300286 Wed May 18 17:21:52 -0700 2005 30 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1667965 So after the last thread on those "Damn Dare" cookies (see link), I couldn't get them out of my mind. In a response on the thread, JK Grence (the Cosmic Jester) makes them harder to pass up as he explains how the cookies are sold under a variety of names in US markets, usually under the store's house brand. Apparently they have been spotted at Albertson's, Safeway/Vons, Super Target. Got my lemon cremes from Albertson's in NoCal under the Essensia label (see photo below) for $3.29. Around the same time, someone on the SF board praises Carr's *ginger* lemon cremes. They can be found at Trader Joe's, but I got mine at my local market for $2.99. Dare/Essensia is a better value since you get 12 oz. of cookies vs. 7 oz. for Carr's. Even though Carr's brand hails from England, package says cookies were made in Canada (like Dare). And thus, Chowhound forces came together to trigger a lemon creme cookie battle that took place at my dining table. Below are my notes for each cookie; I conducted multiple tastings over the course of a week for reliability purposes. :-) Dare/Essensia: Good looking cookie and packaging. Like a bulky blonde Adonis who comes out in flashy designer duds. Truthful advertising as they looked nearly identical to picture on bag. Taste: buttery cookie, zingy lemon filling, but ends on a bad note. Jam-like yellow dot in center is chewy and gummy--icky mouthfeel for me. Started off promising, but weak finish. Carr's: Standard looking cookie, but first disappointed since actual cookie doesn't have the homey crackled appearance depicted on the box. Hate dishonesty. Looks like the quiet, intellectual guy who wears a tweed blazer. Taste: Cookie has pleasant subdued ginger spice, lemon filling is subtle but natural tasting, combo of ginger/lemon is a knockout! Nice balance. Winner: CARR'S ginger lemon cremes! Started off meek, but had depth and substance in the end. Maybe not a totally fair matchup since Carr's had the ginger advantage. Of course, Dare had the buttery advantage and is the winner for good looks. Overall, Carr's had a much more natural flavor that suited my taste and preference. Very nice served w/ English tea. Carr's are all gone while I still have half a bag of Dare cookies and don't really crave them. Looks like I like the quiet, intellectual type :-) So...Dare hasn't sucked me into its vortex yet, but those maple cremes looked enticing. Make sure to check expiration date, as there were some packages on the shelves that were nearly expired. Oh, and waiting in that long line at my dumpy, understaffed Albertson's for one bag of cookies was a major drag!!! (I've already checked Safeway and Target here to no avail). Thanks, hounds, for bringing more lemony love into my life!! Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/300176#1666747 Image: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/btdoan/IMG_1268.jpg Wed May 18 17:21:52 -0700 2005 0 Carb Lover 1 1667966 Definitely Carr's. A little dab 'l do ya. I have no desire for tasting others. Tea and Carr's. Great picture; color composition, btw Wish someone would write an ODE TO CARR'S Wed May 18 17:34:15 -0700 2005 1667965 0 kc girl 2 1667969 agree on tea & ginger lemon cremes, what a pair. i cannot be trusted with a box of those sitting around the house. Wed May 18 17:53:05 -0700 2005 1667966 0 petradish 2 1667973 'Wish someone would write an ODE TO CARR'S' ==== I nominate you. Sounds like you have some good history ripe for an ode. Wed May 18 19:21:16 -0700 2005 1667966 0 Carb Lover 3 1667977 Nah, just in the mood for poetry and the thought of the ginger lemon cookies, so wonderful. Wed May 18 21:09:23 -0700 2005 1667973 0 kc girl 4 1668010 Eat one- that's the poetry! Ok, if you insist, KC girl (per Williams): This Is Just To Say I have eaten the Carr's that were in the cupboard and which you were probably saving for dessert Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so gingery Thank you, Carb Lover! I've been daydreaming about Carr's lemon-ginger for a while, couldn't remember the name. Thu May 19 12:10:09 -0700 2005 1667977 0 Spoony Bard 5 1668050 Love that William CARRlos Williams! Fri May 20 09:57:20 -0700 2005 1668010 0 Grace 6 1668055 William Carlos Williams? Is he the one that wrote it? I WAS wondering http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/s_z/williams/williams.htm as I experienced that perfume before What a Rush! A ROCK STAR BREAKFAST I raised my eyes and elbows of feather dashed for the door I stopped midstream and dreamed some more The paper not arrived, yet the sun