Editors Note: The simple thought of this place warms my heart like one of the warm and delicious cookies they serve their loyal patrons.  As you have probably heard me say before, one of my favorite things to do is explore new places, so take this opportunity to open yourself up to a new and heart warming place to visit with friends and family.  The chef took something she has been loving since childhood and turned her passion in to a business.  In what area of life could you do the same thing?  Do some brainstorming and keep an open mind! ~Nitika~

For a long time I honestly thought this weeks Top Pick was some sort of an urban myth that didn’t exist.  I was first told about Milk & Cookies bakery years ago by my cousin who insisted it was the best place to get cookies in Manhattan, however it wasn’t until I recently stumbled on to Commerce street with some friends that I finally found this Mecca of gooey goodness.

Baking fresh-from-the-oven cookies is something that Chef Tina Casaceli learned in her grandmother’s kitchen. By helping prepare her grandfather’s favorite S-shaped Italian Viscotti, she made sure her family could enjoy warm cookies every day at snack time. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, she worked at NYC’s famed Manhattan Ocean Club, Burke & Burke, and Mad 61, to name a few. Currently, Tina is the Director of the Pastry Arts and Bread Baking Departments at the renowned French Culinary Institute. She has now taken this delicious next step in her career and gone back to her roots, baking fresh cookies each day as the new owner of Milk & Cookies Bakery.

Before we even get to the actually cookies, I could write a whole article on the place alone.  You walk up to what seems like a place where Joy is made, with festive decorations in the window, a charming bench out front getting shade from the beautiful trees, and then you walk in and everything seems to be ok in the world.  The actual seating area is about the size of my tiny studio but every inch has a purpose and pulls you in to stay as long as the day allows.

On my first visit I was with my two best friends, we had intended on each getting A cookie, sitting for maybe 15 minutes and heading out.  Much to our surprise, we each got THREE cookies, met delightful new friends, and laughed ourselves silly for over an hour!  Everything was simply perfect.  The man behind the counter made us feel like we were coming home, the smell throughout the bakery was intoxicating in the best way, and of course……the cookies were INSANE!!  I would choose this hands down as the best place to give in to that sweet tooth of yours and in this heat noshing on the Ice Cream Sandwiches is my number one choice.  For those crazy friends of yours who for some strange reason aren’t so in to cookies, do not fret, they have freshly baked cupcakes, brownies, and a delicious variety of bars.

The mouth-watering space is also available to have parties at a very reasonable cost, and I assure you these parties are not just for kids.  So whether you are a cookie connoisseur or just miss the taste of the ones your mom used to make, do whatever you have to do to get yourself to Milk & Cookies.  Don’t be stingy either, even though space is limited try bringing a couple of friends with you and make a day of it, I promise you that leaving will not be easy!

Milk & Cookies is located at 19 Commerce Street, between 7th Avenue and Bedford.