? Even when I have to squeeze my booty into a too small cocktail dress in less than two weeks?

God’s answer? Zov’s.

The cookies at this Tustin eatery beg from behind glass cases to be bought and gobbled up.

Fellow foodie Kat told me about the treats yesterday afternoon, and what started as a trip to taste a bite of what she calls the best chocolate chip cookie ever ended with me walking out carrying a box loaded with sweets.

And frankly, I’m lucky I limited myself to cookies, because there was a minute there when I considered throwing in a chocolate bomb with cream brulee center and some sort of coconut confection, just for good measure.

So the chocolate chip cookie: It’s thicker than my iphone. Chewy but not gooey. Bigger than the palm of my hand. And the dough is dense with chocolate chips.

Kat stared longingly at her cookie today and exclaimed, “It’s beautiful!”

The most beautiful chocolate chip cookies in my book aren’t from Zov’s. They’re the soft, thin, saucer-sized ones I used to buy for 25 cents during lunch from the cafeteria at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove. But for $2.75 a piece at Zov’s (ouch! I know) the smaller, thicker ones make a strong argument for taking the number 2 spot. If only they could make them more affordable (hint, hint).

AND, Pacifica never had the Jumbles: a cookie so packed with chocolate chips, oatmeal, raisins and almonds that it can’t support its own weight. Sticky chunks break off when you pick one up.

Other treats worth trying: flourless chocolate cookie …

and the gingerbread cookie. Check out the blanket of sugar:

Zov’s recently opened two new restaurants (in Newport Coast and in Irvine), but I’ve never sampled the cookies from those locations. Leave a comment if you have to tell us whether they measure up.

Zov’s Bistro and Bakery

17440 E. 17th Street

Tustin, CA 92780

714-838-8855

or

21123 Newport Coast Drive

Newport Coast, CA 92650

(949) 760-9687

or

3915 Portola Parkway

Irvine, CA 92620

(714) 734-9687

Posted in: Bakery • Restaurants by price: $0-$14 |

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