shining strong The garbage on the stoop and the walk, not long. The chores are almost done Well, except for one or two There’s breakfast to be made and plants to water, too The news says don’t eat fish The sun’s too hot today But, aaaaah, a course of habit Tells me the salmon’s on it’s way Poach it Nuke it hit it with a beet The big white salmon has got to be eaten! I wake to find a red glass dome hovering on a big dot of gelatin in the center of my Anchor Hawking dessert plate. How it landed, I don’t know. However, this tapered dome of a dish has my curiosity. Mmmmmmm. Poached white salmon resting on a plate, beets and raspberries and, mmmmmm, wait; the beets have been drizzled with a lovely pond of oil scented lightly with the herbs of Milan and struck with vinegar. I try those first. With a tiny golden plume It could use a dusting of ground white pepper and maybe a sprig of . . . . Dill? The jar of raspberry jam is giving me a thrill. Now, what’s this tiny fork of Gold, so small with the trinity tines? Heaven knows for now it is mine, Myne, MIIIIIINNNNNNEEEEE And, maybe, some oatmeal, please, with jam. In a big red bowl. Oh what of my mind’s motivation for M&Ms and tea when pasta, bread [our grain ovations] and jam is set for me? Juicy peach and vintage ride in orchard and on vine Persimmon cake with caramel sauce and ice cream Aaaaaaaahhhhhh, it’s mine. With tea Iced Please And can I have some more poached salmon? http://www.harperchildrens.com/catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0688412319 And, I remember when it was resting beneath leaves painted by photography. Readers of Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle . . . and Other Modern Verse may well be tempted by Eve Merriam's suggestion in "How to Eat a Poem" Don't be polite Bite in. Pick it up with your fingers and lick The juice that may run down your chin. It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are. And, this one, gently received from a somewhat rifling gent “This Is Just To Say “I have eaten the Carr's that were inthe cupboard “and which you were probably saving for dessert “Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so gingery” I, too, have read that song before. As I too, will eat that lemony ginger cookie maybe today maybe with the other half of the lot of unadorned poached while salmon To walk to Trader joe or not, I saved the second half of the white salmon on a bed of beet juice It was very delicious and I want to see the reality of . . . . The Rock Star Breakfast will begin right after this. Fri May 20 10:45:50 -0700 2005 1668050 0 kc girl 7 1668058 http://www.favoritepoem.org/poems/williams/ This Is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet Fri May 20 11:32:54 -0700 2005 1668055 0 kc girl 8 1668062 Looks like you forgot the original's last line. The final stanza should be: Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold Generally, I prefer my plums room-temp. They never seem as sweet to me when they're cold. Fri May 20 12:16:54 -0700 2005 1668058 0 Spoony Bard 4 1668059 If KC girl's ''just in the mood'' then get cracking dude and don’t be rude. take her some cookie of ginger and lemon, then see her reaction when she says ''I'm in heaven'' A jar of raspberry jam, she says gives her a thrill Then imagine what it may do if you take her some, Which am sure you will. When the day has just ended, with the night having begun, Give her what she craves for, Before she cries more, more. Give it to her once, give it to her twice, and if she wants it again, then please, do be nice. so don't be a rookie, let her enjoy her cookie, and if your'e lucky, you may just get some....thanks. Amin Fri May 20 11:49:44 -0700 2005 1667977 0 Amin (London Foodie ''OrientRice@aol.com'') 5 1668080 You are very kind. The Carr's ginger lemon-creme cookies are across the street at Trader Joe's, but they don't open until 9. plenty of time to plan a cheesecake with them. Sat May 21 09:29:49 -0700 2005 1668059 0 kc girl 1 1667967 The Carr's are only $1.89 at Trader Joe's (IIRC until recently they were only $1.59). So there goes the value disadvantage. Wed May 18 17:45:48 -0700 2005 1667965 0 Ruth Lafler 2 1667968 Whoa--under $2?! I knew they'd be cheaper at TJ's, but couldn't resist when I saw them at my market. Love Carr's. Love, love TJ's!! Wed May 18 17:49:48 -0700 2005 1667967 0 Carb Lover 3 1668009 Have you two been buying up all the Carr's in SF? I went to both Whole Foods in SF, then to the TJ's on Masonic, and came home empty-handed all three times. Share the wealth (or at least tell me where to go)!! Thu May 19 12:09:34 -0700 2005 1667968 0 nooodles 4 1668019 Not