A mixed bagKyle
Something sweet from Kayla (Customer service and food review)
So first and foremost this was provided free of charge for review and genuine feedback, the owner went out of her way to drop this off and that deserves mentioning because the customer service is above and beyond.
I also want to be clear that this was a sampler tray and so while I will be critiquing the presentation of the actual cookies themselves, it is entirely possible that the final form of these may change dramatically making that section of the review entirely invalid.
Furthermore as always these are just my own personal thoughts and opinions which may or may not echo your own, so always seek out a second opinion and if possible try it for yourself. 🙂
(The Presentation)
The presentation is a mixed bag or umm box. The box itself with the little hand written personal note immediately made me smile and want to give Kayla a hug to say thank you, however i did not because I am a crazy looking 6'8 ginger covered in tattoos and I would probably get maced. So I just waved from my doorway and said thank you respectfully.
The cookies themselves came in small plastic cups surrounded by the bane of my existence when I used to work security in a night club....confetti but thankfully no glitter to haunt my pants for the next 5 washes.
The packaging overall is cute and you can tell some thought went into it. My main issue is with the cookies themselves because first and foremost you eat with your eyes and my eyes developed an eating disorder looking at them unwrapped and I really hope she will take the time to shape and make the final products presentable for her customers. But presentation is only one piece of the meal and there is a lot more to talk about.
(The Chocolate Chip)
Chocolate chip is my absolute favorite cookie flavor, for all the insanity and adventure that otherwise defines my palate, when it comes to chocolate chip cookies I am as basic as they come. Soft, gooey, a pinch of salt with balanced sweetness throughout is my perfect cookie and Kayla absolutely delivered. These cookies are a classic personified, simplicity made into perfection and if you are looking for a great classic chocolate chip cookie then this is a fantastic rendition.
(The Smore)
For every reason that the above chocolate chip is so great is also the same reason the smore is a missed opportunity. To be clear it is still a very good cookie but none the less it entirely misses the mark.
This is a chocolate chip cookie front and center, if you really pay attention and genuinely look for it then you can get a hint of marshmallow in the background but we are talking about some 90's era high school word search in detention, levels of searching to find that hint.
It also completely misses that element of fire, that flame to kiss the two together and make your taste buds sing a falsetto while awkwardly dancing.
This one should go back to the drawing board in order to create something that can confidently step out of that chocolate chip shaped shadow that its currently trapped in.
(The Oatmeal Rasin)
A good oatmeal rasin cookie is a balancing act, its grandma's recipe that took 30 years and countless failures to create. Its turning the great depression era bare minimum into something worthy of letting your annoying Karen neighbor talk your ear off for just a few more minutes, because damn the nosey old lady can bake. (I might be projecting a little bit on that one 🤫)
But in all honesty its taking things that both have a very distinct texture and flavor profile and trying to blend them together and this cookie is a prime example of those potential pit falls. Its very very rasin forward with a slight unpleasant grit and a distinct taste of flour in the background. Its not unpleasant exactly, its just also not what an oatmeal rasin cookie should be. Looks like I still need to entertain the Karen after all, at least until this recipe gets perfected.
(The Brownie)
Honestly the title of this section says it all, the brownie tastes like a brownie. I'm sure thats obvious and this may just be my prejudicial love
for chocolate chip cookies but to me while a chocolate chip cookie can stand on its own as a classic and a staple despite its simplicity, I just feel that a brownie is a great blank canvas to create something more on.
However its not the canvas itself that draws crowds, instead its what the artist uses said canvas to create and made to manifest their individual inspirations upon and i just wanted more inspiration, some edge to make it stand out and rise above.
Its not a bad brownie, but it is also the same brownie that you can find served by lunch ladies across the nation and it could be so much more.
Or you could just ignore me, that works as well. 😊
(The Summary)
All in all it was a bit of a mixed bag for me, the chocolate chip was fantastic and i suspect brownie lovers will adore her brownies as well even if they are to plain for my tastes. However the smore is way off the mark and the oatmeal rasin could use some serious balancing in order to really dial it in.
With all that being said Kayla had enough foresight to set up a run of samplers before fully coming onto the market and that shows a level of self awareness that most business owners just don't have. So its my sincere belief that she will refine and perfect her recipes and hopefully have a very successful launch.
I do want to be clear that while some of the things I have said in this review might be considered harsh, I say them with the sincere intention to give honest feedback and critique in order to help each business to improve and find long term success within a very competitive market.
Honesty isn't always polite, but it is honest.
-Red-