guilty! I buy mine in Alameda. The staff at TJ's is always happy to answer questions like that about the stock -- they can probably tell you when they're restocking. Thu May 19 13:47:00 -0700 2005 1668009 0 Ruth Lafler 5 1668027 I'm pretty sure the Carr's are available at Molly Stones (but probably not as cheap) I love those cookies! Oh, and real jam filling dots are great, fake dots that need preservatives (hence the gummy unpleasant quality) are not. Thu May 19 15:34:51 -0700 2005 1668019 0 LizK 6 1668037 Good point. REAL jam dot w/ essence of ripe fruit--good. FAKE jam dot w/ essence of gelatinous fillers and food coloring--bad. Thu May 19 22:59:49 -0700 2005 1668027 0 Carb Lover 4 1668020 I guess my "SF people" are doing their job. ;-P Nah, there should be plenty to go around. I haven't confirmed that they're indeed sold at my TJ's in Santa Cruz, but will check soon. Are you sure they're sold at Whole Foods? If you get really desperate, I know they're at my indie market for $2.99. Need some lemon/ginger action soon... Thu May 19 13:54:20 -0700 2005 1668009 0 Carb Lover 4 1668064 I always get Carr's at Park&Shop, cause I can walk there. I know there's one on Irving, don't know where else in SF. Love them bad rascals with a dab of chunky peanut butter... Fri May 20 12:28:27 -0700 2005 1668009 0 Shep 1 1667970 I can't wait to try out the Carr's ones. In the meantime, if having half a bag of Dare cookies languishing is too much of a burden, I'll be glad to take them off of your hands. Wed May 18 18:32:10 -0700 2005 1667965 0 JK Grence (the Cosmic Jester) 1 1667980 Fascinating!! the Dare Lemon Cremes that I get here in Tokyo are sans jam dot. The holes are filled with the lemon cream filling. I must now check my grocery store for Carr's Ginger Lemon Cremes!! Thanks very much for the report. Cheerios, Andy Wed May 18 22:49:12 -0700 2005 1667965 0 Andy P. 2 1667985 Ooooooh, that is fascinating! That sticky jam dot really ruined that cookie for me. Blech. I had one tonight after dinner to give it another chance, but nah, just doesn't do it for me. Husband will finish the pack. Will give the maple cremes a chance before I write off Dare for good. Need to work up the courage to return to Albertson's... Thu May 19 00:08:35 -0700 2005 1667980 0 Carb Lover 3 1667987 Thanks for the Chowresearch, C.L. I wish we could eradicate all jam dots from cookies. You nailed the problem with the consistency. Even chocolate frosting dots tend to have an unpleasant, waxy mouthfeel. Thu May 19 01:32:20 -0700 2005 1667985 0 David Feldman 4 1667999 Noooo The Jam Dot is the best part of Peak Freens raspberry creme cookies. I eat around them and save it for last :D Long live the Jam Dot! Thu May 19 10:09:47 -0700 2005 1667987 0 Zaheen 2 1668026 Yeah -- no jam dot in my Dares here in Massachusetts. Mine also come in avery lovely package with apicture of a cockatoo (?) perched in a lemon tree. I agree, Jam dot would be a problem, consistency-wise. It would prevent lucious melting of cookie into buttery/lemony smoosh on the tongue --would be forced to expectorate like a cat with a large, jammy hairball!! Thu May 19 15:33:13 -0700 2005 1667980 0 Fargo 1 1667991 . . .Dare/Essensia is a better value since you get 12 oz. of cookies vs. 7 oz. for Carr's. =========== As Carr's is the winner, which would you say is better value per oz (0.43c for Carr's or 0.27c for Dare)? Offcourse if you were to pick up the Carr's from TJ's at $1.89 then it matches Dare even on price per oz at 0.27c Thu May 19 03:09:04 -0700 2005 1667965 0 Amin (London Foodie ''OrientRice@aol.com'') 2 1668017 Yes, Carr's def. has better quality to cost value for me since I finished the box easily, whereas I can't even finish the Dare bag since the calories aren't worth it to me. Husband has volunteered to finish the bag (sorry JK Grence). Thu May 19 13:21:30 -0700 2005 1667991 0 Carb Lover 1 1668012 Whole Foods does an lovely job with lemon ginger sandwich cookies in the Country-something brand packaging. The chocolate ones are better than Oreos. And organic (fwiw). Thu May 19 12:24:54 -0700 2005 1667965 0 tiviander 2 1668013 Whole Foods also carries Pamela's Lemon Shortbread cookies, which are gluten/wheat free and delicious. I got them because I couldn't find the Carr's or Dare last time, and was almost happy to have discovered these. They're wonderful with any tea, and addictive because they've got a powerful zing. Thu May 19 12:33:27 -0700 2005 1668012 0 nooodles 2 1668016 Thanks for the tip. Sadly, we don't have a Whole Foods in my town, but sounds like the makings for a good showdown against Carr's. Thu May 19 13:16:51 -0700 2005 1668012 0 Carb Lover